Sony Surround Sound System gives your PS3 a matching soundbar for $199
By Richard Lawler 
posted June 15th 2010 9:22PM
posted June 15th 2010 9:22PM
Sony Computer Entertainment Announces Surround Sound System for the PlayStation(R)3 System, Hitting Worldwide Market in Fall 2010
Rich Surround Sound Environment Delivered in All-in-one Speaker, Offering a Whole New PlayStation(R) Experience to the Living Room
TOKYO, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that it will release a subwoofer built-in, all-in-one Surround Sound System for the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system in fall 2010 in Japan, North America, Europe/PAL territories, and Asian countries/regions at a recommended retail price of 19,800 yen (including tax), US$199, and euro 199 respectively. Users will be able to enjoy immersive audio on the PlayStation®3 system, including upcoming games supporting PlayStation®Move motion controllers, Blu-ray movies, as well as stereoscopic 3D content by simply placing the speaker in front of the television and connecting it to the PS3 system with the optical digital cable.
The Surround Sound System utilizes cutting-edge technologies, including Sony's S-Force PRO Front Surround Sound that generates rich realistic surround sound over one front speaker. Delivering a dynamic sound environment with audio virtually coming from all directions, the Surround Sound System will immerse users into a cinema-like experience in the living room, making them feel like they are actually in the game or movie itself. Bringing in SCE's expertise in both entertainment and technology acquired from developing games, four sound fields of the speaker system have been designed with the help of SCE's expert game sound designers, to optimize the cinematic experience of all forms of entertainment.
The Surround Sound System comes with two audio inputs − an optical audio input for connecting high-end entertainment systems including PS3, and an analog audio input for connecting portable devices like the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system to enjoy listening to music in the living room. The form factor of the system features a sleek and casual design that matches perfectly with the PS3 system, and delivers dynamic sound without the physical space required by a traditional home theater system.
Through the introduction of new peripherals, SCE will continue to further expand the PS3 platform and create a new world of computer entertainment that is only possible on PlayStation.
Product Outline
Surround Sound System for PlayStation®3
Product name - Surround Sound System
Product code - CECH-ZVS1
Release date - Fall 2010
Recommended retail price - 19,800 yen (including tax), US$199, euro 199
Power Output and Total Harmonic Distortion: - (FTC) for the U.S. model
L + R: With 6 ohms loads, both channels driven, from 200-20000 Hz ; rated 5 watts per channel minimum RMS power, with no more than 1 % total harmonic distortion from 250 milliwatts to rated output.
Amplifier section
U.S. models: Power Output (reference)
L / R: 10 W (per channel at 6 ohms, 1 kHz)
Subwoofer: 15 W + 15 W (at 8 ohms, 100 Hz)
Speakers
Front speaker unit:
Speaker system: Full range, Bass reflex, Speaker units: 50 mm × 90 mm (2 in × 3 5/8 in), Rated impedance: 6 ohms
Subwoofer unit:
Speaker system: Subwoofer system, passive radiator type, Speaker units: 65 mm × 2 (subwoofer) 65 mm × 4 (passive radiator), Rated impedance: 8 ohms
Inputs - Analog × 1, Digital (Optical) × 1
Supported formats - Dolby Digital, DTS, MPEG-2 AAC, Linear PCM (2 ch)*
Sound fields
DYNAMIC: This mode provides a wide range of tones with low/high frequencies and dynamic sounds.
STEREO: This mode is suitable for any sound quality, optimized for video games implementing 2 ch stereo sound. (Multiple channels are down-mixed.)
VIVID: This mode provides a wide sound range and enhances the surround sound channels.
STD (standard): This mode reproduces the sound track with the kind of dynamic range that the recording engineer intended.
Other effects/functions
NIGHT MODE: This function allows you to enjoy sound effects and hear the dialog clearly even at low volume levels.
DIALOG MODE: This function allows you to hear in-game speech and narration with greater clarity.
Auto Standby (A.STBY): The surround sound system enters standby mode automatically when there is no audio output for 30 minutes.
Power requirements - 18 V DC (2.6 A) (100 V - 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz using the supplied AC power cord)
Mass
Main unit: (approx.) 2.4 kg, AC adaptor: (approx.) 240 g
Dimensions
Main unit: (approx.) 720 mm × 85 mm × 87 mm, AC adaptor: (approx.) 121 mm × 53 mm × 33 mm (w × h × d)
Included
• Remote control × 1
• Optical digital cable (2.5 m) × 1
• AC adaptor × 1
• AC power cord × 1
Its a nice add on
@SskyNnet
def shit quality, why would u get this just to match
@SskyNnet
except the remote...
@annoyingposter4 You can't really expect it to have a bad ass sound at that price
I like it! Nice!
I wonder if it plugs into my RHT-G500 for extra oomph?
Why don't fools do their research instead of running out and buy a surround system for their PS3 because its PS branded?!?
The audio signals are standard and will work with ANY surround system!
@Kurian
How does that answer my question? Already have a surround system, wondering if this connects to it for extra sound as an external additional speaker...
@Kurian I think we all know it works with any system. People just like Sony and like matching there electronics. just like girls like prada and like matching there clothes
Should it say "Dystem" or "System?"
@derekdevine
damn...the corrected it right after i recovered my password. lol
what sound bars sound like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytCEuuW2_A
"Sony Surround Sound Dystem" - should be "System"
Typo in the headline?
EWW....
Sony never sounds very good.
Too expensive... I'll stick with my 5.1 Logitech surround sound system.
How does this tech work exactly?
I never thought much of those sound bars until I got one. They aren't a bad compromise if you're going for a minimalist look.
I don't see a subwoofer though, and w/o that, it will suck balls.
I also fail to understand how one would need it to "match" their PS3. Most would just use a universal remote, and they are all pretty much just black rectangles. Just buy the one that sounds best for the best price, which IMO is the Yamaha.
@Ducman69
Don't you get it? It has a Playstation logo. It was MADE for the PS3! This is an expensive analogue to "Gamer Grub"
LOL, I just Googled Gamer Grub.
"$199 / €199"
That's just insulting to everyone not in North America.
@MastaQ
nepal is outraged!
seriously tho', that is pretty poor
It is nice to see that in the face of financial woes and hardships, sony is sticking to its business model of underwhelming components which fail to meet general muster of industry wide usage (like say ... hdmi) - and all for unreasonably expensive prices.
I guess they figure if it is working so well for apple then it must be something else that is the problem.
Oh well... at least it doesn't have some proprietary plug on it.
I'll take some Bowers & Wilkins 800-series' and Marantz AV separates instead, thanks.
@Agent007
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
looks pretty sexy. I don't even see why people are complaining about the no HDMI...? Optical produces better sound anyway.
@elckicker Correction, Optical and HDMI both carry sound signals digitally, the difference is that HDMI can carry 7.1 lossless audio, while optical tops out at 5.1
"Optical sounds better than HDMI" is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard (sorry to be so blunt)
@elckicker
I must be listening to the wrong speakers because in my experience, DIGITAL DOES NOT SOUND BETTER THAN DIGITAL.
@soypancho
Actually Digital CAN sound better then Digital. With Optical your limited to 5.1 Digital with only Dolby Digital and DTS which are also compressed like a MP3 for example. Data is tossed out to make the file size smaller. Once it's gone you can't get it back. HDMI you get 7.1 Digital with True-HD and DTS-HD master Audio which are a Lossless Audio format. Which means not only is the Audio recorded BETTER to a digital format, but when it's Uncompressed, it's the SAME as before. Nothing is lost. Might as well call it a uncompressed PCM track.
Kind of like you have your CD Music and your better sounding SACD and AudioDVD formats. Sure it's all DIGITAL, but it ends there. Of course Music really went the other way with lower quality, MP3's. Pack a bunch of songs in a little amount of space and end up sounding far, far worse then the original CD. Do there's Digital and then there's DIGITAL!!!
Optical(Toslink) is far, far from better then HDMI!!! That was pretty funny.
@10nisman94 Hey buddy, I was being sarcastic
@soypancho oh and to you too, I was being sarcastic
If I want cheap booming sound I'll buy Altec Lansing. They have some pretty good tech in the speaker department.
FUCK THAT SHIT!!!!
Where the hell is the updated psp with 1 gig of ram, camera and the ability to surf the net like an ipod touch???
@pspitts
1GB of ram in a PSP when the PS3 and Xbox 360 don't have more than 512, and the iPod Touch has 256? I swear, they don't make them any dumber.
Its ridiculous that to save $10 in memory hardware they castrate the system and make it useless to anyone but the most expert developers who can make a 7th gen console game fit in the amount of memory that a 686 had 10 years ago.
You know what a sound bar sounds like? A crappy surround sound system!!! How about a sound bar that doesn't even come with a BASE speaker? A even WORSE sound bar!!! This Sony sound bar just looks like Old Tech from a Sound Bar 3-5 years ago, just cheaper. No thanks. Unless your REALLY LAZY, You can get a cheap 5.1 surround system that will sound better!!! It takes a little effort to run wires.
@JBDragon Its not always about the effort of running wires.
Even if you don't mind running cables down your ceilings (hopefully you're not recommending people run them across the floor or walls... ghettoooooo), you still have to mount the speakers and they won't be that attractive unless you get in-wall units but again thats more work.
My TV is in a all tile greatroom with contemporary (minimalist) furniture, so a sound bar just makes sense. But yeah, the best deals I've seen so far is to just watch slickdeals.net for the next Sony soundbar sale. Full price they aren't that great, but on sale are a super value.
@Ducman69 we nerds like work if it has to do with our game rooms l looking and sounding good
Soundbars are great alternatives in NYC apartments.. I'd like to get half way decent surround-ish without a subwoofer and wires all over the place.. it's possible right? Soundbar seems like a good compromise if you just want something passable and better than your built in TV speakers..
Logitech Z-5500!!!!!
It is the best "cheap" sound system money can buy. It's not for the audiophile, but it does well with gaming and general multimedia.
@needmoregigs
agreed, got one myself and it's brilliant
I'm going to be honest, I'm interested. I currently live in a dorm room and will be living in one all of next year. Space if definitely an issue and this would easily find space here.
Where have i seen this before... 1997 perhaps? http://www.bang-olufsen.com/beolab3500
Sooo you're upset that HDMI 1.4 is not included?
I may totally be missing something here, but if you were to hook up your HDMI cable to this thing, what would you do for video?
@bakedbeans6 There is no place to plug in an HDMI cable at all.
What does the STD on the remote stand for?
Typically engadget. Lots of people dissing the system because it does meet their particular need, and completely ignoring that there is a market segment that this fits into nicely. And the article even points that out. "Dorm room or bedroom". And you can throw in any other smallish room where the owner/occupant doesn't want to go through the trouble of setting up proper surround sound.
Who cares about another sound bar? I don't.
Sony can suck ass man!
The psp is crippled while the touch is light years ahead in certain respects.
Hell, I went to the Sony site and they don't even have a fucking stand for the psp. No proper stand. None! That ius crazy. there is for the pspgo.
A fucking piece of plastic, a nice shiny piece of plastic. WTF!
I made a stand a years ago for the psp from a piece cardboard I found on my job.
I trimmed it to about 4 inches high, shaped it into a rectangular tube, tapped it and cut two notches on either side of the top to wedge the psp in. I even sliced out a notch from the bottom so the power cord wouldn't fuck with the base. Got to keep it level. I even cut an opening for the speaker cord. used the orb by Altec lansing. Nice little speaker.
BAAAAAM!!!!!!
I never understood why speakers and headphones are so expensive. It's ridiculous that $199 for a sound bar is considered competitive or possibly even a good deal. A basic speaker system can cost you more than your basic TV. Earbuds can cost more than your Palm, Droid or low-end iPhone. It's ridiculous.