Samsung's $699 soundbar offers 32-bit audio, subwoofer-like bass (updated)
You might only need one speaker to get quality sound for your TV.
It's difficult for soundbars to stand out: they have to be very intelligent or sweet-sounding to rise above the rest. Samsung is clearly betting on that second strategy to stand out. It just started shipping the MS750 Sound+ Soundbar it unveiled back in January, and the emphasis here is on quality above all else. Spend $699 on this plain-looking gear and you'll get "Ultra High Quality" 32-bit audio upscaling that Samsung says should preserve the quality of a source. That's going to depend heavily on the source itself, so don't expect flawless audio from your favorite game or movie, but you can get "HD sound" from a mobile source like Samsung's own Multiroom App.
The other party trick: reducing (or in some cases, eliminating) the need for extra equipment. As outlined at CES, it's supposed to offer subwoofer-grade bass all on its own. You can pair it with an optional W700 subwoofer ($500) to lower the sound floor to 27Hz, but it's not absolutely necessary. Also, it promises a wider sound stage, with wide sound dispersion thanks to an appropriate tweeter and a crossover range between 600Hz and 20kHz.
The question is whether or not you should get a soundbar like this. For the same price, you can snag a speaker like the Sonos Playbase that may not be as explicitly focused on audio quality, but still sounds good and is decidedly more network-savvy. It really depends on your priorities -- how likely is it that your soundbar will double as your home stereo? If the answer is "not very," the MS750 might be the smarter choice.
Update: Samsung had the prices flipped around -- the MS750 soundbar is $699, while the optional subwoofer is $500. The article has been edited to reflect that.
