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Between the lack of the remote and the audio routing, we wound up feeling like the Polk had an awful lot of workarounds where a few feature upgrades would have sufficed.
AUDIOSWITCHER CNET PLUS
Even if you don't have HDMI gear, JVC's TH-BA1 includes two optical audio inputs and an analog audio input, plus it also features a wireless sub, a remote, and LCD display.
AUDIOSWITCHER CNET TV
Yes, you can use your TV as an audio switcher as a workaround, but when Sony's HT-CT100 (which first debuted in 2008) sells for $100 less and includes three HDMI inputs, it's hard to accept the SDA IHT's connectivity limitations. There's only one audio input, so anyone with more than one device will need to connect everything to the TV first.Īs we mentioned, the SDA's connectivity is limited to just a single stereo analog input. On the other hand, it's worth pointing out that any sound bar home theater system with multiple inputs can use this same connection scheme and also offer the capability to connect devices directly to the sound bar. In some ways it's easier to connect everything directly to your TV, because when you change inputs on your TV, you won't need to change inputs on your sound bar. If you have more than one device, like most home theaters, Polk's solution is to connect your devices directly to your TV, then connect the TV's analog stereo output to the SDA IHT.ĭepending on your point of view, this is either a clever simplifying design or a workaround for the underfeatured Polk. If you only have one device in your home theater (say, a cable box), you can connect it directly to the SDA IHT. We thought Polk should include a remote to use in home theaters where it's a better solution.īecause the SDA IHT only has one audio input (more on this later), setup is a little different than on competing products. Some TVs allow you to permanently turn the speaker off, but it's not always an option. It's not a bad idea-and in some ways it's easier than using a separate remote-but occasionally the arrangement didn't work as planned, with the volume controls adjusting both the TV's volume and the SurroundBar's volume. The thinking here is that since you still have to use your TV's remote it makes sense to also use it to control the SurroundBar SDA's volume, mute, and power on/off functions. Programming the SDA to respond to your TV remotes signals is pretty easy and takes just a couple of minutes to complete. The SurroundBar SDA IHT's low-key aesthetics are a step up compared with other sound bars, although we still prefer the pedestal design of Zvox's Z-Base 525, which allows it to disappear even further under your TV, and thus won't block your TV's remote sensor. Two cradles are included to prop up the sound bar, although the bar itself has rubber feet and will sit flat on a TV stand. The front is dominated by a dark gray speaker grille, while the rest of the cabinet features a matte gray finish. In an era where glossy finishes tend to dominate, the SurroundBar SDA IHT's understated design ethos is a welcome relief.
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On the other hand, we found it hard to accept many of the missing features when competitors like the Sony HT-CT100 (three HDMI inputs, $250 street price), and JVC TH-BA1 (three inputs, $300 street price) offer much more for the same price. If all you need is a dead-simple TV add-on speaker, we did like the SurroundBar IHT SDA's subtle design the balance between the wireless subwoofer and the surround bar was also well above average.
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Polk Audio's SurroundBar SDA IHT is the company's entry-level sound bar, and it offers just the bare essentials, with just one analog audio input, no remote, and no front display.
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That's the pitch behind TV add-on speakers, which are stripped-down versions of sound bar home theater systems that offer minimal connectivity, but promise a significant upgrade over your TV's tinny speakers.
AUDIOSWITCHER CNET FULL
Just because you don't want a full surround-sound home audio system doesn't mean you have to settle for the sound coming out of your TV's speakers.