Sound bars have been fairly popular as they offer better sound than most TV sets and even try to simulate surround sound. Now that TVs are getting curved, these audio devices are being redesigned to match that look. Now, LG has unveiled a curved sound bar as part of their Music Flow lineup, the model is HS8 and it offers some wireless connectivity. It offers 360W distributed over its 4.1 channels and the company claims that the curved shape with the tweeters located on the edges expand the range of sound. It features i-Sound Mode, adapting the sound settings to match the content displayed on the TV, whether it’s a movie, a TV show or music content.
In terms of wireless connectivity, it has support for Google cast technology, which is the one used in the Chromecast and lets users to share content and control what’s on the screen by using a smartphone or tablet. It’s compatible with apps like Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Pandora, Rdio and many others. The technology works with a Wi-Fi connection and it’s as simple as tapping on the Google Cast icon from the app to send the content to the sound bar. There’s native support on Android devices, but this technology is also supported with iOS devices as well as the Chrome browser on Mac and Windows platforms or Chromebooks.
Other Wi-Fi connectivity options or Bluetooth technology allow the HS8 to transmit audio across several devices at the same time, even if they are in different rooms. There’s a Home Cinema Mode in case the speakers featuring this technology are in the same room, creating a more immersive experience. On the other hand, if there are multiple devices in different rooms, users can control what’s being played on each one of them from a single device with Multi-Room Mode, so different playlists can be created for every room. The sound bar is also compatible with 8 brands of TV remotes, so there’s no need of having a separate one for this device. The HS8 will be available in some European countries starting next week, although the price is still unknown.
