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LG's flagship Blu-ray HTIB packs Wi-Fi, wireless speakers

LG announced its flagship Blu-ray home-theater-in-a-box system at CES 2011, the LHB976, which features two HDMI inputs, built-in Wi-Fi, and wireless rear speakers.

Matthew Moskovciak Senior Associate Editor / Reviews - Home theater
Covering home audio and video, Matthew Moskovciak helps CNET readers find the best sights and sounds for their home theaters. E-mail Matthew or follow him on Twitter @cnetmoskovciak.
Matthew Moskovciak
LG LHB976
LG LHB976 LG

LAS VEGAS--LG announced its flagship Blu-ray home theater-in-a-box (HTIB) system this morning, the LHB976, with several high-end features including two HDMI inputs, built-in Wi-Fi, and wireless rear speakers.

The 5.1 system is rated at 1100 total watts, and LG claims to have a wireless rear speaker sound processing mode that spreads the sound out in the back, so it sounds as if it's coming from more than two speakers. Like LG's HTIB systems last year, the LHB976 features a built-in iPhone/iPod dock.

The integrated Blu-ray player is well-appointed, with the previously mentioned built-in Wi-Fi and 3D Blu-ray playback. It also features LG's suite of streaming media services, dubbed Smart TV, which includes all the same streaming-media services found on last year's LG products (Netflix, Vudu, Pandora, YouTube, and CinemaNow) and also adds Hulu Plus, Amazon Video On Demand, NHL GameCenter, NBA Game Live, and MLB.TV. LG will also have its own applications store, enabling you to download new apps for your Blu-ray player. The LHB976 is also DLNA compatible, so you can stream your personal music, photos, and videos from a connected PC

LG has not yet announced pricing or a release date for the LHB976. Along with the flagship LHB976, LG also announced a full lineup of Blu-ray home theater systems.