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      Sonos has finally fixed the Dolby Atmos “pop of death” in its Arc soundbars

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Thursday, 16 November - 22:00

    Sonos Arc with Dolby Atmos illustrated in bouncing circular waves, in grayscale

    Enlarge / Sonos notes that its Arc soundbar pairs "Dolby Atmos and the upward-firing drivers," which some users have not enjoyed during cacophonous pops. (credit: Sonos)

    A bang, a gunshot, a " pop of death ": Some owners of Sonos' Arc and second-gen Beam soundbars have been dealing with a striking audio disruption with their audio systems since at least December 2020.

    The issue now has a fix , and it should already be available to users. Updating a Sonos mobile or desktop app and then checking for system updates should push the changes to Sonos speakers.

    A Sonos staff member writes that the Arc and Beam soundbars "in certain home theater configurations process Dolby MAT," which delivers Atmos audio over HDMI connections. Sonos products could receive corrupted audio from that connection but were failing to filter out those bits, playing them instead. The corrupted audio "can manifest as a popping sound." The Sonos devices' improved Dolby decoder should no longer force listeners to hear what it sounds like when digital audio transmissions go awry.

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      Razer’s $400 soundbar has a creepy camera to help emit surround sound

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Thursday, 5 January, 2023 - 21:57 · 1 minute

    Razer Leviathan V2 Pro camera

    Enlarge (credit: Razer)

    Razer is using CES 2023 to expand its soundbar lineup with a top-tier model with its own subwoofer. Specs include a frequency response of 40-20,000 Hz and a max sound pressure level of 98 dB. But for those who prefer being extremely cautious with their gadgets when it comes to privacy and security, the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro 's integrated camera is disappointing to see.

    But Razer insists that the infrared camera, which exists in the front center of the speaker, is all in the name of next-level virtual surround sound. Using head-tracking AI, the soundbar can tell where the user is and create a virtual soundscape with the listener as the center point. The beamforming technology comes from Audioscenic , which discussed the feature as research at CES 2017 and demoed it at CES 2022 . The tech allows the soundscape to change while it tracks you as you move.

    That makes the soundbar a unique product, with Razer aiming to expand PC audio capabilities without filling home offices and gaming dens with physical speakers. The Leviathan V2 Pro uses THX Spatial Audio virtual 7.1 surround sound (Razer acquired THX in 2016) and, per Razer, focuses on "crisp, clear treble" and "deep, punchy bass" through three different audio modes, which you can toggle across through a button on top of the soundbar.

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      Razer’s new soundbar works with USB-C and Bluetooth, costs $100

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Wednesday, 21 September, 2022 - 16:45

    Razer Leviathan V2 X

    Enlarge / Razer's Leviathan V2 X PC soundbar. (credit: Razer)

    Razer on Tuesday announced a soundbar that it claims is fit for movies, music, and gaming while being able to connect to computers, iPhones, and Android phones. Measuring 15.7 inches (400 mm) long, the Leviathan V2 X is meant to slide under desktop monitors and is a cheaper, less powerful version of Razer's $250 Leviathan V2 , which includes a soundbar and subwoofer.

    According to Razer, the Leviathan V2 X can reach 90 dB from a distance of 3.3 feet (1 meter). The gaming peripherals and PC maker also claims a frequency response of 85-20,000 Hz, which is a bit high on the low end. In comparison, the pricier Leviathan V2, which includes full-range, tweeter, and passive radiator drivers, plus a subwoofer and THX Spatial Audio, claims 45-20,000 Hz.

    The new Leviathan V2 X isn't built for as robust audio as its sibling but includes two full-range racetrack drivers measuring 2 x 2.0 x 4.0 inches (2 x 48 x 95 mm) and a pair of passive radiators measuring 2 x 2.0 x 4.1 inches (2 x 48 x 105 mm).

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      Sonos unveils its most affordable soundbar yet and its own voice-control feature

      news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Wednesday, 11 May, 2022 - 20:05 · 1 minute

    Confirming earlier rumors , Sonos on Wednesday announced a new soundbar aimed at more budget-conscious buyers, as well as a new voice-control feature for its existing speakers.

    The former is called the Sonos Ray and will be available on June 7 for $179 (279 pounds, 299 euros). It'll slot in beneath the $449 Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and $899 Sonos Arc as the popular connected speaker maker's most affordable and most compact soundbar to date, measuring in at 559×95×71 mm (so, about 22 inches wide). By comparison, the similarly compact Sonos Beam comes in at 651×100×69 mm (about 25.6 inches wide). As with the Beam , the Ray's small size should make it best suited with smaller rooms and secondary TVs, though Sonos posits the device could also work on a desktop and more generally positions it as a starting point for those interested in their first upgrade from their TV's built-in speakers.

    Paying less means you'll sacrifice some features, though. Unlike the Beam and Arc , the Sonos Ray doesn't support Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound. It also lacks an HDMI port, instead opting for a lower-bandwidth optical audio port and an Ethernet jack as its only connectivity options, with no additional HDMI adapters in the box. The omission of an HDMI ARC port could make the cable situation a bit messier for those with more involved home theater setups, though Sonos says the Ray can still work in parallel with your TV remote through its IR receiver.

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