Polk's new SurroundBar adds a wireless subwoofer

Matthew Moskovciak | Jan 12, 2009

(Credit: Polk Audio)

As we mentioned it in our CES 2009 home audio preview, the trend in home audio over the last few years has been toward simplicity, and sound bars have promised to deliver the full surround experience from a single speaker. In reality, it never quite sounds that good, but the Polk Audio SurroundBar systems are generally better than most. The newly announced SurroundBar SDA Instant Home Theater aims to improve on previous models by making the speaker even smaller and adding a wireless subwoofer. Here are the details.

Key features of the Polk Audio SurroundBar SDA Instant Home Theater :

260W of power

31.75 inches long--nearly 11-inches shorter than the original SurroundBar

No additional A/V receiver required

Wireless subwoofer

Polk claims full front soundstage due to its Front SDA technology

Wall mountable

A single analog audio input

Available in the US in January, US$550 list price

While the addition of the wireless subwooder is a big plus for the SurroundBar line, we're disappointed that connectivity is limited to a single analog audio input. Even a basic home theater system includes at least a cable/satellite box and a DVD player, so the SDA Instant Home Theater is only a good option for the simplest setups. Sure, you can get around its limitations by using an audio switcher or A/V receiver, but that defeats the simplicity that makes sound bars attractive in the first place.

Via CNET.com

Filed under: Home AV
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