Sony outs TV stand with surround sound systems
updated 04:35 pm EDT, Thu March 19, 2009
Sony RHT-G TV stands
Sony Europe on Thursday unveiled its RHT-G series of TV stands that feature integrated surround sound speaker systems. All share three HDMI inputs and are compatible with BRAVIA Sync for one-remote control of both the TV and the stand. The three models in the range accommodate Sony or third-party TVs of various sizes, with the entry-level RHT-G550 meant for TVs sized at between 32 and 40 inches. This 3.1-channel model contains three midrange speakers and a subwoofer which combine to produce 330W of power.
Next up, the RHT-G950 is meant for sets sized from 40 to 46 inches and, like the smaller G550, has cut away rear corners to make it easier to fit into corners of rooms. The G950 ups the speaker count by two, and total power is up to 470W. The wide RHT-G1550 is meant to accommodate 46- to 55-inch sets, and its 5.1-channel speaker setup has a total 550W output.
The stands sport efficient cable management systems that keep wires out of sight at the back of the units. To optimize the front surround audio effect, the angle between the center and outer built-in speakers has been calculated for better separation of the front and rear sound aspects. The surround software is Sony's new S-Force PRO Front Surround, while Sony’s S-Master digital amplification and signal processing to reduce distortion. Users can select a night-mode for reduced bass from the vibration-damped subwoofer.
The integrated amp has 12 selectable sound modes that include Movie, Sport, News for watching TV or videos, while Rock, Jazz, Classic and others are the music listening options. An AM/FM tuner is also built-in. Sony also integrated a Digital Media Port that will play the contents of an attached Walkman, PC, cellphone or iPod.
The RHT-950 and RHT-1550 will be available in European stores in May while the RHT-550 will ship in July. No prices have yet been announced and it's not known whether Sony plans to bring the range to North America.
Sony RHT-G550
Sony RHT-G950
Sony RHT-G1550
