Nothing (yet) will ever surpass the true air displacement of proper speakers but these soundbars are a very notable step above the tinny speakers on the non-CRT TVs of today.
I (personally) would get something like this http://worldwide.bose.com/axa/en_au/web/wave_music_system_dab/page.html and kill 3 birds with one stone (DAB radio, CD, auxilliary) - mind you, I had the original Bose Acoustimass and hated it (terrible mid-range, and separation) but the Wave range has sound that seems to belie its physical limitations.
