LG to showcase ’3D Sound Zooming’ technology at CES

LG announce new 9.1 3D Sound Home Theatre models which uses their 3D Sound Zooming technology to match the depth of audio to the depth of visual elements.

Four 3D sound home theatre products will be launched in the first half of this year, the first being the BH9420PW showcased at CES this month.

To synchronise the sound with the 3D visuals of 3D television, the BH9420PW features LG’s 3D Sound Zooming technology which uses complex algorithms to project sounds at various ‘depths’ to match the depth of multiple 3D visual elements.

By matching the sound with the on-screen movement and location, the idea is to add immersive realism to the entire experience. The BH9420PW features 9.1 surround sound using four speaker systems. Four upright 3D speakers project audio upwards, each using a '360 Degree Reflector' to immerse a room in sound. According to LG, the “acoustics are as rich as those in a concert hall”.

In addition to the physics, LG have applied a new 3D effect DSP algorithm called Sound Field Expansion technology. Whilst the upright speakers fill the room with sound vertically, the DSP expands the horizontal sound field. Visitors to CES this month will be able to judge for themselves whether LG’s claim that the audio ‘sweet spot’ is extended enough where viewers always feel as if they are right in the middle of the action, regardless of their location in a living room.

LG intend to position their new 3D home theatre systems as the perfect complement to its Cinema 3D television range. In retail settings the two products will be paired together. The first LG 3D Home Theatre System (BH9420PW) will go on sale in North America this March. LG have informed 3D Focus that the company is planning to launch 'almost identical' products with minor differences in the UK this coming April.

Also at CES, LG will be showcasing their new 4K 84 inch 3DTV which features a resolution of 3840×2160, 3D Depth Control and ‘on-the-fly’ conversion.

LG’s 9.1 surround system is an enhancement to the 7.1 surround system which places two speakers between the front and back speakers. NHK are currently working on a 22.2 surround sound system which requires 24 speakers. This will be the audio standard for the SUPER HI-VISION (or Ultra-High definition) picture format expected in 2020.

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