Soundbars have become popular solution for TVs and with SoundTouch 300 Bose has set out to create one that can be used for both TV sound and music. It is also expandable to 5.1 surround with wireless rear speakers and a subwoofer.
Bose SoundTouch 300
All manufacturers seem to have a soundbar these days and in recent years we have seen the addition of features such as Bluetooth, WiFi, and even Dolby Atmos sound. Bose’s new soundbar brings some of the same features to the table.
The soundbar is dubbed SoundTouch 300 and is 98 cm in length. It can be connected to the TV by using HDMI and ARC (Audio Return Channel). Bose adds that the soundbar has "4K pass-through" over HDMI, meaning that a 4K video signal can pass through the soundbar without being downscaled to HD.
- “With the SoundTouch 300, we’ve filled a gap in the market,” said Pete Ogley, general manager at Bose. “We pushed the boundaries of size, sound and design like nothing else available in the category. We added Bluetooth to Wi-Fi so you can stream anything, instantly. And because it doubles as a wireless music system and home theater system, you’ll get an incredible experience whether you’re listening to your playlists, enjoying Netflix, or watching the game -- all from one gorgeous speaker.”
There is built-in WiFi and Bluetooth with NFC so you can stream music from services such as Spotify and Pandora. In addition to the center speaker, there are dedicated left/right speakers that are designed to make the soundstage appear wider. It also has a built-in bass port. Sound is optimized for your living room with the help of a calibration process.
Expandable to 5.1 surround
The soundbar can be customized by connecting additional speakers. It is expandable to 5.1 surround with Bose’s wireless rear speakers and deep tones can be improved by connecting a wireless subwoofer. Bose calls these products and "Virtually Invisible 300" (rear speakers) and "Acoustimass 300" (subwoofer).
The speakers connect wirelessly to the soundbar, which makes it possible to build a 5.1 surround setup, says Bose.
In addition, the soundbar can integrate with Bose’s multiroom system.
The new products from Bose will launch in October 2016. The SoundTouch 300 soundbar will retail for $700, the subwoofer for $700, and the wireless rear speakers for $300. The products will also be available in Europe.
