Buying New TV Need A Soundbar Recommendation

Check the Klipsch 800 should fit right in your price range and I believe you will be very happy.  There is a reason many pro theaters use Klipsch.  Horns are made for dialogue like they are in the room.

Get a new wife who will let you do home theater. I apologize because I have no real advice to give as I've never even considered sound bars.

We shouldn’t tell people what to do, however

What a contradiction to like Star Wars and Sci Fi and not be wanting to get immersed in good, better, best sound, especially directional cues.

A simple 5.1 setup is not "speakers all over the place".

Stereo Pair, normal

Good Center below the TV (where your soundbar would be)

pair of small surround speakers, mine are out of sight, between the wall and the back of the sofa, on their backs, firing up.

Sub only if desired/needed, mine is mostly out of sight, under a table right next to me, essentially out of sight.

AVR: simple 5.1 mode, same remote as the TV, 'remotes all over the place' is probably part of the resistance.

I second the Sennheiser Amebeo.  I had two different LG soundbars and listened to the Sonos.  The Amebeo is far superior.  A sub does help the bottom end but isn't required.

Hi , my daughter picked up the Sonos Arc and a pair of the “ 5 “ speakers. She has one of the newer styled cracker box houses with a “ Great Room” kitchen, living room combo. So half of her 2000 sq ft house is one big room with tile floors , hard flat walls and a 20’ ceiling. One big echo chamber. So the Sonos system has digital correction and I forgot, she has the matching sub that looks like a square doughnut. Considering it’s in the worst acoustics room I can imagine, it sounds great. The sound bar alone sounds pretty good. They’re available at your local box store and online. I would find a return policy that suits your needs and give one a try. I’m not a  sound bar guy, but this one’s pretty sweet. LOL at the comments from the peanut gallery. The last time I put someone on blast was over a political comment and I got chastised for being too sensitive. Having worked in a prison, we call those people Window Warriors. Regards, Mike B.