Gallery: Big Sound for Small Spaces: 4 Sound Bars Reviewed
01basics-and-buying-advice-3
Basics __What advantage do sound bars have over traditional surround systems?__ Simplicity. A sound bar means no routing wires to six or more speakers all over your room. The thin designs also complement modern flatscreens. Even better, powered sound bars (like the ones here) don't require a separate receiver or amp. __Read the reviews:__- [MartinLogan Motion Vision](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2526) - [Vizio VHT215](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2523) - [Yamaha YSP-2200](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2525) - [Harman Kardon SB 30](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2528) __But I won't get real surround sound.__ Correct. Physics is physics, and only a 5.1 or 7.1 system will give you true surround sound. But the better sound bars do a reasonable job of faking it with digital signal processing (DSP). Some tweak timing and volume to trick your ears into thinking sounds are coming from different directions; others accomplish this by reflecting sound waves off the walls behind you. When these systems play movies with a properly encoded surround source, like Dolby Digital or DTS, listeners gain the illusion of being in the middle of the action. __How do they do with music?__ They can struggle. The limited cabinet space leaves very little physical separation between the speakers. This translates into a narrow listening field and sub-par bass. But as traditional audio companies push into the sound bar market, the incorporation of technologies like crosstalk-cancellation circuitry -- which helps these 40- to 50-inch bars sound even broader than their actual length -- is growing. Also, most sound bars come with a wireless subwoofer for added low-end punch. Buying Advice Even the cheapest sound bar will deliver better audio than built-in HDTV speakers, but higher-end models tend to have greater separation between drivers and more sophisticated DSP. If your priority is movies, look for a sound bar with Dolby Digital or DTS sound decoding. If you'll mainly be streaming high-quality music, get a model with crosstalk-elimination circuitry, which will minimize the signal interference that occurs between the closely spaced speakers. Next, consider your room. Powered sound bars like the ones in this roundup are fine up to about 250 square feet. If you're dealing with a bigger space, consider a passive sound bar paired with a receiver.
02martinlogan-motion-vision-sound-bar
MartinLogan Motion Vision Sound Bar ----------------------------------- Close your eyes while the [Motion Vision](http://www.martinlogan.com/motionSeries/models/soundbar.php) is playing and it's easy to forget you're listening to a single 40-inch speaker. Even in a medium-sized room, this soundbar packed an auditory wallop comparable to systems three times its size (and its $1,500 price tag). __Read the reviews:__- [Basics & Buying Advice](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2527) - [Vizio VHT215](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2523) - [Yamaha YSP-2200](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2525) - [Harman Kardon SB 30](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2528) While it was the only unit not to come with a dedicated sub, the four built-in woofers and two rear-firing bass ports still managed to produce wall-rattling tremors during the train crash in *Super 8*. If you find you still crave more low end, you can wirelessly pair the Motion Vision with two of MartinLogan's [Dynamo subs](http://www.martinlogan.com/dynamo/index.php) simply by holding the soundbar's sync button. Of course, there's also an option for a wired connection for any other type of sub. But it wasn't just this soundbar's brute force that impressed. The Motion Vision also proved to be a surprisingly musical, with a lush midrange and sparkling highs compliments of the same exotic tweeters used in MartinLogan's high end speakers. Unlike plenty of other units I've tested, dialogue in movies and TV shows was always balanced, uncolored, and crystal clear. Throw in a satisfyingly wide soundstage and you have a truly rare thing in the soundbar world -- a speaker that sounds fantastic regardless of the source. __WIRED__ Jaw-dropping performance for both movies and music. Neighbor-friendly "night mode" reduces bass output and compresses the dynamic range. Only unit to come with two digital optical inputs. __TIRED__ Bulkier than most of the other soundbars in the roundup; At 5-inches tall, it blocked the bottom portion of our HDTV screen.
03vizio-vht215
Vizio VHT215 ------------ Don't be fooled by its budget-level $270 price tag. The [VHT215](http://store.vizio.com/home-theater-1/vht215.html) has style and performance to spare. Dialog was well-articulated and intelligible on this 2.1 channel soundbar. Setup was a breeze, taking only a few minutes. I didn't care much for the SRS Wow audio enhancement, which made movies and music sound either bloated or overly phasey. But the other virtual-surround function, TruSurround HD, proved sufficiently immersive as long as you remained within a 5-foot sweetspot. Move back any further and the effect was much less dramatic. __Read the reviews:__- [Basics & Buying Advice](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2527) - [MartinLogan Motion Vision](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2526) - [Yamaha YSP-2200](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2525) - [Harman Kardon SB 30](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2528) Overall, audio performance was marred a bit by an overactive subwoofer, which proved hard to dial in. Unfortunately, playing stereo music only made this shortcoming more glaring, as EL-P's latest album, *Cancer for Cure*, demonstrated over an over again. Luckily, the VHT215 soundbar comes with plenty of tweaking options for the bass and treble -- including the ability to adjust each 10 dB up and down. Knocking down the treble on the fly is simply a matter of hitting a button on the remote. No complicated menu systems to scroll through, and no need to exit couch mode. Still, sub integration with the soundbar simply wasn't nearly as smooth as it was with Harmon Kardon's SB 30. __WIRED__ Outstanding value. Handy remote with slide-out panel lets you fine tune bass and treble on the fly. Tons or connectivity options. But ARC (audio return channel) support means you can send audio data upstream from your TV (if it supports it) to the VHT215 over a single HDMI connection. __TIRED__ Not an ideal choice for music lovers. Bass was overly boomy even after turning the sub level down and fiddling with the bass response on the soundbar.
04yamaha-ysp-2200
Yamaha YSP-2200 --------------- Yamaha helped pioneer the concept of artificial surround sound, so it's not surprising that the [YSP-2200](http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/digital-sound-projector/ysp-2200/) ($1,000) offered up the most convincing pseudo 5.1 experience of the bunch. __Read the reviews:__- [Basics & Buying Advice](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2527) - [MartinLogan Motion Vision](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2526) - [Vizio VHT215](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2523) - [Harman Kardon SB 30](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2528) An array of 16 individually controlled drivers helped "steer" sound so effectively that there were points during the car chase in *Casino Royale* when I could've sworn there was a pair of speakers behind me. Even in a medium-sized, asymmetrical room -- complete with curtains, windows, and a variety of build materials and odd crevices -- the YSP-2200 still somehow managed to create a genuinely immersive soundstage. There are some trade-offs though. Setup took nearly twice as long as the others, requiring a fairly involved room analyzation process compete with mic and cardboard stand. All those individual speakers crammed into a single cabinet don't do any favors for stereo music either. Comparatively, higher octaves sounded down right dull during stereo playback with the 2200. Switching to any of the other gimmicky modes, like "Concert Hall," only made everything sound unnatural and overblown. If your aim is to replicate a true surround with only one speaker, though, the 2200 is peerless. It can't beat the laws of physics. But it comes damn close. __WIRED__ Truly immersive faux-surround for games and movies. Comes with echo-locating mic that helps hunt for sound-reflecting sweet spots in your room. At 4-inches tall and 37 inches long, it's perfect for any flatscreen. __TIRED__ Sub is not wireless. A plethora of useless sound modes like "Jazz Club" and "Concert Hall." Limited speaker separation and a dull high end make this a poor choice for music.
05harman-kardon-sb-30
Harman Kardon SB 30 ------------------- Slim, elegant, and packed with 13 speakers, Harman Kardon's SB 30 sound bar ($800) delivers a deceptively wide soundstage for such a small package. Like the Vizio, this soundbar comes with a wireless sub that automatically pairs upon power up. __Read the reviews:__- [Basics & Buying Advice](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2527) - [MartinLogan Motion Vision](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2526) - [Vizio VHT215](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2523) - [Yamaha YSP-2200](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/reviews_soundbars/?pid=2525) But the real show-stoppers are the six 2-inch drivers, seven 1-inch tweeters, and 11 amplifiers -- all of which work together to produce big, theater-worthy sound. The SB 30 handled even abrupt dynamic shifts with ease and finesse. Bass remained tight and well controlled, midrange was smooth, and voices were always detailed, managing to remain distinct and defined even with a swelling musical score and the crunch of robotic body parts in the background. While the SB 30 uses a digital steering technology (similar to that found in Yamaha's offering) for its pseudo surround, it wasn't quite as immersive as the YSP-2200. There is some directionality to the sound, but I never felt enveloped, even after experimenting with the various room modes. The soundbar also lacked the detail and natural ease of the Motion Vision when playing 2-channel music. __WIRED__ Small footprint means plenty of placement options. Switch the subwoofer's wireless channels if you run into any interference (I didn't). Dolby Volume keeps sound levels consistent when switching sources. Adjustable beam function lets you tailor the sound for small, medium, and large rooms. __TIRED__ Confusing multi-colored lights are the only indication of what mode you're in. Even in dedicated 2-channel listening mode, highs could be shrill and grating.
