In addition to that new
AS730 HTIB, Samsung's kicking around a new soundbar audio system, which packages a 260W 2.1 setup (capable of virtual 5.1) with a sizable wireless subwoofer for the passable price of $350. The HT-WS1 is fairly diminutive as far as soundbars go, and is wall mountable if you're into that. The bar is styled in Samsung's "Touch of Color" grey and red to match your Samsung TV (you
do have a Samsung TV, don't you?), and the whole kit will be available in April.
1st comment! Funny, this sound bar looks similar to the Vizio VSB210WS soundbar, and it has the same price... hmm....
You know, just delete the first two words from your post and you wouldn't look like such a jackass... too bad.
Out you go, Denon FS5.
not just. Yamaha has a patent on a similar device only their speaker blows this one out the water ( 40+ speakers with surround sound that actually works ). Oh and it's been out for at least 2 years.
If you are talking about the YSP-4000, then you can't compare the two because it cost >$1000.
I actually have the Sony HT-CT100, which delivers good quality sound (the Sub is awesome) at a reasonable price; it's also has 3 to 1 HDMI switch on the Sub which most don't have.
ysp-600 is the entry level for the Yamaha if you are budget conscious. It too uses the same technology as it's bigger brothers, just with less speakers.
Who has the grey Touch of Color? I have only ever seen red.
Also, someone needs to dissect the sound bar, half of the sound bars I see are nothing but two wimpy speakers at either end and a bunch of plastic in the middle. Why not just get to small speakers and mount them 4 feet apart rather than have to find space for this large bar?
I have the Samsung 55a950 and it is sort of a gray color... I guess that is what they are trying to match.
Samsung sucks
Looks like a Samsung version of the Sony soundbar. I bought the Sony one and it is very good for the money.
Belly up to the sound bar, and make it a 2.1!
Go Team Venture!
Sound bars!!! Yay! Convincing surround sound for the deaf.
Personally I don't understand who goes for sound bars. You'd have to be lazier than is possible to not be arsed to trail a couple of wires to the back of the room and for women moaning about those "ugly wires", there are plenty of good systems with wifi a module for the back speakers. I myself will just stick with my Onkyo TX-SR606 for the time being I guess.
Depends on what your objectives are. I have the sony ct-100 and it is great for use as a 3.1 LCR solution. I hooked it up to a 63" plasma that just gets casual watching, like the news and sitcoms. Much better than the tv's internal speakers and includes a 3 in one hdmi switch.
kinda like telling saying anyone who gets a TV smaller that a 60" is stupid.
It's not always about laziness or women complaining about clutter... sometimes there is just not enough space...
have a look around at the condo market and see how much space they have for a family room these days.
Not everyone needs a large surround setup. I live in a studio type situation and cannot have something that powerful but still want good sound above the crappy speakers that come in these newer sets these days.
women and gay men. don't forget gay men!
Hmmm, more pointlessly glossy stuff from Samsung. Samsung is actually supposed to own a secret gloss-mine, somewhere in central China.
Pretty cheap though! Might be nice for that secondary set or to make do while you slave away for a real surround set.
You got that a bit wrong bro. It's not in China, the gloss factory is, (where else?) in Austria ! And according to a winged creature from the heavens, Pavv has exclusivity contracts, signing up the factory for all they can produce, for a few years to come. Good for them, I hear you say. Indeed. And lemme admit that the ToC Rose is damn tempting. Then again, I have a problem with what's inside the bezel - be it the TV or the speaker array. I simply can't get myself to accept the corner cutting that happens in the non-mechanical parts of these otherwise great looking boxes.
Any word on pricing and availability for the HT-BD8200 blu-ray soundbar (http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/HT-BD8200/) ? That model is a must buy for my bedroom system. With the inclusion of a wireless sub, Netflix streaming, and iPhone docking, it has been on my watch list since CES.
Most people who really care about home theater will not be using this as their main speaker system, but I think it is a great high-end upgrade to the built-in speakers of any HDTV.
The Sammy LCDs are fantastic TVs. Have a 52" 7 Series since last Summer and its been fantastic. Wouldn't want to hook it up to a sound bar..... (although the new slimline BluRay player - BD-P4600 looks interesting). There are new Sammy LCDs due out this summer that Engadget covered at CES so there are some bargains on the 6 and 7 Series.
Doh..... serves me right for reading top to bottom.... http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/31/samsungs-latest-led-packing-hdtvs-get-official-prices-availabi/
Sound Bars SUCK!!! If your getting one to replace those sucky built in TV speakers, Ok, but if you expect to use it to get Surround sound, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Keep telling yourself that.
A wireless Rear speaker setup also SUCKS. They sound weak, you still have to run wires from the Box to the speakers. There are so many ways to go about running wires I'll soon be redoing my rear wires to make it look nicer by fishing the flat speaker cable I have under the carpet. Not all that hard to do. The only place I'd see the cable is going up the back wall, and since it's flat with a white background, it'll be pretty hard to see. It can be painted, Wall Papered over, etc to hide it even better.
the new samsung Luxia series led super thin lcd sets with red or clear/grey touch of color are great UN55B7100 (55" clear/grey toc with 120hz) and UN55B8000 (55" grey/clear 240hz) and this sound bar would match those perfectly but if it doesnt' have hdmi input and out then its useless to many.
no soundbars are not as good as true surround but what other options are there if you want to go inexpensive and dont want to run wires. Samsung makes a htib with wireless rears but it doesn't haev hdmi inputs so its out. Bose makes some nice surround simulationg deals but i dont know if they haev hdmi in and they are expensive.
soundbar ends up being the best option. I dont feel like buying a good receiver and separate speakers and running wires for a beach condo. we will watch movies there in HD but a soundbar as long as it has hdmi inputs will be good enough
will be shame if i can't get teh samsung in matching design for the samsung lec lcds with toc but if only sony was smart enough to make their soundbar with hdmi inputs and as someone said the C100 even has 3 which is pretty good considering some receivers only have 2 and there is a newer better version of that sony soundbar for a little more money, well i'm not a sony fan at all but it sounds like they are the only ones to have got the soundbars right besides yammy but the good one of theirs is really expensive.
I bought this thing and it is a piece of junk. The sound quality was really good. However, the volume level was pathetic. We sit about 15 feet from our television when we watch movies and I was very unsatisfied with the sound level. We had the volume turned all the way up, cranked to 11, and it was hard to hear voices and stuff at times. I have to drive 2 hours to return this thing to Fry's Electronics so I am a bit annoyed.
I thought it would be a great addition to my Samsung plasma tv, which it was if only it had good sound level.