A Soundbar for Your HDTV

One of the biggest disappointments when you buy a new flat panel TV is the crummy sound. Either you live with sub par sound or you hang speakers around your room like they were holiday ornaments. For anyone that doesn't think speakers are a decor, consider the new soundbars.

Soundbars are thin strips of speakers that replace your TV's built-in speakers. I recently got to look at two of them.

At an Amazon event showcasing its fall product lineup I saw Boston Acoustics TVee Model Two. It's a soundbar plus a wireless woofer. The soundbar can be placed underneath or on top of the TV or mounted on the wall. Inside the soundbar you'll find four mid-bass drivers and two ½-inch tweeters. The system is not surround sound but it's clearly a lot better than the speakers inside your TV. Designed to augment the HDTV experience, the TVee has a special learning mode to let you control the soundbar from your TV remote. According to the company, you only need one wire from the soundbar to your TV to do the installation. ($399)

More upscale, the Philips Ambisound soundbar is a mouthwatering alternative to your TV's sound. It's also not surround sound, but it emulates the immersive quality of 5.1 surround sound by angling the speakers to use the room's walls to help create the surround sound. The unit is stunning to look at. It's only 5 inches thick and can sit on a stand or be mounted under your TV. In addition to the sound system it's a full entertainment panel. There's a built-in CD/DVD player, FM tuner, and an iPod dock hidden behind the exterior panel until you need them. Component video and HDMI connections are available. Slightly pricier at $799, the richness of the sound bowled me over when I heard these demonstrated at a recent Philips event.