Sony HT-S20R soundbar first impression: Unabashedly loud on a strict budget

Sony customers can’t seem to do without a good bass on any budget. And Japanese audio engineers say they have done their door-to-door research to come up with a new soundbar, tailor-made for India (read Bollywood). It also sets a new low in price for Sony as they enter a flooded sub-Rs 15,000 market. I spent some time fiddling with it before it hits the market on February 7. Here's my first impression of it for those eager to place their orders. For the rest of you, a detailed review is coming soon.
The HT-S20R is a three-piece ensemble, which consists of a 2kg soundbar (760 x 52 x86), a 6.9kg subwoofer (192 x 387 x 342) and two rear speakers of about half a kg each.
The soundbar has a neat metallic finish. It's a three-channel —or three-speaker — central piece, which is slightly wider than a 32-inch TV. Even if you place it right in front of the TV, it should not interrupt your view.
The subwoofer, though, will require a strategic placement, preferably at a lesser height than the TV. Sony maintains that a built-in woofer will just not cut it for a real 5.1 channel sound in the price range. The two rear speakers add to the stereo experience -- a car racing across the screen or bullets flying in every direction. Read More