B&W Unveils Panorama Soundbar

According to a company press release, English hi-fi bastion Bowers & Wilkins is introducing its first 5.1-channel soundbar, the Panorama, a one-box surround sound solution designed to complement an HDTV. The release says that like the company’s acclaimed Zeppelin iPod dock, the Panorama will change what you previously thought possible for a product of its type.

The Panorama features a total of nine drive units, five of which are used for the center channel alone—two bass drivers, two midrange drivers, and an aluminum dome tweeter loaded into B&W’s Nautilus tube. The remaining four drive units are located within their own distinct enclosure sections on either side of the center channel. Each drive unit is powered by its own class D amplifier, providing a total system output of 175 watts. The Panorama uses DSP to create an ideal surround soundfield.

The release says that the Panorama’s performance stands on its own merits and that the unit, unlike most other soundbars on the market, does not require an external subwoofer (unless it is being used in a particularly large room). To connect more than just a TV and Blu-ray player, for instance, the Panorama features two optical digital inputs, one coaxial digital input and two stereo analogue inputs.

Pricing: $2,200

For more information, visit www.bowers-wilkins.com.