Big Picture Big Sound

CES 2013 is still a month away but DEI Holdings has been a very busy company with a new company launch (BOOM) and a series of new product announcements. Polk Audio recently opened its first retail location inside Baltimore-Washington International Airport (headphones and soundbars are the two best-selling audio categories right now) and its Blackstone TL2 5.1 surround sound system impressed the hell out of Greg Robinson in a recent review.

Building on its success in both categories, Polk announced two new products today that will have strong appeal to both Android smartphone users and home theater enthusiasts who still have some money left over from Black Friday or a wallet filled with gift cards. Polk's super-stylish UltraFit headphones are designed to work with the myriad of android-based smart phones and range in price from $69.95-$99.95.

For the home theater enthusiast who wants Polk's signature sound but doesn't have the room for anything other than a soundbar and wireless subwoofer, the SurroundBar 9000 Instant Home Theater represents the top-of-the-line and is ideal for consumers with a 42-inch to 50-inch flat panel.

The UltraFit series of headphones fits into Polk's Performance line and couldn't come at a better time especially when you consider that over 13 million Android smartphones shipped in Q2 in the United States alone.

Three new models, all of which are Made for Android, offer complete control over calling and music listening functions, such as volume, track skip, and more, via in-line or on-ear single-button remote control and microphone. The three models are perfect for people on the go; especially runners (those crazy folks like yours truly who need total silence while jogging at 4 am surrounded by muggers) who demand a perfect fit and durability, not to mention high performance sound.

Polk's new Ultrafit models include:

UltraFit 1000a, In-Ear Headphone ($69.95): High performance digital sound with a three button in-line remote and microphone and moisture shield. 3.5mm connector, 41-inch and 14-inch cables, zippered case.

UltraFit 2000a, On-Ear Headphone ($69.95): High performance digital sound with a three button in-line remote and microphone and moisture shield. 3.5mm connector, Zippered protective case; one pair silicone ear pads; two pair foam ear pads; one pair cold-weather shearling ear pads.

UltraFit 3000a, In-Ear Canal Headphone ($99.95): Ultra high performance digital sound with a three button in-line remote and microphone and moisture sheild. Zippered, vented protective case; 41-inch cable.

All three models are expected to ship around/before Christmas.

But honey, you said I could have surround sound this year...

The SurroundBar IHT series has been an enormous success for Polk and it has taken its time to update a line-up that was already very favorably reviewed. Launched at CEDIA 2012, the SurroundBar 9000 IHT with its wireless subwoofer, is self-powered, delivering 45 Watts of discrete peak power to each of its eight drivers (five 2.5-inch midrange drivers and three 0.5-inch silk dome tweeters). Add to that the system's 150 Watt, 8-inch wireless subwoofer-which can be located as far as 50 feet away and connects to the system automatically upon powering on-and the SurroundBar 9000 IHT as a whole is capable of delivering 510 Watts of total peak power: 25 times as much as the typical TV speakers it is designed to replace.

Unique to the SurroundBar 9000 is Polk's new Full Complement Bass design. All five 2 1/2" drive units reproduce the summed L/C/R/SL/SR channels over the 80Hz to 200Hz passband, resulting in deep resonant bass in virtually any kind of room.

Polk's patented SDA® (Stereo Dimensional Array) Surround technology also works to eliminate crosstalk between channels, ensuring that left and right ears independently hear the sound intended for them from anywhere in the room, creating a lifelike three-dimensional sound experience that closely replicates the way the listener experiences sound in the real world. A proprietary Polk technology, SDA Surround creates a 360-degree soundfield that envelopes the listener without the need for side and rear-channel speakers.

Polk Audio's SurroundBar 9000 IHT features dual tuned ports designed to provide optimal blending between the midrange drivers and the subwoofer, no matter where the sub is located in the room, and no matter if the bar itself is shelf- or wall-mounted.

The SurroundBar 9000's cabinet measures just 3.75 by 44 by 2.25 inches and is the perfect visual complement to a 50-inch flat panel display, although the SurroundBar 9000 IHT will sound just as impressive with any size screen. And with two digital optical inputs (in addition to two analog audio inputs), combined with internal Dolby Digital and DTS processing, the SurroundBar can handle virtually any device you would want to connect to it.

The SurroundBar 9000 IHT retails for $799.95 and is available now for pre-order at select Polk Audio retailers.

For more information:

• UltraFit Headphones
• SurroundBar 9000 IHT