I was going for the comparison that the stupid expensive USB cable still did the full job of a USB cable. All the ones and zeros got to the other end intact just like the $10 USB cable. Whereas the soundbar will not deliver the discrete experience of 5 even semi-properly placed individual speakers no matter what you try to do with it. (Again, physics. You truly can't ricochet sound off a wall and have it remain full spectrum as required for music program.)
Well, exactly. That's where your comparison doesn't work. The $1000 USB cable claims to do the exact same thing as the cheap ones, only better and are sold to people who foolishly believe those claims. Soundbars don't claim to deliver the discrete experience of 5 speakers spread around the room. They don't claim to defy physics. They don't claim to ricochet sound off a wall and have it remain full spectrum as required for music program.
They DO claim (at least in the case of this one soundbar) to create a "3D spatial experience" and to be "immersive". Does it do that?
I'd have to hear it to know how well it does it.
It's frustrating because there are more frugal options that DO deliver. Five little speakers as I said. You get a surprisingly efficient system dynamic range with even 5 modest little speakers with a surround mix spread out to them in addition to the spacial elements. Many people would be impressed with just that if they had a chance to hear it.
well, again, you're really comparing apples and oranges. It's not the "how much do I have to spend to get a decent surround sound system?" that is the appeal of soundbars. It's the space factor that is the issue. I don't care HOW frugal the system might be, if someone doesn't want to put speakers behind them then they aren't going to want to do that regardless of how modest the system is or how impressive it sounds.
It's double frustrating that some will dismiss surround as not really all that different than stereo because of this crap. "I've got a surround system (meaning a soundbar). Meh."
I agree that's a risk and if it happens would be frustrating.
You can lead a horse to water...
Yeah, some people will never, and I mean NEVER set up speakers properly even if you give them to them for free. Heck, you could go to their house and set up their system and the next day find they stacked all 5 speakers in one corner because it "looked better". I get that. Maybe one of these thingies would be net better than that? The likes of us just need to step back from those scenarios and move on of course. But the folks out there who would actually appreciate this golden age of audio we're in if they hadn't been bamboozled by Worst Purchase products and blown their budget on this crap. That's what frustrates me and make me say "Hey! Don't buy that! Check this out instead! It's better and 1/5th the price!" I think that would generate more interest in 5.1 music releases at the end of the day.
well, you're right that the likes of us need to move on because these products aren't geared towards you and me. As far as that sub-group of people who might prefer a real surround sound system if only they've heard one? Well hopefully most get the chance to if they haven't already.
Luckily, even in places like Best Buy, they all still have the room where the 'good' stuff is set up. Hey, maybe they'll even put these high-end surround bars in those rooms so people can contrast and compare first hand the different listening experience and decide for themselves which they most prefer vs the needs of their budget, room size, spouse, etc.
