PSB

PSB has introduced two new products specifically tailored to the home theater market, the Alpha VS21 active soundbar at $599 and the SubSeries 150 ultra-compact subwoofer at $499.

The Alpha VS21 is a three-way active design delivering exceptional performance via its six independent amplifiers with a total output of 100 watts. The low-profile, non-resonant black-ash enclosure is designed either to sit independently on a shelf or cabinet below the TV or to serve as the base for the TV. It can support a TV weighing up to 88 pounds.

The Alpha VS21 offers a variety of modes to tailor the sound to particular applications. Dialog mode separates vocals from background sounds making speech more intelligible and lifelike. PSB's WideSound provides a rich, three-dimensional sound that is ideal for watching movies. Best of all, WideSound can be combined with Dialog mode so you can hear all the words and be surrounded by movie effects, all from one compact loudspeaker. Another mode, Dolby Late Night, reduces sudden loud sounds while raising the level of softer sounds, allowing the volume to be kept at a lower level to avoid disturbing others. You can also use Stereo mode to stream music wirelessly from your smartphone or tablet with the included Bluetooth aptX wireless audio receiver. The Alpha VS21 provides optical and coaxial digital inputs that work with a built-in Dolby Digital decoder. This allows you to connect any source with a digital output directly to the VS21. Finally, there is also an analog input to connect a TV or any other source that doesn't have a digital output. The VS21 also has a subwoofer output for connection to a high-quality subwoofer that can extend your bass response.

Speaking of subwoofers, PSB has the perfect solution for those who want to extend the bass of the VS21 without placing a large subwoofer in their room. The SubSeries 150 ultra-compact subwoofer is only 17 x 10.5 x 4 inches in size and has a very attractive, curved black gloss cabinet. This unit can be placed standing up or lying down, or even mounted on a wall with the included mounting bracket. If necessary, its slim size allows it to be placed out of sight behind a cabinet. The SubSeries 150 has a 6.5-inch woofer that is custom-designed for this application and that is driven by a 100 watt power amplifier. It is perfect for giving music that extra bass foundation so important to realistic music or movie reproduction, and it will work seamlessly with the VS21 or with any other small loudspeaker where keeping the subwoofer out of sight is important.