Have you wanted a living-room home-theater with great sound for a long time, but cowed away from installing all those speakers and cables? Then you definitely need to read what Televisions.com found in our new sound bars test.

It's a kind of magic: Sound bars, such as this model from German manufacturer Canton, produce living-room surround sound from one unit. With many examples, the TV sits on top of the unit, so the whole setup is discreet, yet highly effective.

We were genuinely amazed at the excellent sound that some of the sound bars could produce. In general, we are a skeptical bunch and, for years, we've been used to elaborate surround systems with five, six or seven speakers, plus a subwoofer.

Our instinct was to discount these new-fangled sound bars as an unnecessary gimmick. But, the sound won us over. Some of the tested sound bars even produced powerful blasts of sound in our listening room.

They'll leave you speechless: Sound bars will bring you a new experience of even your old movies, bringing the action direct to your living room, instead of simply being on the TV screen.

Simply place the sound bar under your flat-panel TV and presto: Full surround sound.

Admittedly, sound bars cannot match the sound of a genuine surround system, with actual speakers positioned throughout the room - at least, not yet. Still, their all-inclusive sound from one speaker unit is a real alternative for smaller living rooms, where huge front speakers would look very much out of place. But, watch out: Not all sound bars are equal when it comes to producing really great sound.