Hasta La Gadget!

For folks who have not heard about Polk before, well, here we are with a short note on them. Polk happens to be a high-performance audio brand that comes with 40 years of sound, engineering and design expertise, and they have recently announced that they will be making available a couple of products available to the masses. First of all would be the Melee gaming headset that was specially developed for the Xbox 360 console, while there is also the Polk N1 sound bar that delivers an immersive soundstage for gaming as well as entertainment regardless of the gaming platform, with the new Xbox One included. I guess the Xbox 360 still has some life left in its legs despite all of the recent buzz that surrounded next generation game consoles.

Why would we recommend either one of these to those who game on Microsoft’s consoles? Well, that is because Polk has also extended its partnership with Microsoft all the way until the end of next year, which would result in additional opportunities for product development in the gaming category, while Polk’s sound engineers continue to work with Microsoft’s 343 and Turn 10 Studios to deliver better quality audio in their titles.

The Melee gaming headset will boast of Polk’s proprietary electronic and acoustic tuning in addition to a DSP Amplifier, ensuring that your ears are treated to a richer, fuller listening experience. Accompanied by a retractable near-field microphone, users are able to carry out chats with one another, as well as to take calls. It will tuck itself smoothly into the ear cup whenever it is not in use. Other than that, Polk’s thumb-reach Audio Mixer would also enable users to adjust listening modes, audio and chat levels, all without the need to remove their hands from the controller.

As for the N1 sound bar, it has been licensed by Microsoft and designed for the newest Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles. You will be treated to an upscale design which complements the console’s slimmer form factor, while the sound bar leverages Dolby Digital and a quartet of immersion modes which will enable gamers to achieve a balance between unique listening scenarios in addition to music, ambient details, special effects and dialogue.

The Polk Melee and N1 sound bar will retail for $199.95 and $299.95, respectively.

Company Page
[ Polk announces N1 sound bar and Melee gaming headset copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

When someone mentions the name “Sceptre”, what comes into your mind? I am quite sure that many of us are well acquainted with Sceptre’s range of LED TVs that deliver plenty of bang for your hard earned buck, and this has somewhat raised the confidence of the general cost conscious populace in this relative newcomer to the home theater/audio visual arena. This time around, the folks over at Sceptre has something slightly different for us as your eyes would not be the ones entertained, but rather, your auditory canals, in the form of the Sceptre SB301524W Speaker Sound Bar 2.1.

The Sceptre SB301524W Speaker Sound Bar 2.1 will boast of a built-in subwoofer, in addition to being powered by Google’s Android operating system while sporting Wi-Fi connectivity so that your run-of-the-mill HDTV can be “transformed” into a smart TV of sorts, thanks to the wonders of plug and play technology. I suppose the total cost of ownership for a smart TV has now been lowered across the board with this Sceptre offering, although it should not come with a similar level of integrated performance as Samsung or LG’s own range of dedicated Smart TVs. Still, something is better than nothing, right?

With the inclusion of Android’s interactive media operating system, you should be able to take advantage of the perfect entertainment atmosphere, as you are now able to access the Google Play Store, where the doors have been opened for you to download thousands of songs, games, movies and apps to add to your TV viewing experience. Something tells me that Angry Birds are going to see a spike of downloads and installations in the days and weeks ahead, if the Sceptre SB301524W Speaker Sound Bar 2.1 sees a large number of sales.

Features of the $299.99 Sceptre SB301524W Sound Bar 2.include a 35W subwoofer with passive radiator, SRS WOW HD audio technology, dual front facing speakers, a trendy touch sensor control panel, and an optional smart remote control which is capable of offering a navigational experience which is on par with that of a traditional mouse and keyboard. Any one of our dear readers are interested in this bad boy?

Press Release
[ Sceptre SB301524W Speaker Sound Bar 2.1 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

If you’re a home theater fan, I doubt we will hear any argument from you that surround sound is one of the best inventions ever. The problem for many home theater fans is that their room simply doesn’t have the space for a true surround sound solution. That means a lot of home theater fans end up using a sound bar that tries to simulate surround sound, and often fail miserably.

Now, Phillips has unveiled a new sound bar at CES that’s perfect for home theater fans that don’t have the room for a traditional surround sound speaker system, but would like surround when watching movies.

The sound bar is called the Philips Fidelio HTL9100 and it’s designed with removable rear channel speakers for true 5.1 surround sound. The best part about those removable speakers is that they are truly wireless. Not only does the sound bar beam the sound to the rear channel speakers with no wires, those rear speakers are also battery-powered. That means you don’t even need an AC outlet where you place the speakers when you want to listen to surround sound. The wireless speakers are good for 10 hours of use per charge and recharging means you need only connect them back to the sound bar.

This is a great idea for those of you who only need surround sound when watching the occasional movie or video game, with the speakers snapping neatly back into place when not in use.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t come cheap. The Fidelio HTL9100 sound system will be available in May 2013 for $799.99 (USD). A less expensive model – the HTL7100 will sell for $599, without the subwoofer.

The Bowers and Wilkins Panorama 2 sound bar features completely new, specially designed tweeters, midrange and low frequency drive units to deliver enhanced acoustic performance. The sound bar also provides the latest HDMI connectivity (three inputs and one output), six class D amplifiers with a total power output of 175W, and a proximity-sensitive display. The Bowers and Wilkins Panorama 2 sound bar will be released in mid-October 2012 in the UK for £1,650 ($2,660). [Bowers and Wilkins]

Just a month after being announced in Europe Sony’s latest Sound Bar the HT-CT260 has finally been made official this morning in Japan! The CT260 comes with S-Force PRO Front Surround technology developed by Sony to create a 3D audio effect with just two front speakers in a single bar and a 300W of total speaker power. The CT260 has a wireless sub-woofer that delivers dynamic base from the tightest spaces. Pick it up, place it anywhere, it’s light and compact and free from the clutter of …