Role Audio Sampan Soundbar

Dimensions: 42 X 4.5 X 5.25 (W X H X D) inches, (107 by 13 by 12 cm)
Frequency Response: 35 Hz to 20,000 Hz +/- 3.5 dB

I have had this soundbar for several years but have not used it in some time.  I purchased it because I was blown away by the frequency response specs listed, so much so that I called the company and spoke to the owner before making the purchase.  

When the speaker arrived I immediately unboxed it and hooked it up to my Pioneer Elite Receiver and ran the MCACC software to see how it would view the soundbar.  I was still somewhat surprised when the software finished running and had concluded the soundbar to be large front speakers and did not set a crossover point.

Speaker profile from the Role Audio website:

The Sampan Bar is suitable for front and rear loudspeakers in home theater systems and for use as extreme near field loudspeakers in two-channel stereo, desktop and on-wall systems. Because of the full-range performance of the Sampan Bar, no subwoofer is necessary for small rooms.

We wanted to build the best sound bar for music and theater. We took the designs of two of our best performing loudspeakers, the Sampan known for its imaging, its huge soundstage, and bass performance (See: HiFi Statement review), and the Skiff, known for its exceptional midrange performance, and combined them in a single ultra compact LCR sound bar. The Sampan Bar is a hybrid dual folded transmission lines and acoustic suspension loudspeaker design.

The big speaker sound of the Sampan can trick you into thinking you are listening to large loudspeakers.While the Skiff accuracy and transparency rivals that of many reference speakers such as the Merlin TSM (See: Bound for Sound review).

Our goal was to combine the best features of the Sampan and the Skiff loudspeakers to make the best sound bar. We are certain we nailed it.

The Sampan Bar produces a huge soundstage with spectacular imaging. With the built in "Skiff" as center channel, vocals are crystal clear. Sound is rendered in large speaker proportions. And the Sampan bar has more bass than even the vaunted Sampans, which makes the Sampan Bar very well suited as a 3.0 theater system. Moreover, as a stereo loudspeaker, few minimonitors can match the Sampan Bar's performance.

But not only that. We care about your health and the environment. We made the Sampan Bar health friendly and certified green. It is also free of toxic glues and paints.

If you love music played accurately through a spectacular soundstage, and you cherish your health and the environment, we have made the Sampan Bar for you.

Special Features:

• True point source drivers
• Hybrid Folded Transmission lines and acoustic suspension design
• Magnetically shielded
• Dimensions: 42 X 4.5 X 5.25 (W X H X D) inches
• Perfect time coherence
• Frequency Response: 35 Hz to 20,000 Hz +/- 3.5 dB
• Hard wired hand soldered with lead-free silver solder
• (2) 3.5 inch cast frame TPX transducers
• (1) cast frame paper cone transducer
• True minimum phase response
• Five-way gold-plated binding posts
• Ideal for 42 inch TVs and up.
• Easily attaches to wall
• Certified green, formaldehyde free