Altec Bellies Up To The Sound Bar
By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 6/18/2007
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 Speaker to generate surround sound, the company said. The second system is the $999-suggested PT8051, a two-piece system with a two-driver rear bar that gets its audio signal via wireless RF. The systems will be available in stores today 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 and 3x25-watt RMS amplification with less than 1 percent THD, said audio product manager Don Milks. The PT8051's front cabinet incorporates left, center and right drivers along with front-channel amplification and surround decoders. Surround channels are reproduced by a wireless rear speaker bar incorporating amplifier and left and right drivers facing forward and angled to the left and right. Total output is 5x25 watts RMS with less than 1 percent THD. Bass response for both systems is flat to about 75Hz. A subwoofer output is available on the front bars for add-on subwoofers.
