Audio Video News

Klipsch today introduced two soundbar systems designed to “look and sound” like its flagship Reference series speakers.

The new BAR 48 ($499) and BAR 40 ($299) feature the brand’s signature Tractrix horn-loaded tweeters and include a wireless subwoofer, with a pair of discrete surround speakers offered as a $249 option for the BAR 48. Each system is supports Bluetooth streaming and comes with a remote control, which is back-lit in the case of the BAR 48.

At 48 inches wide and just under 3 inches high, the BAR 48 is a 3.1-channel system with discrete left, center, and right speakers in a slim wood enclosure that can be mounted on the wall or placed on a cabinet below the TV. The center driver complement comprises two 3-inch woofers flanking a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter, while the left and right “speakers” combine a single woofer and tweeter. The companion subwoofer features an 8-inch driver in a ported wood cabinet measuring approximately 12 x 16 x 16 inches.

Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS 5.1, and DTS-HD surround-sound processing is built into the soundbar along with 440 watts of power. Connections include an Audio Return Channel (ARC)-enabled HDMI input/output, plus 3.5-mm analog and optical digital inputs.

The BAR 40 is a streamlined 2.1-channel system with the same subwoofer and a 40-inch-wide soundbar housing left and right driver complements along with basic Dolby Audio surround-sound decoding and a selection of virtual surround modes.

Klipsch said it plans to introduce more soundbars in the fall.

For more information, visit klipsch.com.