Recent Soundbar & Surround Speaker Reviews

Supplying surround sound in a slim design is Pioneer's Elite® FS-EB70 Network Sound Bar System which includes the 3.1.2 Atmos soundbar, amplifier module and wireless 8" subwoofer all for $1,000. This was one of the most impressive soundbar systems we've heard last year at CEDIA so we are excited that its finally a released product so we can do a formal review. Read on for more details.

Looking for a way to upgrade to DTS:X and Dolby Atmos enabled content without running miles of cables and finding places for all those speakers? Integra Home Theater might have a compromise to installing rear, side, ceiling, and front mounted speakers while also increasing your WAF (wife acceptance factor) with their new DLB-5 Network Object-Based Surround Bar System. It includes a wireless sub and a separate receiver. If it performs like other three piece immersive soundbar systems we’ve heard recently at CEDIA, it might be one to keep an eye on. Check out our preview on this system for more information.

So you bought a new TV and the sound is as thin as your new flatscreen. Don't fear. Almost every company at CEDIA had their own version of a soundbar and boy has technology sure come a long way in the last 15 years. Tight on space and can't accommodate a discrete 5.1 speaker system? Then check out our preview of some of the newest soundbars coming out on the market this year so you can decide for yourself if a soundbar and wireless sub is right for you.

Yamaha released their YSP-2700 MusicCast Sound Bar and wireless subwoofer at the CEDIA Expo in Dallas, Texas. A 7.1 soundbar with a 5.5" wireless sub at $1199.95 puts it in line with other higher end soundbars/sub systems. The YSP-2700 comes with built in MusicCast for music streaming, three 4k/60p HDCP 2.2 compatible HDMI inputs and one output. Is it worth it? Read on to find out.

Polk Audio released their MagniFi Mini soundbar and wireless sub at CEDIA in Dallas, Texas. For $299 you get a great sounding mini soundbar and a wireless subwoofer. The new system features Polk’s patented Voice Adjust technology, which is designed to emphasize vocals, independent of program material and volume level. Is this the soundbar deal of the year? Read on to find out.

What do you get when you combine Light Harmonic, the company behind the premium audio systems in the Tesla S car, and Starke Sound, a company whose engineers are responsible for everything from ultra luxury 6-figure system to runaway hits like the Sonos Play 1 and 3? You get LH Labs, a company whose first product, the Inspire 5 soundbar and Sub 5 wireless subwoofer, is soon to hit the market showcasing clean, modern design, solid specs, and a price tag of only $399 each for the soundbar and subwoofer. Read on to get our first takes of the pre-production system as we went hands on at CES 2016.

With sound bars being so popular these days it's time to up the ante. Polk audio announced an upgrade to their Omni SB1 sound bar at the 2016 CES Show in Las Vegas with their Omni SB1 Plus. This ultra-low profile, dialogue enhancing, 3.1 sound bar system with wireless sub and optional wireless rears for 5.1 sound was a big hit for Polk. Polk takes the ordinary soundbar performance up a notch by incorporating DTS Play-Fi to support discrete surround speakers making a compelling case for those that don't want box speakers all around. Be sure to watch our YouTube Video overview to get all the details.

Looking to start off the New Year for the Audio love with very little space to spare? Klipsch R-10B Soundbar follows-up the company’s HD Theater SB 3 soundbar system we reviewed a few years ago. The R-10B is part of their Reference line demonstrating how the classic speaker manufacturer is meeting consumer demand for all-new audio form factors including headphones, soundbars and computer speakers using the distinctive Klipsch sound. While soundbars and PC speakers don’t typically have a seat at the hi-fi audio table, Klipsch’s Reference line promises a distinct acoustic signature in each product. These days many compact products are capable of producing surprisingly good sound, and Klipsch has decades of experience building fine speakers. So naturally, we’ve got high expectations.

Can a single sound bar truly replace 5 or more surround speakers? The new Yamaha YSP-2500 features the same sound projector technology that is used to create true discrete surround channels from a single sound bar and wireless sub as Yamaha's more costly models. At about $1,000, does it hold up to it's more costly brethren, and also provide significant benefits over less costly options? Read on to find out and watch our Youtube Video review.

The SRT-1000 is Yamaha's first pedestal sound bar. Priced at $499.95, it packs Yamaha's Digital Sound Projector simulated surround sound technology, as well as some handy features like a remote learning function so you can control volume with your TV's remote. On the downside, no auto-calibration function is on board, as seen with costlier Yamaha models like the YSP-2500. That leaves one small detail: how does the SRT-1000 actually sound?

The Definitive Technology A60 Atmos Elevation speaker features a 3" treated paper driver in a sealed enclosure that retails for $499/pair. It's meant to be a companion speaker to their venerable BP-8060ST towers though it's no match tonally or dynamically. It's hard to imagine such a reputable company producing a speaker like this, but the A60 sadly failed to impress us. The Dolby technology over-complicates the crossover design and also impacts the price and performance. We don't recommend this speaker unless you simply cannot mount discrete speakers on your ceiling and you want to get your foot into the Atmos door with an aesthetic match for your BP-8060ST tower speaker system.

While all the buzz about the 2014 CEDIA Expo was centered around Dolby Atmos, Yamaha has been quietly adding to their soundbar lineup. We'll talk about two new models today, the $399.95 YAS-203 and the $999.95 YSP-2500 digital sound projector. As we've come to expect from Yamaha, these new models are packed with helpful features including integrated Bluetooth for wireless streaming and a controller app. Imagine being able to steer the sound toward your side of the bed during late night TV viewing while your wife sleeps? Want to know more? Click to keep reading!

Don't have space for a surround system but still want a convincing surround experience? Yamaha's SRT-1000 pedestal soundbar might be right up your alley. Priced at $499.95, the SRT-1000 features Yamaha's digital sound projector technology as well as integrated Bluetooth for wireless streaming and app control. A total of 8 beam drivers are on board along with a pair of woofers and dual subwoofers, fed by a total of 136W of amplifier power. Want to know more? Click to read the full article.

Soundbars are a dime a dozen, but high-quality passive soundbars are a different story. There are a handful of high-quality passive soundbars on the market, but the product category is far from saturated, so the release of the Ultra-3 from RBH is exciting news. The Ultra-3 sports proprietary inverted, domed aluminum 4-inch woofers and aluminum tweeters with textured phase plugs. Based on the specs, the brief demo we received at CEDIA, and our experience with other RBH products, the Ultra-3 seems like a solid choice.