[headshrinker2]

Greetings,
I am considering a used Polk Audio SurroundBar (original 42") that showed up in a local Craigslist ad.  My family room does not lend itself well to a well-placed HT speaker setup.

The price is good, but am I going to hate this thing?  Not expecting miracles, just something better then the internal audio on my flatscreen.  Also not expecting any realistic surround sound effects.  This soundbar looks like it's a solid and heavy unit with some meat on it's bones.  Will the audio be so crappy that it would distract the average audiophile?

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

[Don_S]

I had a Polk Sound Bar for about a day.  I think it was the model 3000.  I know it was not the more expensive model they offer.

Sound was horrible and tinny even with the tone controls offered. I could not stand it. Connection options were also poor. If I can remember that terrible event correctly, it did not play all that loud either. At least not without sounding even worse. I returned it to Best Buy very quickly.

Like you, I was not expecting great things or surround sound realism. I was just hoping for something better than the very poor sound from my Sharp 46" LCD.  My TV is connected to my 2-channel audio system so I have that option when I want but I don't always want to fire up my system just to hear the news and weather or watch one show.

The Polk soundbar was not the solution for me. I am sorry I wasted the time to research, buy, set up, and return it.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[headshrinker2]

Hey Don,
Thanks for the reply.  When I pumped the seller for pics and more details on physical condition, it become apparent why he was selling it for such a low price.  The speaker cabinet was cracked/damaged.  While not visible from the front/listener position, I'm assuming this would make it near impossible to resell (and recoup my investment).  It also made me wonder if the speaker had possible been dropped and damaged in some important way.  Let the buyer beware! 

I haven't spent much time listening to sound bars, but I've always thought they were a great idea.  I imagine the more expensive ones are reasonably satisfying.  The few inexpensive ones that I've briefly heard at Best Buy sounded tinny and anemic. 

I had a Polk Sound Bar for about a day.  I think it was the model 3000.  I know it was not the more expensive model they offer.

Sound was horrible and tinny even with the tone controls offered. I could not stand it. Connection options were also poor. If I can remember that terrible event correctly, it did not play all that loud either. At least not without sounding even worse. I returned it to Best Buy very quickly.

Like you, I was not expecting great things or surround sound realism. I was just hoping for something better than the very poor sound from my Sharp 46" LCD.  My TV is connected to my 2-channel audio system so I have that option when I want but I don't always want to fire up my system just to hear the news and weather or watch one show.

The Polk soundbar was not the solution for me. I am sorry I wasted the time to research, buy, set up, and return it.

Good luck with whatever you choose.