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

jtgranby

shawn474 wrote: »

I just got the surround bar (42") for my parents. They have a really hard room to work with and I recommended the suroundbar. The room opens up to a large living room and open kitchen / dining area, so noise is an issue. With the dimensions and layout of the room, it seems impossible to have a 5.1 set-up due to where the TV has to be placed. Also, to make matters worse, the room is wood panelling on 3 sides and a brick wall with a 24" ledge on the outside wall. We haven't added a sub yet and I still have to tweak the settings on the AVR. I am assuming that the sub will make a huge difference as right now my father doesn't trust me that it will make much of a difference. I have included a crude drawing of their room. Any suggestions on optimizing the performance is much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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Shawn

Just to set the record straight it is a 50 inch surroundbar.

Jim

shawn474

TK,
Thanks for the reply. So I guess mounting the surroundbar on the brick wall would be the best option? Putting the TV on that brick ledge is not an option I don't think. It is a rear projection DLP. Right now I have the surroundbar sitting on the tv stand right below the television. Is this not optimal?

Thanks again,
Shawn

[Deleted User]

Hello Shawn,
The conern is the relationship between where the TV/speaker is and the viewing audience. Will viewers be sitting on the couch for movie watching? If so, that seems to be be off-axis for both the TV and the Surroundbar. Is there a possibility of using a swivel type mounting bracket that would pivot both the TV and the speaker when people were using the system?
Regards, Ken

shawn474

Ken,
Yeah I could definitely look into that. Seems to be the best option. The only other thing I was thinking was completely rearranging the room with the TV stand between the two windows and putting the couch on the far wall. Or just placing the couch in the center of the room and rearranging the furniture.

Thanks,
Shawn

[Deleted User]

Shawn,
Any of those approaches would be good. It might be helpful to get your parents thinking about what happens when you go to a movie theater. The screen is in front of the viewer fairly straight ahead. This might give a point of view that could make things easier to convince them to make changes.
Take care, Ken

TECHNOKID

shawn474 wrote: »

Ken,
Yeah I could definitely look into that. Seems to be the best option. The only other thing I was thinking was completely rearranging the room with the TV stand between the two windows and putting the couch on the far wall. Or just placing the couch in the center of the room and rearranging the furniture.

Thanks,
Shawn

Could work, another concern are the windows if we speak of visual. Maybe your parent should consider some black out material as cutains in order to stop sun light to get in when they play movies. This type of material is normally used in hotel for their curtains. I came across this this week when actually shopping for sound proofing curtains. If this material is also good for this, it would then cover 2 aspects; better viewing and sound.

Kenneth Swauger wrote: »

Shawn,
Any of those approaches would be good. It might be helpful to get your parents thinking about what happens when you go to a movie theater. The screen is in front of the viewer fairly straight ahead. This might give a point of view that could make things easier to convince them to make changes.
Take care, Ken

+1 on Kenneth's intervention(s). I guess I wasn't too clear in with own concerns. The idea of swivelling both the TV and SB seems to be the best approach since it could be optimally set for all potential placement of the audience. Remember the couch may be used in most occasions while with family and/or friends gathering may require the use of the love seat and chair also which may require different aiming of both visual and audio during those occasions.

Cheers

goldstt

A newbie here, interested in buying a 42" surroundbar.
And there seems to be a run on them - especially in black.
Polk's own website sells them for the same price as they sell the 50".
And their ebay site sells only the titanium.

Are they maybe not making this product anymore?

Any reason?

dorokusai

I'd suggest the 50". It sounds much better and not just because of the size. The SDA effect is produced in the front stage as well.

goldstt

But i've got a 42" tv...i think the 50" might look silly.

TECHNOKID

I wouldn't say it would look silly (only 4" on each side). I understand your concern but you have to choose/compromise, either esthetic or efficiency. The SB 42” versus the 50” SB would be like comparing an RM10 package to a RM20 package, better front stage and as Dorokusai points out the SDA effect is better.

Cheers!
TK

svtjoe

An update for Club Polk.

With my Sb 50 sitting in front of my 65" Mitsu DLP and two rear Rm101's (6 and 7th chan) mounted behind me on the ceiling...

I can honestly say I am blown away..I was impressed before, but when you run a DTS-HD MA Bluray 7.1...It sounds incredible.

As a matter of fact, while watching a 5.1 DTS MA I thought the rears were on! They were unplugged, but the SB sounded that much better with Lossless audio.

I like it more and more!

Polk on!

infotree

Has anyone tried the either the original Surroundbar or the 50" Surroundbar with one of the newer receivers (i.e. Onyko 707) that have front wide Left/Right and/or front high left/right (I guess I mean 9/1 or 11/1 receivers).

The reason being I have three existing pairs of Polk speakers, two that could be utilized for surround left/right and surround back left/right, so perhaps I could utilize the surroundbar surround speaker connections for my front wide left/right instead of surround left/right?

I will use other pair of Polks I have for the front high left/right to complement the Surroundbar.

Anyone tried this, or would this screw up the SDA tech?

TECHNOKID

Most soundbar with built in amps will usually include a built in player and if you want to use the full capabilty of the new audio codecs, this is the route you should take otherwise, as 57 mentions your audio will simply be downgraded. I do not know about the other brands but when it comes to Polk, the Instant Home Theater provides you wireless subwoofer technology, I am not sure if the SB 360 provides for the LFE but otherwise, your solution would be to go with an external AVR to power your SB and control your subwoofer as this should allow you to use your old player with some effciency.

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/s...dbar/specs.php

According to this short review http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/show...oundBar+360%BA, the 360 doesn't need a sub.

Ah!
Quote:
No Subwoofer. No Rear Speakers. No Messy Wires.

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/s...60-dvd-theater. I wonder if you could plug in your own DVD player instead of the one that's supplied with their equipment. Check what is available with other brands and I would suggest you contact their CSR if the documents provided don't give you the full answer to your question(s)

Cheers!
TK

We have a discussion on SB at digtalhome.ca, could you provide an answer if a different DVD player con be hooked-up to this product or if Polk has proprietary connectors for the DVD?

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=34127&highlight=SURROUND

Cheers!
TK

svtjoe

I wouldnt mess with the wide and non wide channels.

The SDA SB's are made to widen the signals already. I know that using a 7.1 reciever is awesome. It makes the "rear" speakers sound like they are to my left and right, while my two "back" speakers fill in the back left and right.

Now if you had 2 SB's and did a 10.1...One SB in the back and one SB in the front...that would be sick! I am not familier enough with the brand new recievers to know what they can and can't do.

The SB throws a very wide image already with a basic signal.

Thanks,

Joe

svtjoe

xcapri79 wrote: »

When will a 7.0 surroundbar be available?

Impossible. You cant recreate something directly behind you without having something directly behind you.

a 50 SB in front and a 42SB in back. Would be neat!

TECHNOKID

svtjoe wrote: »

Impossible. You cant recreate something directly behind you without having something directly behind you.

a 50 SB in front and a 42SB in back. Would be neat!

Never ever say impossible, many of the things that do exist today were believe to be impossible in the past At this point, the best solution for the 6th and 7th speakers are wireless (as you well know ) same applies for the subwoofer if you want freedom of placement without the hassle of cabling.

Cheers!
TK

TECHNOKID

xcapri79 wrote: »

I don't entirely agree, you can recreate rear sound via reflection off a back wall. Photographers do this with lighting all the time.

That being said, I might try this over the weekend. I currently run a 50 SB directly off the SC-07 with a LSI system off a pair of Emo XPA5's from the SC-07 pre-outs.
I normally just run the 50 SB while watching TV and switch to the amps and LSi.

I have a similar system in the master bedroom but use a 42 SB with the VSX-1018AH. I was going to try the SB 42 and compare with several other Polks that I have.

Don't forget one the claim Polk has is that you do not need wall reflection. As pointed out, your best option is wireless out back. The Polk RM10s uses the same drivers as the SB 42 & 50 I believe and this combine with a wireless system such as the RocketFish everything should match perfectly.

As Svtjoe points out 2 SB should be a very intersting set-up but not too economical (the second SB could even be used wirelessly :cool: but $$$)

Cheers!
TK

TECHNOKID

xcapri79 wrote: »

Good point about the RM series, I have a pair of RM20's that I can try and the wires are already in place.

Regarding the wireless systems, I've heard there is a lot of hiss and popping with the Rocketfish system. I'm curious whether someone from this forum has compared various wireless kits including the Rocketfish RF-WHTIB, Amphony 1550, Kenwood RFU-6100, or the KEF Wireless System? From what I've read, the Kenwood system seems to be a good unit for the price.

Svtjoe seems to be using the RocketFish with great success. I personnally tested 2 different systems (one from the source, equivalent of radio shack). The one from radio shack was a total failure, as you say popping at times, cutting etc... Yet my testing of the Rocketfish was conclusive, very satisfying. I have tested with RM10s (never tought of using the RM20s), M-AUDIO monitors and Athena B1s, see this discussion link: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86672&highlight=rocketfish

Maybe Svtjoe should chip in and give his own findings and if someone else has experience with other brands, it sure would be enlightnening.

Cheers!
TK

jacob.simpson

TECHNOKID wrote: »

Never ever say impossible, many of the things that do exist today were believe to be impossible in the past At this point, the best solution for the 6th and 7th speakers are wireless (as you well know ) same applies for the subwoofer if you want freedom of placement without the hassle of cabling.

Cheers!
TK

+1 on this impossible quote

svtjoe

Here are some pics of the 7.1. i covered those 12gauge SB wires since the pic

Rocket fish is great. Small delay, so make sure your AVR can compensate for it.

Keep in mind that it runs off 2.4ghz..

I have mine right next to my WIFI router and I do have to reset it sometimes. Unfortunatly, I cannot move the router as my Xbox runs Netflix (Xbox live) and by Blu Ray player needs Ethernet as well. I think if I could move my Rocket fish sender, it might fix the problem.

Other than that..perfect Timbre is awesome in 7 channel Stereo.


The Rocketfish unit is in the closet..It took FOREVER to run 5 feet of wire for those speakers. We live in a 2 story house..so getting even a small run was a pain.

But, Listening to a DTS concert makes it all worth it!! Also the Boston HPS 12HO was worth every penny. Blends perfectly with the SB.

TECHNOKID

xcapri79 wrote: »

Is there a two channel wireless that has a RCA phono in transmitter and RCA phono out receiver without amplification?
I don't like the limitations of the amps that come with the wireless products that I mentioned earlier.

Yes, you can get some without amp, only pre-out (radio shack has one which has stereo pre-out and video out) or you can buy some with larger amp. You should however give the RF a test as it is easily returned if you do not like. The RF can also be used pre-out, you simply set the volume out of your wireless receiver very low and it works without any problem (I have tested this using a pair of powered M-AUDIO monitors)

svtjoe wrote: »

Here are some pics of the 7.1. i covered those 12gauge SB wires since the pic

Rocket fish is great. Small delay, so make sure your AVR can compensate for it.

Keep in mind that it runs off 2.4ghz..

I have mine right next to my WIFI router and I do have to reset it sometimes. Unfortunatly, I cannot move the router as my Xbox runs Netflix (Xbox live) and by Blu Ray player needs Ethernet as well. I think if I could move my Rocket fish sender, it might fix the problem.

Other than that..perfect Timbre is awesome in 7 channel Stereo.


The Rocketfish unit is in the closet..It took FOREVER to run 5 feet of wire for those speakers. We live in a 2 story house..so getting even a small run was a pain.

But, Listening to a DTS concert makes it all worth it!! Also the Boston HPS 12HO was worth every penny. Blends perfectly with the SB.

Looks good Svtjoe Thanks for confirming how it reacts with other gear using this frequency (router). In many cases, this wouldn't affect most people since the internet might not be in use when using the HT. I am not sure if moving anything around will make that much diiference since both gear goes through wall and at a good distance. The best approach is to buy gear that has selectable frequencies but of course, there is a price tag attached to such.

Too bad Polk doesn't seem to have their wireless rx available as separate like the tx as it would be perfect since it has a few ajustable frequencies.
Cheers!
TK

jimbo1421

svtjoe wrote: »

Here are some pics of the 7.1.

Nice looking setup, svtpjoe. Does the chair on the left help kill reflections and balance the sound? Does the opening on the right affect the L-R balance?

Jim

svtjoe

This setup sounds MUCH better than my old setup. The sound is very equal on both sides, although the sweet spot on the SB is directly in front of it. I think the wall on the left helps bring in the left side channel and I may lose a little bit to the right (opening to the Kitchen) but its not very noticeable.


My old setup was an echo nightmare. The SB would send the sound back to the kitchen and the rears were almost too close to creat an enveloping sound. Although it looked a little sleeker.

TECHNOKID

Sometime a problem trying to make the room look good while trying to get the best sound possible (placement), for some reason the 2 seem to be at such opposite

All furnitures will affect the sound in some ways, a nicely cushioned chair would definitely act as sound treathment thus eliminating some of the reflection. Openings shouldn't affect in a bad way since the Polk SB doesn't require wall bouncing/reflection however, the opposite (wall(s) in the way) would play against the SB SF.

Cheers!
TK

lenpoit

Has anybody used the speaker bar 42 for only a center speaker and if so how.

TECHNOKID

lenpoit wrote: »

Has anybody used the speaker bar 42 for only a center speaker and if so how.

I was also hoping to do that however, all Surround Bars uses cross overs specially tailored to do the job the SB is tasked to do which is to provide you with LCR and the surrounding field (involves signal inversion/out of phase etc...) therefore, unless you are willing to modify the SB cross overs (for the surround) this will not work.

Rear SDA® Surround Sound
Rear SDA is the magic behind SurroundBar's all enveloping surround sound. By applying patented SDA Technology to the surround channels of the SurroundBar and SurroundBar 50, we can project surround sound all the way around you. Rear SDA provides the 360 degree wrap around surround sound. Competing products try to bounce sound off of surrounding surfaces for the surround effect. This is great in theory if you have a perfectly symmetrical room with perfect acoustics, place the speaker and TV in the perfect position and sit in the correct position. Otherwise, the surround effect is diminished.

With Polk's patented SDA Surround technology, the result is 360 degree surround sound, without rear speakers, without rear walls or special room placement.

infotree

Well, I finished remodeling the inside of our new purchased Hooker Furniture Entertainment cabinet (which had 5 7/8" shelf height for componet compartments, now rebuilt with 9 1/4" height with rear low voltage 120 mm fans in each.

see http://www.hookerfurniture.com/index.cfm/furniture/furniture-catalog.show-product/American-furniture/397-55-440/entertainment-center.cfm

So we put in it a Panasonic TC-P46G10 Plasma, the original Surroundbar under it, with a LFE subwoofer, cable PVR and Sony blu-ray, Onyko receiver.

I used a heaver guage speaker wire for Surroundbar, and cufrrently have the 5.1 speaker settings as:

All speakers:

infotree

Would these speakers settings be correct for Surroundbar with LFE connected subwoofer?

Speaker size = large, seating distance same for all speakers, + 3 db for surrounds, 120 hz crossover with LFE connected subwoofer.

Is the crossover frequency of 120 Hz optimal with the original Surroundbar?

jimbo1421

infotree wrote: »

Would these speakers settings be correct for Surroundbar with LFE connected subwoofer?

Speaker size = large, seating distance same for all speakers, + 3 db for surrounds, 120 hz crossover with LFE connected subwoofer.

Is the crossover frequency of 120 Hz optimal with the original Surroundbar?

I have my SurroundBar 42 set for size, distance and crossover just as you do. I usually boost my center to + 6db to hear dialog better. I play with the surrounds often to see what works best for a given source. Sometimes I set it as high as +8db.

Be sure that your SB isn't set back into the cabinet. In my experience anything blocking the sides in front of the SB will compromise the SDA effect and cause unwanted sound reflections.

Regards,
Jim

infotree

I also thought the same regarding placement of the SB, it's sitting right on the front edge of the shelf as far forward as possible.

I'm still wondering a little regarding the optimal crossover frequency (i.e. 80 or 100 or 120) with the SB.

Also with the newer receivers using the speaker setting speaker size= small with an LFE connected subwoofer is not appropriate.......RIGHT! (in reading thru this SB sticky discussion it seems some people are using that size in the speaker settings still).

Next large issue to resolve is the remote receiver on Panasonic HDTV is hidden from seating position with SB. I guess now it's time to move up to the RF Logitech remote from my 550.

As regards to SB, my wife loves that our former 5.1 speakers are gone (now heading to basement media room under construction), and the SB fits great into this entertainment center which she picked out. So big plus there. Music CD's I concur don't sound very good, thin sounding to me (however I'm no audiophile). Stereo setting is especially not very good, Neo and Dolby music (5.1) choices sound a little better. Besides hooking up another set of front L/R large speakers, is there anything else in receiver music playing options everyone has found better with the SB?

Movies/cable does sound good with SB & LFE Sub. SB surround effect is working very well (everyone is quite surprised!) with the location of the entertainment center centered on one wall in our living room (which is 16' by 16', main seating area is 11' from SB, sub in front L corner).

After watching for our first DVD movie "Age of Innocence" upscaled with Sony BR to aplease the females first (visually I can say WOW!) , we then played our first blu-ray movies - "Wall-E", 3D "Coraline: and then the first two episodes of "Band of Brothers".

AWESOME!

SB worked very well, good surround, we felt enveloped by the front stage of sound coming from SB. If one didn't have a LFE sub, I believe sound stage would definitely be lacking.

We have never had a HDTV/BR prior to this, so for us.......... it's a first time visual & audio feast. For me it's like putting in my contacts for the first time.

Thanks very much Polk! Happy ladies in our Canadian house.