Sony's 'dumb' HT-S350 sound bar coming soon for $280
Sony unveiled pricing on its 320-watt HT-S350 sound bar, announced at CES, which will be hitting stores by the end of April.
Sony has detailed pricing on one of the sound bars announced at CES 2019 -- the HT-S350 -- while the Dolby Atmos X8500 is yet to receive a release date.
The $280 HT-S350 sound bar lacks any smart features (such as a voice assistant) but includes a wireless subwoofer and a claimed 320 watts of power. Unlike competitors that now use DTS Virtual:X, the HT-S350 uses Sony's proprietary S-Force Pro Front Surround technology. The sound bar also uses an HDMI ARC connection and carries Bluetooth.
Meanwhile, the X8500 is a 2.1-channel single sound bar with dual built-in "subwoofers" and the ability to simulate Atmos effects with its Vertical Surround Engine. The sound bar also includes other sound options including Cinema Mode, Game Mode and vocal enhancement.
Connectivity includes HDMI eARC support for compatible televisions such as the 2019 Sony range in addition to Bluetooth.
Sony didn't announce any "smart" audio products at the show, unlike LG and Klipsch with their smart sound bars.
The HT-S350 will be available at the end of April, but the company hasn't announced pricing or availability for the X8500.
Originally published on Jan 7 2019 8:15 PM
Updated, April 18: Added pricing and availability for the HT-S350
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