We've seen a lot of soundbars pop up recently. However, several audio manufacturers are looking to sneak sound into a new spot -- right under the TV.
The soundbase category has been growing steadily this year. Now it's getting a little bigger, thanks to Yamaha introducing the SRT-1000.
The hook on this newly announced product is that it promises "true" 5.1-channel surround sound -- and claims to be the first speaker base system to do so. This is done with Yamaha's Digital Sound Projector technology, versus the "virtual" surround sound offered by similar products. The end result promises an immersive listening experience via five discrete "sound beams."
Measuring just three inches high, the SRT-1000 can sit under TVs up to 55 inches, all without blocking the screen. It has a wood enclosure and a solid pedestal. Even more interesting, it has 12 speaker drivers, which includes eight "sound beam" drivers, two oval woofers and two built-in subwoofers. There's even an option to add another subwoofer through a rear-panel output.
Another nifty perk is that the SRT-1000 packs in Bluetooth, so you can stream audio wirelessly from smartphones, tablets and other compatible devices. It also works with the Yamaha Home Theater Controller app for iOS and Android devices. Other features include two optical, a digital coax and analog inputs.
"The SRT-1000 brings an unprecedented high level of surround sound performance to this form factor," said Bob Goedken, Yamaha's general manager of AV Products. "Unlike the current leading model in this category, the surround experience you get from our sound beam technology is the next best thing to a multi-speaker home theater -- with none of the complications. No one else in America offers it."
Yamaha will start selling the SRT-1000 sometime this month, with an MSRP of $499.95.
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