Today at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Philips announced the release of the first Soundbar with detachable speakers, the Philips Fidelio Soundbars HTL9100. The Philips Fidelio Soundbar is the first to feature detachable wireless side speakers that when removed, the Soundbar automatically changes from virtual Surround Sound to 5.1 channel Surround Sound on Demand. Also the first Soundbar in the Philips Fidelio range, the HTL9100 features a wireless subwoofer.



The speakers operate via Philips proprietary wireless audio technology so there are no wires. The transmission is uncompressed and the frequency the surround speakers operate at is different than that of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which means no network interference. When fully charged the detachable surround sound speakers offer up to 10 hours of sound and automatically recharge when connected to the main unit. The Fidelio Soundbar features technology that automatically offers 5.1 channel Surround on Demand when the speakers are detached.

The Philips Fidelio Soundbar includes an intelligent Orientation Sensor that enables it to recognize if the unit is lying horizontally on a shelf or TV cabinet or if it has been mounted on a wall.

For added convenience, the Fidelio Soundbar includes a second HDMI port that allows users to link their media system or games console. For music playback it connects wirelessly to any Bluetooth-enabled device, so the only wires needed are for power and a link to the TV.

The HTL9100 will be available in May with a suggested retail price of $799.99.