14 DAY TRIAL // Since quite a lot of people, especially those who don't have enough space to set up a proper surround audio system, go for sound bars to enhance the audio experience delivered by their HDTVs, Panasonic has introduced at CES 2011 exactly such a product, namely the SC-HTB520. Without a doubt, the main selling point the new sound bar from Panasonic has in store is the fact that it supports Stream Out for 3D image signals and Audio Return Channel, meaning that users can easily pair it with a 3D Blu-ray Disc player and a 3D VIERA TV in order to create a complete 3D home entertainment center.
Designed to match widescreen HDTVs (42 inches and above), the new SC-HTB520 from Panasonic is accompanied by a downfiring wireless subwoofer, while also featuring a very elegant and attractive design (black stainless mesh material with a mirror-like finish, but featuring an anti-fingerprint coating), that ensures the fact that the sound bar will look quite good in any type of décor.
Furthermore, the sound bar packs Clear-Mode Dialog technology, which, according to Panasonic, “makes the sound seem like it is coming from the center of the TV display”, while the built-in virtual surround technology also reproduces surround sounds in order to create the illusion of speakers being placed around the user.
Setup should also be quite a fast and easy process, given the fact that this thing offers compatibility with ARC (Audio Return Channel), which allows receiving audio signals from the TV, so all it takes for one to get the SC-HTB520 working is connecting to a HDTV via a HDMI interface.
Unfortunately, for the time being, no pricing details for the SC-HTB520 have been provided, but we're likely to find out more info on this topic in April 2011, when this thing is set to officially go on sale.