Get a clue: Official PS3 sound bar designed to enhance game dialog

by James Ransom-Wiley on Oct 13th 2010 12:55PM

The so-called "first step" in a PlayStation-specific audio system will be released next week for $180, and you're looking at it. The "Surround Sound System," like most sound bars, mimics true surround sound through 2.1 audio channels (this one has an integrated sub). While the PlayStation-brand sound bar is compatible with other audio sources, its been designed to match the "PS3 system aesthetics" and features two gaming-specific modes, "Dialog" and "Night" (which enhances key sounds when the volume is turned down).

"The sound bar is the first step for us to develop an audio system that's specific to the PlayStation," Sony's David Murrant says somewhat curiously in a marketing spot for the system (embedded after the break). Of the Dialog sound mode, Murrant adds, "Often dialog is going to be key to knowing what the next stage for the game is or giving you clues."

Surround Sound System for PS3

Via: PlayStation Blog
Source: PlayStation.com

Tags: 2.1, accessories, david-murrant, dolby-digital, dts, peripherals, playstation, ps3, release-date, sound-bar, speakers, surround-sound, surround-sound-system

Reader Comments (48)

$180 bucks? I'll wait till it goes on sale.

@Twinturbo120 That's pretty damn cheap, actually. A decent receiver alone would cost you around $400.
I spent more than $180 on my front speakers...of course I have a REAL surround system, and not a "surround" bar.

Im sure its not pretty damn cheap when you compare it to other sound bars that dont have what is likely a very large premium added to it just because its official "playstation" gear.

@aughscreennames and those would be??? i don't see any examples..

soundbars like this are not cheap. if they are, they sound as good as they cost from my experience.

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHMP_enUS291US312&aq=f&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=soundbar#q=sound+bars+home+theater&hl=en&rlz=1C1CHMP_enUS291US312&prmd=ivs&source=univ&tbs=shop:1&tbo=u&ei=sBW2TIzWDdDFswbhu7C1CA&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDUQrQQwAA&fp=5a996d56de453056

$280 for a Sony one is looking like a pretty good price imo.

@seamonkey420 what makes you think this is any good? Sony's lower end products can be REALLY bad. There are a lot of sound bars for under $200, based on how Sony usually prices their low end products I would bet this is equivalent in quality to a $110 sound bar from other brands and is probably the worst sound bar Sony makes.

Looks pretty meaty.

That money is better spent on sandwiches. Seriously, just turn on the subtitles.

Damn that infamous 2 clip was awesome...

..oh and the soundbar is alright.. I guess.

i dont pay rent so i guess i could maybe........... Naw f@ck it ill just save for up for 7.1 system

$180???? you could spend another hundred and get a decent component receiver and some actual speakers. i understand that modern TVs have pathetic speakers in them, so a separate sound system is almost mandatory- but this thing a total waste at that price.

@laser beams

the main point of soundbars is that people DONT want to have to run rear speakers or wires or have the space.

of course a true multi channel surround system w/6-9 speakers will trump a sound bar.

this is for us that don't have the space or want to run tons of speaker wire to our rear speakers but still get a semi-decent 'quasi-dolby' experience.

This will be good for some, but it seems a bit pricey. It's Sony, after all, so I wouldn't expect less. The "night" mode is excellent, but does this thing really work and worth the cost? I'd like to see a review on this by gamers .... if that is an option.

@NuttyBalls

"night" mode is found on lots of AV devices. It just maintains consistent sound levels so that everything (big blasts, soft music etc.) comes in at the same volume level so you don't get any big surprises and have to keep jumping for the mute button. It also usually removes some of the bass EQ so it doesn't vibrate the walls.

Designed to enhance game dialog?

...more like designed to make gamers waste money

And I just use headphones for my night mode. Actually, I use headphones for day mode too. It makes gaming so much sweeter.

@NuttyBalls

...and Movies, TV, & Music.

@NuttyBalls

I'd rather have 5.1 surround that "fake" surround through headphones or stereo via the same. I just don't play in the middle of the night to wake others up out of consideration, but I refuse to listen via headphones anymore.

With my home theater setup, I don't have a problem with game dialogue.

It's movie dialogue that is my continual bane.

In the Expendables, one would think it would be possible to hear what Sylvester Stallone is saying due to the $82 Million production cost...

One would be very, very wrong.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

I've had a few games recently that Decided to blare music over the dialogue so I couldn't hear it. I'll admit movies are worse about it, but they aren't alone.

If this really -could- turn up just the voices, I'd gladly shell out the money.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

I had to turn subs on for The Book of Eli Blu-ray.

"Mumble-mumble-mumble *BLAST* mumble-mumble-mumble *BOOM*."

i love the bro sitting there playing infmaous 2 with his legs crossed.

They were all like "just look casual, how you would normally play" and he was all like "i have no idea how to do that, i'll just cross my legs."

@wonkuoysseleht2

"there are several $150-$200 full surround sound systems. I highly recommend you pick those up instead."

If you have room for them, sometimes a sound bar (or equivalent) is the best option. Of course, you are correct in saying that this is overpriced. Just like most of Sony's products start out.

What's the point? What does this offer me that my 5.1 system doesn't, especially if I prefer using subtitles for my dialogue?

@Faceless Troll This isn't made for you obviously. It's for the kids who don't have space in their rooms for a 5.1 system.

@Im No Hero

Yep, but at least you know you're paying for a quality product.

I am soooooo excited to not buy this thing!

This is the advantage Sony has by being... well... Sony, the hardware manufacturer of TV and all thing electronics

I have a 7.1 surround system although I am only using it as a 5.1 currently. However, my center speaker is just one i had lying around and is not the same as my other speakers. sometimes I have trouble hearing dialog in movies and games and if i turn up the volume to hear them, it's super loud once the music kicks back in - constant volume adjustments. a center speaker that will match my other will cost about $120 and is just 1 speaker.

I'm wondering if I could use this soundbar as a center speaker for my existing 5.1. obviously I would not want my center speaker to be stereo or to produce a surround sound-like effect. So I'm wondering if it can be changed to be mono and no surround sound but still keep the dialog boosting effect.

I also wonder how goo the dialog boosting effect is - I have a pretty good receiver and it has a 'midnight' mode (actually a few levels of it) which is supposed to do the same thing but when I turn it on and off, I barely notice a difference.

@captaincthulhu You're better off getting the same brand/series center speaker as your front L and R. It's cheaper, and it will match the timbre of your fronts.

@mywhitenoise - Absolutely. Pairing speakers is essential. Otherwise you have a situation where a sound sweeps from channel to channel, and it sounds completely different on the speaker that isn't matched.

It's expensive, but it is best to buy all of your speakers (for a 5.1 or 7.1 setup) at the same time, and from the same manufacturer (in the same series even)

i would get it since i dont have a surround sound system and my space is cramped but $180 is not worth it to me. get it down to below $100 and then maybe i can see myself buying it.

I'll stick to my $49 5.1 surround sound system I got from walmart a few years back. It owns.

@Goaliegeek

LMAO I'm sure it does.

@Goaliegeek $49 You paid $10 a speaker, and a free receiver...and you think it owns? At $49 that think HAS to sound like shit. I bet my TV speakers probably sound better than that.

@Goaliegeek

Those $50 sets aren't surround, you just think they are because you don't want to spend any money. A receiver by itself can get crazy expensive, and you need that for surround sound of any kind, so you're just fooling yourself.

ISorry, but that sound bar in the story will kick the crap out of your system, no matter how much you don't want it to (trust me, we probably have the same $50 cheapo speakers, but I have a kick-ass Yamaha receiver to make up for it until I can afford better)

Does the dialog enhancement work for movies too? Someday I'm gonna find the guy who mixes movies with inaudible dialog and ear-splitting sound effects and music. Someday I'm gonna find that guy and I'm gonna hurt that guy.

"Often dialog is going to be key to knowing what the next stage for the game is or giving you clues."

No wonder I'm so shitty at video games; I've been hollering "La! La! La! La!" during cut scenes and squinting my eyes whenever subtitles appear. Thank you, Sony, for improving the experience!

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

I've had Sony products break on me as much if not more than cheaper brands. I'd go for the cheaper alternatives than the Sony brand cuz your paying extra for the name and "ps3 compatibility".

Not a bad option to be honest. It's either I get this soundbar or get a $500 home theater in a box.

Nice price. I got my Samsung sound bar on sale for $200 from Best Buy last year but it has got a wireless sub.

A Soundbar is a great option for someone who does not want a full surround sound setup (people in apartments, students in dorms, bedrooms, etc.).

Will this work on 360?

@Ioumac

It is only 2.1, so they likely aren't going to go crazy with the surround sound options that the PS3 has that outdo the 360. I'm assuming it is either normal red/white cables or optical (in preparation for future additions to the set), so it should work fine. Plus the PS logo on the remote might make you giggle if you haven't got a PS3 in sight :)

@Ioumac

Oh, sorry, didn't watch the video to the end. It IS red/white stereo enhanced by a subwoofer, so it should be perfectly fine for 360.

$180 eh just buy a entire surround sound system

I hope Sony isn't going to try to sell a different sound system for every device we have

Sound bars are fine if you're in a small room, but NOTHING beats a full on high quality 7.1 set up. Its even better if you build your own system, also even more expensive. Blu-ray sounds better than it looks in my opinion.

Since it's made for PS3 you would have thought they'd build in the camera for the motion sticks, or at least have a fancy mount for it.

Get a clue: Official PS3 sound bar designed to enhance game dialog

Surround Sound System for PS3

Reader Comments (48)

Posted: Oct 13th 2010 12:59PM Twinturbo120 said

Posted: Oct 13th 2010 1:11PM mywhitenoise said

Posted: Oct 13th 2010 3:31PM aughscreennames said

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Posted: Oct 13th 2010 5:16PM aughscreennames said

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Posted: Oct 13th 2010 1:15PM Karmastocracy said

Posted: Oct 13th 2010 1:29PM WC said

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Posted: Oct 13th 2010 1:09PM joes1 said

Posted: Oct 13th 2010 1:12PM Im No Hero said

Posted: Oct 13th 2010 1:14PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Oct 13th 2010 1:22PM mywhitenoise said

Posted: Oct 13th 2010 1:15PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Oct 13th 2010 1:18PM TylerDurden102680 said

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Posted: Oct 13th 2010 1:58PM Co said

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