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Sales of Soundbars Double in 2011
Wed May 16, 2012 at 10:00 AM ETTags: Soundbars, Sales Figures (all tags)
Bundled deals and a reanalysis of marketing targets have helped things along.
We haven't heard too much in the way of new soundbars recently, but as it turns out, that doesn't mean the speaker style is waning. In fact, it's quite the opposite.
Analysts at Futuresource say that soundbar sales doubled in 2011, thanks in part to heavy promotion and bundled deals with TVs. A change in the target audience of soundbars has helped as well. Originally, soundbar makers were going after high-end users without room for full speaker systems, but now they're aiming at the folks who wouldn't buy a 5.1 setup but still want better sound.
Source: TWICE
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Sales of Soundbars Double in 2011
Wed May 16, 2012 at 10:00 AM ETTags: Soundbars, Sales Figures (all tags)
Bundled deals and a reanalysis of marketing targets have helped things along.
We haven't heard too much in the way of new soundbars recently, but as it turns out, that doesn't mean the speaker style is waning. In fact, it's quite the opposite.
Analysts at Futuresource say that soundbar sales doubled in 2011, thanks in part to heavy promotion and bundled deals with TVs. A change in the target audience of soundbars has helped as well. Originally, soundbar makers were going after high-end users without room for full speaker systems, but now they're aiming at the folks who wouldn't buy a 5.1 setup but still want better sound.
Source: TWICE
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Sharp Launches Sound Bars That Split into L/R Speakers
Tue Feb 21, 2012 at 12:00 PM ETTags: Sharp, Soundbars (all tags)
It's a unique design that Sharp hopes will catch some attention.
Soundbars are interesting components. They're designed to add high quality sound - far better than TV speakers at any rate - while keeping down the clutter. They sit just in front of your TV, rather than positioned around the room. Of course, when you decide to upgrade to a proper surround system, that soundbar is out of the picture.
Sharp's latest release helps to bridge the transition. While the HT-SL75 and HT-SL77 both function in the way you'd expect soundbars to function, they offer a feature you won't find elsewhere. The soundbar can be split into two pieces that are used as left and right speakers. You can go with whatever style you prefer based on the room and the look of the speakers. Plus, when you decide on an upgrade - bam - L/R speakers right there.
Both the SL75 ($329) and SL77 ($449) are 2.1 channel systems that come with the soundbar, stands for vertical positioning and a subwoofer. The 77 ups that to a wireless subwoofer.
Source: eCoustics
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Energy Power Bar and Power Bar Elite Soundbars Pack Wireless Subs up to 10 Inches
Mon Nov 28, 2011 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Soundbars (all tags)
The 30 inch version gets you an 8 inch sub while the 40 inch version packs a 10 inch subwoofer.
Energy's new Power Bar and Power Bar Elite are different from most soundbars in that they utilize a true two-way speaker design. They utilize a .78 inch tweeter and two 3 inch bass drivers to provide sound and boast a 3D Surround mode to simulate a 5.1 home theater system.
The Power Bar Elite measures in at 40 inches long, offers a 40Hz to 20kHz frequency response and a 10 inch side-firing subwoofer. The Power Bar - not elite - only goes down to 50Hz and comes with an 8 inch sub.
The Power Bar is available on Amazon for $399 while the Power Bar Elite comes in at $599.
Source: eCoustics
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Yamaha Releases the YHT-S401 Sound Bar Speaker System
Mon Oct 31, 2011 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Yamaha, Soundbars (all tags)
The setup includes a sound bar and a receiver with a subwoofer built right in.
The latest release from Yamaha is a sound bar speaker system dubbed the YHT-S401. It's designed for those that don't have the desire or the room to set up a full surround system and promises 7.1 surround from just two components.
At the heart of Yamaha's new sound bar system is, of course, a sound bar with a pair of 50 watt speakers on either side and a 50 watt mid channel. It's also adjustable, which isn't something you see often enough in a sound bar - you can raise it or lower it depending on your arrangement.
The speaker system also includes a receiver that gives you three HDMI inputs, support for 3D video and a headphone jack. It also has a 100 watt subwoofer built right into it, which is unique to say the least. Though it does make it a lot easier to figure out where you're putting your sub.
The YHT-S401 is available now for $699.95.
Source:
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Yamaha Debuts a New Sound Bar Speaker
Tue Sep 13, 2011 at 09:30 AM ETTags: Soundbars, Yamaha (all tags)
The YAS-101 produces 7.1 channels of sound and volume leveling functionality.
The latest sound bar to come out of Yamaha is the YAS-101. It's a unique looking bar in that it features a single pair of drivers instead of the usual full front panel.
The two 2-1/2 inch speakers deliver 7.1 channels of sound thanks to Yamaha's Air Surround Xtreme technology which Yamaha says is capable of sorting out dialogue, sound effects and music. Yamaha has also introduced a UniVolume function that gets rid of sound spikes.
In addition to the pair of speakers up front, the YAS-101 sports a dual driver subwoofer driven by an amp delivering 120 watts of power. The bar stands just over four inches tall and lets you connect up via digital, optical or coaxial. It also has a subwoofer out if you want to add your own. You can pick it up now for $299.
Source: eCoustics
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Definitive Technology Launches New Sound Bars
Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Definitive Technology, Soundbars (all tags)
Both the three channel and five channel sound bars are just over an inch and a half deep for use with ultra-slim TVs.
Definitive technology has launched a pair of new sound bars aimed at folks who either don't want a surround sound setup or just don't have a room that allows for it.
The XTR-SSA3 offers up three channels, the right and left of which use Spatial Array technology to widen the sound stage as much as is possible with two speakers. The SSA5 boasts five channels with Spatial Array packed into all of them to present the illusion of a surround system.
The SSA5 has a total of 10 drivers at 3.5 inches in diameter and three one-inch tweeters. It comes in at a price of $999. The SSA3 has only six drivers and three tweeters and costs $799. Both are available now.
Source: eCoustics
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Harman Debuts the SB 16 Soundbar
Thu Jan 27, 2011 at 01:45 PM ETTags: Harman Kardon, Soundbars (all tags)
It's a 2.1 channel system with an included subwoofer that comes in at $599.
When they first launched, soundbars seemed much like the sort of crummy HTiB you'd find on Walmart shelves. Sure, they'll work for the layman, but anyone serious about sound will be buying separates.
The SB 16 from Harman Kardon shows that this doesn't have to be the case. Unlike other solutions, which are specifically designed to emulate 5.1 and 7.1 channel sound, the SB 16 is perfectly happy as a stereo system. Of course, it's capable of surround sound processing if that's your preference.
Harman's SB 16 boasts a pair of three inch drivers on either side as well as a 3/4 inch tweeter. It also comes with a 10 inch ported subwoofer, driven by 100 watts of power.
"To design an elegant technological solution that is convenient to use and can operate seamlessly within its environment is one of the biggest goals that drive us here at Harman," says the company's consumer division president David Slump. "The brand-new harman kardon SB 16 is proof of our continual passion for this goal."
Source: Engadget
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Yamaha Debuts a 3D Compatible Digital Sound Projector
Mon Dec 13, 2010 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Yamaha, Soundbars, HDMI 1.4, 3D (all tags)
It's a slick soundbar, but the $1,000 price makes us think twice.
The YSP-2000 is the latest soundbar from Yamaha, who prefers to call it a Digital Sound Projector. Whatever you call it, the YSP-2000 is an impressive setup.
Yamaha's new soundbar boasts 16 speaker beam drivers, each with its own digital amplifier. The combination of drivers and internal technology allows the YSP-2000 to simulate 7.1 channel surround sound.
The soundbar includes a 100 watt subwoofer that's compact enough for a shelf and can be positioned either horizontally or vertically. You'll get four HDMI 1.4 inputs and a dock port for adding accessories like iPhone docks and Bluetooth receivers.
The YSP-2000 comes in at a price of $999.95.
Source: Engadget
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LG Intros Home Theater Systems and a Blu-ray Sound Bar
Tue Sep 14, 2010 at 02:00 PM ETTags: LG, Home Theater In A Box, Blu-ray Player, Soundbars (all tags)
There's a huge range, from the standard to the dazzling.
LG's got plenty to talk about these days, including three new home theater and speaker systems. There's a pretty big range in the products, starting at the low end with a 3D Blu-ray sound bar.
The LG HLX55W is an interesting case. It's a fairly traditional sound bar, with the exception of the built-in Blu-ray player. The player is mounted in the direct center of the bar and discs are inserted vertically. It's an interesting concept, but it just seems like trouble, especially once those speakers get turned up to 10.
LG's HX995TZ is about as traditional as it gets. It's a home theater system that includes four floorstanding speakers, a Blu-ray player and a wireless subwoofer. Strangely, the Blu-ray player is designed to sit or mount vertically, an idea that LG seems to be really into.
It doesn't come with a vertically mounted Blu-ray player, but the HX900 is the most interesting new system from LG, at least in terms of design. The package consists of four floorstanding speakers and one center channel , all designed to create a 3D soundstage. The vertical element is created by sending sound out through the tops of the slick looking floorstanding speakers – certainly one of the more interesting speaker sets we've seen recently.
Source: eCoustics
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