Polk Audio SurroundBar (42", 50", 360 DVD Theater, SDA IHT) - Review/ Help Thread

[triguy3]

The bracket is awesome! Very well engineered and should hold up your SurroundBar without a problem. It was easy to use with the directions and shouldn't take you long to set it up either unless you end up running the speaker wires through the wall. Then you'll have to fish it through. No worries though, dude! It's a cinch to work with!

what tv are using it with?

[Jstas]

what tv are using it with?

I only had a demo model for a short while so I'm not really using it with a TV. I set it up at my parent's house on a shelf above their Panasonic CRT. I was messing around with the bracket separately. I did mount the bracket to an open wall in the garage just to see how it would match up to the standard 16" on center stud spacing and such. It's very well designed and more than stout enough to mount the speaker on and leave it there for a very long time. Should provide a pretty stable, vibration proof mount point.

[triguy3]

I only had a demo model for a short while so I'm not really using it with a TV. I set it up at my parent's house on a shelf above their Panasonic CRT. I was messing around with the bracket separately. I did mount the bracket to an open wall in the garage just to see how it would match up to the standard 16" on center stud spacing and such. It's very well designed and more than stout enough to mount the speaker on and leave it there for a very long time. Should provide a pretty stable, vibration proof mount point.

the tv bracket i am referring to is the accesory piece that is sold separately. it sits on a tv. Surround Bar Bracket (Black)
SKU : BC00ABAB4055

[triguy3]

Hey Guys,
I've been lurking around for the past several weeks, trying to make the decision on how to slim down my current setup. Having a baby last year made me realize that my house is small, and it's time to maximize the space I have. I saw the SouroundBar on Amazon, and it really looks promising. I've looked at the reviews on here, and everyone seems very positive about it What i'm wondering though, is how the quality of sound would be compared with my current setup.

Current Setup
Fronts/Surrounds: R30's
Center: CS1
Sub: Sony (Not sure of the model)
Receiver: Technics SA-DA10
TV: 37" Olevia LCD 537H

Thanks!
Scott

hi scott

I just bought the original sb to replace a 3.1 set up. IMHO the soundbar is really for people who really, really cannot set up traditional rears. Your current set up will sound better, BUT if that is no longer an option, or if esthetics (read G/F approval factor) are really important, then you will find this to be attractive enough to compensate. In my case i was running 3.1 because of the GFAF and using the built in speaker for the center. When I powered up the SB, i was impressed becasue i was upgrading the center, getting rid of two side channel speakers AND getting an improved (wider) sound stage.

[mellowman]

I've had a surroundbar for over a year now. Sounds much wider and better than my LRC NHT center/ones setup I had before. Recently upgraded the speaker wire to 10awg belden 5T00UP as suggest by Anonymous on page 7 and it did make a noticeable difference. Much more detail and clearer sound which I guess translates to "opening up" the speakers in industry jive. The 18awg ribbon cable supplied sucks. A benchmark for me is the opening battle scene in RotS, while not completely 360 surround some improvement was noticeable. Cleaner sound was noticeable in the elevator scene with Obiwan and Anakin when the elevator stops and Anakin says something and Obiwan says "Did I say something"..."I didn't say anything". Before I coudn't make out what Anakin says but with the 10awg cable it's clear he says "No lose wire jokes".

Anyway, the surround sound is a mix. Sometimes it seems to work well, most times not much. My receiver is a Panasonic XR-55, PSW10 sub. Since I got the surroundbar I have since gotten a digital projector and run cable across the ceiling and a power cord down the wall so adding a pair of speaker wires won't add much than what is already there.

So the question is: What would be a better surround sound setup? My surroundbar with a pair of RM101's as the surrounds and perhaps setting the surroundbar surrounds to be surround rears (7.1). Or upgrade to a surroundbar50.

Room setup: 12'x23' but the viewing/listen area is the right side of that so only about 12'x13'. Speakers about 11' away. I do notice more of the surround effect on the right side than the left which is open. The RM101s would be about 4' away and at about seated head height. Though I could go much higher (12') or match the height of the surroundbar at 8'.

Thanks in advance.

edit: BTW, the best 360 experience I've had was the THX spoof at the beginning of Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny. Freaked me out.

[dorokusai]

Thanks Mellowman! Great comments.

[mellowman]

looks like this thread is dead.

Has anyone hooked up a surroundbar 42" with separate L/R surrounds? How did it sound?

I'm still curious which way to go as an upgrade, surroundbar50 or RM101's as L/R surrounds.

[dorokusai]

The SB50 is much better than the original. The SDA effect is very prominant in the front stage.

[bluzrip]

For what it's worth, Home Theater mag recently rated the Polk at the top of a review of "similar" products. They also candidly inferred that it was the only one of the group they might actually buy. I may get one for my folks who will not even consider more "wires".

[DRC]

I just had to try 7.1 with the SB50. I already had Boston CR65's and the handyman was crawling around with lighting work so he ran a couple of speaker lines for me. The rear speakers are about 8' off the floor (10' ceiling), 10-12' to the left and right and 1-3' behind the sweet spot. The tonal quality of the Bostons are distinctly different than the SB when I was setting the balance with pink noise. I don't notice this watching a movie. Using Dolby PLxII movie setting on the receiver the movement of sound from front to side to rear is more distinct yet very smooth. By this I mean the sound movement is continuous and not jumping from speaker to speaker. Sounds that are supposed to be behind me are better placed with the 7.1 setup. Overall I find this a pleasing upgrade. If the rear speakers did not work cosmetically I'd be quite content without them.

[dorokusai]

DRC - Thanks for posting your comments. If you have some time, post them over in the product pages as well.

If you have any pictures of your setup....post them here and let us take a look :)

[dorokusai]

The original thread has been completely updated with new information, pics and links to support the growing SDA Surround product line.

If you own or have one of these products, please post your opinion here or in the product pages.

FEEDBACK! This is so important so the industry as a whole, not just here. Your opinion really matters in this place.

[bensontm]

I have just purchase a 7.1 Yamaha with 95 watts per channel. I had four Infinity Entra 3 floor speakers which I am using as my SL/SR and SBR SBL and I just added two Polk TS400 floor speakers I am using as the L/R fronts to go with my CS400 Polk center speaker. The 12 inch Velodyne subwoofer gives my some time to look after my 120 gallon reef aquarium.

[aedgington]

I'm probably going to be blasted for asking this, but...

Could I hang two of these vertically on each side of my room and wire the L/C/R in a series for surrounds? So that each bar acted like a single surround w/ 3 drivers? I like the footprint of these, and they seem to put out pretty decent sound.

[Kenneth Swauger]

Hello,
I'm afraid that wouldn't sound very good. The SurroundBar was designed to function best when placed horizontally not vertically. Also the impedance load "seen" by your receiver would be very low if the internal drivers were connected in parallel. I'm not sure how the SDA circuitry would react, in a series connection, but I don’t believe it would sound very good.
If you like the overall shape and style of the SB, look at the VM20 and VM30, these are more adaptable to your ideas and look and sound great.
Regards, Ken

[aedgington]

KS, thanks for the quick and honest response. I'll probably go with a pair of B&W FPM5's, unless Polk has something similar?

[debussyj]

I really need to pick all of your brains about the Surroundbar 50 and 360. I recently demoed the 360, liked it, but really have no use at all for the DVD player or AM/FM radio. I'm also skeptical about if there is in fact a 125 watt amp under the hood of this baby, especially since there's other stuff on board. So now I'm gravitating towards purchasing a modest small surround receiver, specifically the Cambridge Audio Azur 540R V2, which has a true 80 watts per each channel under the hood. I see that the Surroundbar 50 requires 150 watts. Although I do not play movies at ear piercing levels, I'm naturally concerned about this receiver being anemic. My questions: Is the Surroundbar 50 that power hungry? Please share any experiences you might have had. Finally, does anyone know about what's under the hood of the Surroundbar 360?

Thanks,
DebussyJ

[dorokusai]

The SurroundBar 50 is easy to drive and it's a digital amp in the SB360.

[debussyj]

Many thanks for your input. I decided to pass on the the Surroundbar 360. I'm going a different route with a Cambridge Audio receiver and the Surroundbar 50. I think that will make a nice combination. DebussyJ

[debussyj]

Well, I received my Surroundbar 50 today, which I matched up with the Cambridge Audio Azur 540R V2 receiver. Install was simple and I'm thrilled with the look of the speaker with my Pioneer Kuro display. Perfect! I also like the sound with both movies and music. I plan to disconnect my Earthquake sub from another system and try it out with this one. If I like, and I think I will, then I see an SVS sub in my immediate future! Thanks for the help!

[Sherardp]

Any suggestions on me using a surround bar as a bedroom setup. I used to have a pair of Rti4s in the bedroom but have since moved them in the living room, and my rig into the dedicated theater room. So now I need something for the bedroom and Im thinking surround bar mounted on the wall under a 40" Bravia 2 LCD. Any thoughts would be appreciated, I will power it with a Sony DG800 receiver and pair it with a Oppo 981. Thoughts please before I order it online.

[brettw22]

The surround effects are MONUMENTALLY improved with the SurroundBar 360 over the previous models.........

The 2 caveat's to your post are that you have a receiver and a cd/dvd player.....which aren't neede with the 360 that has all the DSP processing, amplification, and player in one box...........(and it sounds VERY good)...............

[dorokusai]

I like the Surround Bar 50 for that application Sherardp. It works very good.

[debussyj]

As usual, I have to agree with Doro. I'm really liking this Surroundbar 50 and I recently added my Earthquake Supernova sub. The result is seamless, sweet and the bottom end is commanding. I just wasn't thrilled with the 360, because I knew I could get more under the hood (watts per channel) for my money with a surround receiver and the DVD player was not a plus for me. Guess I just wanted to build it the old-fashioned way! D.:)

[Sherardp]

Hey thanks allot Doro, its not carried out here in Japan so Im buying it sight unseen or heard. I'll pull the trigger here next week hopefully.

[Lasareath]

I just wasn't thrilled with the 360

I just heard the 360 at Polk HQ and it was Amazing!, I haven't heard the 50 so I cannot compare the two. But I'd be really shocked that the 50 sounds better than the 360.

The 360 uses SDA technology and it fills your entire room with Left/right Stereo, Center & rear surround information from only (8) 2" drivers. It was simply amazing.

With a sub added to it I think it would please at least 80% of the market, if not more.

Lasareath

[dorokusai]

The 360 does indeed sound awesome but If my investment was already in alot of other things, including BlueRay, the SB50 makes more sense to me.

Debussyj - Have you posted pics in the showcase?

[debussyj]

Doro- you are correct, I really need to post pics! Between my 2 channel setup and the modified surround, it's a pretty thing. I was honestly waiting to get my Krell Kid to finish off the room! Thanks for the suggestion! D.

[dorokusai]

Get on it man! :D

I installed one of these with a MicroPro3000 at my in-laws house and when they watched Iron Man, she let my wife know the next day that it was awesome. That's rare coming from her beings she isn't into that stuff at all. My Father in-law was ear to ear the whole time.

Loved the comments....and was happy nothing fell off the wall since I installed it.

The SB50 is what they should have introduced from the get-go.

[rayslifecycle]

I recently heard the soundbar 360 at Polkfest......and it does an amazing job of creating a theater quality sound with 2 components (+ sub) and is so simple to hook up.

Designing museum exhibits for a living - I will start implementing this product into my museum's mini-theaters instead of the traditional stereo or 5.1 systems currently being employed.

Also - if you are in the market for an entirely new livingroom setup - and are looking at products similar - there is no comparison as Polk uses sound science (no pun intended) in creating a "surroundsound" effect you will thoroghly enjoy - a better quality experience then their competition can deliver.....

It is a "Slap in your face different" product that
should be on everyone's "need to check that out" list.......