Can I mount a Sorroundbar behind my TV?

squiredogs

I have my 52" LCD on a stand. For WAF and space, can I mount the Surroundbar behind my TV on the wall? I was considering getting either the original sized bar, or the 50. I also may use it a L-C-R and continue to use my old bose surrounds. I would also add a polk sub. My room is like 13 x 14, and one side is open to a 10 x 10 dining area.

I won't be wall mounting the TV anytime soon, and I can't put speakers on the sides or in front.

Also I read that one can order a different color grille? My TV is silver, but it lookss like my next TV will have to be black, so I'd buy a black grille as a spare for whenever I get a new TV (which will be some years down the road)

So, can I "hide" the surroundbar behind the TV ( about 7-8 inches back and down?)

Where the heck did all the 399 50"ers go, BTW?

Thanks
Dan

comfortablycurt

Do you mean completely hidden behind the TV? I'd have to say no.

I'm not quite sure what type of placement you're talking about...

I think what you're saying is that the Tv will be on a stand, and you want to put it on the wall behind it, but below the top of the Tv?

As far as I know, you pretty much want it to be even with the TV, either on the top or the bottom. I'd think it being set that far back could mess with the sound dispersion...the sound would be hitting the back of your TV...which would be a bit of an obstruction.

I'm not a soundbar expert though, so anyone correct me if I'm wrong. I'm sure someone else will chime in.

By the way...welcome to Club Polk!

Curt

wutadumsn23

I wouldn't recommend "hiding" the bar, like Curt said that may defeat the purpose of getting one in the first place. I would imagine it would mess up the "flow" of the sound if it was hitting the back of your TV first. I am in the dark but the 50 is wall mountable, can you manipulate it so you can wall mount it to work, or is that part of your problem?

inspiredsports

The rule of thumb I've seen is that ideally, the sound bar should be perfectly centered with the vertical centerline of the screen, in direct "line of sight", and at ear level. It is hard to get that ideal without wall mounting the screen with the bottom of the screen about 40+" above the floor.

Additionally, the horizontal centerline (height from floor) of the soundbar tweeters should be in the exact same centerline (height from floor) as the tweeters of the left and right front surrounds.

Last, ideally, the distance the front of the sound bar protrudes from the wall should not be greater than the distance the fronts of the left and right surrounds protrude from the wall.

mmadden28

Definitely nothing to block the sound from the bar. I was listening to one in a busy store, and I was kinda crouched down in the main aisle trying to stay out of the way (what the hell kinds a demo display was that???), but it sounded pretty good, and when ever somebody walked past me, (between the bar and me) the sound was totally screwed up.

The only way you can do this is if you use a projector and an acoustically transparent screen with the bar behind it. But, IMO, if you go that far then you need more than the bar.

squiredogs

anonymouse wrote: »

A couple options to think about:
1) Fashion a small stand on top of that stand for your TV. A few well selected bricks, spray painted black or if you are into woodwork, a small block to raise that TV sufficiently to place the Surroundbar in front of the TV directly on the stand.

I'm thinking that this might be a good option. If I can get a solid chunk of wood that would raise the TV just enough to put the bar at the base of the TV, that could still be supportive enough and not too big. Sitting straight back from my TV, my eyes are almost dead center vertically from the screen. That would put the bar a little below ear level. I'd rather chance that compromise than have to look up at the TV a la over the fireplace.

I'm thinking that the wood should be cut to at least the width and depth of the TV's built-in stand base. Are you guys all using the little stand on the bar when you place it in front of the TV, or would it just sit on the A/V cabinet without the stand.

Either way, if someone could give me the dimesionsions with and without the stand, particularly actual height and depth, I'd appreciate the help.

Thanks everyone. I was hoping to go on the wall just below the top edge and slightly behind the TV, but it doesn't sound like that will work...

mmadden28

squiredogs wrote: »

... Sitting straight back from my TV, my eyes are almost dead center vertically from the screen. That would put the bar a little below ear level. I'd rather chance that compromise than have to look up at the TV a la over the fireplace.
...

I'm not sure how the surround bar sits or is mounted, but does anybody know if it's possible to angle the bar up a bit so that it is aiming at the ear?

squiredogs wrote: »

...Either way, if someone could give me the dimesionsions with and without the stand, particularly actual height and depth, I'd appreciate the help.

...

Here's all the specs you oculd want on the surroundbar's

squiredogs

Thanks for the specs. I'll make this work somehow.

Can I mount it on the wall, still behind the TV, but above it so the it's in sight, maybe angled toward my listening position? Line of sight, but still on the wall, back 10 inches (minus the bar's depth)

Any better, or should I start looking at one of those little Sony bars?

Thanks all!

mmadden28

squiredogs, I'm thinking your gonna have to call Polk Customer Service-I'm sure they let you know what will and will not work. Good luck