CES 2012: Haier Enters Sound Bar Market

Chinese manufacturer Haier has decided to enter the sound bar market and compete with better established brands—watch out Yamaha & co!

On the agenda is an ultra-slim 2.1 system and a model with physical spatialisation.



Both bars have been made to slot under 40-inch TVs but otherwise they don't have much in common. The SBEV has been announced as a compact, ultra-slim model with two HDMI ins. However, the Bose Lifestyle 135 is still a more interesting option, as it can be laid flat while still offering true spatialisation. For the record, the SBEV40 only offers SRS software processing.

The SVEV, however, takes the connectivity back to optical S/P DIF. The product's real interest, according to Haier, lies in its capacity to deliver 5.1 sound in any room without requiring prior calibration. We can't for the moment help being sceptical about the results.

Pricing and release dates are still to be confirmed.

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