As the subject says I'm looking for a esay system for my wife's friend who has just bought a house. Here where a few ground rules she set for me.

-No wires on the ground and no Sub-woofer
-No speakers or stands on floor
-If possibly, no receiver
-If can't be avoided, get a receiver that is very easy to use

She is willing to spend 500-700$ CND. I think a soundbar would be the way to go, I know they can very but anything would be better then the T.V speakers.

What do you all think in-wall or sound bar, she is not that picky about her systems, her parents have all 5 speakers for there zenth HTIB on the fire place.... Time's like that I don't even brother saying anything b/c I know they just won't care about it one way or another. Sound is sound to some people.

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Onkyo 806
Epic Grand Master - 500

Graham, those "ground rules" are so restrictive that possibly the only thing that would literally meet them would be one of the all-in-one CD/Radios, such as the Cambridge Soundworks unit which Alan mentioned. Just a bit of complication would be involved with a pair of M3s, plus a CD player for around $100 and a stereo receiver(simple enough)for around $200 to stack on top of it.

Some decent, self powered speakers running directly from her TV audio outputs would probably be the most simple way to achieve a better stereo sound. She would have definitely improved (albeit not perfect,)sound and still only have to deal with her TV remote for volume.

If she wants 5.1 sound without complexity, I'm in the "Soundbars are useless" category. I have heard 4 different installs of them and only the one that was professionally calibrated gave the slightest illusion of surround sound and they all suffered from a lack of bass. The self calibrated ones not only had no surround effects but also sounded somewhat 'unnatural'.

I think they even sounded less natural than TV speakers in my opinion because the sound drew attention to itself. At least you tend to forget about the crappy sound from TV speakers as your ears and mind adjust to it. Perhaps it was just the mental fact that I was aware of the bar but after watching full movies, I was still distracted by the unnatural sound.

Audiobytes are fairly small and could take the sound out of the cable box. BTW, if the sound needs to be coming out of her TV (no cable box) does her TV have audio out? (my last 4 TVs did not have anything ressembling a "head-phone" plug).
If she really wants no wire, you might suggest close captionning to her!

!!Close captioning!!! Our first good rimshot moment of the day!

I would say something as I have found too many people have no clue on how to set up such a thing. One of my friends from work had his makeshift system set up like that after he purchased a new 7.1 capable receiver, he had never owned anything like it before and simply put all the speakers up front like a normal stereo, once I set it up for him he was hooked on full surround sound.

ZVOX?

Don't have one, and never heard one, but gets good reviews. I want someone here to get one just to hear their take.

I believe they have one that looks like a platform to fit under the tv like a stand. Can't get anymore stealth than that. All components would have to be plugged into the TV and the TV would be used as a switcher. Just one set of stereo outputs to the ZVOX, and plug it in.

http://www.zvoxaudio.com

I've heard the ZVOX and for what it is it did sound to bad. It would certainly fit the bill for what is wanted.