Audio company Sennheiser is a producer of high-grade sound system setups. They have not really launched a consumer speaker yet. But for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show at Las Vegas, Nevada, they will be releasing their first soundbar.
The soundbar is still in its prototype stage and the design of the body is still unfinished. However, all 13 of its drivers are working and they get to demonstrate their power in a small, closed-room environment at the CES.
The 13 drivers —six woofers measuring four inches, five tweeters, and two top-firing speakers — all work to deliver what Sennheiser calls "5.1.4 surround sound."
5.1 is a current standard for surround, and the ".4" added by Sennheiser refers to four "virtual" speakers that are supposed to sound from to be located in the four corners of a room.
A report from The Verge says that there is little difference between the 5.1 setup and Sennheiser's 5.1.4. However, the way a soundbar emulates the separation and 360-degree sound from one location is a feat.
Sennheiser's soundbar achieves this effect because the speakers measure its distance from the walls of a room. From this information it adjusts how sound is produced and bounced back to the listener.
It should be noted that Sennheiser's demonstration at the CES was conducted at an optimal, closed-room environment. Sound reproduction from other real-life setups may vary, depending on the size of the room and how open is the area.
The soundbar will be marketed under Sennheiser's Ambeo 3D Audio brand. This is an umbrella of products that produce quality 360-degree audio from Sennheiser.
One of the company's newest products in the Ambeo 3D brand is the Ambeo Smart Headset.
The CES is an annual showcase of advances in technology. World-famous brands gather to announce upcoming products in the field of electronics.
