[rockadanny]

New TV picture great
New TV sound crap

Cranking TV to 100 we still cannot distinguish vocals at times when our heat kicks on (it is noisy). So am condsidering one of two options:
1. Soundbar wired to TV;
2. DTA-100a class T-amp (50 wpc) and inexpensive bookshelf speakers wired to cable box (TV only has optical audio out).
Wife does not want to see another set of speakers so bookshelf speakers cannot be too large.

I have my audio system wired to DVD player for the occasional movie, but I'm not burnin' up my tubes for stupid TV shows. Just want louder vocals. Don't care about surround sound type of gimmickery, just louder/better vocals than TV delivers.

No experience with soundbars so asking your opinion - pros and cons.

[Charles Xavier]

What TV is it?
 I went with a Samsung soundbar for the same reason. It has simulated surround which is not the greatest but I just leave it on bypass anyway. Has a wireless sub and it works great. I didn't want to spend much money on it. I did listen to the Bose Cinemate model thats about 500.00 and was very impressed with the sound ,in fact it was amazing. ( Did I just say that in public ? )

[saisunil]

Go with the biggest system you can get from zvoxaudio.com
I saw/heard them at T.H.E show in NYC a few years ago - and was very impressed - I sat in their room for good 15 to 20 minutes and I knew I would be buying or recommending it very soon.
 
I recommended that to my sister - she has one with a big TV and the sound is so good with TV or movies ...
 
I am looking for excuses to get for for us - my wife ways no need 
 
They have two types of units - one you can mount on wall and another that gos on top of cabinet / below TV. Talk to the folks there - they are quite good and the price is very reasonable +/- $500 - it has built-in amp
 
No it does not have the resolution of high end speakers - but to me it sounded better than some rooms at the show ...
 
Cheers

[rockadanny]

What TV is it?

Panasonic Viera 46" Plasma

[low.pfile]

Mainly just a bookmark to see where you guy stand.

I am finding most of the mid to hi end LCDs have terrible audio. The overall enclosure thinness is limiting the size of the driver that can be used. And many are firing the speaker either down or to the rear. We purchased a basic 32" LCD for mom and I cringed at the sound. I helped a friend choose a 40" $1k Sony LED LCD and same thing...audio is terrible (amazing image though).  I want to upgrade soon and like rockadanny, I don't always want to fire up the full system when watching the news for 30 minutes in the morning or for a sitcom. Am considering a cheap soundbar sorta hidden behind the stand. So i am all ears.

ed

[Charles Xavier]

My opinion is go with this depending on how much you want to spend

http://www.amazon.com/CineMate%C2%AE-Digital-Theater-Speaker-System/dp/B002KY2OU8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297369720&sr=8-1

[Charles Xavier]

This is the one I have. I bought it on sale at BB last year on sale for  179.99


http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-HT-WS1G-XAA-Soundbar/dp/B001XCX9PW/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1297369873&sr=1-6

[low.pfile]

rockadanny
I am curious what path you took to remedy the dismal LCD TV audio?

[rockadanny]

low - I ended up purchasing a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 9.0 speakers off of e-bay (new from dealer) and a Dayton Audio APA 150 (75 wpc) amp from Parts Express. Total $280, and I am far more pleased than what I heard from any of the sound bars.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wharfedale-Diamond-9-0-Bookshelf-Speakers-Rosewood-/140395973221?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item20b0408a65

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-812

Since the amp does not have a remote I ended up dialing it to full volume, then connecting the analog audio out (pair of RCA) on my Comcast cable TV box to the amp and control volume with the cable box remote.

I had very strict small size requirements for the speakers or would likely have purchased a larger pair used, though I am not unhappy at all with the Wharfedales. And that is without a sub, though I do not watch movies where a sub is required.

[low.pfile]

that looks like it will do the trick very well! thanks for the follow up.

[rockadanny]

I am SO gOD-AWFUL PISSED at COMCAST right now!!  COMCAST

I have audio outs on my DVD player connected to the audio inputs on the front of my Comcast cable box to hear movies and CDs play on my external amp and speakers, controlling the volume with the cable box remote. Worked great! ... until yesterday ...

Stupid Comcast stupidly rolled out their stupid new cable guide which broke the stupid audio input feature of the stupid cable box. Stupid programmers! I am a software guy and I suspect their software folks who developed the new guide either: overlooked the new guide's effect on the audio inputs and was not caught in testing, if they did any; or figured no customers would possibly ever use them so why bother. And no, I cannot get the old guide reloaded on my box.

So if you plan on using your Comcast cable box audio inputs, be aware that they will likely not work, or in the near future will no longer work.