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

dorokusai

I would imagine that you'll see that sale again, good luck. Let us know what you think of the demo. I HOPE that it's set up nicely but won't hold my breath.

okiepolkie

Well said Paul, on both posts. Now on the LSi surroundbar


BTW, it was good to meet you in Denver.

okiepolkie

I enjoyed talking to him, although schedules didn't allow a lengthy conversation. Did he see the popcorn box as well?

oregoncalfroper

I listened to this and it was great but I agree as sole speaker... not for me

Phasearray

grr, I'm close to pulling the trigger on this one based on the amazon review

thosmos

Saw a Soundbar at Circuit City in Portland for $299 -- open box. I went to check it out again a few days later. (I wasn't interested in buying it, but couldn't believe the price) but it was sold.

That was a pretty cool mark down !

wingnut4772

I got a chance to hear this friday at a local Sound Advice and I have to say I was extremely disappointed. It sounded harsh and I was not hearing the surround effect at all. Was I expecting too much?

cfrizz

Yes Darla, since you were in a noisy store that had all manner of noise & distractions in it!

wingnut4772

cfrizz wrote:

Yes Darla, since you were in a noisy store that had all manner of noise & distractions in it!

Maybe so.....

dulyanov

I am choosing between Surroundbar and MP-4512 (from MK Sound), planning to go to audio stores to listen to both products, but want to ask if anybody on the forum listened to MP-4512, what's you impression?

jkn

Moved post to different thread...

cambir

I heard the SB at Frys and was very impressed. I, too, prefer independent speakers for HT, but would definitely consider and/or recommend this for limited space applications.

PoppaDog

After looking at several center speakers this past weekend I would think that this would be a nice addition to a independant speaker system used as a center channel.

Crazyick

I finished my install of the surround bar on Friday. The way I mounted it is basically like this. 46 inch LCD on Wall, surroundbar on wall under the LCD TV. Under both of these items is an entertainment cabinet housing the electronics (66 inch’s wide). The top of the cabinet is approximately 31 inches off the floor with the surroundbar another inch above that and the TV another inch above the surroundbar. The TV sticks out from the wall about an inch more than the surroundbar. I have the surroundbar and sub (PSW10) hooked up to the receiver (surroundbar left and right fron’ts and sub in hooked up together as per instructions that came with the surroundbar). The following settings are what I have the receiver set to. All speakers set to large, sub set off. Also, the surrounds are set to output 4db while the center/fronts are set to 0. All five speakers set to 12 feet from listening position.

As for my review, I will say aesthetically I love the way it looks under the TV, I think it is the best chance anyone can have with passing the WAF test! As for sound, with the sub attached, there is plenty of bass for my modest 13x14 sized room. The front sound stage is quite warm. The only thing negative I can say is I do not seem to be hearing any of the side surround. At least I can’t make it out. I have played blu ray disks, directv (5.1 source), cable (5.1 source) and can not make out any side surround sounds.

Anyway, other than the issue with the side surround I am very happy with the bar, the sound is light years ahead of the TV’s built-in speakers. I will continue to read all threads about the bar for tips on improving the surrounds.

silvercbr

Hello,
My receiver (Onkyo TX-SR804) doesn't have a general speaker setting for large/small. It does, although, let you calibrate the frequency for each channel (the defaults are set to 80hz). Also, how much gain, if any, should I give each speaker. One review said to give the surround +6db gain.

Thanks!

silvercbr

Additionally, I set my front, center and surround to Full Band. Although, now I'm not getting anything to my sub. My receiver's subwoofer settings are set to:

ON
LPF of LFE - 80hz (options are 90, 100 or 120)
Subwoofer mode - LFE only (other option is Double bass which, in addition to LFE channel sounds, the subwoofer outputs front left and right channel bass sounds)

Soooooo, I'm wondering if I should
a) keep the speaker settings at Full Band and adjust my subwoofer settings? OR
b) hook up the PSW10 via speaker level inputs (from the front right and left channels), turn off the sub in the receiver and set all speakers to full band (this was Polk's suggestion in the SurroundBar guide but I already went and bought a nice subwoofer cable

dorokusai

I like my rear channels to be hot although 6dB is a little much. I run my rears at +3dB. Technically, you should be calibrated with an HT disc such as Avia or DVE but that's you're call....even calibrated, I run my rears hot.

You need a subwoofer, which you have, and my suggestion would be to cut in at 120Hz....and try 100Hz after a couple movies. If you don't really discern a difference, make a judgement call. 100Hz is nominally as low as I would go with the SBar and I'm pretty sure it what they suggest anyways. You could SPL and Freq. sweep it but it just depends on how geeky you want to get.

I don't know every option in that particular AVR but have you tried running SUB ON, 100 and SMALL? You have subwoofer goodness then, right? It's when you have SUB ON, 100 and LARGE that you have no subwoofer action, correct?

Speaker level inputs are for the birds, use the LFE cable if at all possible with your AVR.

silvercbr

dorokusai wrote:

You need a subwoofer, which you have, and my suggestion would be to cut in at 120Hz....and try 100Hz after a couple movies. If you don't really discern a difference, make a judgement call. 100Hz is nominally as low as I would go with the SBar and I'm pretty sure it what they suggest anyways. You could SPL and Freq. sweep it but it just depends on how geeky you want to get.

OK, I'll try running my speakers at Full Band (i.e. large) and set the LPF on LFE to 100hz or 120hz (with Subwoofer mode set to the default, LFE only).

dorokusai wrote:

It's when you have SUB ON, 100 and LARGE that you have no subwoofer action, correct?

Yes, it's when I have the sub on, speakers set to Full Band and the LPF on LFE set to the default 80hz when I get nothing from the sub.

dorokusai wrote:

I don't know every option in that particular AVR but have you tried running SUB ON, 100 and SMALL?

I'm assuming "100" correlates to the LPF on LFE or are you talking about another setting? I have tried the defaults (sub on and 80hz for all speakers and it seems to work fine but I feel like I'm not getting the full potential out of my SurroundBar if I leave it set that way)

silvercbr

To anyone who's interested, here was Polk's response

Jeff,
I'll answer your questions:

The best hook up method depends on the receiver. Since you have an
Onkyo 804, it is modern with enough adjustability to use the "sub out'
jack from the receiver to "LFE" input on the sub then 120 Hz is the
appropriate crossover frequency, with all speakers set to this and none
set to large.

As for the surround level, +6 is recommended for a heightened sense of
the surrounds. The best advice is to play it and try different
settings.

For the PSW10, if hooked the "sub out" method, turn the "low pass" to as
high as it goes clockwise, start with the volume control at 50% and
leave the phase at 0.

Greennad

First of all, I would like to thank silvercbr (and Jeff from Polk) for his great advice. The setup of the sub PS10 definitely improved my bass. I've had the surround bar for a couple of weeks and it sounds great. Watching Star wars 3revenge of the Sith, was phenomenal and it definitely pleased the wife with no drilling holes and wires running thru our family room.
I have all the speakers set up at 120hz and subwoofer on (I have direct from sub out of receiver to line in on left at Sub. It works fine. In response to the question about the sub not working, make sure the dvd button in front of the receiver is set for Dolby pro-logic 2 instead of stereo or mono setting, because I noticed it would cancel the sub response if not set right. Also, in the manual, it states to use this setting if you are not using surround back speakers, which the surround bar would not be connected from the color coded wires. Also, my +6db setting for the 2 surround level seems just right and 0db setting for the front, center speaker levels. I did set the subwoofer level at +9 dbs which I think increased the effectiveness of the sub (please let me know if that is wrong).
Now, here are my questions about this 7:1 channel Onkyo receiver: What about the Equalizer setting? I have it off. Also, What about the input channel settings of the following: Multiplex (I have it set on main), Mono input ch., Panorama, Dimension, Cener Width, Center Image, and Listening Angle. Will these settings help increase the surround effect of the Bar. Help is appreciated.

VXR8

Hi guys,

Just purchased one of these for a set up in a bedroom (today online), where I don't have the facility or want for rear speakers in that room. Am awaiting delivery of it and from the reviews on the Polk site and the blurbs in the forums, I doubt it will be anything but "Polk Perfection". As all my Polk purchases have been "unheard" prior to purchase, because Downunder you don't find the stuff in retail stores, I doubt I'll be disappointed. As per my signature, I have the full home theatre set up in my lounge room and wouldn't consider a SB for a main system, but as a secondary system, this thing will be ideal. This is going to be hooked up to a Marantz SR5300, a Polk PSW250 and a 42' Fujitsu plasma that is wall mounted - and the SB will be wall mounted just below it - I can't wait!

Just read the above post from anonymouse - I understand it will sound thin unless you set all your speakers to "large" in your electronics. I'll certainly rate it when I receive it and will set it up as per specifications.

hearingimpared

VXR8 wrote:

Hi guys,

Just purchased one of these for a set up in a bedroom (today online), where I don't have the facility or want for rear speakers in that room. Am awaiting delivery of it and from the reviews on the Polk site and the blurbs in the forums, I doubt it will be anything but "Polk Perfection". As all my Polk purchases have been "unheard" prior to purchase, because Downunder you don't find the stuff in retail stores, I doubt I'll be disappointed. As per my signature, I have the full home theatre set up in my lounge room and wouldn't consider a SB for a main system, but as a secondary system, this thing will be ideal. This is going to be hooked up to a Marantz SR5300, a Polk PSW200 and a 42' Fujitsu plasma that is wall mounted - and the SB will be wall mounted just below it - I can't wait!

Just read the above post from anonymouse - I understand it will sound thin unless you set all your speakers to "large" in your electronics. I'll certainly rate it when I receive it and will set it up as per specifications.

Welcom to Polk's Dark Side of the Moon!!!

danger boy

very cool VXR8...

the SurroundBar is a good unit... it will not give you exactly the same sound as having a complete home theater set up.. it can't.. physically (sp) it's not placed behind your head.. but I find that it does a good job of giving the impression of surround sound.

it has it's place in a home theater esp if people don't want to run wires in walls or under carpets, etc.

congrats on your purchase.. and enjoy!

VXR8

Why thank you - glad to be on board!

VXR8

Thanks Dangerboy - looking forward to "another" Polk product!

GeorgeM

There's a nice price available again ($600.00) for the Surround Bar at www.crutchfield.com. I purchased one there a few months ago for a relative and have not seen a lower price since that time. They also have a fine reputation as an etailer.

-GeorgeM

hearingimpared

GeorgeM wrote:

There's a nice price available again ($600.00) for the Surround Bar at www.crutchfield.com. I purchased one there a few months ago for a relative and have not seen a lower price since that time. They also have a fine reputation as an etailer.

-GeorgeM

Thanks George I'm on it like flies on . . .

tolax

moved surround bar/AVR235 config question to general speaker question - hope that was correct place!

hearingimpared

Well I received my Surroundbar today. . .one problem, I don't have anything more than the subwoofer to go with it. I have to get the TV and the AVR yet. I'm going to see if I can bring it Phil's to check it out on his HT to avoid the BS that happened with VTI because I didn't open it for a couple of months.

VXR8

Hi guys,

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 in the 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 high enough.

Ciao for now.