Altec Bellies Up To The Sound Bar

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 6/8/2007

Milford, Pa. — Speaker and audio accessories maker Altec Lansing is the latest company offering one- and two-piece surround sound systems designed to complement flat-panel displays.

One system is the $599-suggested PT7031, which incorporates all drivers, amplifiers and surround sound decoders in one slim bar-type enclosure, which uses Dolby Virtual Surround to generate surround sound, the company said. The second system is the $999-suggested PT8051, a two-piece system with a rear bar that gets its audio signal via wireless RF. The systems will be available in stores June 18 and July 27, respectively.

The one-piece PT7301 features three matched 8-inch by 1.5-inch NXT flat-panel drivers in an anodized aluminum cabinet with Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel decoders. The PT8051 features left, center and right drivers in the front enclosure along with front-channel amplification and surround decoders. Surround channels are reproduced by a wireless rear speaker bar incorporating left and right drivers and amplifier.