Choices, choices, choices. What would work best?

chboro
chboro Posts: 3
edited May 2011 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Hi all,
New to forum. Been looking at Polk Audio Surroundbars. We recently moved and the home we are in now, just will not work with my old 5.1 surround system and speakers. Situation: My 57" HD Projection TV is elevated 18" onto a platform that was created by the builder. No other option. When sitting down on the couch the TV screen is slightly up. Probably about a foot to a foot and a half, over 10-12 feet. The whole bottom of the TV has the internal speakers so there is no place to put a surroundbar there. Will a surroundbar be adequate on top of the TV? Or will that be too high? If there was anyway for me to add an picture of this I would've. But, I just signed on and haven't figured that out yet. Any suggestions on what would work, and where to position it. I was thinking about the surroundbar 360, but I read somewhere that is for smaller rooms. Anyhow, there it is. I'll snap a picture and see if I can show my situation. Thanks in advance!

Chuck
Arizona
Post edited by chboro on
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Comments

  • apphd
    apphd Posts: 1,514
    edited May 2011
    Welcome to CP Chuck. No experience with the surround bars, but I would agree that sounds like it would be too high, at least for optimal performance. Any chance it could mount below the TV platform on a second stand, or the wall? Another thought would be some bookshelf for main R & L and maybe the Polk wireless surrounds http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/fx/

    Not sure what kind of budget your working with, but maybe something in the Blackstone TL2 line and the fx wireless with a sub might do it.

    Give Polk a call and see what their thoughts are on a surround bar mounted that high would be my starting point. Then post a pic with some dimensions on what you have to work with and most everyone here likes to spend other people's money so you should get some replies.

    Good luck
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  • chboro
    chboro Posts: 3
    edited May 2011
    Thanks for the reply, and suggestions. Mounting below can not be an option.

    I have thought about gutting out the TV speakers and putting a surroundbar possibly behind the same speaker cloth in the front.

    Not sure where I'd put the rear surrounds. Open floor plan is causing Surround Sound problems. I will post a few pics later today on what I have to work with.

    Hopefully I'll get some more ideas.
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  • chboro
    chboro Posts: 3
    edited May 2011
    Here's a few pics of my current situation. Just moved in, so nothing is really setup except the location of the TV. Front view shows elevated TV into only spot available in living room. Below TV is tiled. You can see above and to the sides what I have. View from TV picture shows there really isn't anyway to put something in the rear. Picture with FRont removed just shows the lame TV speakers. :frown:

    Any ideas and suggestions appreciated.

    Thanks in advance

    Chuck
    Arizona
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  • HTguru1982
    HTguru1982 Posts: 1,066
    edited May 2011
    Putting the soundbar on top is one way to go. It may not be optimal but if you can angle it down towards the listening position, you should be fine. Since you aren't able to use a typical 5.1 speaker package, I would recommend going the two channel route. Soundbars are decent for smaller rooms but I've yet to hear one that made me think I was listening to a full-on surround system.
    Display: Sony 42" LCD
    Sources: Harman Kardon DVD-27,
    Panasonic DMP-BDT110 blu ray player
    AVR: Sony STR-DA2400ES
    Amps: Sonance Sonamp 260(fronts),
    Kenwood KM-894(surrounds)
    Fronts: NHT 2.5
    Center: NHT VS-1.2A
    Surrounds: NHT Super One
    Subwoofer: SVS PB10-ISD
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,065
    edited May 2011
    Hit up the Blackstones,tl2's, and be a happy camper. The soundbar will get lost in the open backside of that room.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
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  • apphd
    apphd Posts: 1,514
    edited May 2011
    VJC reported
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,502
    edited May 2011
    Original post #8 hugoistanz was reported as spam for removal
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
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