LG To Release A Smattering Of Sound Systems For Audiophiles In 2014

LG is focusing its 2014 product efforts on sound, hoping to position itself as the home entertainment manufacturer for audiophiles seeking flexibility in in-home streaming. Tonight it announced a wide array of updates to its existing lines of home sound equipment. The company will reveal these officially at CES 2014 in January.

Adding to its SoundPlate line, LG announced an updated under-the-TV speaker, model LAB540W. It sits only 4cm thick and can accommodate TVs with displays ranging from 32 to 55 inches. This SoundPlate is a 4.1 channel, 320W system with an external wireless subwoofer with an on-board Blu-ray player and smart TV conversion technology. It is set up for Bluetooth streaming from compatible mobile devices.

Continuing with its wireless speaker motif, LG announced two new speakers designed for maximum customizability in terms of home setup. They come in 70W (model NP8740) and 40W (model NP8540) power options. Both are equipped with 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth enablement and MESH network capability. They're designed to work with an LG app that functions as a master control unit for all LG speakers in the house, with two modes: Party Mode for sending one sound stream to all speakers, and Personal Mode for customizing each room.

It also announced two new SoundBar models. The NB5540, LG's flagship model, has 4.1 channels with a big 320 watts of output and a wireless subwoofer. It has two front-facing and two back-facing channels for sound balance. It includes Hi-Fi DAC, an analog Class D amp, HDMI connectivity, and Bluetooth enablement for streaming from mobile devices. The NB3740A model in this line adds content from Netflix, CinemaNow, Pandora and other streaming services.

Finally, LG will release two new Blu-ray players with 3D 1080p compatibility, smart TV conversion, stream-to-Bluetooth functionality, and Wi-Fi. The premium version includes compatibility with services like Netflix, VUDU, YouTube, and others. There's also a 500W audio system on deck.

Keep an eye on our CES 2014 channel in early January for a closer look when LG reveals the machines.