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Sound is a vital a part of each movie-watching expertise, whether or not it is the creaking of a door in a horror film or the explosions in an action-adventure drama. However a real {surround} system requires a number of audio system, and inserting {surround} audio system round your lounge just isn’t all the time sensible or aesthetically pleasing.
That is the fantastic thing about Lovesac’s new Sactionals StealthTech Sound + Cost System $3,700 house theater package. Now, any of the corporate’s extremely configurable sectionals might be outfitted with surround-sound audio system which can be hidden contained in the couch’s arms, and a subwoofer that mounts beneath your seat.
Developed in partnership with Harman Kardon, the Sactionals StealthTech Sound + Cost System is a full 5.1 {surround} system with a soundbar for the entrance left, proper, and heart channels. Inside, the soundbar there are 4 mid-range drivers, one one-inch tweeter and two 3.5-inch woofers. For the rear channels, the left and proper arm of your sectional every homes a entrance speaker and an up-firing rear speaker.
The subwoofer unit serves are the receiver for the rear-channel sound. It plugs right into a wall outlet for energy, receives audio from the soundbar via a devoted WiFi sign, and sends amplified audio to the appropriate and left rear channel audio system. For the reason that subwoofer’s low frequencies aren’t directional, you may mount the subwoofer unit to any backside piece within the sectional. You simply unscrew the toes, insert the subwoofer, run your cables, and reattach the toes. There are clips included to assist with cable administration.
You probably have a big sectional, you may add two extra audio system to the subwoofer or as much as six extra audio system with a second subwoofer. Nevertheless, the system solely helps Dolby 5.1 Encompass Sound and Dolby Prologic 2, so any extra audio system will repeat one of many rear channels.
A Bluetooth distant management comes included within the Sactionals StealthTech Sound + Cost System that allows you to management the general quantity, in addition to the bass and treble. With the distant, you may as well choose one in all 4 listening modes: film, TV, information, and music. For films, all of the channels are at full quantity. The rear channels are decreased for TV and turned off for information. And for music, the soundbar quantity is decreased for balanced sound. There’s additionally a button for Quiet Sofa Mode for nighttime listening, which reduces total quantity for the sectional audio system and reduces peak loudness. You should utilize your TV distant, as an alternative, for quantity management you probably have the soundbar plugged into your TV’s HDMI ARC enter.
The arms of the StealthTech Sound + Cost System might be visually similar to the remainder of your sectional and be encased in the identical cloth cowl. There are greater than 200 cloth choices out there, together with microsuede, linen, velvet, chenille, denim, and leather-based, however every materials and dye used for coloring impression the masking’s impedance or capacity to transmit sound. So Lovesac labored with Harman Kardon to design sound profiles for every one to optimize the audio system’ sound. Accordingly, whenever you arrange your StealthTech system, you choose your sectional’s cloth within the Lovesac app. And when you determine to swap out the covers, retuning your system is as straightforward as choosing the brand new materials within the app.
Along with sound, the rear-channel speaker models present 5-watt wi-fi charging. There are not any markings on the material to point the place to put your cellphone, however the candy spot is not onerous to seek out. My cellphone has a Speck CandyShell Grip Case and began charging with no downside. The StealthTech Sound + Cost System additionally comes with a Energy Hub, which you’ll be able to slide into any area the place you clip the sectional collectively. The Energy Hub has a daily outlet plus two USB-A ports and one USB-C for charging your units.
How does the Sactionals StealthTech Sound + Cost System sound
Lovesac’s Sactionals StealthTech Sound + Cost System is an fascinating idea, so I used to be excited to take a look at the sound high quality at one in all Lovesac’s shops in New York Metropolis. The StealthTech sectional on show was a loveseat and, when seated, I used to be near each the rear proper and left channel audio system and on high of the subwoofer.
The system delivered an immersive expertise, with full wealthy sound, and dialog for films and TV reveals was crisp coming from the soundbar. Nevertheless, the sound from the rear channel audio system was uneven, relying on the place I used to be seated, as a result of they’re mounted on the arms. And because the subwoofer is mounted to the seat body, I additionally felt some vibration that appeared to be coming from the subwoofer enclosure, fairly than the sound itself. Relying on the situation, the vibrations might add to the entire surround-sound expertise when watching films, however I would not need it on a regular basis.
I additionally listened to quite a lot of music on the sectional and whereas strolling across the showroom. Whereas seated, you might want to sit equidistant between the audio system, or else one channel might be noticeably louder, which is not optimum. (Since voices primarily come from the soundbar, I did not discover this when watching films.) Nevertheless, when strolling round, I used to be impressed by the readability and richness of the sound. It is excellent for informal listening or a celebration.
Whereas the Sactionals StealthTech Sound + Cost System is spectacular, at $3,700 it would not compete with devoted 5.1-channel {surround} sound methods on this value vary, the place I’d anticipate true (or a minimum of close to) audiophile-quality sound. And the truth that the rear-channel audio system are embedded within the sectional means which you can’t place them optimally – there might be auditory compromises based mostly on the place you are seated and whether or not the audio system are blocked or partially blocked by different individuals, pets, or pillows.
The underside line
If you happen to’re out there for a sectional that you will be utilizing to observe films, the Sactionals StealthTech Sound + Cost System could also be a compelling purpose to place Lovesac Sactionals in your record. Whereas it’s a dear improve at $3,700, for many who prioritize aesthetics over optimum audio high quality, the StealthTech affords a seamlessly built-in answer that may fulfill the wants of the vast majority of film watchers.
And when you already personal a Lovesac Sactional 6 Collection (which began delivery greater than 5 years in the past), you may improve it with StealthTech by simply taking the arm coverings out of your present proper and left arms, placing them on the StealthTech Sound + Cost arms, and swapping out the arms (together with including the subwoofer and soundbar).
The Sactionals StealthTech Sound + Cost System improve is an extra $3,700 and is presently on sale for $3,145 on Lovesac.
[Image credit: Techlicious, Lovesac]
For the previous 20+ years, Techlicious founder Suzanne Kantra has been exploring and writing in regards to the world’s most fun and vital science and know-how points. Previous to Techlicious, Suzanne was the Know-how Editor for Martha Stewart Residing Omnimedia and the Senior Know-how Editor for In style Science. Suzanne has been featured on CNN, CBS, and NBC.
