Live From CES: Sharp Shows Two Affordable Sound Bars

The day before CES opens is press day, where the CE press gets a preview of new products to be introduced for 2009, which is where I saw the new Sharp HT-SB200 and HT-SB300 2-channel Sound Bars. A sound bar is the easiest way to have surround sound without the hassle of installing rear channel speakers and wires. Both models feature Dolby Virtual Speaker to simulate a multichannel sound experience and both have SRS WOW sound technology for deeper bass response. The two sound bar models have 34-watts of power and are designed for flat panel displays 32-inches and larger. The HT-SB300 adds digital audio decoding and a subwoofer output and will be offered at $299 when it is available in April, 2009. The HT-SB200 will be available in January for $249.