surround sound
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SteelSeries Arena 9 review: Bringing 5.1 surround sound back to gaming PCs
While most companies have given up on PC surround sound systems, the Arena 9 are a solid attempt at bringing the joys of 5.1 sound back to computers.
Sony's new premium 3.1-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar costs $700
The HT-A3000 has much of the same tech as its larger, more expensive siblings.
Sonos is rolling out DTS surround sound support
Amazon Music Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos Music spatial audio will soon work on Sonos devices too.
DTS will integrate TV speakers into WiFi surround sound setups
Play-Fi Home Theater-compatible TVs will hit the market within the next couple of months.
Sonos adds support for twin Sub setups
Do you know what’s better than a Sonos Sub? Today, the speaker manufacturer has confirmed that Sonos fans will soon be able to use dual Subs in their home theater setup. At least one of the Subs will need to be a Gen 3 model, the company explained in a press release, because of its increased processing power.
Vizio's rotating Dolby Atmos soundbar is now available for $1,000
The $1,000 Elevate Sound Bar first emerged at CES this year.
HomePod will soon have Dolby Atmos support for Apple TV 4K
You'll be able to set a HomePod as the streaming device's default speaker.
Xbox Series X and S will support Dolby Vision HDR for gaming
Dolby has announced that the upcoming Xbox Series S and Series X will be the first consoles with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision HDR gaming support. Dolby Atmos 3D surround sound will be enabled at launch, while Dolby Vision HDR gaming is set to arrive in 2021.
Dolby and Avid make it easier for indie artists to use immersive Atmos tech
Music tracks encoded with Dolby’s immersive Atmos Music tech recently start appearing on Tidal and other streaming services, but most are from artists backed by major labels. Now, Dolby and Pro Tools developer Avid are making it easier for independent artists to encode and distribute Atmos Music.
Samsung’s latest Q-series soundbars include a $1,800 9.1.4 channel option
Samsung’s latest Q-series soundbars are its fanciest yet, with 9.1.4 channels.
Stadia update adds 5.1 surround sound for web players
Google has rolled out some key new features for Stadia on the web to compliment the 4K it introduced last month. You’ll now get 5.1 surround sound when playing on Chrome or other browsers, which should deliver better audio quality and the ability to better hear where your enemies are coming from.
Roku's speakers can finally turn into a surround sound system
Roku has been steadily building up its audio hardware over the past few years -- first with its wireless speakers ($150), then with a soundbar and subwoofer ($180). So really, it's not too hard to guess where it's going next: surround sound! An update for the Roku Smart Soundbar ($160) next month will finally let all those devices work in concert, allowing you to be enveloped in the aural atmosphere of Netflix's The Witcher.
Vizio's new soundbar rotates its speakers for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X content
Vizio isn't just the brand that makes cheaper TVs with high-end features, over the last few years it's increasingly become known for offering a number of excellent home theater audio options too. For CES 2020 its soundbar lineup is getting a rebranding to match the popular M-Series and V-Series 4K televisions it sells, while a new premium soundbar is made to match the new OLED TVs it just announced. The Vizio Elevate Sound Bar (shown above) has 18 total drivers, with a pair of channels in the main soundbar that point forward when playing stereo or 5.1 audio, but automatically rotate up to increase height effects when they play Dolby Atmos and DTS:X encoded audio. It's made to work on its own with any TV, or to dock "seamlessly" with the Vizio OLED TVs. There's also a wireless 8-inch subwoofer and two satellite surround speakers that add p to 107dB of output. Like everything else Vizio is announcing today, there's no word on a price or release date. Other than that model, instead of simply branding its soundbars by size and speaker configuration, they now have M-Series and V-Series names just like its midrange 4K TVs (the Elevate has a P-Series model number, P514a, just like the high-end TVs). The M-Series and higher models with Atmos and DTS:X will have HDMI 2.1 inputs along with eARC support, so that you can pass through uncompressed Dolby and DTS Audio from built-in TV apps.
LG's 2020 soundbars add 'AI Room calibration' to optimize their audio
CES is right around the corner, and that means we'll once again meet a slew of new home theater equipment. LG is unveiling its 2020 soundbar lineup right now, and a new headline feature for this year is "AI Room Calibration." Exactly what separates this tech from non-AI automatic calibration we've seen is unclear, but LG is openly committed to applying machine learning and related technology across its products. Combined with content mastered in Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, it should make everything sound more accurate no matter what kind of room you're in, how many speakers are hooked up or where they're located. We'll have to get some demo time to see how effective the technology is, but this year's new SN family of soundbars (SN11RG, SN10YG, SN9YG, and SN8YG) have 4K passthrough, eARC and more tech designed to make sure they work in any kind of setup. The SN11RG is the top of the line, a 7.1.4 package with wireless rear speakers that can also project sound up for a true 3D effect. It's also still integrating audio tech from Meridian, and in 2020 LG says that Google Assistant will be built into more models. If the package you buy only comes with the main soundbar, there's also the SPK8 Wireless Rear Speaker Kit to add-on surround speakers later for maximum flexibility. There's no word on pricing or ship dates, but we should learn more about these -- and the sleek TVs LG will pair them with -- next week at CES 2020.
Tidal adds Dolby Atmos Music to its HiFi tier
Tidal is following Amazon Music by adding Dolby Atmos Music-encoded tracks to its Tidal HiFi tier, the company announced. That means you'll be able to listen to Universal and Warner Music artists like The Weeknd, Blondie and Ariana Grande with Dolby's surround-like 3D sound. The caveat is that you'll need a compatible Android (not iOS) smartphone or tablet, including models like the OnePlus 7 Pro, Sony Xperia 1 and Samsung's Galaxy S10.
Razer launches its first lightweight Kraken headset
Razer's new ultra-light headset could be your well-priced answer to a heavy head and sweaty ears. The wired Kraken X weighs in at just 250 grams, comes with 7.1 surround sound and costs $50. Other features include memory foam ear cushions, glasses-friendly eyewear channels and an adjustable headband, plus a bendable cardioid mic with a tight pickup pattern that suppresses background noise. The two models, Kraken X and Kraken X for Console, are on sale directly from Razer now, and will be available elsewhere later this summer.
Netflix says its new high-quality audio is equivalent to a master
Netflix announced today that it's bringing "studio quality" sound to its audiences. The company is increasing its audio bitrate up to 640 kbps on devices that support 5.1 surround sound and up to 768 kbps for Dolby Atmos -- though you'll need to be a Premium subscriber for that. It's also bringing adaptive streaming, a feature it's long used for video, to your speakers. So, your audio bitrate will be based on network conditions and device performance limitations. The goal is to make the sound more crisp, more immersive and to "bring the viewer closer to the story." It also helps out users with slower internet connections, since the adaptive streaming can scale down audio quality, instead of stopping the video and forcing it to re-buffer.
Engadget giveaway: win a Sony soundbar courtesy of Amazon!
Unless you've suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous Black Friday events, you may still need to do some gift hunting for friends and family. Electronic gadgets are likely to appear on everyone's wishlist and Amazon has over 500 of them in its Electronics Holiday Gift Guide. Everything is neatly listed, but if you don't know where to start you can shop based on personality, narrowing down gifts for gamers, wearable enthusiasts, music fans and more with just a few clicks. Amazon has even gotten into the holiday spirit this week and provided two Sony HT-ST5 soundbars for a pair of lucky Engadget readers. This 7.1 surround system and wireless subwoofer can save space and clutter, while immersing you in 380 watts of digital sound. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning one of these new home theater setups. Winners: congratulations to Michael E. of Oklahoma City, OK and John B of Clinton, UT.
Apple scores patents for surround-sound MacBook, GarageBand gestures
When it rains, it pours in the world of Apple patents, and today it's pouring. As Patently Apple reports, the company official scored 48 new patents today, a couple of which apply to GarageBand and a feature that may eventually find its way into the MacBook Pro. For starters, a patent for "Electronic percussion gestures for touchscreens" was awarded, covering gesture-based inputs like the ones used in the app's Live Rock Kit. More than just simple taps, the inputs are more specific commands like a touch-and-drag or two-touch gestures that alter volume and other aspects of the resulting sounds. Looking to the future, a patent for a notebook-based surround sound system was also awarded. It describes a system that includes an audio transducer located on the bottom of a laptop like the MacBook Pro. Along with a suite of speakers embedded on three different surfaces of the notebook, the system would produce a surround-sound-like effect. Of course, we've never seen anything like that in an actual Apple notebook, and the chances of any random patent resulting in a purchasable device are typically slim. Still, Apple's love of music would make it a great candidate to introduce a laptop capable of a stunning audio feat.
Bang & Olufsen intros Beolab 14 surround speakers, considered 'entry-level' at $3,995
Bang & Olufsen has been known to occasionally lower the price floor on its line of A/V gear. Continuing in that direction, the company just unveiled its Beolab 14 surround sound speakers, an entry-level offering starting at $3,995 for a 4.1 setup. The rig centers around a petite cylindrical tower that houses a 280-watt amp for its eight-inch down-firing bass driver and connections for up to five individually powered (140 watts) and equalized 2.5-inch satellite speakers. The circular drivers can be wall-mounted or set on stands, and those aluminum enclosures act as heat sinks (in addition to looking dapper). While B&0 anticipates that the soundbars on its existing TVs will act as a center channel, a 5.1 setup will be available for $4,395 if you need an independent middle speaker instead. The Beolab 14 will come in black or white when it launches in June and additional grille clothes will be an extra $99 per set, should you want to change the colors. You can find more details in the press release after the break while you start saving up.
