When we had Mitsubishi's 1080p iSP LT-52149 HDTV in our own labs for testing, we weren't exactly thrilled with the image quality, particularly the 120Hz shenanigans. The folks over at Home Entertainment saw a lot of the same flaws we did, though they seemed to think the overall package was palatable after a great deal of tweaking. In fact, they outrightly stated that this set "requires more attention during video setup than other high-end LCDs [it had] tested," but it was worth the effort. The soundbar didn't serve as a 5.1-channel surround sound system or anything, but it did treat the ears more so than most integrated speakers. 'Course, SD material looked pretty terrible, but it did make Blu-ray Discs look fairly excellent. Still, the $4,000+ MSRP is slightly ridiculous in this world of low-cost LCDs, and we still can't see enough jaw-dropping positives here to warrant that kind of sticker.

Chrismakwanzika has come early for anyone remotely interested in Vizio kit, and quite honestly, even for those that aren't. From the top, we've got the 55-inch VF550XVT1A, a 1080p HDTV with 120Hz Smooth Motion Video technology, a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, five HDMI inputs, SRS TruSurround HD and a $1,999 MSRP. Next up is the firm's own soundbar and wireless subwoofer kit (VSB210WS), which has finally escaped rumor purgatory to pop official. The kit sports four 3-inch speakers alongside a single 1-inch tweeter for each channel, and the long throw 6.5-inch subbie makes sure the lows are well addressed, too. Just a single cable is needed to connect the VSB210WS to any flat-panel, and just $349.99 is needed to bring it home. On deck are a trio of smaller LCDs: the 19-inch VA19 ($249.99), 22-inch VA22 ($349.99) and 26-inch VA26 ($449.99), with the middle guy becoming Vizio's smallest 1080p HDTV ever. Closing things out is the 26-inch VMM26, a 25.5-inch "multimedia monitor" with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, HDMI / USB ports, touch-activated menus and a $429.99 sticker. All but the first two products mentioned are on sale now, while the first two will be available just before your '09 Super Bowl bash.

We admit that we've been pretty hard on the soundbar concept. It's not that we're not on board with with concept of a simplified and streamlined audio setup; it's just that the pesky laws of physics imposed by a single, small enclosure don't appeal to us: diminished bass response, a lack of SPLs and perhaps most importantly, a reduced sense of "surroundedness" from our surround-sound. But clever designers can leverage technology to wring some magic out of soundbars, to the joy of those with limited space. And if the number of soundbars on the market is any indication, consumers like the concept. To check up on some current offerings and get a good listen for ourselves, we got our hands on two offerings from ZVOX -- the top-of-the-line 425 model and a new entry with a clever bit of design, the 550. Follow us past the break for our review.

ZVOX is bringing a new Z-Base 550 model (ZVOX415 pictured) to its lineup of one-box home theater systems that fit oh-so-nicely right underneath your new flatscreen. The Z-Base 550 is meant to compliment 32-inch to 47-inch displays with its combination of a 60-Watt amplifier, 3x2-inch primaries, 5.25-inch subwoofer and PhaseCue virtual surround processing in one chassis so all you have to do is supply an audio signal and enjoy. Personally, we'll stick with old-fashioned discrete speakers littered throughout the room; but if your setup demands a more streamlined approach, you've got until November 1 to save up $500 for a 30-day trial with the Z-Base 550.

Update: PR sent along a photo of the Z-Base 550, so we've added it in.

When Vizio let loose a stable of new HDTVs at CES this year, it was apparent the outfit was beginning to head in another direction. For years it had pushed itself as a discount brand, grabbing market share the only way it knew how: by selling cheap. With a decent foothold in the US, Vizio has finally decided to switch gears and begin to market the more sophisticated aspects of its HDTVs. It won't stop throwing the word "value" around, but rather than honing in on how much cheaper its wares are compared to top-label competitors, it has now hired an ad agency to showcase the high-quality aspects. According to said agency, it wants "consumers to associate premiere audio quality, along with images, when they think about Vizio," and beyond all that, we're also hearing confirmation that the outfit will indeed be pushing out a low-cost soundbar in the near future. Go get 'em, Vizio.

Look out, Yamaha / Polk / Vizio / et al., you've got another rival heating up the surround bar game. Destined to hit CEDIA 2008, soundmatters' SLIMstage40 checks in at a luscious 3.3- x 3.4- x 39-inches in size and features 170-watts from eight internal amplifiers. The device houses four Linear Magnetic Drive main / satellite speakers and a trio of down-firing Extreme-Energy subs that are assisted by six mass radiators. Furthermore, you'll find three digital audio inputs (two optical, one coaxial), three analog inputs, a headphone jack, LED-backlit panel, an RS-232 port and an IR remote. Folks interesting in dabbling in faux-surround can snag one now for $899 to $1,199, depending on whether you spring for the bundle including the SUBstage100 subwoofer.

As much as we love soundbars for cramped spaces and areas where full-blown multi-channel setups just aren't feasible, we've noticed that any decent one usually costs a wad. Thankfully, the firm known for astounding consumers with low-priced flat-panels will reportedly be doling out a soundbar of its own this fall. According to CNET, Vizio will be releasing a faux-surround system with a wireless subwoofer for the low, low price of $299. There's no mention of the specs just yet, but even if it just sounds slightly above average, it'll probably be worth three bills. Keep an eye out for this one to land in September (possibly at CEDIA?).

During our trip to CEDIA last year, we were pretty astounded by just how well a soundbar could sound when placed in the right environment. Definitive Technology's pricey Mythos SSA-50 won't save you much (dollar wise) compared to a mid-range surround system, but it's probably the form factor that has you captivated. Sound & Vision were able to take this bugger in for a listen, and during testing, reviewers noted that they actually forgot to pay attention to it and simply enjoyed the experience. To us, that's a pretty positive remark. Furthermore, critics noted that it "could replace a lot" of 5.1 systems, and given the ease of installation, it ended up looking mighty attractive. Hit the read link for the full review, but only if you don't mind being talked into a purchase.

It looks like Niro is trying out new design ideas from its "1.1" soundbar+sub products, as evidenced by the its new Spherical Surround system. There are three speaker cabinets, covering the large-medium-small spectrum: a subwoofer module (200-mm driver with 50-Watts), a bass module (three 90-mm drivers, each with 30-Watts of amplification) and a so-called "top speaker" (two 60-mm drivers, each powered by 30-Watts). Thankfully, the pictures give us some idea of how this is all supposed to get set up: the subwoofer goes off to the side of the display and the other two boxes are aligned with the display -- bass module below and "top speaker" above. If faced with the prospect of this "2.1" system, we'd personally opt to cram one additional speaker cabinet into the room and go with a 3.1 L/C/R/sub setup (and use a more conventional 2-channel virtual surround scheme), but that's just us. If this Niro setup gets your fires stoked, you'll be able to handle Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic, DTS and AAC formats with the processing module for only €600.

[Via Cybertheater]

Yamaha cranked out its pricey YSP-600 sound bar just a few months back, but the company's already looking to put the past behind and move forward with the YSP-3050. The latest in the outfit's long-standing line of Digital Sound Projectors offers up 21 beam drivers, two woofers, 23 corresponding digital amplifiers, three Cinema DSP programs (movie, music and sports), analog-to-HDMI video upconversion, HD upscaling to 1080i / 720p and a 1080p (24Hz and 60Hz) compatible HDMI interface with two inputs and one output. Aside from engulfing you in audio with just a single bar, the unit is also XM Radio / iPod-ready (via the $99.95 YDS-11), and the integrated FM tuner and bundled remote make it even easier to see in your den. You'll also find the firm's propriety automated system calibration (IntelliBeam) along with TV Equal Volume to keep those sudden bursts at bay when it comes time for commercials. 'Tis a shame this piece costs $1,399.95, but if you're tight on space, it just might be worth it. Full release after the break.

If you're tight on space and scared off by the psychoacoustic trickery done by virtual surround tech in TVs and surroundbars, maybe Orbitsound's T12 soundbar / subwoofer combo will appeal to you. While it looks like a traditional surroundbar, this unit is all about creating a wide stereo image, sans rear effects. Packed in the bar are eight drivers that do the stereo magic courtesy of airSound technology and 50-Watts of power. Combined with the external, but wired subwoofer, the company claims a "substantially flat" response from 20-Hz to 25-kHz. It reminds us of Boston Acoustic's TVee Two, but wired. Processing of the two stereo inputs can set to "off," "stereo," and "extra wide" courtesy a three-way switch. And of course, there's a dock to welcome your iPod when it ventures away from the warm tube glow of Orbitsound's T6. Our advice -- if you're into stereo, get yourself two small bookshelf speakers and a receiver; if HT is your thing, go for a HTIB or surroundbar.

If Sony's diminutive new HT-IS100 HTIB is still too large for your hole in the wall, the HT-CT100 is probably your last hope at "surround sound." The sound bar itself is designed to be mounted beneath one's flat-panel and packs a trio of drivers which receive 50-watts each. As for the subbie, it gets a respectable 100-watts of its own. The system handles Dolby Digital / Dolby Pro Logic II / DTS signals and comes with three HDMI / optical digital audio jacks, a coaxial digital audio port, analog audio connectors and a remote to boot. Not a clue if this one's coming to America (though we have all ideas it will in time), but those in Tokyo can snag one in mid-July for ¥50,000 ($491).

[Via Impress]

Update: Seems this one's new for Japan only.

Granted, surround-sound bars are a devices that bring a set of compromises with them. But if that's the only choice that will work in your setup, and you need something a little more visually striking (or if you think you can do better than the built-in steering algorithm), these Sound Hive speakers from Oskar Daniel might be what you're looking for. The panel of hexagonal drive units certainly will make for an interesting gear-related icebreaker at your next movie night. Unless, of course, you happen to live in a geodesic dome; in which case these might actually blend in to the surroundings. Best of all, though, each drive unit can individually oriented, meaning you can get the sound "just so." Somehow we're thinking the average customer for these isn't interested in audio tweaking, though.

Yamaha's no stranger to the quickly-expanding sound bar arena, and its latest looks to be quite the winner. The YSP-600 offers up 62-watts of total power split between two woofers and 16 "beam drivers," Dolby Digital / Pro Logic II support, a pair of HDMI inputs (along with one output) and a "Night Listener Enhancement" mode to keep you involved in the action without getting any nastygrams from your neighbors. Heck, it's even set to receive commands from any remote belonging to a Toshiba REGZA or Panasonic VIERA HDTV. The pain? A stiff £499 ($988) when it arrives next month.