SurroundBar

by Brad, November 21, 2005

Strengths:

Excellent sound quality, excellent build quality, simple hookup, very efficient, easy to position and locate.

Weaknesses:

Not as much surround soundfield as a true 5.1 setup.

Review:

I have a full wired surround setup in my den (B&W 603's, B&W dipole surrounds, Denon 3802), so I'm familiar with what a surround system sounds like. I have a new HDTV setup in my living room that I wanted surround for, but the room wasn't wired and I didn't want to use wireless or run speaker wire around the room, so I bought a Surroundbar. I looked at the Yamaha, but it won't work for me as I have no back or right side wall in my living room. I paired it with a Klipsch RW10 subwoofer, and I'm driving the system with a Yamaha RX-V457. I've had the system for about a week, and I've been listening to it and tweeking it non-stop. Overally, I give it a 4/5 star rating, because while it doesn't produce a faithful surround sound, it's a very good sounding system with extremely wide soundfield. Best way I can describe it is if the soundfield of a true surround system is 180 degrees, the Surroundbar is about a 120 degree soundfield. You have to bump the surround level by 3 to 5 db for the best results. If you have a Yamaha with its settable DSP, you can get more of a surround feel by increasing the Surround Room Size parameter to 1.5. I don't recommend increasing any of the reverb or delay parameters as you'll get too much artificial sounding slap-back. What really surprised me was how well the Surroundbar works for music. I have an AIX DVD-Audio disc with a 20-20KHz sweep, and I was able to balance the sub crossover and level so that I get a really smooth response through the crossover transition. I've been listening to my DVD-A's and DTS 5.1 discs, and they sound great on this system, quite comparable to my B&W full surround setup. Don't knock it until you hear it - the Surroundbar isn't a perfect duplicate of a full surround setup, but for 95% of the music and movie software I have, it's a very close substitute. Only on the most pathological surround examples (e.g. "helicopter stuff") would you notice a difference, and the sound quality is excellent.

by Eric, August 16, 2008

Strengths:

Really nice sounding mids and highs! Looks sleek!

Weaknesses:

Not a good bass response. If you add a sub, it will complete your home theater.

Review:

I didn't believe a "surround sound effect" could be produced from a single speaker in front of you. However, it is very impressive how Polk Audio was able to create that with this 5 channel speaker. It's not quite what a true surround sound will sound like, but it will not disappoint you!

by Scott, September 15, 2007

Strengths:

Simple setup from start to finish. Follow Polk recommendations and sound quality is awesome!

Weaknesses:

Absolutely none!

Review:

This speaker is phenomenal! I followed the directions and the setup couldn't have been easier. I have this speaker setup as part of a 7.1 surround so I do have rear speakers driven by a 7.1 surround amp with a 10" Yamaha sub. My room is a large open concept room connected with the kitchen and dining room with high vaulted ceiling. The sound quality is very impressive for both music and movies. If you buy this speaker; follow the directions and you will NOT be dissappointed. Polk hit a homerun with this unit! BTW - It also looks great hanging on the wall below my 50" Plasma TV! My wife is very pleased too. Thank you Polk!

by Jo, January 18, 2007

Strengths:

Looks and brains -- say goodbye to wires and fiddling.

Weaknesses:

There is none for music, TV or movies.

Review:

It's already been said by others: The surround bar looks great and produces phenomenal sound from one elegant enclosure. Most rooms don't conform to the expectations of 5.1 surround sound systems so the Polk surroundbar offers an accoustically pleasing alternative. We use our family room off the kitchen as the main media room. There are many uneven surfaces, railings, and changes in ceiling height to contend with. The Polk speaker meets and exceeds the challenges. I'd also like to clarify an earlier comment cautioning against using this speaker system for music. The Polk surroundbar provides wonderful sound if you set your receiver or amplifier to the correct modes for music rather than those for movies or TV. Hence, I agree with the earlier comment about sitting on your deck to enjoy Jazz. When you come in for the movies just remember to change the receiver back to the appropriate sound mode. This is a SPEAKER system not a complete home theatre system.

by TravisT, February 12, 2009

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Review:

I have both the Polk SurroundBar (42") and the Yamaha YSP900. Yamaha Pro's: The Yamaha is in use in our front room. It's a very large, cavernous room with no place for me to mount side or rear speakers. The YSP was a good choice because it sits nicely in our tv cabinet directly below the TV. The sound is truly amazing. You get a very large spatial sound field, that sounds fantastic. The sound definitely appears to be coming from somewhere it's not. The surround channels aren't nearly as pronounced as the left and right channels, and some times you can't hear them at at. Still, sounds fantastic as the separation of channels is excellent. Yamaha Cons: It has built in amplification and HDMI switching (for two channels). On the outside that may seem like a good thing, but it's really not. For starters, there's only two hdmi inputs, there's no support for dolby true hd, or DTS hd, and I've had trouble when switching between the inputs. I've had to power cycle the sound bar several times in some cases because it hangs on the HDMI switching. Amplification of the sound is good, but in my case, I had to buy a universal remote and let the tv handle hdmi switching, while running optical and coax digital audio cables directly to the sound bar from all my components (PAIN IN THE BUTT!!). The component switching happens with my universal remote. Gets the job done, but sub optimal for sure. Net-net, the yamaha is a TERRIBLE receiver. Polk Pros: Beautiful, sleek design. Speakers sound really good; sonically far superior to the Yamaha. The clarity and detail in the sound is really impressive. I think a lot of the sound detail from the Yamaha this gets lost in all of the sound manipulation/digital processing that the yamaha does. The unit installs really nicely, and looks amazing under a surface mounted flat screen. Also, polk has provided a single wiring harness that contains connections for all of the speakers. Seeing as I ran this through the wall, it saved me a lot of trouble. I also appreciate the fact that I can use a high quality receiver of my choosing, knowing my speaker choice isn't going to dictate my video processing / audio amplification choice. Polk Cons: On its own, the surroundbar doesn't create enveloping effects. It does create a wide 'sound stage', which is very pleasing to the ears. The surround channels are hard to localize - it's difficult to determine where the sounds are actually coming from. Conclusion: Overall, the surround bar produces *much* better sound than the yahama. Spatially, no where near as enveloping as the yahama. I added rear surround speakers (a pair of rm8's), and now the sound really does envelop you. It's also helps the performance of the rear surround coming from the sound bar (not the back channels). If you're looking for a way to add 7.1 sound to a room that's only really capable of handling a 5.1 setup (due to room layout), I'd say you should get the polk. If you really want 5.1 surround and you cannot accommodate other rear speakers, you should still get the polk. It won't be 'true' surround, but it's probably better than banging your head against the concrete with the Yamaha and all of it's limitations.

by Dave, February 25, 2007

Strengths:

Great sound, easy hookup and no wires all over

Weaknesses:

None that I can think of

Review:

I bought the SurroundBar 2/14/07 I've watched about a dozen movies, several music DVD's and I am very happy with my purchase. My system is a Panasonic Plazma 42' Onkyo reciever and a Polk 450 Sub. Thanks Polk Audio for making such a fine product.

by Vance Industry, October 20, 2005

Strengths:

None.

Weaknesses:

All.

Review:

I have a 42" Fujitsu and this thing looks AWFUL! And it sounds even worse. I am returning it in favor of anything else. The build quality is clearly from China. I would NOT recommned this to anyone!

by Carson Warrener, May 25, 2006

Strengths:

Easy to set up - colour coded wire included Simple - Five speakers in one Ashetics- Sleek and balanced

Weaknesses:

I can't think of any...hmmm... I wish everything else was this easy.

Review:

Super simple set up! I have a 50' x 40' room with exposed brick and 22' cielings. All open even the mezzanine that spans from one end to the other. I really didn't have any options for fishing rear channel wires, let alone front. My plasma hangs on a brick wall, which creates enough "wire hiding" problems as it is. This unit was the fix for my situation. Wall-mounted below the plasma it looks sleek and simple. I used the 10" polk sub off in the corner. I couldn't be happier, the included speaker wire was a huge convenience, it only took a half hour to install ( includes time tap-coning bracket to brick) Good work guys, great product.

by Steve Wharton, January 18, 2007

Strengths:

Excellent value Set up was a snap Home Theatre For Dummies

Weaknesses:

Light on bottom end depth A bit tricky following the preferred setup of the sub

Review:

Product delivered as advertised. Sound quality exceeded my expectations and was able to avoid all of the cabling and mounting challenges associated with a conventional 5.1 speaker set up. Match it up with a solid reciever and a sub and even the toughest sound critic will be hard pressed to argue the price performance of the SurroundBar. I can only assume one of the reason this device isn't marketed better is it would cannabalize sales of the higher end alternatives.

by Dino, March 20, 2007

Strengths:

ZERO CLUTTER - Good Looking Speaker - Very very close to full Surround Sound.

Weaknesses:

none

Review:

I am very impressed how a single speaker can produce a surround sound. I did hesitate at the beginning but after I have seen all customer reviews, I have finally decided to purchase it, and god was I ever impressed. No sub connected right now, but will buy Velodyne DPS-10 very soon. I strongly recommend this product to whoever want to save up the space (one speaker - surround sound with ZERO CLUTTER) what else could you ever ask for. What r ya waiting for, go not and BUY IT.

by Larry Buttram, March 5, 2006

Strengths:

System passed the WAP (wife approval factor)

Weaknesses:

None that I know of.

Review:

I am a custom installing Polk Audio dealer in Houston, Texas. My client was taking possesion of a newly built home and wanted to put a plasma tv over the fireplace. I was informed his wife was an interior decorator, so we might have trouble placing speakers in a manner that she would approve of. The fireplace was flanked by bookcases but I just could not envision a center channel and front pair that would pass the wife's approval. About this time (October 05) I became aware of the impending arrival of the Surroundbar. I installed the Surroundbar above the Plasma so I would not have to raise the height of the Plasma. The room was wired for surround speakers in the ceiling, so I utilized a PSW10 Subwoofer, the Surroundbar as the front 5 speakers and a pair of Polk TC60i's for the back surround in a 7.1 setup.

by John, June 13, 2007

Strengths:

Dynamics, accurate sound reproduction, surround sound without all the extra speakers! Will fit anywhere.

Weaknesses:

Gets lost in large rooms. Small driver design limits low end performance. Room shape can drastically affect the performance.

Review:

Incredible speaker for a very unassuming package. It delivers the goods and works well in almost any environment. However, the environment can be a benefit and a detriment to this speaker. It fares well in any size room but loses dynamic strength as the room gets larger. I highly recommend it as an alternative to a "Home Theater In A Box" solution. It will work very well in a bedroom, living room or kids room. Wall mounting is a cinch and so is hookup! The speaker works very well with any source material from movies to music and absolutely excels at video games! A sub is not necessary in a small room but it recommended to add dynamics in the low end where some program material can suffer. Overall this is a great buy, has a high WAF due to its ability to blend in with the decor and its small footprint. It will outperform many HTiB systems and has the other single speaker surround systems soundly beat at their own game. It's a steal at the current retail prices and if you can find it on sale, you should go to jail for absolutely robbing Polk Audio!

by marvin logsdon, March 8, 2006

Strengths:

doesn't take up a lot of space

Weaknesses:

sound is very poor

Review:

this is not a true surround sound. it is way over priced.

by Phil DeJarnett, September 21, 2005

Strengths:

Great solution when it is difficult to install rear speakers.

Weaknesses:

Not as distinct as most true 5-speaker setups, such as the RM-series satellites.

Review:

We have been listening to the SurroundBar in our showroom in Michigan. You have to hear it to appreciate it - the sound field created by the speaker is very impressive. This is a great solution when the room's layout prohibits surround speaker installation (no back wall, for example), or when the room is finished and running wires to the back walls is impractical. Everyone we've shown this to has been able to hear all 5 channels distinctly, although the "rear" speakers tend to sound more like they are beside you than behind. Why 4 stars? If you have the ability, 5 speakers in different locations is going to sound better. Oh, as usual, it also looks excellent! Phil DeJarnett eMagine Technology Systems Clarkston, MI www.emaginehomes.com

by Jordan, October 12, 2005

Strengths:

Easy, easy,easy, to use and set up. The single coded wire and mounting accessories that are included are awesome. The surround performance is surprisingly good.

Weaknesses:

You really don't appreciate the performance until you get it home. I think we choose this for the way it would fit our space and lifestyle and only really understood what a good performer it was after we installed it and watched a few movies.

Review:

This product was perfect for my wife and I. We live in a condo with our 1 year, old so having more speakers around with more wires is a bad idea. This is clean install and looks great wall mounted. I don't have a flat panel TV so the dimension is not an exact match for my 32" tube but it still looks great mounted above it. The performance is impressive, in many ways it performs better than 5.1 systems I have heard that are less than optimally set up or where the seating area is not symetrical with the all the speakers. The images are definitely room eveloping I have heard other systems in the stores and they barely seem to provide a wider image let alone any real surround images this system does.

by Michael, October 20, 2005

Strengths:

Good Price, Looks Nice, Sounds Pretty Good

Weaknesses:

Some weakness in the sound coming from behind you, sounds more like speakers are on side.

Review:

Hi, well I have to place this item in the middle. I have listened to it and it does sound good, but there is one made by another mfg. that has 42 speakers inside and that one is better then this one. Of course it does cost more. So for the price of this one, its nice if you are tight on room. I would if you can just use the polk in wall speakers and if you have to buy one speaker at a time.

Polk Response:

Thanks for your comments. The 42 speaker surround sound solution product you refer to is a nifty product. We have heard some very impressive demonstrations of that product under carefully controlled conditions. But if you have a room that is that perfect you might as well install a high quality hard-wired 5.1 system. However the SurroundBar is designed for the rest of us who don't have perfect rooms or don't want to share our rooms with too many loudspeakers. The 42 speaker unit requires a symmetrical room with reflective side walls and no obstacles. The SurroundBar has no such limitations and will work as well in real people's homes as it does in the lab. See our FAQ

by dorokusai, October 26, 2005

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Review:

I was definetly in the skeptic category when I first heard about this product but changed my perspective after actual experience. It's really an effective, outstanding solution to the aethestically challenged folks that currently dominate the market at this time. I really think it also has a foothold in the largerscale market as well because it's that good. I have a dedicated HT, and have had to realize that not everyone wants a bunch of stuff on their walls. The main demo's, and subsequent comments, are from within the confines of my actual home theatre enviroment, and I'll just say that it was hard to remove it from the system. The days of largescale HT rigs are a thing of the past and focus is quickly becoming a one stop shop of application alternatives. The performance of this product is dead on and as described. The surround effect is 180+ depending on the material. Please revisit all your demo material for surround sound if you formally demo, own or are thinking of this product, and I would be suprised if you aren't motivated by the end result. It is also not entirely dependent on the room enviroment/construction, ala the Y word, to achieve the same and OBVIOUSLY better, surround effect. The center channel dialogue is anchored, L&R blend is smooth and the surround effect simply WORKS. I don't know how many of you folks are familiar with Polk's previous patent on SDA technology, but it worked then and works now. If you want more information on vintage Polk and SDA, drop by the Polk Audio forum. They have a die-hard group of folks that can offer information for everything Polk Audio related. Back to the subject... The Surround Bar also impressed me with the build quality and packaging. It's heavy, which always means positive to me personally and the overall presentation/packaging is top notch. The brushed aluminum frame is very nice, as they could have went with a composite plastic or ABS, but they didn't, and it adds just a real simple touch that for me as a consumer, grabs my attention. They also include the wiring assembly and both a wall mount AND surface mount....everything you need for Plug-and-Play operation. Will this replace my current HT? No, as I honestly can't imagine changing everything again, but the wife LOVES the idea. Great. The impact of a dedicated HT is more than the SB, but at that point, no kidding. Apples, oranges. It's a solid product, with an approach to something new that NOONE else is utilizing or can currently reproduce or come close to. Polk has locked down this segment in my opinion. Thanks for reading.

by Beej F., October 27, 2005

Strengths:

It's a POLK.Quality of build. Sound. Price. Appearance. Great replacement for 5.1 system.

Weaknesses:

NEEDS a subwoofer. Not a 5.1 system.

Review:

Polk's products ALWAYS deliver with great quality and sound. The surroundbar looks as good as it sounds. It fits amazingly well right above or below a plasma/lcd tv in a room where you dont want to put or cant put a true 5.1 system. Dont expect it to outperform your true DD5.1 system.

by Stanten Meyer, October 29, 2005

Strengths:

Efficiency, build quality, hookup ease, value.

Weaknesses:

requires HT reciever and subwoofer to function, setup instructions confusing.

Review:

First i would like to state that i have not purchased this product, however i am a home theater salesman at an authorized Polk Audio dealer in the Houston, Tx market. I personally installed and configured the demo unit in our Polk demo room and my overall opinion of the SurroundBar is that it is a superb surround solution for anyone cursed with a surround unfriendly room (or anyone too lazy to wire up speakers everywhere). It seems to be incredibly efficient (I have it connected to a Harman Kardon AVR-135 40Wx6) when connected with at least a PSW 10 for LFE. On the downside, the actual surround effect is somwhat weak compared to higher priced competitors. However, it makes up for this shortfall with unbelievable sound output (i gave myself a sonic shock headache tinkering with it). The hookup was painfully simple, however the instructions regarding delay distances were rather confusing. The instructions could really be improved by changing the measurements from ms to ft for all of us using Onkyo or H/K recievers. Another great feature of the SB is that unlike it's higher priced competitors, the SB actually includes all the mounting hardware (short of the wall screws themselves) instead of charging an additional $75 for the proprietary wall mount like some others do. Overall (as with all the Polk products we sell) the SB is an overwhelming value and a true heavyweight in the recent flood of Psychoacoustic surround systems to hit the market. This review is completely the opinion of the reviewer and was not requested, doctored, or paid for by Polk Audio or it's authorized retailers... I just love Polk.

by steve, November 3, 2005

Strengths:

With the SDA technology this product gives you 180 degree sound that envolpes you.

Weaknesses:

People who do not hear this, or underestimate the product will never understand

Review:

When I first imagined this prodcut, I was not able to understand Polk's SDA technology. If you have time read the SDA white sheet, then visit your nearest dealer and hear it. It is not designed to replace a 5.1 system or 7.1 system. It is in fact a solution piece that when you are unable to run rear speakers, or the room does not allow it creates a simple solution. It doesn't get all the way behind you, but it is not designed to do that. In fact it is designed to give you 180 degree sound and open the sound stage for you.

by Cliffy, November 7, 2005

Strengths:

One speaker. One placement. One great idea.

Weaknesses:

Review:

How can these "critics",that have posted here, compare this surround bar to systems of a totally different category? Some have not even listened to this product yet. Yes, there is always something better out there for more money or more space but that should not be the criteria for evaluation here. The question is ... does this one speaker effectively replace many speakers? YES!

by Devomania, November 17, 2005

Strengths:

Excellent value, lots of output, wall bracket included, simple solution for surround sound!

Weaknesses:

Minimal mid bass, confusing set up!

Review:

The new Polk Soundbar is a great product. It makes quite good sound when matched with a PSW303 it offers more output than needed. What seperates this from others like it the fact that you must use your own A/V receiver. Having the receiver allows you to hook up more, and makes system expansion available in the future. We set this up properly on our sales floor today and I must say that it did impress and at $839 Cdn it has exceptional value!!!!!!

by Tony, November 20, 2005

Strengths:

Great performance without having to mount rear speakers or run wires when they can't be hidden.

Weaknesses:

It would probably sound better if you could run rear speakers, etc. But if, like us, you can't or don't want to this is a good solution.

Review:

Overall excellent sound. This is a great solution for a room and house that does not easlily lend itself to wiring rear speakers or mounting them anywhere. The surround sound is very good and the overall sound quality is excellent. Easy to hook up.

by Will, November 23, 2005

Strengths:

Bundled mounting brackets; centralized cable management; decent simulation of the surround experience.

Weaknesses:

Limited finishes; not exactly eye-candy; use of a single enclosure limits flexibility of placement.

Review:

My current setup is an aging Bose 3-2-1 system that also attempts to emulate surround without use of center or rear speakers. However, I'm not a Bose fan and have been looking for a solution that will work with my high-end Denon receiver in another room that is surround challenged. After listening to the SB with my own benchmark DVDs and CDs at a local store, I'm convinced the product will fit the bill.

by Cliff FLorida, November 27, 2005

Strengths:

Sound, size, fit and finish.

Weaknesses:

I'd like more color choices.

Review:

Phreakin' outta this world! Polk has knocked outta da park on dis one, go Bears! Seriously, it fits the bill it is intended for. Does it compare to a full fledged surround system? Of course not. Polk makes full fledged surround systems that cost WAAAAY more. Belive me, Polk and their delers would rather you buy a full fledged Polk Audio 7.1 Surround system. They ARE in the business of selling speakers, not saving the world from bad hi-fi. Now, if you have an installation challenged room, and have a TV that this will work with, and don't mind losing a certain percentage of the effect that a full on surround system offers then this one is a winner.

by Jason, January 1, 2005

Strengths:

Great Sound!. Crisp and concise. No Clutter and easy setup.

Weaknesses:

you kinda need a sub to get to lows and make the sound more full.

Review:

I picked this surround bar up today after hearing it the previous day at futureshop. There demo was in the middle of the store....no sound booth there let alone any walls. Anywho, I was really impressed by the clarity and power of the sound. Get some walls behind you and your in 5.1 bliss. Mind you the sound does not travel right around you but it is pretty close. I plan on adding a surround back channel anyway due to my pioneer 7.1 reciever supports it. If you want something with awesome sound and in a compact and easy to setup configuration...you can't go wrong with the polk surround bar.

by Rusty in Georgia, January 10, 2006

Strengths:

Compact, no tripping over wires, Sounds amazing and best of all--it's by Polk.

Weaknesses:

I wish the speaker wire was a bit shorter.

Review:

Got this as a X-mas gift, along w/Onkyo Rcv'r and Panasonic plasma. Looks great, and the sound is jam-up & jelly tight. I got mine at Hifi-buys, and they gave me a Polk Subwoofer. I looked at the Mirage, and the Yamaha as well, and couldn't pass up on the Polk. Sounds better, costs less, and has a 5 yr warranty.

by Steve Kozle, January 24, 2006

Strengths:

Excellent sound, build quality and overall product presentation. Surround sound is better than I ever expected.

Weaknesses:

None as of yet.

Review:

I purchased the Polk Surroundbar with some trepidation, as it is an expensive leap of faith purchase due to the fact that I was unable to find a local Polk dealer with a showroom model to test. I thought the unit would be ideal in my TV room due to the fact that I refuse to drill holes in my hardwood floors to accomodate traditional 5.1 rear speakers. Fit and Finish - The Surroundbar arrived and I was immediately impressed with the integrity of the product packaging. The fit and finish of the bar itself is very impressive. The product is very heavy and solid, encased with a real metal finish, giving it a very hi-tech and sturdy appearance. In addition, the accessories included in the box (stand, mounts, cables) are of the highest quality and complement the surround bar nicely. Performance - When the system was initially set up, I thought it sounded ok. Then I further studied the set-up guide and found that the way my subwoofer was connected and some of the necessary settings on my receiver were incorrect. Instead of the standard RCA type sub connection, I rewired the sub to be in line via speaker wire to the 2 front connections as reccommended by Polk. Also, the speaker size needed to be set to large for all channels. (I've learned to ALWAYS follow the manufacturer's specifications!) Once the adjustments were made, the sound was incredible. The first thing you notice is the overall power of the unit. The sound is huge and imposing. The surround effect is absolutely incredible both with DVDs and Xbox games. I now have almost a full 360 degree sound experience with distinct separation between all channels. Movies with DTS-ES 6.1 sound are a wonder to listen to. This system replaced a 3.1 full-size Onkyo speaker setup and sounds cleaner, more powerful and much better overall than the other full-size speakers ever did! Conclusion - I am completely satisfied with my purchase. I'm getting my demo material picked out so that I can invite my neighbors and buddies to come over and marvel at my new toy. It's expensive, but you get what you pay for with this product - no wires, no drilling holes in the floor, easy setup and excellent performance. Even my wife thinks it's cool! MY HIGHEST RECOMENDATION.

by Jeff, January 30, 2006

Strengths:

Easy to set up, solid and sturdy construction. Sound is excellent, and not just for home theatre - faithful reproduction of music as well.

Weaknesses:

Need the sub woofer, so isn't truly out of a box solution - but very close.

Review:

I'm new to Home Theatre technology, and it was a (happy) coincidence that I bought this item on sale after Christmas. The salesperson was very persuasive, the price mark down was dramatic, and they threw in the subwoofer for free, so I went for it. I'm very glad I did. I had been making do with a small bookshelf unit, but had been thinking about upgrading to a 5:1 system for a while. Having bought this unit, and with absolutely no real research having been previously conducted, I realize that Polk has the perfect solution for a long narrow TV room room where wiring speakers side and rear would be problematic. I initially set up the speakers, wires are color coded and included in the package, so it's quite easy. Learning to use my new receiver was the bigger challenge, but i did follow the speaker set up instructions, and found the accuracy and clarity of the Surroundbar to be great. However, it wasn't until I added in the aforementioned PSW10 Sub Woofer that the system jumped to life.If you buy this system, you need a Sub Woofer. One man's opinion. Unlike some of these other reviwers I didn't have a comparable system. However, I do like the sound I'm getting, music sounds fantastic, and the entire system seems to be a close simulation of one of those systems that envelop a room like an octopus. If you have a compact listening environment, or don't want the hassle or clutter of speakers all around, try this out.

by Jason Deveau, February 27, 2006

Strengths:

Obviously, ease of set-up, unobstrusive profile, and convincing surround-sound (with sub woofer).

Weaknesses:

This system is the next-best to actual 5.1 It doesn't have the crisp, localized rear imaging of separate speakers, but it's very close.

Review:

For those looking for an unbiased review: This was the perfect solution for our living room, which only has three walls (open concept). This meant our only choice for rear speakers was the ceiling (read: hours of fish-taping speaker wire between floors) or free-standing (read: wires running along the floor and tippy top-heavy stands). Honestly, I didn't think this system could compare to separate speakers, and I really wasn't sure until my nephew and pet convinced me. I was playing a DVD with excellent sound imaging, watching with my 3 year old nephew and our family cat. I left the living room for a moment. When I returned, it was to catch my nephew looking all around the room, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. I was pleasantly surprised. More so when I saw our cat doing the same thing, turning his head in synch with my nephew, trying to localize the source of each sound. Now, I realize the technology is based on the average distance between adult ears, and that my young nephew (and certainly the cat) weren't experiencing optimal sound. But, the illusion worked for them, so who am I to argue?

by Jay Mack, March 1, 2006

Strengths:

Apparent ease of set-up, looks and convenience, low relative cost, Polk name, uncluttered solution.

Weaknesses:

What's the relevance of 180 degrees? Does that mean only the top half of the room?

Review:

I do not own this product, but it looks great. I am a Polk fan. I've used their db and Momo car audio speaker lines for years and Polk makes a great product. I'd like to get this one. Rather, I have two questions for Polk. My main applications are going to be DVD-audio/SACD discs and HD FM Radio and computer streaming. I loath subscription radio. 1) Does this product faithfully deliver on the DVD-Audio/Sacd formats and, 2) where am I going to get a home theater HD FM Radio receiver w/usb port for computer streaming, both of which I need before I'm buying anything, much less spending a thousand dollars?

by Rick Buck, March 12, 2006

Strengths:

Great sound, good quality and look

Weaknesses:

As noted in my review.

Review:

Purchased the surround bar about 3 weeks ago. Very nice sounds.. I'm happy with it - with one reservation. The advertising leads one to believe that the surround bar can be utilized on the wall, or on a stand. The choice I made was to put it on a stand and I purchased a stand for that purpose. The surround bar is about 4" in height, and with the accompanying cradle that it sits on when stand-mounted, it is about 5 inches in height. This is a problem - as the Panasonic plasma that I own, on it's stand, is only about 3" above the shelf on which it sits - thus impeding and blocking a view of the lower two inches of the TV screen. With the weight, height, and high center of gravity of a plasma set, it is not feasible to think it can sit high enough on a stand (6 inches over the shelf) to accomodate this surroundbar. As I explained it all to my wife, she cheerily said, "We can watch TV standing up and see over the speaker bar". I had to laugh. All my plans for a clean, installation up in smoke. Oh well, live and learn.. Temporarily, I have mounted it on the 2nd shelf. It looks quite good there, but there is some impediment on each end of the bar, as the stand-supports are partially blocking the left and right speaker. The stand I bought fits the surroundbar perfectly on the top shelf at 43", but the shelf below only measures 40". I am presently contemplating mounting it on the wall above the tv and stand with the accompanying mounting rack but that will be at odds with my goal of a home theater - with no visible wiring. Oh well... It's probably my own fault for not knowing how high my plasma mounted and that it would be partially blocked... but the pictures that exist of the surround bar mounted on a stand, show no such problem. The sound is excellent. The surround sound is fabulous. And yes, you need to buy a subwoofer for full effect. I use the exceptional Mirage Omni S8. If not for the problem with my planning and the surroundbar height, I'd have given it 5 stars..

by Robert, April 7, 2006

Strengths:

Ease of setup No wires

Weaknesses:

You decide

Review:

I work at circuit city where we currently have this on display. For those of you who a curious about it...you should come out and test it out. Then you can make your own opinion about it.

by Handydave, July 9, 2006

Strengths:

mounted right on top of my 50" dlp tv to clear the sofa

Weaknesses:

Directions could be a little more detailed

Review:

very easy, great sound and unobtrusive Finally i was able to ditch all those wires running on top of the floors

by Robert Howell, August 2, 2006

Strengths:

Speachless. Awsome sound. Awsome emulation of 5.1 Looks great. Easy to hook up.

Weaknesses:

None. Dont forget a sub.

Review:

Just finished renovating my basement and was looking for a solution to eliminate the wires running through my old system. I was willing to sacrifice my home theatre experience to keep my room clean. I can’t believe that with this one speaker I sacrificed nothing. I purchased this and a new receiver and am simply shocked at the quality of sound this unit provides and the 5.1 experience that it emulates.

by ASD, August 4, 2006

Strengths:

Keeps most audiophiles AND designers happy.

Weaknesses:

None -- the company clearly states the advantage of adding a subwoofer.

Review:

I have been enjoying the soundbar since last Xmas. Initially, I was intending to get another product that included amplifier and sound but I had a good receiver already. A salesman sold skeptical me the soundbar, instead. Hence, I have eliminated the clutter in my family room but not the sound. In fact, the sound is better than my old mid-priced 5.1 system; you become immersed in sound rather than bombarded by it from odd angles at odd moments. Whether it's music or a movie, the experience is more satisfying. For instance, I can relax on the deck adjoining the family room without leaving my jazz tunes behind. The rich sound finds me out there too -- hope the neighbors don't mind!

by Dan, August 19, 2006

Strengths:

Compact, powerful and great looking.

Weaknesses:

Lots of wires to hook-up. Cable supplied (5m) far too long for the purpose of a center speaker.

Review:

This proved to be an ideal center speaker when complemented by four other speakers and a subwoofer.

by Marilyn, August 25, 2006

Strengths:

As per review.

Weaknesses:

What's a weakness?

Review:

We have just moved, downsizing considerably, wanting good speakers but were lacking the space to put more than 2 small ones. We wondered if there was such a thing as a 1-speaker surround sound and lo and behold the internet turned up the Polk Surround Bar. A few weeks later Future Shop had them on sale. In our new home this Surround Bar is a bit of overkill and watching some movies finds us working the remote sound. However, it is well worth it. With the option selection of sound setting for TV, Music, Movies etc. we are thoroughly enjoying this speaker. It sits in its cradle atop our entertainment centre and is nearly 3' above the TV with the woofer on a table nearby. No messy wires, no taking up precious space. I'm sure Polk made it just for us!

by paolo, December 24, 2006

Strengths:

easy to set up

Weaknesses:

Not to be considered better than a 5.1 system Not to be used to listen music

Review:

Sorry for my bad English : I'm from Italy Thanks to Polk for the bar Without the possibility to make rear speakers the bar makes a nice sourranding sound that put yourself inside the film , better than any systems with 3 speakers ( L C R ).

by Brian, December 27, 2006

Strengths:

Clear sound

Weaknesses:

the long cable that comes with the bar

Review:

I bought the sound bar yesterday and set it up. The sound bar does exactly what it is supposed to do. It does not replace a 5.1 with rear speakers, but it DOES a great job of coming close. Plus, I passed the wife test and we do not have the wires all over the place. Also, with the included 10" sub, i couldn't be happier.

by Mark A Nichols, January 23, 2007

Strengths:

This speaker sounds great with all kinds of programing. It has super easy setup. It only took me about 20 minutes; if even that long. Also the one bundled wire is awesome. And it looks great sitting on top of my television and is built to last with it's metal cabinet.

Weaknesses:

Does not provide complete surround sound, but for me that is an OK trade off for getting back my space(eliminating excess speakers and wires).

Review:

I am using this in my bedroom where I previoulsy had five speakers and a sub with wires all over the place. This is a situation that I became extremely annoyed with and wanted the excess speakers and wires gone. Polk audio has allowed me to do just that. I absolutely love this setup. One speaker and one bundled wire. In my opinion this speaker sounds great with every kind of sound; movies music; talk radio; you name it. I am using the sub that came with my home theatre receiver and it supplies all the bass that I want. As far as surround sound, I agree that it does not supply the same surround as my previous 5.1 sound but I really am not that excited about having sound coming at me from all around. This speaker does provide enough surround for me considering that it is in a small bedroom. I am very, very pleased. Thankyou so much Polk Audio.

by Gary Bayly, February 7, 2007

Strengths:

As per review - build and sound quality. The fact that I can buy it brand new in Sydney Australia!!

Weaknesses:

Nothing that isn't already recommended by Polk with the need for a sub.

Review:

Received and set up my SurroundBAR today - including wall mounting. As per my RM6000 system I am not currently using in complete, I have utilised the PSW250 with the SurroundBAR. Initially, I was amazed how big the SurroundBAR was, but everything that is included with it makes it a snap to hook up and mount. As for the sound, I have set all speakers to "Large" and have the sub at about 100. I have the sub hooked up in parallel with the front speakers, as per Polk's suggested hook up method. The unit has exceeded both my expectations in quality of build (Black brushed aluminum) and sound. I have dabbled with both a DVD and have just listened to a CD through 2 channel. For all intents and purposes that I purchased this unit (the wife actually paid for it), other than having the normal set up, this is impressive. Again, as per Polk's slogan with the SurrounBAR, "Five Channels, One Speaker, Zero Clutter", this is what I wanted as my setup in a bedroom. Anyone who is tight with space, or just wants the simplicity of one speaker with the sound of five, I cannot recommend this product highly enough. Ciao for now.

by Don, September 10, 2007

Strengths:

sound build quality

Weaknesses:

none

Review:

bounght the black color of this model excellent sounds have it hooked up with a onkyo 605 receiver with samsung 1400 blu-ray player the true hd sounds from bluray movies are unbelievable sound experence using this in a large size bedroom.This a a top choice if anyone is looking for a speaker to enjoy the surround sound experiance.

by Peter Mc, January 15, 2008

Strengths:

It is all in one package, easy to use, full sound.

Weaknesses:

None that is not fixed with buying the sub.

Review:

I have waited a year to write this review long enough to really appreciate this item. All I can say is for the money and convenience there is nothing that can beat it. I am so impressed!!!

by Chris schwallenberg, January 22, 2008

Strengths:

easy set-up, good quality

Weaknesses:

Can not think of any

Review:

I was impressed with the quality of this product. The sound is great and exceeded my expectations of a home theater system. I am really pleased that I do not have to run wires all over the floor just to enjoy surround sound, this product eliminates that.

What Home Cinema magazine (United Kingdom)
March 2006

"What you do get is a genuine sense of sound coming from behind your listening position... You feel as if there are indeed many small speakers invisibly placed around the room."

Editor's Choice

[ Open Review ]

Home Cinema Choice magazine (United Kingdom)
February 2006

"It is gorgeously crafted from Aluminium..."

"From the outset the sound is immediately richer and more robust than the rival ******..."

"...the more you listen to the Polk the seemingly more invisible it becomes..."

"...it does manage to create a suitably enveloping overall ambience of effects that are far less influenced by the room, and where you sit in it, than [the 4] other systems [tested in this review]"

"...the SurroundBar is probably the unltimate one-box speaker solution I've heard to date."
Selected as a Home Cinema Choice best Buy

Darryl P. B. Wilkinson
Home Theater.com
January 2006

"Not surprisingly, the SurroundBar includes seven 3.5-inch drivers, three tweeters, and a very complex 39-element crossover. What is surprising is how well it works."

"In fact, in difficult rooms, such as those in which the rear speakers have to be mounted in acoustically undesirable locations or the seating area is not ideal for surround (up against a wall, for example), the SurroundBar will surely outperform a multiple-speaker arrangement."

"the SurroundBar does a great job of doing exactly what it was designed to do: fill a room with quite fine surround sound without intruding on the homeowner's décor or lifestyle. And that's the (sound) wave of the future."

[ Open Review ]

Team XBox.com
March 2006

"...the front stage is super wide and impressive from many listening positions. The center channel is stable during the hullabaloo too, which helps dialog come across rather clear and un-muddied. There's a cool lack of source points too from the successful cancellation of the inter-aural crosstalk. Imagine more of a "wall" of sound, rather than a speaker here, and a speaker there with many dead spots in between."

[ Open Review ]

Havard Holmedal
DVD & Hjemmkino (Norway)
April 2006

Translated from the original Norwegian
"The surprise is big when this piece is capable of giving a pretty convincing expression that there really is surround speakers in the room. It does not sound as if there are two speakers, but several speakers at the rear of the room that gives a complete and pretty wide sound from behind."

"Conclusion
Polk SurroundBar is not for those that have to rebuild their garage for their home theatre system, but it is definitely one of the most intelligent products we have seen for the regular consumer with a strong aversion against pulling cables all over their home and mounting speakers on the back wall. In addition it also sounds very nice."

"This is no bluff people, but a close to genius idea that works as its purpose."

TopReviewShop.com
2006

"The SurroundBar offers an impressive surround-sound experience without the clutter and installation hassle of conventional 5.1 systems, and it looks stylish to boot."

[ Open Review ]

Exercise For Men Only
July 2006

"get the best there is in audio surround sound with Polk Audio's SurroundBar!"

[ Open Review ]

Chris Boylan
Big Picture Big Sound
October, 2006

"And the sound on Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge" was so compelling that the film was half over before I remembered that I was listening to a single box speaker. And that's probably the feature that impressed me most about the unit. It's a very satisfying and involving system that will not leave you wanting more."

"...the SurroundBar will get you about as close to discrete surround sound as you can get from a single-box speaker at the front of the room. And its sound quality speaks of its heritage - the Polk speakers sound rich and full-balanced and will blow away the speakers built into any television, flat panel or otherwise."

[ Open Review ]