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Wireless surrounds are self-contained Bluetooth speakers

The Philips Fidelio B5 wireless sound bar features detachable surrounds that can be switched Transformers-style into separate Bluetooth speakers.

Ty Pendlebury

Jan. 5, 2015 9:00 a.m. PT

Ty Pendlebury Editor

Ty Pendlebury is a journalism graduate of RMIT Melbourne, and has worked at CNET since 2006. He lives in New York City where he writes about streaming and home audio.

Expertise Ty has worked for radio, print, and online publications, and has been writing about home entertainment since 2004. He majored in Cinema Studies when studying at RMIT. He is an avid record collector and streaming music enthusiast. Credentials Ty was nominated for Best New Journalist at the Australian IT Journalism awards, but he has only ever won one thing. As a youth, he was awarded a free session for the photography studio at a local supermarket.

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LAS VEGAS -- Announced at the 2015 International CES, the Philips Fidelio B5 wireless surround sound bar is a nifty update of the original HTL9100whose detachable, self-powered surrounds are now portable Bluetooth speakers as well.

The speakers charge by attaching to the front unit, and when detached you can elect to toggle between Bluetooth and surround. The speakers will last up to 5 hours with music or up to 10 hours in movie mode. The main unit is also Bluetooth-compatible with the addition of aptX and NFC for potentially better sound and quicker pairing.

The sound bar comes with a wireless subwoofer while the main unit houses 3-inch full-range drivers with soft-dome tweeters. Sadly when it comes to decoding duties the unit appears to be compatible with Dolby Digital only and and not DTS.

The Fidelio B5 comes with an integrated calibration routine, which Philips says lets you place the surrounds anywhere you like, and the program will compensate accordingly.

The Philips Fidelio B5 wireless surround sound bar will be available in the US this spring for $899.99.

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