4. Samsung HT-WS1 Home Theater Sound Bar

• HT-WS1G Home Theater...
• • ecomElectronics.com
  • $299.95
• • Vanns.com
  • $349.85
• • Sonic Electronix
  • $379.99
• • Crutchfield.com
  • $349.99
• • US-Appliance.com
  • $299.00

$349.99

If there are small children running around the house, speaker stands and hanging speaker wires are a danger. That means a dad with rug rats will have a hard time convincing mom that the 5.1 surround sound system he so desperately covets for his man cave is a good idea. Once dad gets over it and kisses the five surround speakers goodbye, you can step in with this sexy sound bar, which comes with gray or red trim. There are only two pieces involved in the Samsung HT-WS1: a bar speaker at just under 42-inches wide, and a compact subwoofer. Since the subwoofer is wireless, and can sit essentially anywhere in the living room, look mom—no wires to trip over!

The sound bar does a very respectable job of simulating 5.1 surround sound. At only 2.6-inches deep, it can sit right in front of the television on a media cabinet, or can be wall-mounted just below a wall-mounted TV. The bar plugs right in to your receiver or Blu-ray/DVD player, though it also has a 3.5-mm stereo jack in case you want to plug in an audio device directly. Good old dad—if he has to compromise on true 5.1 surround sound, you can surprise him with the next best thing.