Look out, Yamaha / Polk / Vizio / et al., you've got another rival heating up the surround bar game. Destined to hit CEDIA 2008, soundmatters' SLIMstage40 checks in at a luscious 3.3- x 3.4- x 39-inches in size and features 170-watts from eight internal amplifiers. The device houses four Linear Magnetic Drive main / satellite speakers and a trio of down-firing Extreme-Energy subs that are assisted by six mass radiators. Furthermore, you'll find three digital audio inputs (two optical, one coaxial), three analog inputs, a headphone jack, LED-backlit panel, an RS-232 port and an IR remote. Folks interesting in dabbling in faux-surround can snag one now for $899 to $1,199, depending on whether you spring for the bundle including the SUBstage100 subwoofer.

Yamaha cranked out its pricey YSP-600 sound bar just a few months back, but the company's already looking to put the past behind and move forward with the YSP-3050. The latest in the outfit's long-standing line of Digital Sound Projectors offers up 21 beam drivers, two woofers, 23 corresponding digital amplifiers, three Cinema DSP programs (movie, music and sports), analog-to-HDMI video upconversion, HD upscaling to 1080i / 720p and a 1080p (24Hz and 60Hz) compatible HDMI interface with two inputs and one output. Aside from engulfing you in audio with just a single bar, the unit is also XM Radio / iPod-ready (via the $99.95 YDS-11), and the integrated FM tuner and bundled remote make it even easier to see in your den. You'll also find the firm's propriety automated system calibration (IntelliBeam) along with TV Equal Volume to keep those sudden bursts at bay when it comes time for commercials. 'Tis a shame this piece costs $1,399.95, but if you're tight on space, it just might be worth it. Full release after the break.

iPod surround bars are nothing new, but iLive's hoping to catch a few eyes that normally gloss over these type things by blessing its iT188B with an oh-so-attractive $99 price tag. This iteration sports "dual built-in subwoofers," an AM / FM radio, obligatory iPod dock and an on board clock to boot. It also comes bundled with a remote control and an auxiliary input to complement the twin video inputs, video output and subwoofer out for connecting an external thumper. As you'd expect, this one's built for use underneath a flat-panel HDTV, but it shouldn't have any problems perched up on a countertop, either. You already know how badly this one's gonna hurt your wallet, but at least you've got until April to save up.

You wouldn't think it, but Yamaha's YSP-series of sound bars throw a decent faux surround sound in space-challenged apartments and flats. Now they've returned with a new YSP-3000 model featuring 2x HDMI inputs, optional iPod compatibility, XM Neural Surround, and 3rd Generation IntelliBeam with optimizer mic. Inside this 31.5 x 6 x 4.5-inch block you'll find a pair of 3 15/16-inch woofers and 21, 1 5/8-inch beam drivers pushing 82W of total power. Sure, it doesn't pack the 120W thump, HDMI upscaling and analog upconverting, or the component inputs of its bigger YSP-4000 bro. Then again, it doesn't cost $1,800 either. Available now for $1,200.

Yamaha's single unit surround sound bars have come a long way since the YSP-1 made its debut, and the company's latest entry, the YSP-4000, continues to up the ante, with 1080p HDMI compatibility, analog video upscaling to 1080i / 720p, XM Neural Surround compatibility, optional iPod dock, and a host of calibration modes, including one designed to make compressed audio sources sound better. Yamaha is being pretty coy with the frequency response numbers, suggesting that the YSP-4000 isn't an ass-shaking bass machine, but the 120W of power through six channels should provide plenty of clean sound for average TV and movie viewing. Available in October for $1,799.

[Via Apartment Therapy]

Altec Lansing's unveiled its own entry into the sound bar market, designed to cut down the number of components and match up with that sleek new flat panel TV. The PT8051 consists of two parts, with left center and right channels up front, and left/right channels in the rear wireless speaker, while the PT7031 uses virtual speaker technology from Dolby Labs to give 5-channel surround through one piece with three speakers in it. Whether the sleek design and easy setup can provide a surround sound experience comparable to discrete systems remains to be seen, as both will be available in August: the PT8051 for $999.5 and the PT7031 for $599.95. Check out the latter after the break.

Marantz returns with more of their wall bouncing, OPSODIS (OPtimal SOurce DIStribution) Technology packed into the ES7001. As a followup to their ES-150, Marantz's sound bar aims to compete directly with Yamaha's YSP series of sound projectors. As such, they've pulled all the drivers, amps, and woofers into a single long housing with the ability to redirect the "sweet spot" depending upon the listener's location. It's also swollen with jacks including 2x HDMI (Ver.1.1) and 3x digital optical inputs. The space saving kit will set you back a cool ¥124,000 (about $1,020) when it ships in June. An optional ¥24,000 ($197) 50W subwoofer and ¥50,000 ($411) AV rack are available to round out the look and feel. Pics of the latter after the break.

[Via Impress]

The YSP-900 Digital Sound Projector joins Yamaha's high-end YSP-1100 in their digital sound projector line-up of simulated surround-sound speaker-bars. As a followup to the YSP-800, the YSP-900 comes in silver or black and introduces the "My Beam" and "IntelliBeam" functions previously found only in the YSP-1100. Just press and hold a button on the remote control and the My Beam function will instantly "beam" the sound in your direction -- useful for the hard-of-hearing or late-night movie fests while the rest of the household slumbers. IntelliBeam then, is the auto system calibration software which optimizes the unit's placement in the room. Just keep in mind that the sound will bounce best in a rectangular room with the couch offset from the center of the back-wall. That limitation aside, Yamaha's sound projectors come highly touted for quick and not-so-dirty home theater setup. Hitting Japan on February 22nd for ¥94,800 or about $602. Better yet, these will come Stateside soon enough.