speaker ?

[DWCC]

I am buying a new TV system. I am 77 so have normal hearing for that age. While visiting my son with 4-5 speakers I could hear every word without turning up the volumn, it was great!
Can I buy a pair of Polk audio monitor 50 bk for just the front as my couch sits up against the wall and I have no place for rear spekers to go with my new 50" TV or can I get by with the speakers that come with the TV?
My old set is 20-25 years old and we want a new bigger screen with nice sound. We dont listen to music so don't need a stereo.
Please write me your ideas.
Thanks, DWCC

[McLoki]

polk just came out with a new speaker called the sound bar that may fit your needs exactly. I would at least listen to one and see if it will work for you.

Michael

Edit - to answer your original question, yes you could - you would also need to purchase a reciever (to get the signal and amplify it) a cable to go from your tv (volume out) to your reciever, and speaker cables.

If you are not adverse to purchasing used, you can get a very nice 2 channel reciever for not much money since most people are now interested in multi channel recievers for surround systems.

[audiobliss]

As McLoki said, Polk's new Surroundbar may be just the thing for you. It's a little horizontal bar with multiple speakers in it arranged and tuned so as to simulate a surround sound system with only one physical enclosure. If I'm not mistaken, it could also just be powered by the TV.

If you want to check it out, here's Polk's page on it: Polk SurroundBar. (http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/individual/onwall/surroundbar/)

I would personally rather go with separate conventional speakers (like bookshelves or some floorstanding speakers) to place on the sides of the TV. (This way would be cheaper, too.) But, you would need some source of amplification. Something like a Yamaha, Onkyo, Marantz, Denon, Harmon Kardon receiver, or an integrated amplifier.

At any rate, the separate speakers would probably end up being cheaper (and sounding better), but would require some type of amplification. The SurroundBar would provide surround sound, be easier to set-up, and would be powered by your TV.

Hope that helps.

audiobliss

[DWCC]

Thanks both of you for your help. Since my old TV is 25-30 years old I think I will go ahead and buy a new pioner plasma 42" with a speaker on each side, Set it up and see how both of us like it. If it sounds real good we are done if not I'll try the Sound Bar
Thanks again
DWCC

[TroyD]

Sir,

I think once you listen to the surround bar (I was skeptical so I'm not just a company schill) you will find it light years ahead of the built in speakers.

If you are going to knuckle under to a neato cool TV, in for a penny, in for a pound!

Good luck and tell us what you think!

BDT

[Schris22]

I don't think it'll be powered by the TV...

Looks like it hooks up to a receiver. I may be mistaken but just looked at it and it has 5 terminal inputs for the five channels. There may be something I didn't read but thats how I read it.

Depending if you watch a lot of movies then you can add a subwoofer in there as well. Not sure if you like it but looking at the frequency response of the surround bar it doesn't come close to what a "action" movie would have. Though all movies have bass of some sort.

Good luck,

Chris

[W WALDECKER]

Thanks both of you for your help. Since my old TV is 25-30 years old I think I will go ahead and buy a new pioner plasma 42" with a speaker on each side, Set it up and see how both of us like it. If it sounds real good we are done if not I'll try the Sound Bar
Thanks again
DWCCi am not a big fan of HT and i too was sceptical of the sound bar but after Auditioning it, if i were thinking of trying a HT setup i would get the soundbar myself. no wires going everywhere, no placement worries for additional loudspeakers. it simplifies everything.and it sounded Damn good too. thanks...WCW III

[cfrizz]

He will need a home theater receiver in order to use the surround bar.

[DWCC]

This is DWCC. How/where do the speakers get the 5 channel feed? Is it from the incoming Road Runner cable to the cable box then to the TV? I guess you guys that like lots of loud music the feed from the TV goes to an amplifier to make it stronger then out to the speakers, is that correct? If we don't play loud music but just listen to TV isn't 20-30 amp TV speaker output OK?
Thanks to all of you for your help

[anonymouse]

The road runner cable goes to the cable box which will feed both a surround sound receiver (with built in amplifiers) and the TV. The TV will take the video signal and the receiver will process the audio and power the surround bar.

Try the TV speakers out; if you like it and it meets your needs, then no need to upgrade. But most people prefer surround sound for movies.

[Schris22]

the YSP from yamaha is self powered...just on the other hand.

I heard it today. Semi impressed...

Chris