The Yamaha YHT-S401 Home Theater Package is a unique offering and is poised to provide virtual 7.1 surround sound from two compact, easy-to-place components. Unlike other soundbar offerings that come with a soundbar and a wireless subwoofer, this one comes with a soundbar and its own 100-watt subwoofer which includes an integrated receiver with switching for up to three components.

Design
The Yamaha YHT-S401 Home Theater Package is made of left, centre and right front speakers placed in a slim and elegant audio bar that will fit nicely in front of a TV set. It measures 31.5 inch long x 3.1 inch tall x 3.1 inch thick, and suffice to say these dimensions point to a very nicely sized soundbar. It tips the scales at only 3.3 pounds, so it is pretty light as well. The soundbar is given a glossy black finish and it will definitely blend in well with any TV or in any living room. It comes with an adjustable rotating stand thus allowing the height to be adjusted to one’s liking. Moving on to the AV receiver cum subwoofer unit, it is one large and bulky device which is seen in its dimensions, 17.1 x 5.4 x 14.3 inch. It is also rather heavy as it weighs close to 8kg. The subwoofer is designed in such a way that it can be placed either horizontally or even vertically. The system also comes with a remote control.

Features
The front of the Yamaha receiver shows that is a two in one device as the left side has the volume controls, source selection, power button and 3.5mm headphones jack, while the right hand side is where the subwoofer bass reflex port is. Also on the left was the USB port that can be connected to a portable music player or a storage device. On the back of this device is where the connection options and ports are found. The highlight has to be the extra speaker connections available. This means in the future, the Yamaha YHT-S401 soundbar can be incorporated with other audio devices. Apart from that, there are four HDMI ports, whereby 3 of them are input while the other one is output. This means no switching is needed with your TV. Support for ARC is also available on the Yamaha YHT-S401 Home Theater Package so no additional cable is needed to hear the audio from the TV. Other inputs include digital optical, coaxial and analog audio.

The audio bar comes with two of Yamaha’s very own technologies called Air Surround Xtreme and Music Enhancer. The Air Surround Xtreme gets this sound bar to reproduce 7.1-channel surround sound with quality imaging and presence. Meanwhile, Music Enhancer is there to do some algorithms to get the best out of low grade sources like MP3s that have been encoded at low bitrates. Another feature that Yamaha has included with the Yamaha YHT-S401 audiobar is Clear Voice. This is a technology that is supposed to enhance the audio experience by improving the quality of the soundbar when it handles dialogue and narration.

Setting up the Vizio VHT215 Home Theater Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
Placement of the two units is very important as the receiver cum subwoofer is where all the inputs are. In simple terms, both of these units have to be TV-centred meaning some space has to be made to that equipment rack under the TV so that the subwoofer can be properly placed. As mentioned earlier, this unit can be place horizontally or vertically, therefore the decision is up to the user based on space constraints. The adjustable feet on both the Yamaha YHT-S401 soundbar and the subwoofer unit should also help in terms of getting the right placement for them. Once all that is done, setting it up is pretty easy. If all the wires are hooked up correctly, then with the remote, all other controls can be easily adjusted from the comfort of the couch.

Sound Quality
First the Yamaha YHT-S401 home theater’s ability to handle music was tested, and it was pretty impressive. For instance, when tested with one of the hardest tracks to reproduce i.e. Sail on Soothsayer, the sound bar had no problems dealing with track apart from the slightly flat bass. However, just by changing the EQ settings, the bass problem was gone. Songs that had a lot of beats on the other hand were also dealt with well as it was able to handle peaks and the lows. The mids and trebles were also tested using another track and Yamaha YHT-S401 soundbar once again had no issues as it dealt with the dynamics of the song very well.

Testing the system with Blu-ray is a whole different ball game and the Yamaha YHT-S401 home theater package was once again put to test. This time with a movie and the 7.1 channel audio system that Yamaha claims this device can produce was put to test. From the tests, the soundbar was definitely able to produce a soundstage that was both wide and expansive, but to say it replicates a 7.1 surround system is not true. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean the audio bar failed to perform while dealing with movies; it still does a great job. The background music was dealt with well while it also had no problems with bass.  Music played using Blu-ray was also tested and the Yamaha YHT-S401 does a great job once again. Bass was once again flat but it can be dealt with by changing the Bass EQ setting to +1. Otherwise, everything else was spot on.

Pros and Cons
The Yamaha YHT-S401 soundbar was a great performer with its brilliant audio quality. It produced nice natural tones. The connection options were also exceptional with 4 HDMI ports. The option to add extra surround speakers is also brilliant.

No wireless capability is a big blow for the Yamaha YHT-S401 home theater system. It also feels a little too bulky.

Conclusion
The Yamaha YHT-S401 has proven that it can handle all kinds of audio with minimal flaw and for a mid level sound bar that is very impressive. The fact that it is selling for only $999, at least $150 cheaper when compared to its competitors, and trouncing them all at the same time with its performance makes this a sure buy for those on the lookout for an upgrade to their audio system.

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Upping the ante from its sibling the Energy Power Bar, the Energy Power Bar Elite soundbar is the new addition to the Power Series. Sporting Dolby Digital Decoding and 3D Surround Mode – both features that were absent in the Energy Power Bar – this sound bar is set to take Energy into the thick of the action in the audio bar business. Together with its 10 inch wireless subwoofer, this audio bar could easily be an affordable yet effective upgrade for anyone’s sound system.

Design
In terms of design, the Energy Power Bar Elite soundbar is much thinner when compared to its sibling. Measuring in at 4.4 inches tall x 40 inches wide x 3 inches thick, it is a whole inch thinner than the Energy Power Bar. Weighing a mere 7 pounds is also a sign that Energy is going in the right direction with this one. It’s got a low-profile plastic enclosure which is given a satin black finish. The cloth covered grill can be removed but it’s prettier with it on. It has got keyhole mounts on the back if you want to wall mount this sound bar. Moving on to the subwoofer, its dimensions are 14.5 inches tall x 9 inches wide x 18 inches thick, somewhat the average size for a subwoofer. It tips the scales at 25 pounds. It has its driver on the left side of its tall, rectangular cabinet covered by a perforated metal grill. Meanwhile its amplifier can be found on the back and it has its volume control on its body. Its textured black vinyl finish gives it a pretty look.

Features
The connection options for this audio bar can be found on the back. There is one digital optical input, one analog stereo input, a DC power jack and a power switch. Yet again Energy only provides one digital optical input with its soundbar so you need to rely on your TV. So all the devices at home must first be connected to the TV and the audio output from the TV can then be connected to the Energy Power Bar Elite.  The sound bar as we mentioned has gone a few steps better than its younger sibling, the Energy Power Bar, by providing built-in processing to decode Dolby Digital soundtracks. What this means is the Energy Power Bar Elilte can reproduce detailed, high quality sound regardless of the format of sounds that is coming from the TV.

This sound bar is a 2.1-channel system and it now also sports a 3D surround mode. With this mode surround sound effect can be achieved without having to get more speakers. This audio bar is designed based on a true, two-way speaker driver design that is similar to that of a fine music loudspeaker. Within this soundbar are six drivers with whereby two of the 3 inch mid-bass drivers and one ¾ inch tweeter are paired together on both the far left and far right of the soundbar. The drivers in the Energy Power Bar Elite are also aligned in Energy’s own Convergent Source Module. This means the soundbar can produce wide dispersion, low distortion and flat frequency response.

Setting up the Vizio VHT215 Home Theater Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
Similar to Energy’s first soundbar, the Energy Power Bar, this soundbar also is designed to get its orders directly from the TV remote. This means one less remote to deal with – although a tiny remote control is provided – and fewer components involved since an A/V receiver is effectively out of the picture. Setting up how the Energy Power Bar Elite gets its signal is easy enough but powering up this baby is down to how far away from the plug point this soundbar is placed.  There is a power brick that comes with this audio bar and the cable that runs from it to the sound bar is only six feet long. So working out these distances is quite important for the soundbar. The subwoofer is of course wireless, so that means the freedom of placing it anywhere in the room. Not much hard work setting the subwoofer up as its basically just plug and play.

Sound Quality
The Energy Power Bar Elite is marketed to be able to work TVs, movies as well as video games. However, let’s start with music playback performance. After playing several different songs on this soundbar, it is clear that it does well with treble and upper midrange response. Its stereo and imaging effects were also pretty good. The tweeters did a great a job in playing back some clean and sparkling highs without showing any signs of distress. Also stereo effects came from both left and right with enough definition and its imaging properties made sound come from well outside the edges of the sound bar even without the 3D mode turned on.

However, the Energy Power Bar Elite does have its shortfalls and it’s in the lower midrange and bass areas. Moving on to TV and movies to see if it affects the performance of the soundbar, it did pretty good too. The subwoofer sometimes went a bit boomy but this was overcome by turning its level down. Bass performance was still poor at other times as the need for more bass persisted when testing the Energy Power Bar Elite. From the tests, placing the subwoofer in the corner of the room seemed to make matters worse, so that’s a location to stay away for the subwoofer.

Pros and Cons
The setup process for the Energy Power Bar Elite was simple. In terms of audio performance, this soundbar dealt with treble very well and was also able to deal with loud volumes. Stereo effects were pretty good too.

The subwoofer had the occasional boom while input options are still scarce with Energy’s soundbars.

Conclusion
Albeit being new to the business, Energy has produced a solid soundbar with the Energy Power Bar Elite as it does produce some refined treble and handles midrange with ease too. With this performance, it does trounce some of the competition with ease and it seems to be worth its asking price even though input options are very limited.

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The Vizio VHT215 is a testament to how far Vizio has come in the soundbar industry since its first soundbar the Vizio VHT210 not too long ago. Being the latest soundbar out of Vizio’s stables it not only looks great it’s also packed with a variety of connectivity options. With the endless options to play with the audio controls this soundbar is out there to leave its mark.

Design
Vizio VHT215 has to be one of the best looking audio bars out there. It is not only more refined than the sound bars that Vizio have made in the past but its glossy black finish also adds some style to it. On the front panel, a dark gray speaker grille is almost the only thing in sight. The dimensions of this audio bar are 40.1 inch wide x 3.3 inch tall x 2.1 inch thick and this means it is an extremely slim one. The Vizio VHT215 soundbar has metal feet coming out from its bottom at a certain angle thus adding an interesting look to its already cool design. These feet provide some serious stability as well. It was also pleasing to note that the soundbar comes with a front panel display so the user can easily identify the volume level or even the input mode currently in use.

The subwoofer unit measures in at 8.5 inch wide x 12.8 inch tall x 11.3 inch thick and has also been given the same glossy black finish by Vizio. Since it’s a wireless subwoofer and is also sized reasonably, it could go anywhere in the living room as long as it is within range. The remote control that came together with the Vizio VHT215 has got a simple yet complete design. It only has a few buttons one each for volume up and down, one for power and another for mute. However, sliding out a panel on the bottom reveals additional controls for adjusting things like bass, treble and subwoofer levels. You can also select the input of your choice or change between one of the few available modes.

Features
As mentioned early on in the review, this soundbar has got a long list of inputs. To begin with it has two HDMI inputs and two digital audio inputs – one coaxial and the other optical. Apart from that, there is also an analog minijack input. Most of the audio bars offer just one audio input and expect the user to use the TV as a switcher, however with the Vizio VHT215 the user can rely on the sound bar if the TV runs out of inputs. If you own a TV that supports Audio Return Channel (ARC) then you would be delighted to note that this audiobar also support ARC meaning you can simplify the cables down to one HDMI cable.

Vizio VHT215 offers SRS StudioSound HDTM technology which Vizio claims is capable of delivering immersive surround sound, deep bass as well as clear dialog and level volume. What this technology essentially does is that it takes the sound from two speakers and creates a surround experience. This soundbar also comes with Vizio’s TruVolume which is there to rid off those volume spikes that happens every time the commercials come on.

Setting up the Vizio VHT215 Home Theater Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
Once the soundbar and the subwoofer have been positioned and plugged in, setting up the Vizio VHT215 isn’t going to be tough. Once the sources have been hooked up properly there’s nothing much else left to do since the subwoofer connects automatically to the soundbar. Various adjustments can be made to the sound quality just by clicking a few buttons on the remote. Some of the things that can be adjusted are bass, treble that have a +/- 10 dB range of adjustment. Another thing that the user can control is the subwoofer’s volume.

Sound Quality
Testing the Vizio VHT215 soundbar started off with the Anonymous movie. A test which the sound bar passed with flying colors as it was able to create the small theater and stone-walled rooms setting. The Baroque background music also sounded natural and the dialogue articulation was also top notch throughout the movie. Watching a war movie with high volume levels is probably something that cannot be done with the Vizio VHT215 as it sounded like it was being overworked and the volume had to be brought down before it felt normal again. Thanks to Vizio’s TruVolume technology, the volume spikes were kept to a minimum although using this technology brought about some muffling of details.

The Vizio VHT215 soundbar came with two different technologies namely SRS Wow and SRS TruSurround to give a surround sound experience. Although the first of the two performed poorly, the SRS TruSurround did a solid job in making the soundstage wider. Nevertheless, this soundbar pales in comparison to the Haier SBEW40-SLIM sound bar in the surround sound category as the latter had much richer and powerful sound. When compared to Yamaha’s YAS-101 audio bar, Vizio VHT215 did produce louder sounds and thanks to the subwoofer there was more bass as well. Although Yamaha’s YAS-101 produced clearer sounds a larger soundstage, without a subwoofer something was clearly missing. Also, Vizio VHT215’s power and flexible tone controls made it the better choice.

Pros and Cons
The Vizio VHT215 soundbar is certainly one of the best designed audio bars out there. Vizio has also taken the time to give a good design for the subwoofer. The remote control was simple but took care of all the needs. Providing many connectivity options was also a plus point for this soundbar. Sound quality was also great considering this being a budget offering. The user also has the option of meddling around with a lot of audio options.

There were some issues with high volume levels and the soundbar also doesn’t sound as clear as some of its counterparts.

Conclusion
Vizio has kept true to its budget offerings and the Vizio VHT215 soundbar is another one of them. Even on a budget, it has somehow managed to make a soundbar that not only looks great to the eye but also performs decently. This could be the value for money soundbar that you were out looking for.

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Energy Power Bar, yes you heard it right, Energy has released its first sound bar. Known for providing affordable audio solutions, it’s about time Energy made the most of the booming soundbar market. The Energy Power Bar with its Proprietary Convergent Source Module technology and two way speaker driver designs are just one of the few features that look very promising.

Design
The design of the Energy Power Bar is glaring evidence that Energy is still new to the game. Soundbars are getting slimmer by the day but with dimensions of 4.4 inch tall x 30 inch wide and 4.1 inch thick, the Energy Power Bar is really one huge cylinder. Yes, it’s got a cylindrical design, so you have to use the rubber feet that comes with the soundbar so that it does not roll off your table. Otherwise you can also choose to mount it on the wall with the two built-in keyhole mounts. Again, Energy’s infancy in the soundbar industry shows with the omission of a display on the front. There is one LED on the front to notify the user whenever it obtains a signal from the remote control. In the center of the sound bar are all the buttons that you need to use to program it to work with your TV remote since no remote is provided with the Energy Power Bar. The subwoofer is also nothing smaller as it measures in at 11.5 inch tall x 9.5 inch wide x 14 inches thick. Nothing much to say in terms of design apart from it being box shaped much like almost all other subwoofers. Its wireless, so you can hide it away behind your couch.

Features
It is sad to note that the Energy Power Bar doesn’t come with many connectivity options. The TV is going to play a big part for switching between devices. On the back of the soundbar there is only one optical audio input and one stereo analog input. So in order to work around this issue, all the devices should be connected to the TV and then the audio output of the TV can be connected to the Energy Power Bar. This works out ok for this soundbar in particular since it relies on the TV remote control anyway. It is important to note that this soundbar doesn’t do any Dolby or DTS soundtracks decoding. Therefore it is vital not to send any bit stream audio to it.

The Energy Power Bar is a two way soundbar and it is home to two domed tweeters and two 3 inch drivers which translate into clear and distortion free sound reproductions. These drivers are aligned in Energy’s very own Convergent Source Module (CSM). What this module does is that it places the tweeters and mid-woofers close to each other making them act as a single source that produces coherent and seamless dispersion. The 8 inch subwoofer also comes with a down-firing fiber composite cone and ported enclosure that guarantees precise, room filling bass performance.

Setting up the Energy Power Bar
Setting up the Energy Power Bar isn’t as easy as other soundbars as you need to do some programming to the sound bar so it can accept instructions from your TV remote. This is because there is no remote control that comes out of the box with this audio bar. However programming the Energy Power Bar is not rocket science, as all you have to do is just press and hold the source and mute buttons until the status light flashes. This is the cue for you to press the button that you want to program on your TV remote, like volume down. Also, don’t forget to turn of the TV’s internal speakers once you have done programming all the buttons. So with your TV remote programmed, that means you only need one remote to do it all. Well that’s what you think, but the end product isn’t as rosy that way.

So when you try to increase or decrease the volume using the TV remote with the TV’s internal speakers off, an error message is bound to pop up on most TVs since the internal speakers are off. This doesn’t mean you cannot increase or decrease the volume of the Energy Power Bar, it just means you will have to get used to the error message every time you intend to adjust the volume.

Sound Quality
There aren’t that many features onboard the Energy Power Bar, so it seems like the guys at Energy has decided to go with the minimalist approach like the Haier SBEV 40-SLIM for instance. From the testing that was done the 8 inch subwoofer wasn’t giving us any amazing bass and the soundbar could definitely have been a lot better. Its sound balance is quite simple and that is quite pleasing but not enough for those who are looking for an audio upgrade from a soundbar as you can get that sound balance from a TV. Watching movies with the Energy Power Bar connected resulted in us loosing much of the effects of the background music. When watching a concert for instance, the soundbar’s stereo was cramped especially when compared with the likes of Yamaha’s YAS-101. The performance of the Energy Power Bar improved when playing music.  Both the subwoofer and sound bar just synced well and it was literally music to our ears.

Pros and Cons
The Energy Power Bar is great when it comes to music. The wireless subwoofer was also compact and easy to hide away somewhere out of plain sight. The keyhole slots on the back really helps make the wall mounting process a lot easier.

This soundbar is a major downer in terms of sound quality when it comes to movies. Programming the sound bar isn’t a mean feat but it can turn out to be a problem with some TVs.

Conclusion
There is no doubt that the Energy Power Bar does a great job with music, but it is evident that Energy has a lot to do in order to come up with a sound bar that will be able to stand tall in the long list of sound bars out there.

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Soundbars are in no way here to take over the audio industry by beating their older brothers, the 5.1 surround system. However, they have created a niche of their own and in recent times, business is picking up on the soundbar end of things as they offer good audio at a much more affordable price. As you probably already know, with audio we always want the bigger speaker as that usually means better sound. However, the Samsung Hw-D550 Audiobar shows that that’s not necessarily always the case as it is a small sound bar that gives very loud audio. This just goes to show that attention must also be paid to the quality of the drivers used  so you can get quality audio for much less real estate. So if this short introduction got you excited then read on to learn more about this soundbar.

Design
Measuring in at 3.2 x 41.5 x 1.8 inches, the Samsung HW-D550 is truly a slim audio bar, living up to its compact soundbar tagline. At 1.8 inches thick, it is way smaller than the famous Vizio VHT510 which measures 4.3 inch thick. When compared to the Vizio VHT510 in terms of weight as well, this surroundbar tips the scales at only 4.3 pounds as compared to the 7.8 pound Vizio VHT510. This soundbar is designed mainly for 46-inch screens but it can also be used for TVs within the 40 to 52 inch screen size range.  Being so small and thin, it’s ideal for being wall mounted but at the same time it could also sit right in front of your TV and not get in the way of anything.  The Samsung HW-D550 audiobar also looks good with its smooth and glossy looking black front surface with the drivers sitting there uncovered. The front also has a display which is lit up by blue LEDs whenever there is something to display like audio sources or volume levels.

Included with the soundbar is of course a wireless subwoofer unit. It shares the same glossy black design with the soundbar but does not share its compact and lightweight features as it weighs 11.3 pounds. Measuring 13.8 x 11.6 x 7 inches its front is smooth and shiny black and on the right is an open port for cooling purposes.  Seeing that this audiobar can also work as an A/V receiver, Samsung has been nice enough to throw in a full-featured remote control. You get the usual suspects like Power, Volume and input controls. Other than that you get buttons for the soundbar’s additional features like 3D Sound and a nifty button called Dimmer to turn down the brightness of the indicator lights. It also includes a few HDTV controls so you can just lie on your sofa and let your fingers do the job. The Samsung Hw-D550 soundbar is actually made up of a couple of 2 inch midrange drivers plus a 1.5 inch tweeter on each side.

Features
The Samsung HW-D550 ships with its own wireless subwoofer, but what makes this subwoofer different from the rest is the fact that it’s dual-band. What this means is that this subwoofer can be hidden anywhere in the room and at the same time you don’t have to worry about any possible interference. Thanks to its dual-band 2.4 and 5.8 GHz operating frequency, whenever it detects interference on its operating frequency, it jumps to the other available frequency. This ensures you get that booming bass all the time. The sound bar also promises to provide virtual surround sound which uses Samsung’s “3D audio depth” feature to use acoustic reflection to produce a simulated surround sound effect. It definitely manages to give some sense of depth and immersion that you usually get from a 5.1-channel surround sound system but it’s not capable of replacing a true 5.1 channel surround sound system just yet. This feature also relies on the dimensions of your home theater so you need the walls to be spaced apart properly on the sides to get the best out of the technology.

With the Samsung HW-D550 audiobar, you also get something called the Smart Volume technology. What this feature does is that it keeps your volume on a steady level even when commercials are aired. So instead of having a sudden spike in volume when the commercials are aired, you now get a balanced experience throughout thanks to the Smart Volume technology. You will find all the connectivity options on the back of the soundbar and they are all recessed and face sideways. There are two mini-HDMI inputs for your use and there is also a mini-HDMI output on the Samsung HW-D550 audiobar. Adding to that list is a couple of optical audio inputs as well as a 3.5mm analog line input. Don’t get excited about the USB port as it’s there just for firmware updates.

Setting up the LG LSB316 soundbar with wireless subwoofer
The location of your soundbar is in your hands really as this surround bar can fit right in front your TV set or can also be easily wall mounted. Things are made a lot easier for you as wall mount is included. Other than that, you won’t have much in the way of set up. Leave everything else to the remote control and you will be good to go.

Sound Quality
This surround bar did throw out some impressive sounds. Although we must say that the 3D Sound feature wasn’t really doing much here it still did give you that slight improvement as it gave a subtle roundness to a film’s soundtrack. Bass was not an issue here as it was superb. Although Vizio VHT510 might still stand tall in this category, the Samsung HW-D550 audiobar could definitely give it a run for its money. This is because we got some solid bass without minimal distortion.

Pros and Cons
The Samsung HW-D550 audiobar may be small, but don’t judge it by its size as it packs some high quality audio output. It also sports a very attractive design. It’s great to note that it can double as an A/V receiver or switch and has a great remote to go hand in hand with that feature.

3D sound was a real downer as it came nowhere close to replicating surround sound.

Conclusion
As stated earlier, for a relatively small soundbar, the Samsung HW-D550 audiobar gave a pleasant surprise with its performance. If things are getting crowded at home with all kinds of players and receivers, then this sound bar might be a good addition to those looking for a small yet powerful soundbar.

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By now I’m sure everyone is aware what soundbars are or probably even own a set. Typical sound bars usually came with one long sound bar unit together with a wi-fi subwoofer. However, LG HLX 56S 3D Blu-ray soundbar looks to change the way people look at surround bars by providing a lot more than just plain audio enhancements. The LG HLX 56S 3D Blu-ray soundbar actually comes to the foray as a complete home cinema system. Not only does it give you some loud sounds it also comes with a built in Blu-ray player – which plays 3D Blu-ray content – , net portal, digital amplifier as well as Smart TV and an iPod dock. If that got you excited about the soundbar’s potential, read on to find out how it fared.

Design
If you take a look at this baby in pictures, you would think it is one slim product to have come from LG’s stables. However, you would realize how wrong you were when you see the unit in flesh as it does go quite deep at 20.7cm. It also goes 100cm wide and sports a height of 9.5cm just so you get the picture. Now that we have the dimensions covered, how did we find the LG HLX 56S 3D Blu-ray soundbar’s exterior design? It was simply astounding. The unit has a luxurious looking silver finish making it look very futuristic. You will also find the four driver cones to have a similar design but in the middle of each pair you will see a darker looking tweeter. On the front you see a curved platform jutting out; this is where your Blu-ray CDs will go. On the front is also a USB port which is hidden underneath a flap.

To add more class to the already stylish soundbar unit, LG has fitted a glossy black section on the top. This black section doesn’t stop at just making the soundbar look better but it also serves as the spot where all the touch-sensitive controls are located. These buttons give out a nice chime when pressed. We loved everything about the sound bar’s design except for the fact that it doesn’t give you the option of wall mounting. Of course, just like every other surround bar these days, the LG HLX 56S 3D Blu-ray player also comes with a wireless subwoofer. The subwoofer is a big black box in itself. However, it is one stylish black box with a solid build.

Features
The LG HLX 56S 3D Blu-ray surrounbar has an obvious feature, its 3D Blu-ray playback capability. This is definitely a great thing to have on a soundbar as it gives you more than just audio. However, believe it or not, that’s is not the feature that took the plaudits as it comes with Wi-fi onboard together with LG’s Smart TV. Smart TV takes over from NetCast which only offered a few sites like Picasa and Youtube. Now with LG’s Smart TV you get much more like Acetrax for your movie needs, MLB, BBC iPlayer and also Facebook and Twitter. You will find these features in the ‘Premium’ menu while if you go to ‘LG Apps’ you will find an array of apps to keep you busy. They are quite fun actually like the color blindness test, fitness trainer app and the horoscopes app among others.

There is even more good news on the way as this soundbar is DLNA certified meaning you can stream all the stuff you want from your computer straight to the unit. It supports a variety of formats, so there shouldn’t be many problems on that front. You can also play these formats from your USB Flash Drive or from your external hard disks. Now we move on to the connectivity options found on the back of the LG HLX 56S 3D Blu-ray surround bar. The unit provides two HDMI inputs meaning you get to listen to external sources on this soundbar. This would be useful especially to those tech geeks out there who could now get better audio for his games. Of course you also get a HDMI v1.4 output which tackles all the 3D pictures output. Another cool feature would be the Audio Return Channel which makes it possible to listen to your TV without having to get another separate cable. As mentioned earlier you also get to connect your iPod through the iPod cradle which comes out of the box. Other than that, you also find a 3.5mm minijack input as well as a FM radio antenna port.

Setting up the LG LSB316 soundbar with wireless subwoofer
The depth of the sounbar rules it out from being wall mounted, so you would have to find another spot for it. However, once you get that sorted out, things are pretty easy with this surroundbar. You can just use sit back on the couch and use the remote control which is very user-friendly that has big buttons made of rubber. They are also clearly labeled and glow in the dark as well, so you wouldn’t have to look for them in the dark. With that remote you can just sift through the menus that have been given a new look. With this new layout, you will be able to breeze through the various settings this surround bar has to offer as it is very easy and straightforward.

Sound Quality
Although CDs take a while to load, but the results you get after that wait is simply impressive for a soundbar. The LG HLX 56S 3D Blu-ray soundbar gives a very sharp and dynamic sound thanks to its four drivers that work well in sync and with great speed too. You will also be able to appreciate high-frequencies and fine sonic detail as this surroundbar is capable of rendering them. The subwoofer also gives great bass that can shake the whole living room. However there were some downers too like the lack of midrange solidity as well as too much emphasis on treble at times. Video quality was also top notch. We had no complains with both 2D and 3D images as they turned out great as they had rich colors and had a decent amount of detail as well.

Pros and Cons
The LG HLX 56S 3D Blu-ray soundbar will win over many with its super stylish design. It also offers various features that work well too.

Audio sometimes concentrated too much on treble. The design was good but its shape prevents it from being wall mounted.

Conclusion
If you don’t like having too much stuff under your TV to do all the things you want, then the LG HLX 56S 3D Blu-ray soundbar can be your best friend as it’s a one stop shop. With the long list of features and good audio and video quality, this surroundbar is worth getting if you have the cash for it.

Sound bars have revolutionized the audio industry by coming into the scene as a more economical replacement to a full 5.1 surround sound system. As every other soundbar out there, the LG LSB316 soundbar also aims at replacing your HDTV’s speakers. LG’s latest surround bar also comes with a wireless subwoofer, however that’s not the highlight because the Bluetooth feature onboard steals the spotlight. This feature reminds you of the AirPlay-like music streaming which you see on iOS devices and would definitely win over a huge fan base as it will be able to support more smartphones. Read on to find out if there’s more to the LG LSB316 surroundbar than meets the eye. 

Design
The LG LSB316 soundbar comes in a design very similar to many of the other soundbars out there. This means you get another long sound bar that comes together with a wireless subwoofer. However, there definitely was one thing that caught the eye, and that is its dimensions. Measuring in at 39.4 x 3.2 x 2.0 inches means that this sound bar is super thin at only 2 inches deep. So if you have a HDTV that takes up most of the space on your TV cabinet, you wouldn’t have to worry on where to place this surroundbar as it will definitely fit while leaving some room to spare too. Unlike most other soundbars, the LG LSB316 does not come with a speaker grille on the front which means you will be able to see the drivers on both the ends. This sound bar tips the scales at 20.3 pounds which is about the average weight, so no complains there.

On the front however, there is a display which we quite liked as you can make out what’s written on the screen from even 10 feet away. You get some amount of control from the buttons found under the display. On the right of the display is where the USB port sits for your digital music files. Moving on to the wireless subwoofer unit, its dimensions are 7.7 x 15.4 x 12.5 inches, again somewhat the average size for a subwoofer. The LG LSB316 surround bar also ships with a remote control and we found it to be good although the buttons were a bit cluttered. There is an input button which is easy to pick out and other buttons as well for volume and also buttons to change between your music folders. Meanwhile, in the middle, the buttons that look like directional pad are actually playback controls for music coming from your USB.

Features
Having AirPlay on AV receivers has definitely been something to look forward to these days and we are glad that the Bluetooth feature on this surroundbar actually performs just as well as the AirPlay does with iOS devices. All you got to do make it work is activate the Bluetooth feature then cue whatever music you want. Next choose the “LG Audio” from the AirPlay icon and from then on all your music will stream straight to the soundbar. We are impressed with the feature for two reasons, one because it works just as smooth as other devices that come with AirPlay like the Denon AVR-1912 and the Pioneer VSX-1021-K. Second, this feature found on the LG LSB316 soundbar isn’t limited to just iOS devices, but can be used with any smartphone too. This is something new and of course, we loved that.

The LG LSB316 has got a virtual surround mode to cover a wider area as well give you the surround sound experience. It may not be the best of the class but it’s something nice to have on your soundbar. The connectivity features on the LG LSB316 is not bad as you do get quite a few options. For starters, there are two optical inputs for your Blu-ray player and anything else like a PS3 for example. You also get a minijack input which is actually labeled as a portable audio input. This can actually work with your home theater device if you have an adapter cable in hand. Another connectivity option is the USB port which sits on the front, and it should get you to play music from your pendrive easily.  LG LSB316 is also capable of handling your standard Dolby and DTS decoding. It can also decode Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential.

Setting up the LG LSB316 soundbar with wireless subwoofer
First things first, getting a place to fit your soundbar. As we were saying earlier, it’s so thin you won’t need much space in front your TV at all to place this baby. If you would rather wall mount the LG LSB316 soundbar, then you can make use of the bracket that’s included with purchase. As for the wireless subwoofer, of course you can place it anywhere within a radius of 32 feet away from the surround bar. All you got to do to get the subwoofer up and running is turning on the main soundbar unit as they sync automatically. There are two optical inputs already but if you have more devices than there are optical inputs, then you can always use your TV for switching purposes. However, you will have that extra remote to deal with.

Sound Quality
The LG LSB316 surround bar offers a few Sound Effect surround modes and one of them is the virtual surround Sound Effect setting which essentially just widens the stereo image to a certain extent but with some loss in terms of sound quality. So we tried the other effects like Natural, Bypass and Loudness Sound Effect mode settings for the movies and music as these modes actually spread the stereo image and also provide good soundstage depth. The soundbar was able to provide some decent clarity although the subwoofer did show its darker side when having to deal with deep bass. We faced some problems with dialogues though as we found the voices to be boxy, and even after making some tweaks, we couldn’t get a better result.

Pros and Cons
The LG LSB316 surroundbar comes with the Bluetooth functionality that works with many devices and not just iOS ones. The connectivity options were also quite decent.

Sound quality on this soundbar wasn’t the best especially with bass. While the remote was decent, it was a bit cluttered to our liking.

Conclusion
This sound bar definitely is not up to the high standards that have been set by the likes of the Vizio VHT501 or the Sony HT-CT150. Nevertheless, it does provide sufficient sound for those who are not looking for something extraordinary and if you are on a budget, the LG LSB316 surroundbar which comes with a wireless soundbar would be a good buy.

Buy LG LSB316 280W Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer and Bluetooth from Amazon.com Now!

If you are a tech geek and also love movies, then you probably already own a HDTV at home. However, after spending all that money, you might think twice about getting a complete 5.1 audio system although you know your HDTV speakers just won’t suffice. This is where soundbars come in, as they give you a better audio performance for a rather small size and more often than not, at a smaller price scale too. In our hands we have one such soundbar, the Samsung HW-D450. At a selling price of $299.99, it is way cheaper than Samsung’s HW-D550 sound bar but looks very similar and also promises to pack a decent audio punch to your living room. So read on for an in-depth review of the Samsung HW-D450.

Design
One glance at the Samsung HW-D450, and you could have easily mistaken it for the Samsung HW-D550 as they share many similarities in terms of exterior design. For instance, this soundbar is thin and has that same attractive look thanks to the three visible drivers on each side of the bar. Not only that, the wireless subwoofer that comes with this surround bar is also similar to the one you get with its sibling the Samsung HW-D550. Measuring 3.6 x 37.6 x 1.8 inches makes it smaller when compared to its older brother but the Samsung HW-D450 is actually 0.5 pounds heavier than the 4.5-pound Samsung HW0-D550 which measures in at 3.2 x 41.6 x 1.8 inches. Nevertheless, it still has the same 80 watts of power per stereo channel. On the back of the sound bar you will find your inputs and there aren’t too many of them, just three to be exact. You have two optical audio inputs and one 3.5mm input. This means it lacks the two HDMI ports that its sibling has which you could use as passthrough ports.

On the top edge of the Samsung HW-D450 is where you will find your touch sensitive controls. These controls will remain invisible until you touch them to bring up their backlights. There is also a blue LED display which scrolls information as you change your settings. Moving on to the remote control, you will find that it ships with the same 5.4 inch remote control as the one that comes with the Samsung HW-D550. This means that you get extra buttons that are just making the remote bigger like the HDMI Anynet and Audio buttons. Click on these buttons and you will be notified on the surroundbar’s display that they are ‘Not Available’.  You can add the TV Info and Channel buttons to this list. We would have definitely liked a smaller remote but this remote does the job well too, just that it’s bigger than it’s supposed to be.

Features
The Samsung HW-D450 sound bar comes with a few modes that will fit your different needs. They are Cinema, News, Game and also Classical. Although being a somewhat low end model these modes either just flatten out the low end or high end of the sound, thus not giving too much impact to your audio output. There is also the simulated 3D surround sound feature at your perusal and it can be easily turned on or off with the click of a button. Although it may not be the best surround sound experience, it’s definitely good if you are looking for a wider sound field.

Setting up the Roth Audio Bar 1 Soundbar
This surroundbar is really small to begin with, but if you don’t want anything sitting in front of your TV then you can use the wall mount that Samsung has included with this unit. This means you can free up some space in front of your TV and at the same time you get the most out of your room’s audio potential. Once you have that sorted out, everything else is rather easy. Since you do not have HDMI inputs to function as passthrough ports you would have to look for another way to get them up and running. So, we suggest you connect your sound bar from the HDTV output to the soundbar input by using an optical audio cable. This means that your HDTV will take charge of all the HDMI switching.

Sound Quality
The Samsung HW-D450 definitely impresses in this department as it is really loud for a surroundbar. Even at half volume, you get some seriously loud audio from this baby, so imagine playing it at full volume. Well we will just save you the effort of imagining and give you the details as at full volume it was loud and also had some super thumpy bass. This means if you are going to throw a party, this baby will take care of the audio needs even for a large living room. Of course, the Samsung HW-D450 also comes with a wireless subwoofer and it was impressive too. It can handle bass with minimal distortion. Cinema mode is definitely an all round performer as it not only handled bass very well but at the same time didn’t have any problems getting all the dialogues out clearly. In our case, we even used this mode for music and were impressed with what we got as the vocals were very clear as well.  However it’s not all a bed of roses as we found out that when you use the sound bar at high volumes, midrange tends to get a little out of place.

Pros and Cons
This surroundbar definitely impresses with its super loud sound. The Samsung HW-D450 also works well with its wireless subwoofer to produce some amazing bass. Adding to that, it is actually quite easy to set up.

Samsung’s decision to stick to a remote from another model irked us a little as there were quite a few buttons that are useless thus causing the remote control to be longer than it should be. We also found the midrange to distort at high volumes.

Conclusion
This sound bar is definitely capable of producing some sheer power and has an average sound quality to go with it too. If you are looking for something cheap to replace your HDTV’s audio output, then the Samsung HW-D450 could be the one for you.

Buy Samsung HW-D450 AudioBar Home Theater System from Amazon.com Now!

Vizio wasn’t exactly a household name a decade ago, but now after just about nine years in the business, Vizio has one of the most amazing success stories in consumer electronics history. They have achieved milestones after milestones in their short history and the most notable one would be how they overtook Samsung as the number one shipper of LCD TVs. After setting a foothold in the LCD TV market, they have started broadening their business and one of their branches includes soundbars. The latest Vizio product to grace the market is the Vizio VHT210 soundbar. Priced at $270, this surround bar is priced competitively, so let’s find out if it’s worth the money.

Design
Speaking of design, this surroundbar would definitely win many fans as it’s epitome of what a soundbar should be like as it’s a compact offering and that’s exactly what we are looking for. If you have a great LCD TV at home, then the Vizio VHT210 will just slot in rather than dominate the living room. It measures only 31.5 inches wide, 4 inches high and only 3.13 inches deep. Adding to that, it tips the scales at only 4.6 pounds making it small and light, a perfect combination the way we see it. On the top of the unit you will see some buttons that are there for you to adjust things like volume and also change between inputs. In all it has got a cylindrical shape and it has silver legs that are built into the body. Meanwhile on the front is the matte-gray speaker grille covering almost the entire real estate on the front if not for the thin silver rectangle atop it.

What’s impressive with this surround bar is the fact that Vizio has made the subwoofer to be small as well. At 11.18 inches wide by 13 inches high and 11.86 inches deep, it must be one of the tinier wireless subwoofers we have seen by far. In terms of build quality, it doesn’t exude class as it feels rather cheap when you pick it up but design wise it’s still good. Instead of the usual LCD screen we see with soundbars of late, the VHT210 has instead got a few lights behind the speaker grille that will light up when you adjust the volume. When you change between inputs, these lights come on as well; there are three lights, and one each for each input. However, you would have to know beforehand which light refers to which input as there’s no other way to find out. The sound bar also comes with a remote control and it’s really easy to use as well as there are not too many buttons to confuse you. All you find are your power button right at the top, and the volume control placed in the middle above the mute button. But wait, there’s more as you can slide out the bottom part of the remote and you get more serious controls like controls for your subwoofer or things like treble, bass, SRS controls and also buttons to choose between inputs.

Features
What you pay for is what you get with the Vizio VHT210. For starters, there is no video pass-through which means any video connections you would like to make would have to go directly to your HDTV. So, it might be a good idea to get a good universal remote to go with this surroundbar unless you are cool with switching between multiple remote controls. The Vizio VHT210 sound bar uses SRS audio technologies like TruSurround HD, TruVolume and WOW HD. They have their own functions like the TruSurround HD and WOW HD are both technologies created to produce virtual surround effects. TruVolume on the other hand gets rid of that annoying volume spikes you get when commercials are being aired by keeping your volume consistent.

This sound bar also comes with Vizio’s very own HD Wireless Audio technology. This is a proprietary wireless audio standard for other products Vizio will be releasing later on this year. What this means is that your Vizio VHT210 will be able to sync with things like a wireless iPod dock for instance. Moving on to connectivity options, this surround bar definitely disappoints as there are only two inputs. One is an optical digital input while the other is the analog stereo input. So this sound bar will only do for a simple home theater system. This is quite a downer but if you are up for it, maybe you can use your TV as a switcher, provided it has an audio output.

Setting up the Roth Audio Bar 1 Soundbar
Finding a location for this surroundbar shouldn’t be too much trouble as it is really compact and will sit just fine in front of your TV set. Once that’s done, you can move on to setting the inputs. So as mentioned earlier, there are not so many inputs or just two inputs to be exact. Setting up is really easy, it’s a matter of picking the right input and you can’t go wrong. Finally, you have your wireless subwoofer which can obviously be placed anywhere, given that it connects wirelessly to the soundbar. Vizio VHT210’s subwoofer can go anywhere within 60 feet from the soundbar, so we are sure you’ll find a spot for this baby.

Sound Quality
In terms of audio performance, we found that this soundbar is able to produce clear voice dialogue and when needed, the subwoofer kicks in to provide good bass. However, we feel like the SRS TruVolume didn’t work too well. This is especially apparent when the ads have too much volume fluctuation. Playing movies that had Dolby Digital content were good as the SRS TruSurround HD technology kicked in. We also found that the sound bar was able to provide us with a wide sound stage and even more impressive is that you get the same audio quality throughout.

Pros and Cons
The Vizio VHT210 soundbar is pretty good looking and what tops it off is the fact that it’s light and compact. The wireless subwoofer works well in sync with the soundbar. We also loved the compact remote control.

Sound quality was only average and there were very limited connection options. There is no HDMI or any video switching option.

Conclusion
The sound bar is definitely a value buy as it offers average quality for a good price. Add on the good looks and small size, you have a bargain here with the Vizio VHT210 sound bar.

Buy VIZIO VHT210 2.1 Home Theater Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer (Black) from Amazon.com Now!

Soundbars are your most affordable solution when you flatpanel TV’s audio just don’t cut it anymore. So, if you are looking to take your audio system up one notch, than the Roth Audio Bar 1 Soundbar might be one to look at. It comes with eight mid-range drivers, two high-frequency tweeters and an impressive wireless subwoofer that just makes this an awesome package. Other than that, it is also very slim, compact and is designed beautifully thus making it all the more appealing. Add that to the minimal need for wiring and you are looking at one perfect solution. So let’s see if it has the audio performance to match its specs.

Design
This surroundbar as we previously mentioned is a super-slim offering which means you can place it on a tabletop as it comes with feet that clip onto the bottom. Nevertheless, if you feel more comfortable mounting the Roth Audio Bar 1 Soundbar on the wall, it is just 57mm which means it is ideal for that purpose plus it only tips the scales at 1.95kg. There’s also a mounting kit provided in the box for this purpose. You can even place it right in front a TV that’s between 32in to 42in as it measures 780 wide, about the ideal size. The sound bar is complete as it comes with a 150 x 500 x 260 mm subwoofer which is wireless too, so you don’t have to worry about where you are going to place this 8.03kg weighing unit.

The Roth Audio Bar 1 Surroundbar is designed the way a soundbar should be. It’s not there to take the glamour away from your expensive TV but it sits there with some elegance as it will blend in well and also look good to the eyes too. Your front panel has got a removable grille which is in place to protect your speaker drivers at the same time hiding that funky silver front panel. In the middle of the front panel is the control panel which is smartly made off transparent plastic so that the blue LEDs can do their job in indicating volume level or the sound mode. The other buttons on the control panel include subwoofer volume, mute, input and surround mode. However, if you are as lazy as us, then you won’t be relying on the control panel too much as there is a remote control which you can use.

Features
The soundbar comes fitted with ten drivers that to do the job of getting the sound all over the room with their multi reflection design. Of these ten, eight of them are 40mm long-throw full range drivers and the other two are 19mm aluminum dome tweeters. Within those drivers, four of them are Vector Firing (VF) side drivers meaning they widen the so called sweet spot and also gives better surround effects. Working hand in hand with the Fractal Expansion (FX) technology – a virtual surround processing functionality – the VF drivers can work with any stereo content to create a virtual channel and at the same time expanding surround information.

Looking at the back of the surroundbar, you find a section that is recessed to fit all the available connection options. The connections are not too many on the Roth Audio Bar 1 soundbar but just nice to get the job done. There are two analogue stereo inputs and also a 3.5mm minijack input. There are two things you can do with this minijack input, the obvious one would be to connect your gadgets like your iPod or any other music player. Another thing is you could connect this jack to your TV’s headphone output and now you’ll be able to use your TV’s remote control to control the volume. Normally though you would connect your TVs and set-top boxes that have phono outputs to the red/white inputs. We can already predict that there will be some complains at the fact that there are no digital audio inputs, but we think for a unit that’s supposed to be an upgrade to your TV’s speakers; there are enough inputs to go around.

Setting up the Roth Audio Bar 1 Soundbar
It’s extremely easy to set up the Roth Audio Bar 1 soundbar. The first time you turn on this baby, the soundbar will automatically communicate with the subwoofer so they are ready to go. However, should the connection drop at some point, there are pairing buttons on both units so you can get them ready and good to go again. There are blue lights to inform you that the connection has been made. If you decide to wall mount, it looks like a pretty straightforward job too plus the mounting kit is already provided to make things easier. The remote control is also very easy to operate and you have all the buttons you need on it so you can just sit back and enjoy its performance.

Sound Quality
The most important thing we expect from a soundbar is its sound quality and the Roth Audio Bar 1 Soundbar does that well too. It does well in articulating music and you can also make out dialogues as they are very crisp. So if you have only experienced using your TV speakers previously, you will instantly fall in love with this soundbar.  We watched a movie on Blu-ray by making a connection into the analogue stereo ports and it handles everything with ease. Be it high frequency audio or low frequency audio, they are handled equally well. The soundbar and the subwoofer also sync well in our opinion. Speaking about the sub, it delivers some amazing bass which does not have any lag either. It also tackles bass for quieter scenes relatively well.

Pros and Cons
We liked the Roth Audio 1 Soundbar’s really slim dimensions as it gives you the option of placing it in front of the TV or wall mounting without much to think about. The soundbar itself impresses with its detailed and dynamic sound. Finally, its subwoofer also offers great bass.

The lack of connections was probably the only thing that left a sour taste in our mouths.

Conclusion
If you have been stuck with your TVs speakers for a while now, then the Roth Audio Bar 1 soundbar will feel like a heavenly addition to your ears. It does a great job in being an upgrade to your TVs speakers.