NEW YORK –
Haier is entering the home audio market
with its first iPad- and iPod-docking speaker systems
and first sound bars.
The docking speakers ship in December and will be
on display at International CES, where the sound bars
will also be displayed.
Four docking speakers systems include two iPaddocking
systems and two iPod/iPhone speaker system.
One of the iPad systems is the $129-suggested
IPD-100 – View XL, which features component-video
output to display iPad video on a TV set, four neodymium
tweeters and two woofers delivering a total of 25
watts, and an aux input connects to the iPod Shuffle
and other MP3 players.
The second iPad system is the $79.99 IPD-01 –
Flex, which displays an iPad in portrait or landscape
mode as well as in a position that facilitates the use
of its virtual keyboard. Flex features 4-watt output and
charges iPads, iPhone 3G/4 models, and iPods and
Touches. It comes with aux input.
One of two iPod/iPhone-docking speaker systems is
the $79.99-suggested IPDS-10 Flow, which features
a motorized dock to position an iPod or iPhone into
portrait or landscape modes. Features include four
drivers, blue LED light circle to illuminate the dock,
aux input and remote.
The $99.99-suggested IPDS-20 Move is an AC/DC
portable iPod/iPhone speaker system with rechargeable
battery, travel case and remote control, and aux
input.
In sound bars, the company will show its first six
models, all designed as TV add-ons that use the TV for
video switching. “We are looking to create a Haier Audio
line to accentuate our televisions and create a real
home theater experience,” a spokesman told TWICE.
One of the sound bars at the show will be the 3D
Sound Bar, which incorporates Dolby Digital 5.1 decoder, optical digital input, and two embedded
downfiring woofers. It uses Sonic Emotion 3D
sound technology from Germany-based Sonic Emotion
“to create true surround sound for everyone in
the room,” Haier said
The technology, which also works with stereo
sources, uses “wave field synthesis to create a field
of sonic waves resulting in the illusion of sounds
originating from all around,” Sonic Emotions said.
“Listeners are surrounded in immersive, balanced
audio regardless of their positioning, device location,
and room dimensions.”
Haier’s 3D Sound Bar will require no calibration
and will deliver its surround effect regardless
of room configuration or the proximity of walls to
“eliminate the common problem of “sweetspots”
that limit other sound bar and surround sound technologies,
Haier said.
Sound bar details weren’t available.
