No matter how many times we tell you how important audio is, there are still a few of you out there using the speakers that the TV manufacturer gave you. To get the full effect of movies, sports and everyday TV viewing, you need something that packs a bit more power.
Not everyone wants a room filled with speakers, so manufacturers are cranking out different soundbar solutions. A soundbar puts a much fuller audio experience into a compact package. Now, it will never replace a full speaker complement, but Pioneer Electronics is hoping to get close to that with its newly announced Speaker Bar.
Also known as the SP-SB23W, the Speaker Bar has a composite wood curved cabinet, six individual speakers, six amplifiers (one for each speaker), and an eight-channel active digital crossover network. It also comes with bragging rights, since it comes from the mind of speaker engineer Andrew Jones.
The composite wood cabinet enclosure promises better control and resistance to unwanted resonance. It also has a specially designed RF molded curved enclosure for better audio at higher levels.
Inside that cabinet, there are four custom 3-inch woofers and two 1-inch soft dome tweeters. The woofers have a vented pole piece for better bass, while the tweeters include a custom “wave guide” enclosure for better output sensitivity and a more controlled dispersion of high frequencies.
The Speaker Bar comes packing a matching subwoofer with a 6.5-inch driver and a built-in 50-watt amp. It’s also wireless, which makes for easy placement anywhere in the room.
Other features include Dolby Digital decoding, a remote, and sound modes for movies, music, dialogue. The Speaker Bar also has built-in Bluetooth, so you can stream sound right to the speaker from any compatible smartphone, tablet or other device.
“Pioneer created a similar speaker bar in the late ’90s for conventional television sets and now we’re building the best sounding speaker bar for today’s flat panel televisions,” says Chris Walker, director of AV marketing and product planning for Pioneer’s Home Electronics Division. “Unlike most offerings, the new Speaker Bar is made of composite wood, a far superior material that makes a significant difference when it comes to sound quality.”
Pioneer will start selling the Speaker Bar sometime this fall. Expect the package to come with an optical cable, wall mounts, and an MSRP of $399.
Also Check Out:
Top 6 High-Tech Additions to Your Master Bedroom
Hands On: SpeakerCraft CS3 TV Speaker
3 Audiophile Systems for 3 Budgets