Audio specialist Sony has announced a new Bluetooth soundbar, a Compact Single bearing the model number HT-SF200, and is showing it at this year’s CES event. The 2.1 channel soundbar is, as the name suggests, made to be small and stylish, fitting in well with the decor of almost any setup and entertainment center. Inside the small frame, the Compact Single soundbar manages to hide a built-in subwoofer and S-Force PRO frontal surround sound. Pricing has not been announced at this time, nor has a specific availability date; for now, Sony has simply stated that the HT-SF200 will be available sometime this spring.
The HT-SF200 sports USB, optical, HDMI ARC, and Bluetooth connectivity, making it a snap to connect to your TV or just about any music playing device you may have on hand, like a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Once an audio source is connected to the HT-SF200, it will be processed through Dolby Digital technology. The soundbar is 6.4 centimeters tall, 58 centimeters long, and 9.5 centimeters wide. It weighs in at 2.3 kilograms. It uses an S-Master amplifier, and the maximum power draw is 80 watts. The Bluetooth version on board is 4.2, but there is no NFC to make connecting smart devices easier. Bravia Sync is on board, and compatible USB sound formats include WMA, WAV, and MP3. The soundbar has Night Mode and Voice Mode on board for specialized use cases, and sound profiles include Auto Sound, Cinema, Music, and Standard. As a caveat, it should be known that this sound bar cannot natively be part of a multi-speaker or multi-room surround setup, and is meant to be used alone.
Sony’s newest entrant in the compact sound setup space is meant to bring a nearly compromise-free home theater audio experience to the forefront of a simple setup. Surround sound is emulated through multiple mono audio sources, negating the need for multiple speakers. This entry in the market further cements Sony’s position as an all-around sound provider, catering to personal experiences with high-end headphones, along with complex home theater setups, and everything in between. Sony’s booth at this year’s CES has this soundbar on show, along with many other new products all along the home audio spectrum.