Review: Roundup: Single-Speaker Surround Sound Systems

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Single-speaker surround sound isn't magic; it's just a clever dose of digital processing. Previously, you paid dearly for this sleight of hand, but these days you can get a bone-rattling system for way less than a grand.

Roundup: Single-Speaker Surround Sound Systems

Learn How We Rate ##### Wired

A buffet of inputs. Breaks down into three totable pieces for LAN parties or failed relationships. Direct MP3 playback through an integrated USB port.

Roundup:

• 1/10A complete failure in every way
• 2/10Sad, really
• 3/10Serious flaws; proceed with caution
• 4/10Downsides outweigh upsides
• 5/10Recommended with reservations
• 6/10Solid with some issues
• 7/10Very good, but not quite great
• 8/10Excellent, with room to kvetch
• 9/10Nearly flawless
• 10/10Metaphysical perfection

1. Polk SurroundBar SDA

Polk's "Instant Home Theater" handily rules the solo-surround roost—and, unsurprisingly, commands the highest price. Though a dearth of inputs prevents it from being the nexus of your home theater, the SDA masters the most important feature: all-enveloping, glass-smashing multidirectional emulation. The bar delivers a deep and complex sound field, rounded out by punchy bass from its wireless sub.

2. Philips HSB3280

Built with gamers in mind, this bar should appeal to more than thumb jockeys. In addition to game-specific sound presets (Shooting, Sport, Arcade, and Racing), the HSB3280 offers passable 2.1 audio. Unfortunately, the virtual surround wasn't as impressive. When someone gets shot, we want to feel their pain.

3. Sharp HT-SB300

Sharp packs everything you think you need into its speaker bar; too bad most of it is mediocre. Though the HT-SB300 produced spacious surround at civilized volumes, it reached its limit before we reached ours. The four integrated bass drivers lacked oomph, and cranking the volume distorted the midrange horribly. But what this baby lacks in delivery it makes up for in finesse.

WIRED Impressive 5.1-surround emulation. A base-covering bevy of inputs: RCA, 3.5 mm, digital coax, and optical.

TIRED Crowded display and ridiculously tiny buttons. Subwoofer purchase is mandatory.

$300, SharpUSA.com

4. Vizio VSB210WS

Of all the units we tested, this one produced the warmest, most natural stereo audio. Surround mode, sadly, sucked the life out of it. Our disappointment was compounded by Vizio's flashing LED display, which made the unit harder to understand than Captain Pike.

WIRED Great performance as a stereo speaker. Slick, living-room-friendly looks. Built-in feet double as wall mounts.

TIRED Input wasteland: two RCAs and one optical. Its wireless sub has separation anxiety and refused to operate more than a few yards from the main unit. Remote also demands line of sight to perform.

$300, Vizio.com