MJ Approved: Gear Lab - Soundbars For Every Situation: VIZIO

If you want true surround sound but don't want to mess with a receiver in addition to 5.1 speakers, Vizio has you covered. It created a soundbar system that reproduces Dolby Digital as it is intended – and at a reasonable price, too.

The Vizio 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar packs the center, right, and left channels into the single bar that goes with the HDTV and adds two surround channels and a wireless subwoofer (the ".1" in the system) to the mix. The surround speakers connect with wires to the subwoofer.

The reward comes in the details of sound. Voices have more resonance and you'll feel special effects more. It won't match a decent home theater system with a separate receiver and speakers, but the trade-offs are acceptable considering this package only costs $330.

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