i have the same issue. I had a sweet surround system in my last house, but this house is just not set up for it. I'm about to pull the trigger on either the Vizio S4221w-C4 (http://www.cnet.com/topics/speakers/best-speakers/sound-bars/) or this Pioneer (http://www.cnet.com/products/pioneer-sp-sb23w/). Probably leaning toward the Vizio as I like the look better.
Without a receiver(amp), you would need individual active speakers or an active subwoofer with passive satellites, with only an RCA or aux input - basically you need a typical 2.1 computer speaker setup. Here is a great klipsh 2.1 systemIf a soundbar doesn't fit, then can I get two solid speakers that use the optical audio out? And maybe a wireless sub? No receiver, no "soundbar"? I guess I am wondering if there a system that has some sort of bridge but doesn't require the soundbar?
You would still control the volume of the output with the television remoteI use that Klipsch system with my computer. As I was reading this thread, I was wondering how it would do with a TV. It has manual controls and no remote. With a computer, you can control the volume to some extent through the input.
Coincidently, I purchased a new TV for our sunroom last week. I use a soundbar and a Harmony 650 remote in that room. While setting up the remote to control the TV & soundbar, I believe Myharmony asked me if I wanted to control the volume with the TV or the soundbar (one of the soundbar wires plugs into the TV's RCA headphone jack). If so, you should be able to manually set the Klipsch volume and use the remote to control the volume going to it from the TV.
Between the Klipsch and the soundbar (samsung E350) my option is the Klipsch is superior. Room size might change my opinion.