Tech Review: Sony 98057 Surround Sound System Bar

Figured i would write a quick snippet of one of my most recent purchases.  The Sony Surround Sound System Bar.

Now, i haven't really been a huge audiophile in my life, but something about this caught my eye;  the ease of use and design.

First let me preface this whole article by stating that my PS3 is in my bedroom, which is a little on the smaller side, so i had no need for a TRUE surround sound system. 

The system is a huge improvement over my original speakers (The ones that come inside of my TV).  From a technical POV,  I am now convinced that the sound to most games/movies is half the experience (with the other half being the visuals).  My first game i tried out was Final Fantasy 13, not a favorite, but i figured the game had a wonderful soundtrack, and awesome production value.  Instantly this game sounded better, and actually made me want to go back through and beat it (which i did).  I would not have went back and done this if it wasnt for the the lovely new speaker resting in front of my TV.

This speaker is not for the audiophile that needs to hear every bell and whistle, but for the person craving a quick fix.  The limited connectivity hampers what could be a great addition to any PS3 owners set up, comming with only one optical digital audio input, one analog audio input.

Build-9/10  Looks great on my black stand, along with my tv/ps3.  Feels strong.  The remote is a little small as it's 3x1/2 inches, and easily lost.
Sound-8/10  You wont get the full effect of a true 7.1 or even 5.1 system, but if that's what you're looking for you wouldnt be looking for a sound bar.
Value-8/10 At about 180$, you wont find any other sound bar for much cheaper, its limited connectivity really hampers this device, and I wish they put a little more effort into fulfilling the wishes of many others when it comes to connectivity.
OVERALL 8/10-  If you have your ps3 in a small bedroom, or any small room for that matter and you're looking for a quick and easy fix, you can not go wrong with the soundbar.