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Polk Audio SurroundBar Speaker System (Single Speaker) - Black
 
Manufacturer: Polk Audio
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $949.95
Sale Price: $499.99
Availibility: Usually ships in 3-4 business days
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Product Description
A perfect sonic and stylistic match for flat-panel and shallow-case TVs, the Polk Audio SurroundBar is designed to offer elegant, high-resolution, single-source surround sound. It comes with everything you need to mount it above, below, or even on your television, and it works with any surround sound receiver. It's an ideal listening system for anyone seeking rich, enveloping surround sound without the space commitment or hookup hassles of a multispeaker system.



The SurroundBar is designed to complete your high-definition TV experience and is a perfect match for flat-panel TVs. (Titanium color shown)


SDA technology projects sound to both sides and behind you.
Polk Audio's patented SDA Surround technology means there's no need to install rear speakers. SDA Surround technology is founded on extensive research into the way human ears process sound and perceive directionality of sound. Unlike speakers or surround algorithms that merely simulate surround effects, the SurroundBar reproduces discrete, multichannel surround sound using a patented combination of signal processing and acoustical geometry called Acoustic Wave Front Reconstruction (AWFR). Since the SurroundBar works directly upon your ears and requires no special room characteristics, it can deliver room-filling surround sound nearly anywhere.

As with conventional 5.1-channel systems, you'll hear the best surround effects when you're centered directly in front of the SurroundBar. However--unlike conventional 5.1 systems--the SurroundBar delivers surround sound regardless of how close or how far away you sit.

While it's technically a single speaker, the SurroundBar contains seven active drive units, three tweeters, and inputs for all five primary surround channels: front left/center/right and rear left/right. Multiple drive units spaced roughly the same distance apart as your ears allow the speaker to keep you from discerning the actual sound sources. Instead, it will seem as though sound is coming from all around and behind you.



Mount the SurroundBar below your flat-panel TV, or use the included cradle for a shelf or set-top placement. (Titanium color shown)
The SurroundBar's circuitry maintains proper isolation of all amplifier channels and will function correctly with any amplifier or receiver capable of driving a 4 ohm load (that is, capable of powering 4-ohm speakers). Many receivers are rated for maximum power into 8 ohms but function perfectly well--functioning with about half their rated power--into 4 ohms, too. Wiring a stand-alone powered subwoofer in line with the speaker (a procedure illustrated in the product manual) will heighten the sense of realism and visceral power of the SurroundBar.

For even more spacious sound, you can use the SurroundBar with your existing surround speakers, too. In such an arrangement you can wire the surround outputs from your receiver to your separate surround speakers instead of to the SurroundBar's rear-speaker terminals, using the SurroundBar for the front left, center, and right channels only.



Simplified color-coded hookup with five channels directly from the home theater receiver.
Better still, if you have a 6.1- or 7.1-channel receiver, use one of your surround speakers as the rear-center speaker in a 6.1 system, or both surround speakers as 2 of the 4 speakers in a 7.1 system (with the SurroundBar's 2 surround channels in filling in the sound for the other 2).

The SurroundBar must be mounted horizontally to function properly. Placement directly above or below your TV screen pointed in the same direction as the screen will give the best coordination between your surround sound and the on-screen images. Wall mounting, shelf mounting, table mounting, or stand mounting all work equally well. However, walls or other large obstacles within three feet of the sides of the SurroundBar will reduce the effectiveness of its surround delivery. Cross-corner locations will work just fine.

The supplied 25-foot, 10-conductor cable is color-coded and clearly marked for easy hookup.

What's in the Box
SurroundBar speaker, 2-piece wall bracket, a center-channel base, mounting screws, 25-foot wire bundle, and a quick-start guide.

Product Details
  • Single magnetically shielded surround bar speaker with neodymium motor structures for safe placement on or near TVs
  • Equipped with seven 3.5-inch composite cone drivers
  • Patented combination of signal processing and acoustical geometry produces room-filling effects
  • Equipped with three 0.75-inch silk/polymer composite dome tweeters
  • Polk Audio's patented SDS Surround Technology delivers a vivid sound field from a single 42-inch cabinet

Video Reviews
No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews
Excellent surround solution
 
Review Date: November 4, 2008
Reviewer: J. King, Ohio, USA
I researched this speaker for months before I finally decided to give it a try. My living room is not conducive to a 5 speaker setup, so I thought a single surroundbar solution would be perfect. I was not disappointed! The surround effect is not what you would get with dedicated surround speakers, but I do get a sense of enveloping surround, especially if I'm sitting directly in front of the surroundbar.

I purchased this speaker along with the Polk PSW10 subwoofer, and together they form a nice setup for watching movies, especially Blu-Ray. The surroundbar is also adequate for my environment for listening to music, but I got it mainly for watching movies. I'm more than satisfied with my purchase and I recommend the Polk surroundbar. Just make sure you match it with a powered sub.
Perfect solution for small place; flexibility for future use
 
Review Date: May 6, 2008
Reviewer: M. Rozenfeld, New York, NY
I purchased the SurroundBar and Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Monitor Series Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black). Both units are connected to theOnkyo TX-SR505 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) and sound great. The SurroundBar produces a very clean, sharp sound and can handle high volume without any distortions. It does create a surround sound feel; however, as mentioned by some other reveiws, it is hard to pinpoint the exact location of the "phantom" side speakers.

I live in a one bedroom apartment in New York, and the SurroundBar is a perfect home theater solution for renters. No need for wires going across the room or through the dry wall.

I did look at the Yamaha sound projector (YSP-900), which is a cheaper option since it has a built-in amplifier; however, the added simplicity reduces further utilization options. Once you move to a bigger living space, with the Polk setup you can keep the SurroundBar as a solution for a smaller room, and then use a receiver and Subwoofer for a true 5.1 or 7.1 set. With the Yamaha, you are just stuck with the sound bar.

Bottom line: Polk offers quality, simplicity, and flexibility for future use at a competitive price.
Polk SurroundBar
 
Review Date: February 8, 2008
Reviewer: Paul Eckhardt, Milwaukee, WI USA
Great product, easy setup, great sound. Works great in a large room. Even better than standard 5 speaker surround. I will be buying another one soon.
Love it! Does the job
 
Review Date: August 21, 2007
Reviewer: The one who moves around a lot.,
After a year this thing is still surprising me. I have had it in two very different rooms and both times it worked great. One was a 2 story open living room and the other was a finished family room in the basement. The open room may have been a bit better but it still works great in this one.
Great Sound
 
Review Date: January 31, 2008
Reviewer: John H. Lester, Sarasota, FL USA
I am 69 and went through basic in the days before ear protection so the base notes sound much better to me than the treble.

Saying that I heard things on this speaker that I could not hear on my previous ones. Like the Springsteen song "Tougher than the Rest". I could hear his wife singing the entire time. With previous system I could only hear her at the end.

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Filed under: Electronics • Video & Home Theator

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