Sharp HTSB200 2.1 Sound Bar Audio System

by Sharp

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 31.5 x 3.8 x 2.8 inches ; 3.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B001R4CJRU
• Item model number: HTSB200
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,623 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #37 in Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Multiroom Digital Music Systems

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed to simulate a surround sound effect without the bulk and added cost of a full home theater audio system, the Sharp HTSB200 Sound Bar provides a 2.1-channel surround sound environment. The compact Sound Bar encases left and right speakers, as well as a subwoofer, in one clean unit for 32 watts of total power output (5W x 2, plus 22W subwoofer). It can be placed on a TV stand (32-inch class LCD and up) with included mounting plates and adjustable feet to straddle the base of an LCD TV.

The Sharp Sound Bar simulates a surround sound effect without the bulk of adding a full speaker set.

The Sound Bar combines advanced HDSS (high-definition sound standard) sound technology and SRS WOW HD Sound for a more natural listening experience and a deeper, more natural bass response. It also features adjustable Bass, Treble and Sub level options for a unique surround sound effect without rear channel speakers.

For flexibility and simple setup, the Sound Bar offers dual audio inputs (right and left RCA jacks) and a 3.5mm sub mini jack, which allows for a second audio source such as an MP3 player.

Features and Specifications

• Preprogrammed equalizer
• Slim remote control with Sharp TV control
• Auto on/off function
• SRS WOW Sound
• Total power output: 32 watts (5W x 2, plus 22W subwoofer)
• Audio inputs: 2x RCA (left/right analog), 1x 3.5mm stereo minijack
• Wall mounting plates included
• Dimensions: 31-1/2 x 2-3/4 x 3-3/4 inches
• Weight: 3.85 pounds

Product Description

Sharp's new sound bar line is stylish and sleek delivering unbelievable sound with rich bass from one slick simple speaker. A powerful built-in subwoofer along with built-in SRS Surround sound functions will have you convinced you're in a room full of speakers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

122 of 126 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vast improvement over flat screen speakers., January 23, 2010

By 

J. Layman (WV, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sharp HTSB200 2.1 Sound Bar Audio System (Electronics)

Bought the wife a new 40" Samsung LCD and while I was very pleased with the picture, I was severely disappointed in the sound quality. No matter how much I played with the adjustments, it just sounded very flat with absolutely zero bass. After reading up, it appeared that a sound bar was exactly what I was looking for. This was for the living room which is primarily where my wife watches TV. She doesn't care about having the sound of a big 7.1 system like I have in the den. Her primary requirements were something that didn't add clutter like speaker stands, wall mounts, etc. but still improved the sound quality a bit.

I bought two sound bars to compare and just planned on taking one back. The first was a Vizio VSB200 and the other was the Sharp HTSB200. Since they are probably two of the closest that people will be comparing when looking for a budget sound bar, they are the two I will compare. Of the two, I chose the Sharp for the following reasons:
1. It is much smaller in size but sounds as good. The Vizio was large enough to stick up above the bottom of the TV on it's stand.
2. The Sharp remote is an actual remote unlike the Vizio which comes with a very cheap looking remote with the bubble buttons on it - in my experience, remotes like the Vizio's don't last very long.
3. The Bass and Treble are adjustable on the Sharp, on the Vizio they are not.
4. You can adjust the "subwoofer" on the Sharp, I don't even know if the Vizio has anything resembling a subwoofer. I use subwoofer loosely because while the sound bar does have some bass, don't expect anything like a stand alone subwoofer.
5. The Sharp has an actual display on the front, the Vizio just has a series of lights behind the cloth cover.

A few things I liked abut the Vizio over the Sharp:
1. Has an optical input, the Sharp does not (the next model up in the Sharp line, the HTSB300 DOES have an optical input).
2. Is controllable by my Dish Network universal remote. The Sharp may be as well but I haven't found a code that will work yet.

Make no mistake, neither provides a true surround sound experience. At no time did I feel as if sounds were coming from anywhere other than in front of me. I think it's stupid for the companies to even promote them as a surround sound experience. What they both do and do well is expand the sound stage of crappy flat screen speakers but the Sharp does it in a smaller package and with more features and adjust-ability.

Edit:
May have spoke too soon with such a positive review for this unit. After having it hooked up all day, I am frequently experiencing an annoying, random half second drop out of the audio. I have contacted Sharp CS but haven't heard back yet. Saw on a few A/V forums where there are others with the same problem. I'll update here as the situation progresses.

Edit 2: Contacted Sharp by phone regarding the audio drop out. I was impressed with their customer service. Very short wait, rep acted genuinely interested in helping. The problem relates to a power saving feature that turns the speaker off automatically when a signal isn't detected. I had my TVs internal speakers turned off (I bought the sound bar due to my TVs crappy speakers in the first place, of course I'm going to turn them off). This apparently tricks the circuitry in the sound bar into periodically thinking there is no sound so it clicks on and off, thus the audio drop out. The rep had me turn my TVs speakers back on and put them at a low setting of 5. I can just barely hear them with the sound bar off and not at all when the sound bar is on. I was skeptical but it apparently worked because I watched a few hours of DVDs and the issue didn't reappear. Poor engineering on their part if you ask me but I can live with it. They should have given an option to turn the power saving feature on and off. Next issue is tracking down a code that allows the sound bar to be controlled by a universal remote.

Edit 3: Problem still occurs occasionally but as I turn the volume up on the TV itself, it happens less frequently. At this point though I can't turn the TV up any louder without hearing it in conjunction with the sound bar, which actually degrades the sound quality. Contacted seller and they agreed to send me a replacement unit to rule out the first one as a defective unit. I'm not willing to give up on this product yet but it still baffles me that it could be engineered so that you have to leave your TV volume up a bit to get past the power saving feature. Makes no sense.

4th and hopefully final edit: Got a replacement unit and knock on wood, this one seems to be working properly. I have my TV volume set at zero and have experienced no drop outs with the new unit. I guess it can be chalked up to a defective unit. At this point I am completely satisfied with the product and would recommend it. Still no luck with a remote code though.

If any other owners of the product are experiencing the same drop out, please post a reply.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best sound bar for this price., September 3, 2009

By 

Brandon N. Plumley - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sharp HTSB200 2.1 Sound Bar Audio System (Electronics)

I looked at many sound bar systems in the sub $200 price range before I landed on this one. This works great. I use it for music or movies off my computer, but I also use it for my 3 video game systems and DVD's. This system simulates 5.1 pretty well. Of course it's not perfect, but what this system lacks in perfect surround sound, it gains in other areas. For one it is much cheaper than any good 5.1 system that I have seen. Second, it is much more portable and easier to set up. Because it is simply a bar that you put in front of you, all you need to do is add power and some inputs and your solid. This contrasts the tedious work of placing and hanging all those little speakers with those ugly wires all over the place. Point is that this works for me. If you're looking for a perfect 5.1, don't get this item. But if you're looking for a good system that will give you good, clean sound, good bass, has some swell settings and can roughly simulate surround sound, then this should be for you.

62 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sound!, May 22, 2009

By 

Kimberly (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sharp HTSB200 2.1 Sound Bar Audio System (Electronics)

I just received this sound bar today. Took it out of the box and hook-up was a breeze! It looks bigger in the picture but it's only 31 1/2 inches long, perfect for my TV and stand. It does come with wall mounting hardware also.

Once I turned it on, what a difference! The remote has different adjustments for sound depending on what you might be watching; movies, news, sports and just "normal". As you might have noticed, it doesn't have a "music" adjustment. I did put a CD station on my dish network and the sound was really nice, just not really loud like you might get from a regular receiver. If you want to turn your music really loud, this is not the unit for you. I tuned in on a movie, hockey game and the news, all sounded great with this bar! I cannot wait for football season!!! It's a decent size for my room of 13 X 15.

This will do awesome until I can afford a receiver unit with 5 speakers!