Pioneer bowed a $499 starter home theater system Wednesday combining an 80-watt-per-channel AV receiver, five speakers and a subwoofer. The receiver supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive sound, and the system is compatible with a 3.1.2-channel setup to create a “convincing” 3D sound field without having to install ceiling speakers, said the company. A future software update will allow Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer and DTS Virtual:X to simulate the output from virtual height and surround speakers, it said. DTS Neural:X and Dolby Surround up-mix stereo soundtracks to simulate surround sound, and the system supports pass-through for HDR10, Hybrid Log Gamma and Dolby Vision, it said. A dialogue enhancement feature allows users to independently adjust the volume of midrange signals when listening to soundtracks, it said.
SVS added the floor-standing Prime Pinnacle loudspeaker to its portfolio. The speaker's new driver array includes a 5.25-inch midrange, three 6.5-inch woofers housed in separate ported sub-enclosures and a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter. The Pinnacle’s glass-fiber composite cone midrange and other design elements borrow from the company’s reference Ultra Series speakers, said SVS. The speakers come in piano gloss black ($899 each) and black ash ($799 each) finishes.
SpeakerCraft’s Terrazza series landscape speakers are shipping, said parent company Nortek Thursday. The all-weather speakers are designed to be powered by distributed audio amplifiers or extended audio zones from conventional AV receivers, said the company. The line includes an in-ground subwoofer, external subwoofer and four satellite speaker models.
LG’s 2019 premium Hi-Res Audio sound bar lineup includes Google Assistant, giving users voice control without the need for a Google Home speaker, along with sound by Meridian Technology and Dolby Atmos, LG said Tuesday. Meridian’s sound technology, combining digital signal processing and hardware, is said to enhance the sound field with height, width, and depth. LG’s premium sound bars comprise the 5.1.2-channel SL10YG ($1,299, April), 4.1.2-channel SL9YG ($999, May) and 3.1.2-channel SL8YG ($799, April). Other models with DTS Virtual:X immersive audio are the 3.1-channel LG SL7Y ($499, April) 3.1-channel SL6Y ($399, April) and 2.1-channel SL5Y ($279, April). The SL9YG, supporting both stand and wall-mount orientation, automatically senses orientation and adapts to optimize the sound output for up-firing or down-firing speakers, said the company.
URC and Heos announced integration of Heos into the URC Total Control 2.0 platform, plus a direct dealer sales agreement. URC direct dealers can buy Heos products from URC for end-user sales within the custom integration channel, including soundbars, speakers and subwoofers, speaker accessories and components, they said.
Luxman America bowed a $3,895 belt-drive turntable featuring a DC brushless motor, three speeds with independent pitch adjustment and anti-resonant construction including an 8.8-pound platter. The PD-151 is based on the PD-171A, introduced in 2014, which remains in the line.
Waves will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 mobile platform in its Nx 3D audio processing technology for virtual reality headsets, it said Friday. Having Waves Nx on Snapdragon 855 allows OEMs to deliver mobile games, augmented reality and VR, streaming media, VoIP and other content with immersive 3D audio regardless of headphone type, it said. Waves Nx can work with any stereo or surround-sound source, it said.
DTS and CJ 4DPlex announced a strategic alliance to bring DTS:X immersive audio technology to 270-degree ScreenX theaters worldwide, they said Wednesday. The companies will begin to outfit ScreenX theaters this year and seek more opportunities for collaboration, said Geir Skaaden, DTS chief products and services officer.
Sonos gave availability dates for custom-channel dual-branded products it announced at an August news briefing (see 1808280065). It revealed more product details in Tuesday’s unveiling of the Sonos Architectural by Sonance collection of passive speakers, targeted to indoor and outdoor use. The speakers, designed for installation, were optimized to work with Sonos’ new Amp, said the company. The in-wall and in-ceiling speakers are available for preorder with general availability Feb. 26. Outdoor speakers will be available in April, it said. Sonance was a natural partner for the line, said CEO Patrick Spence, citing the architectural audio company’s reputation for sound quality and reliability. The Sonance-Sonos line integrates Sonos’ Trueplay technology, which accounts for the size, construction and furnishings of a room where speakers are placed and adjusts equalization for the best sound. Up to three pairs of Sonos Architectural by Sonance speakers can be powered by one Sonos Amp. Indoor speakers are $599 per pair; outdoor speakers are $799 a pair.
AudioControl announced an Imax Enhanced firmware update for the Concert AVR-7 and AVR-9 receivers and the Maestro M5 and M9 preamp/processors to experience Imax’s sound mix, delivered by DTS. The update becomes available Tuesday, and customers can download it from the AudioControl website.