Santa Barbara, Calif. — Sonos, the supplier of wireless multi-room-audio systems, entered the soundbar market with the $699-suggested Playbar, which connects to a TV and to Sonos’ wireless multi-room-audio network to stream music from PCs, Apple’s mobile devices, and Internet radio stations and music services.
The $699-suggested Playbar can be paired with two Sonos Play:3 wireless speakers, priced at a suggested $299 each, to create a 5.1-channel wireless home theater speaker system. Playbar can also be paired with the company’s $699 Sonus Sub wireless subwoofer.
The soundbar will be available March 5 at Sonos.com, Amazon.com, Best Buy/Magnolia Home Theater, P.C. Richard & Son and other retailers.
The Playbar connects to TVs via optical digital input and features Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding. The aluminum-chassis soundbar features three tweeters and six midwoofers, with a midwoofer positioned on each side of each tweeter. All drivers are individually amplified.
Consumers can control the soundbar’s volume by using their existing TV remote or a free Sonos Controller app for iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac or PC.
Built-in sensors enable the soundbar to automatically adjust EQ and channel orientation for placement flat on a TV stand or for wall-mounting above or below a TV.
Power output was unavailable.
