Canadian company Paradigm has expanded its PW (Power Wireless) series with the Paradigm PW Soundbar. The new product is equipped with nine drivers and runs on the DTS Play-Fi platform, which allows it to play music from Tidal, Spotify, TuneIn Radio music services or from a home PC or network storage. It is worth noting that the PW soundbar can act as a wireless hub in a 5.1-channel home theater system.
In addition to Play-Fi support, the model is equipped with HDMI 2.0a ports and an ARC (Anthem Room Correction) system for correcting the acoustic properties of the room. This technology allows you to take into account the parameters of the room and get a uniform surrounding sound space.
The Paradigm PW Soundbar is a home theater, music center, and music streaming device. All in one package. If ever there was a complete audio entertainment package for streaming media, it’s the PW Soundbar. This incredibly compact sound projector combines an active audio system with the latest wireless streaming technology in one integrated, beautifully designed package. Conveniently designed with unlimited audio capabilities, the Paradigm PW Soundbar delivers high-quality movie soundtracks from Blu-ray players, DVD players, gaming consoles, as well as dynamically rich music from tablets, smartphones, computers, and even CDs. At just over a meter long, the Paradigm PW Soundbar delivers sound that is disproportionate to its size, as well as stylish looks and versatile functionality.
Paradigm claims that the PW Soundbar is a universal audio hub for your home entertainment system. The device can work as a high-quality sound projector in conjunction with a TV display, but it has much more to offer than a typical multi-channel projector. With support for Apple AirPlay™, DLNA® and UPnP, the Paradigm PW Soundbar plays files from a PC, iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, Android, Windows, or streaming music from Internet services.
Play-Fi is billed as a “platform-independent” version of AirPlay, in other words, it should work with everything. There is a Play-Fi app for Android devices, and an app for Apple devices running iOS, and support for Windows PCs is being added. Play-Fi was introduced in late 2012. Play-Fi is licensed by DTS, a renowned audio company known for its technology used in many DVDs, and it is likely that the universe of Play-Fi devices will expand over time.
Like AirPlay, Play-Fi does not compromise on audio quality. It can be used to stream audio from one or more devices to multiple audio systems, so it’s handy if you want to play music throughout your home or want family members to listen to different music in different rooms.
Play-Fi works over Wi-Fi, so you can’t use it outside of your network. The Play-Fi app for Android currently includes internet radio and music streaming from Pandora, Deezer, and Songza.
Three HDMI inputs let you connect a variety of sources, while the HDMI output allows you to use the unit as a pass-through for 4k video and on-screen menus.
HDMI 2.0 talkback allows you to pass information between the Paradigm PW Soundbar and a compatible device, creating an additional input from the HDMI output. Digital optical and line-level inputs expand the sound bar’s capabilities. Moreover, the RCA LFE output allows you to connect an external subwoofer, the crossover filtering is automatically adjusted. Network setup is carried out via USB or Wi-Fi.
For all but the most challenging projects, the Paradigm PW Soundbar is a stand-alone unit designed to meet every ambition. The sound bar integrates an audio processor, amplifier and speakers into a single, elegantly proportioned design. Six separate power amplifiers deliver a total of 135 watts to nine proprietary speakers. In conjunction with a specially tuned digital audio processor, each speaker receives the optimum frequency spectrum for accurate and efficient audio reproduction.
Proprietary 3D audio software delivers an impressive surround sound effect for multi-channel film soundtracks. Using HRTF (Head Related Transfer Function) technology, which models the human perception of sound through two ears to determine the location of sources in space, as well as a crosstalk suppression system, the Paradigm PW Soundbar takes 7.1 discrete channels and transforms them into left, right and center, thus creating a wide and spacious front space with a stable virtual center channel for accurate dialogue.
Adorned with a black protective grille with polished metal trim around the edges, the Paradigm PW Soundbar fits perfectly into the stand. There is also an option to mount it on the wall using the optional brackets. Families who love music and movies but hate the clutter of speakers and wires will love the simplicity and sound quality!
Paradigm PW Soundbar Features
Wireless Wi-Fi Receiver 2.4 & 5.0 GHz; 802.11 g/n, DTS Play-Fi, AirPlay, Bluetooth, Qualcomm APT-X™
Anthem® Class D Amplifier; 270W Dynamic Peak; 135 Watts RMS
Anthem Room Correction – ARC™, with included calibrated microphone
Full-range dynamic head
Sensitivity Room / Anechoic 89 dB
DSP-based preamp, Dolby® Digital, DTS Digital Surround™
Inputs 3 HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2 Optical SPDIF (digital optical), 2 analog stereo RCA, Ethernet
Outputs 1 HDMI with Audio Return Channel, 2 IR, 1 Sub
Weight 5.4 kg
Dimensions WxHxD 10 cm × 110 cm × 17 cm
