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SurroundBar Series
Driver Technology
Enclosure Design
Connections
Mounting Options
Dimensions

SurroundBar Series

Polk Audio SurroundBar: The Polk Audio SurroundBar 500 CHT achieves single-speaker surround sound from one slim speaker bar & external crossover module. The Polk Audio SurroundBar 500 CHT is less than 1.625" deep, which is made possible by housing its crossover & SDA Surround technology in an external module. Polk Audio's exclusive patented SDA Surround & Polk Digital Logic technologies eliminate the need for rear speakers. The bar's black extruded aluminum enclosure is 49" long & blends in well with today's 50" or larger flat-panel televisions. The SurroundBar 500 CHT can be table-top or wall mounted.

SDA Control Module: The Polk Audio SurroundBar 500 CHT includes an external SDA Control Module. The external SDA Control Module includes all the crossover components and Polk's proprietary SDA Surround & Digital Logic technologies. It also includes the receiver inputs, channel mode switch, & output to the SurroundBar. This creates a sleek, compact two-component system that delivers a musical or movie experience not possible before from most soundbar speaker designs.

7Ch, 5Ch, or LCR Switch: The Polk Audio SurroundBar 500 CHT's control module features a rear-panel channel mode switch, which enables the SurroundBar to play as part of a 7ch, 5ch, or LCR front stage. You get a rich, enveloping surround experience when you using the SurroundBar 500 CHT in 7ch or 5ch mode, plus the flexibility of adding dedicated surround channel speakers when you use it as a LCR front stage.

• 7Ch Mode: In 7ch mode, the Polk Audio SurroundBar 500 CHT creates all 7 channels of surround (Front/Center/Surround/Surround Back), without the use of any additional rear speakers.
• 5Ch Mode: In 5ch mode, the SurroundBar 500 CHT creates 5 channels of surround (Front/Center/Surround), requiring additional speakers for the surround back channels.
• LCR Mode:  In LCR mode, the SurroundBar 500 CHT creates 3 channels of surround (Front Left/Front Right/Center), requiring additional speakers for the surround & surround back channels.

Driver Technology

Polk Audio Proprietary Technologies: The SurroundBar 500 CHT utilizes Polk Audio's proprietary SDA Surround & Polk Digital Logic processing technologies to produce a rich, enveloping listening experience.

• SDA Surround Technology: Polk's patented SDA Surround technology means there's no need to install rear speakers. SDA Surround creates a completely immersive experience, as if there were 5 or 7 speakers all around you. This technology is based on fundamental research into the way our ears process sound and perceive the direction of sounds. It uses a patented combination of signal processing and acoustical geometry that complements the spacing between your ears to produce surround sound without the need for rear mounted speakers. Since the SurroundBar 500 CHT works directly with the hearing mechanism and requires no special room characteristics, it can deliver a room-filling surround experience in nearly any location in almost any type of room.
• Polk Digital Logic: The SurroundBar 500 CHT utilizes Polk Digital Logic to deliver big, crisp sonic performance with no complicated setup or calibration. Through Polk Digital Logic, the SurroundBar 500 CHT's sound is created independent of any room boundaries. Polk Digital Logic helps to maintain a solid center channel for clear, intelligible dialogue, & Polk's signature warm & full sound.

Polk Next-Generation Ring Radiator Tweeters: The SurroundBar 500 CHT uses three Polk next-generation 0.75" ring radiator tweeters with neodymium magnets for incredible accuracy & detail. The ring radiator tweeter is recognized as among the highest performing tweeter technologies available.

ASP Aluminum Dome Mid-Woofers: The SurroundBar 500 CHT features nine 3.25" ultra-shallow (0.9" deep) ASP (Asymmetrically Sculpted Profile) aluminum dome mid-woofers that use rubber surrounds & lightweight, powerful neodymium magnets for low distortion & smooth frequency response. Two of the nine drivers are dual voice coil (DVC) designs that make possible reproduction of seven discrete channels of information from fewer drive units than would otherwise be necessary. Fewer drivers enable Polk to reduce the bar's internal volume & therefore minimize the bar's depth, while reproducing seven vivid full-range channels associated with state of the art home-theater processors. The 3.25" (diameter) ASP drivers incorporate innovations specifically developed by Polk Audio.

• First, the driver's 1.5" voice coil ensures high power handling and, in tandem with its coupler, helps provide an extra-rigid platform across almost the entire surface of the dome. This eliminates distortions on the dome & creates a more linear movement.

• Second, the asymmetric pattern of indentations & bumps on the surface of each driver's dome eliminate resonances on the dome to smooth frequency response.

Frequency Response Note: The overall frequency response is 80 Hz to 33,000 Hz & the -3dB frequency response is 100 Hz to 29,000 Hz.

Enclosure Design

Aluminum Enclosure: The SurroundBar 500 CHT features a stylishly curved extruded aluminum enclosure in a high-gloss black to match today's flat-panel televisions. The shape of the heavy-duty non-resonant aluminum enclosure breaks up internal standing wave resonance to give you pure, lifelike sound.

Slim Profile: By separating the SDA Control Module from the SurroundBar speaker, the speaker cabinet measures only 1.625" deep.

Anti-Diffraction Grille & Bezel: The SurroundBar 500 CHT's anti-diffraction grille & bezel help create open, spacious imaging.

Connections

SurroundBar Speaker Terminal: The SurroundBar 500 CHT is fitted with a 14-pin proprietary connector to attach the included 15' speaker wire harness. The 15' speaker wire harness then connects to the external control module.

SDA Control Module Connections: The SDA Control Module is fitted with a 14-pin proprietary connector (speaker output) & 14 spring-post terminals (speaker input). The 14-pin proprietary connector connects the SurroundBar speaker & the Control Module together using the included wiring harness. The 14 spring-post terminals (FL+/-, FR+/-, C+/-, SL+/-, SR+/-, SBL+/-, SBR+/-) connect to your home theater receiver's speaker output terminals using 16-12AWG speaker wire (sold separately).

Color Coded Wiring: The included 15' 14-conductor speaker wire harness connects between the SurroundBar's & SDA Control Module's 14-pin proprietary connectors. The speaker wire harness is terminated with a proprietary 14-pin connector on both ends. The 14-conductor speaker wire harness is color-coded for easy identification.

Mounting Options

SurroundBar Placement: The Polk Audio SurroundBar 500 CHT can be placed in front of, below, or above your flat-panel television.

Rubber Feet: The Polk Audio SurroundBar 500 CHT speaker can be placed on a stand or shelf using the included rubber feet. The rubber feet simply slide into the bottom grooves of the SurroundBar speaker. The feet can be positioned to place the speaker flat or at a 10° upward angle. Without the feet, the SurroundBar speaker tilts up 5°.

Note: The rubber feet add 0.125" to the height of the speaker.

Wall Mounting: The SurroundBar 500 CHT's can be hung on the wall using the supplied wall-mount bracket. The included wall-wall mount bracket clips on the back of the SurroundBar speaker without any additional hardware. The mounting bracket should be attached to the wall using a minimum of five drywall or wood screws (sold separately). Make sure the bracket is stud mounted.

Note: The mounting bracket measure 22.75" wide. The bracket adds 0.125" to the depth of the speaker.

Control Module Mounting: The SDA Control Module can be simply placed horizontally on a flat surface or installed in a rack using the supplied rack mount ears. It can also be mounted on a wall, either vertically or horizontally, using the module's integrated keyhole slots. A wall-mount template is provided. Wall-mount screws not provided.

Dimensions

SurroundBar:

• W = 49.0"
• H = 4.25" (4.375" with feet)
• D = 1.625" (2" with feet)
• Weight = 10 lbs

Control Module:

• W = 16.9375"
• H = 1.875"
• D = 7.9375"
• Weight = 7 lbs