Framingham, Mass.
– Three new Bose Lifestyle home-theater systems are the company’s first with onscreen
displays to simplify setup and control sources.
They’re also the
company’s first system to decode Dolby TrueHD and multichannel PCM soundtracks
on Blu-ray discs. Dolby TrueHD is decoded via a TrueHD decoder, while Dolby
Digital Plus, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 are all decoded via Bose proprietary
technology, a spokesperson said.
Two models are
also the company’s first with included iPod dock, which connects to a dedicated
proprietary input. The dock is certified as Made for iPod, but it also works
with iPhones placed in airplane mode, a spokesman said.
The two iPod-docking
systems are the Lifestyle V35 and V25 system, retailing at $3,299 and $2,499,
respectively. The third system is the $1,999 Lifestyle T20 system. All are
available now at Bose-owned retail stores,
,
and Bose’s toll-free number. They will become available through authorized
retailers in the next few weeks, a spokesman said.
All three feature RF
remotes, amplification, 5.1 speaker system, ADAPTiQ automatic room
equalization, and source switching that includes four HDMI 1080p inputs, up
from two in the Lifestyle systems that they replace.
The
system’s HDMI inputs and output do not support 3D passthrough.
All but the T20
comes with embedded AM/FM tuner and tethered iPod dock. None comes with
embedded DVD player or Blu-ray player. All can be used with the separately sold
SL2 transmitter/receiver package to make the surround speakers wireless.
In carrying over its DVD-equipped Lifestyle 48
system at $3,999, Bose offers four 5.1-speaker Lifestyle systems, down from as
many as seven in recent years.
To simplify setup, the three new models
feature Bose’s Unify Intelligent Integration System, which walks consumers
through set-up steps displayed on a connected TV screen. Bose said the
instructions, written in simplified language, include pictures of the connectors
to use and recommend the right cables to use. The control console senses when a
connection is made, and the display confirms that the connection was made
successfully.
To simplify operation, consumers use Bose’s
own RF remote to control connected audio and video sources. To enable control
of other-brand sources via Bose’s remote, consumers point the source remote at
the main Lifestyle control console, which incorporates a database of IR codes. The
console identifies the type and brand of source, and after the consumer follows
onscreen instructions, the connected source can be controlled from the Bose
remote via the console’s front-panel IR blaster, a spokesman said.
Previous Lifestyle systems with RF remotes also
controlled connected sources, but users had to manually enter codes into the
systems, the spokesman said.
The supplied Bose remotes feature buttons that
control often-used functions, while functions used less often are controlled
via an onscreen interface.
To simplify source switching, the onscreen
display lists connected sources by such generic terms as Blu-ray player or
cable box instead of listing them by input, such as HDMI 1 or component 1.
The Lifestyle V35 and V25 come with universal
remote with two-line display to display the name of a song or the radio station
that is playing. The V35 features four 4.5-inch by 2.25-inch by 3.25-inch D
Jewel Cube speakers and a horizontal center channel speaker. The V25 system
features larger 6.25-inch by 3-inch by 4-inch Direct/Reflecting speakers.
The T20 system also features 6.25-inch by 3-inch
by 4-inch Direct/Reflecting speakers but lacks AM/FM tuner, iPod dock, and LCD
display on the remote.
