TVs are undoubtedly getting better and better... but the
sound systems installed in those ultra-slim screens are not. When a TV manufacturer
has ploughed their efforts into the picture quality at the expense of the
sound, you'll need an effective additional speaker to help bring that cinema
experience into your home. Sound bars are perfect for combining with a telly,
and we think we may have found the best yet. We pump up the volume on the
Libratone Diva.
But anyway, the looks. The Diva is a huge long sound bar
measuring one metre in length and weighing six kilograms. Like the Loop it
features changeable wool covers, with a choice of 15 currently available. This
really does help in making the Diva fit into most home decor, as after all this
will essentially become a piece of furniture.
Included with the speaker is a wall mount and a table stand,
both of which simply slide into the back plate of the Diva. There's no remote
control included, but that is because the speaker can be linked not only to
your TV in the conventional wired manner, but also by Bluetooth and WiFi to
your phone or tablet. Syncing is super easy thanks to NFC, and with one tap we
linked a multitude of devices in mere seconds.
Beneath that hairy facade you'll find the true cleverness of
this beast. The Libratone Diva can pump out a whopping 220 watts of power, 75
of which comes straight from the built-in subwoofer. Usually speaker set-ups
like this require a external sub-woofer, but the fact that the Diva has one
inside starts to justify that huge cost. And now for the real reason you won't
mind forking out for it...
It's awesome. Seriously, the Libratone Diva sounds truly
incredible, not just when linked to your TV but also as a stand-alone wireless
speaker. To say that it is 'room-filling' is an understatement, as this thing
could fill a cathedral. With movies in particular we felt a real sense of surround
sound, despite this being a single unit. This is because the Diva features sound
reflectors (which are apparently shaped like clam shells) which disperse sound
in all directions, allowing it to bounce around the room.
All genres of music sounded great, and although spoken word
files and podcasts were also clear and precise, we can't really imagine you using
it for anything so relaxing. This is a speaker designed to blast out a rock
concert, or to be paired with a Ultra Hi-Def TV playing a sci-fi epic. If you
are at all serious about completing your home entertainment set-up with a
quality sound bar, the Libratone Diva should be your first port of call
£649
Visit www.libratone.com