Polk Audio SurroundBar Conclusion
Submitted by admin on Sat, 06/23/2007 - 11:36
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Performance
Simulating the experience of accurate surround sound is no easy task, but Polk has produced an overall effect that is surprisingly close to a traditional multichannel system.
As ships fired cannonballs back and forth in Master and Commander, the flight of the projectiles was accurately tracked from the firing point to the wood-splintering collision with the opposing ship. The huge waves crashing in and around the canyons of Manhattan in The Day After Tomorrow seemed to envelop the room, putting us right in the movie along with the characters trying to escape.
The system is not quite as enveloping as a true 5.1 system should be, but the results when watching movies and listening to music were completely convincing and produced an astonishingly balanced soundstage. All of the surround effects were produced seamlessly and produced a very wide, and evenly dispersed, sound field.
The Verdict
The SurroundBar offers an impressive surround-sound experience without the clutter and installation hassle of conventional 5.1 systems, and it looks stylish to boot. The system is not inexpensive at nearly a thousand dollars, but if you value simplicity and ingenuity, the SurroundBar might be well worth the investment.
Polk Audio SurroundBar
Specs: Approximately 43.0 x 5.0 x 4.5 inches; unit encases seven 3.5-inch dynamic balance drivers and three 0.75-inch dynamic balance dome tweeters.
Pros: Easy installation, sleek styling, outstanding sound quality and surround-sound reproduction.
Cons: Requires a separate subwoofer to produce low-frequency effects; lacks full enveloping effect found in traditional 5.1 surround systems.
The Verdict: If you want a surround-sound experience without clutter and installation hassle, the SurroundBar delivers.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Retail Price: $949.95
