Perhaps the gadget that won hearts the most during the pandemic has been the TV. The sale of television sets continues to see a steady growth but a smart TV alone is not enough. As television sets continue to get slimmer, the quality of audio takes a backseat. Enter soundbars and one of the leading players in this category is Sony, which has the HT-S40R for you. Here’s what Gyanendra Singh, head of audio business at Sony India, told us about soundbars.

Gyanendra Singh, head of audio business at Sony India Sourced by the correspondent

How has the soundbar come to the forefront during the pandemic? Is it as important a purchase as a TV?

We have witnessed a positive shift in consumer demand towards home audio, especially after the pandemic. The shift in trend can be attributed to the need for upgrading home entertainment as people were stuck at home with limited exposure to multiplex and theatres as well as a huge upswing in OTT content. Enhanced TV viewing supported by great audio enabled users to enjoy immersive entertainment right in the comfort of their homes.

There are plenty of soundbars in the market, some with songs preloaded. What price points are the sweet spots for Sony and its customers?

In home audio, Sony is witnessing a parallel increase in all price categories starting from 20K going up to over 100K. With a comprehensive product range aimed at addressing the requirements of a wide variety of customers, Sony has gained strong leadership in the home entertainment category.

How is Sony HT-S40R unique and fits most smart TVs?

The HT-S40R is designed to become a powerful sound system to support consumer’s TV viewing and recreate a real cinema-like immersive experience that can fit in one’s home. The soundbar provides 5.1 channel soundbar with wireless rear speakers and 600W power output in below-30K segment. It comes in an attractive slim and compact design with easy connectivity options, like HDMI, optical, to connect with the TV.

Being a 5.1 channel speaker, are there any special features that work best with Bravia TVs?

The HT-S40R 5.1ch soundbar allows consumers to set up their home theatre system to their liking with minimum wires. It connects seamlessly with Bravia TV via Bluetooth. The wireless amplifier that powers the rear speakers, ensures no wires get in your way. The subwoofer and two discrete wireless rear speakers when connected to a television, delivers immersive cinema-quality home entertainment experience.