Sony have announced three new home audio systems, with two soundbars for the cable-phobic and a 5.1 surround setup for those slightly more ambitious.

The Sony HT-SF470 is a 3D-capable 1000 watt (157W x 5 +167W sub) system with three HDMI inputs and an HDMI pass-through port, together with BRAVIA Sync, a Digital Media Port for use with an optional iPod cradle, two digital audio inputs (coax and optical) and digital cinema auto calibration for straightforward setup.

As for the HT-CT350, that has 400W (100 watts x 3 channels + 100 watts subwoofer) while the HT-CT150 has 340W (85 watts x 3 channels + 85 watts sub). Both have three HDMI inputs and one HDMI output, and support LPCM Blu-ray Disc audio together with 3D pass-through. They too have dual digital audio inputs, as well as BRAVIA Sync and iPod cradle compatibility.

The CT350 comes with a bracket for attaching it to Sony’s 40-inch and larger HDTVs, while the CT150 has the same for 32-inch sets. Both sound bars will go on sale in May, priced at $400 for the CT350 and $300 for the C150. Meanwhile the HT-SF470 will arrive in June, priced at $550.

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ASUS introduced the Cine5, a new compact speaker that provides 5-channel sound.

ASUS today announced the launch of the ASUS Cine5 PC speaker which provides accurate 5-channel surround sound in personalized spaces such as study rooms. With its all-in-one design, the Cine5 delivers realistic and dynamic surround sound to satisfy consummate gamers and personal entertainment users. To deliver exceptionally full sound from a compact form factor, ASUS drew on its expertise in high-performance audio cards during the development.

Leading Surround Technology for True Cinematic Enjoyment
The Cine5 is the first PC speaker in the world to offer leading surround sound presence with the new “EmbracingSound Theatre HD” technology. This patented technology leverages on a discrete 5-channel output to deliver full audio surround, which users can experience whenever they are directly in front of the speaker. In a First Player Shooter game, the Cine5 provides precise sound location that improves shooting accuracy and heightens gaming thrills. The Cine5 also revives 5-channel audio from any down-mixed 2-channel source—for a high-fidelity, multi-channel sound during PC gaming or movie sessions.

Space-saving Design and Convenient Home Entertainment Setup
By integrating an array of speaker drivers into a single bar, the Cine5 PC speaker helps users save space in their study rooms. Additionally, installation is simplified by eliminating the need to set up multiple satellite speakers—users just need to place the Cine5 PC speaker below the computer monitor. No positional adjustment is necessary to get the sweet spot for audio recreation.

Refined Audio Performance
Utilizing premium speaker drivers and a specially-designed bass reflex port, the Cine5 provides 15dB more bass than speakers of similar size, thus revolutionizing bass delivery in compact speakers—to add depth to games and movies. Also, its multi-driver configuration reduces individual driver load by 50%, resulting in better high-frequency responses for more brilliant sound.

Dress Up PCs with Elegance
The Cine5 PC speaker represents a modern form in PC speaker design. In a user setting, the three elements of a curved shape, black glossy finish, and its metal knob delivers a touch of elegance. It also blends in with most monitors, with its overall design featuring metal or rubber stands of different heights.

Onkyo have released a range of new home A/V equipment that offers HDMI v1.4 connectivity and 3D video support. The new line-up includes a pair of full-sized receivers, the TX-SA578 and the TX-SA608, a pair of mini-systems, the BASE-V30HDX and BASE-V20HDX, and a 2.1-channel sub/speaker system, the HTX-22HDX.

The TX-SA608 and TX-SA578 support seven channels of 190W and 160W respectively, along with Audyssey 2EQ, Audyssey Dynamic Volume and – on the SA608 only – Audyssey DSX support. They’ll go on sale by the end of March, priced at 84,000 and 71,400 yen respectively ($950 and $808 respectively).

The mini-systems, the BASE-V30HDX and BASE-V20HDX, come with two stereo speakers and a sub, but offer five channels of regular 30W output (and a 60W sub output) if you want to hook up the full surround set. Even without there’s virtual surround support, along with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. They’ll go on sale in Japan on March 24th, priced at 74,800 and 64,800 yen respectively ($846 and $733 respectively).

As for the HTX-22HDX, that has three HDMI inputs (and one output), together with various analog and digital inputs. As standard it offers two front stereo speakers and a sub, but there are outputs for a further center and rear speakers and in fact Onkyo have matching models to go with the set. Each regular speaker channel gets 50W, while the subwoofer gets 60W, and the system supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.

Way back in the day I had a set of JBL Creature II speakers. The things always reminded me of the ghosts from the Pac Man cartoon my brother and I watched as kids. The newest version of the speakers is the JBL Creature III and they have a very similar design to those Creature II speakers.

The new speakers are available in black or white colors and have a 3.5mm input for connecting to Mac or PCs. The drivers in the satellites are 40mm units and the subwoofer is a 3-inch unit. The dimensions of the satellite speakers are 3″ x 3″ x 2-3/4″ and the sub measures 9″ x 9″ x 9″.

The speakers still look a lot like the Pac Man ghosts to me. JBL uses its latest Odyssey transducer technology in the speakers and the Creature II speakers are available exclusively at the Apple Store and on Apple.com. The MSRP for the speakers is $129.99.

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As much a piece of design as a piece of audio, these Harman Kardon GLA-55 cut glass speakers are a real eye-catcher.

Looking like a pair of giant paperweights, the GLA-55 two-way speakers offer audiophile-friendly output thanks to the sheer weight – there’s no resonance or movement, which means a purer sound, all 56 watts of it.

No amplifier is required either – each speaker has one built into its clear acrylic stand, so you just have to plug in your MP3 player (or other audio source and you’re away). Just 3,000 being offered worldwide from next month, priced around £500 / 600 EUR a pair.

Harman Kardon website

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Klipsch has ushered in its new ProMedia 2.1 speakers which were specially designed to work in tandem with notebooks.

To make matters all the more interesting, these THX-certified speakers will be mostly wireless in the sense where you need to tether them to a power outlet in order to obtain the necessary juice to run, although there is no need to physically connect it to your computer.

Your machine will need to have a free USB port to fit the compatible dongle that comes with each $199 purchase though.

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Premium audio kit manufacturer Paradigm have obviously had enough of subwoofers being the breezeblock-shaped lump unloved in the corner, and have whipped out their SUB 1 and SUB 2 models.

Each high-end hexagon slots neatly into the company’s Reference Signature line, and pack six high-excursion drivers – 8-inch in the SUB 1, 10-inch in the SUB 2 – together with more amplification than most people could realistically need.

In fact, the SUB 1 packs a 1,700W RMS amp capable of 3,400W RMS dynamic peak bursts, and the SUB 2 trounces that with a sustained 4,500W RMS and 9,000W RMS dynamic peak. The unusual driver layout, Paradigm claim, means that vibrations are minimized; a glass of water sat on top of each sub, so they say, “will barely ripple”.

Of course, as with anything hexagonal in life, neither subwoofer comes cheap. The Paradigm SUB 1 is priced at $3,499, while the Paradigm SUB 2 comes in at $7,499; both include the company’s Perfect Bass Kit (PBK) for automatic room correction.

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