If you can't hear the sounds of summer approaching, you probably don't have the right equipment. Panasonic wants to spruce up your system for year-round use, with one of its two new soundbar powered speaker systems. The company says that both the SC-HTB10 and SC-HTB500 will hit stores this summer.
Aside from the slick shape and sound, the big deal about both of these units is that each is equipped with an HDMI 1.4 input, which will pass through 3D video from a connected 3D Blu-ray player and a single HDMI 1.4 output with audio return channel (ARC). This means that with a single cable between sound bar and TV, you can pass through a Blu-ray 3D video stream while also grabbing the TV's built-in sound for playback through the bar.
Both also fit nice and neat in front of the TV, promising a stylish, yet easy install. Also, to keep the setup looking nice, the SC-HTB10 has an integrated subwoofer. Panasonic says it's perfect for TVs up to 42 inches. The SC-HTB500 works well with larger TVs, and includes a separate wireless subwoofer.
Editor Chris Boylan gave a listen to the SC-HTB10 at a press event in New York City this week and was impressed by what he heard. "Not bad for under $200!"
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