JVC TH-BA1 & TH-SB100

For those of us that don't have the room for a complete set of surround
sound speakers but still want to be able to enjoy the sensation of being
surrounded by our entertainment audio, there are systems on the market
today making use of a technology being called virtual surround sound .
Most of these systems come in the form of a long, narrow bar that
basically combines five speakers (two front, two rear, and a center
channel) into one neat little package. If you're looking for even more
options in your sound bar selection, JVC has just announced the release
of two new 4.1-channel home theater audio systems, the TH-BA1 and
TH-SB100 with Blu-ray player.
The main idea behind the sound bar audio system is convenience. If you
don't want to deal with wires running all over your living room or you
live in one of the world's spacious studio apartments, they are the
perfect solution. The sound bar itself is designed to fit either under
your television or mounted on the wall behind it. Either way, it doesn't
take up that much space. As with other systems of this ilk, the JVC
TH-BA1 and TH-SB100 eliminate the need for rear speakers.
JVC uses their front surround technology to fool your ears into thinking
that you have rear speakers. If you haven't actually experienced it,
it's pretty wild. The 220W black speaker sports four speakers, an
amplifier and a sound processor. As for sound formats, it also has
integrated Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS decoding.
Set-up for the new systems is a no-brainer. You basically hook a single
cable from the sound bar to the source (cable or satellite receiver,
Blu-ray player, etc.). The bar has two digital optical audio inputs and
a single analog. Each system features the same 2.GHz wireless 100W
subwoofer with 6.83-in (8-cm) driver and sound bar while the TH-SB100
also comes with a separate JVC Blu-ray player. Both systems also feature
a remote control.
The JVC TH-BA1 and TH-SB100 home theater sound bar systems are expected
to hit store shelves later this month for $399.99 and $699.99, respectively.