Samsung HW-D550

Samsung HW-D550 AudioBar

When it comes to audio output, bigger is often better. Typically, the larger the speakers, the larger the drivers, the larger the sound—but if you don't have quality drivers articulating the lows, mids, and highs (which don't need to be large to be loud), you'll usually end up with a muddled mess. Samsung's HW-D550 ($499.99 list) manages to sound big without taking up too much real estate. This small, light sound bar puts out surprisingly full sound, despite being only as thick as the HDTV under which you can mount it. If that's not enough, it can double as an A/V receiver/switch, thanks to its dual HDMI inputs, dual optical audio inputs, and HDMI output. The first thing you'll notice about the 41.5-inch-wide HW-D550 is how incredibly thin it is. It's 3.2 inches tall and just 1.8 inches thick, a far cry from the 4.3-inch-thick Vizio VHT510 ($389.99, 4 stars) or the 4.6-inch Insignia Home Theater Soundbar ($199.99, 2.5 stars). The sound bar is also quite light, weighing just 4.3 pounds to the Vizio's 7.8 pounds or the Insignia's 7 pounds. The HW-D550 is designed for 46-inch screens, but its width should be satisfactory for HDTVs sized anywhere from 40 to 52 inchest.