How can a sound bar provide surround sound?
Some sound bars, like Polk's SurroundBar and ZVOX’s Z-Base 550,
contain carefully aligned speaker drivers that can direct localized sound to
specific parts of your home theater room. That's how they're able to deliver believable,
pinpointed surround sound from a single speaker. Others use digital processing to produce virtual surround sound. You can
shop for single-speaker TV audio solutions
here. We recommend using a subwoofer — included with some models.
I’ve got an HDTV — what kinds of features should I look for in a receiver?
Most home theater receivers these days offer HDMI switching so you can connect multiple high-def sources.
If you’d like a really simple, one-cable connection from your receiver to your HDTV, look for a model with
HDMI conversion or upconversion. These receivers can take video signals from any source and send them to
your TV via one HDMI cable. Receivers with HDMI upconversion can even scale those signals to a higher
resolution, like 1080p.
Watch our short video on HDMI conversion and upconversion
to learn more.
Can I install in-wall or in-ceiling speakers myself?
Installing in-wall and in-ceiling speakers themselves isn’t particularly complicated. Usually —
especially in an existing home or office — it's running the wires through the walls that
requires more time and care. But once they're in and running, all the effort is worth it. You can
read our
in-wall speaker installation guide
and our
in-wall wiring guide
to learn more.
