Sound bars vs. Surround system (Home theatre)

Okay, so I'm looking to add a little bit of sound to my set up. I have a Samsung 32" Flatscreen connected via HDMI to xbox and a DVD player.

So bear with me because I'm not overly knowledgable in terms of home theatre/sound and such.

My room is 10x11, and my roommate shares a wall and sleeps a lot so I don't need anything toooo extravagant. Nor can I really afford it. But I wanna add something for a little bit of sound...you know some discernable bass, ehanced subtleties and the like.

I'm looking at a $250-300ish Samsung surround. But I've been looking into sound bars as well, from what I'm hearing due to the limited space I need to fill with sound and set stuff up in, is that they might be a good option.

Does anyone have experience with these? Pros/cons vs. surround units (particularly in that price range). Recommendations and deals are also appreciated.

If you want to spend a little more, the Polk Audio Surround Bar (not the cheap one they sell at Best Buy with the DVD player) is supposed to be good. I think the low end speaker is like 400

Polk Audio Surround Bar

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Originally Posted by spjon25

If you want to spend a little more, the Polk Audio Surround Bar (not the cheap one they sell at Best Buy with the DVD player) is supposed to be good. I think the low end speaker is like 400

Polk Audio Surround Bar

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Ya I was actually just looking at this one on another site. Sounds like the bar might be the way to go, so I might just hold off a litte longer and drop some extra on it. Shame on me for not thinking about looking on Crutchfield though....been a long time since I was into audio anything, mostly car stereo stuff.

I installed surround sound about 6 months ago and it rocks. When I play Xbox COD I can hear people coming from behind me, I you cannot get that from a sound bar. If price is a big issue for you, you can purchase it one at a time and not all at once. I spent $400 on the receiver and then I got an at cost deal on some higher end speakers. I cannot hook you up for the speakers though.

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Originally Posted by Homer Simpson

I installed surround sound about 6 months ago and it rocks. When I play Xbox COD I can hear people coming from behind me, I you cannot get that from a sound bar. If price is a big issue for you, you can purchase it one at a time and not all at once. I spent $400 on the receiver and then I got an at cost deal on some higher end speakers. I cannot hook you up for the speakers though.

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That's what I want.

if it's for your bedroom, any HTIB type thing will be perfectly fine

soundbars suck. this is a pretty good system

Amazon.com: Onkyo HT-S3300 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package (Black): Electronics

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Originally Posted by nayagamj

soundbars suck. this is a pretty good system

Amazon.com: Onkyo HT-S3300 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package (Black): Electronics

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this is exactly what i was referring to, fuego.

Shop Onkyo

Don't get the sound bar, REAL surround is the way to go. Everybody's recommendations echo mine. Onkyo ftw!