sibel grouse: Vizio's 2013 sound bars bringing big audio, Bluetooth connectivity to living rooms (ears-on)

Monday, January 7, 2013

Vizio's 2013 sound bars bringing big audio, Bluetooth connectivity to living rooms (ears-on)

An HDTV without a sound system to match is like a Ferrari on 14-inch rims -- still a beautiful sight to behold, but its performance falls short of what could be, given the right accessory. Vizio knows this, and so has announced its 2013 lineup of sound bars to give your HDTV some audio to match. Plus, they're all Bluetooth enabled, so they can stream tunes from your mobile device of choice as well. They come in 40-, 42-, and 54-inch models, with the smallest bar packing 2.1 channel audio, and the two larger sizes delivering 5.1 surround sound. Each bar also comes with a wireless subwoofer to deliver low-end punch -- the 40- and 42-inchers come with a 6-inch sub, while the big boy gets an 8-inch unit.

Vizio has unified the look of its 2013 sound bar lineup, giving it the same understated design language seen in their new HDTVs. We got to listen to all the new bars in person today, and found the audio quality to be quite good. The bars all handled hi's and mids without distortion at theater volume levels, and faithfully reproduced dialogue without sacrificing deep and rich sound effects while watching a clip from Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Bass from from the 8-inch sub was particularly impressive, as it shook the room with every explosion from the movie. As usual, full pricing and availability are hard to come by at the moment, but the 42-inch model will retail for $330 later this year.

Gallery: Vizio 2013 home theater sound bars ears-on