Coming to the subwoofer, Philips seems to have gone for a sleek yet more utility-based design language. The result is a neat extension to the soundbar, but to be honest, they could probably give done a bit better. This may be because Philips assumed that the subwoofer is something that is not kept in public view, but in case you need to place it in view of the public, it is not going to look out of place for sure.
Coming back to the PHILIPS FIDELIO B97 7.1.2 CHANNEL SOUNDBAR, the total driver count is as high as 16, and while not all of them are used all together at the same time, they are there all the same, and when the time comes for the B97 to go all in, the drivers go in and the output and absolutely magical.
A pair of full-range drivers handle center channel duties. They’re joined by two pairs of 3.5-inch race-track drivers left and right, plus two full-range up fires. Side-mounted soft-domed tweeters add width to the soundstage. The detachable rear modules feature matching full-range drivers and tweeters.
Something that is not immediately visible is the extra set of side-mounted 19mm soft dome tweeters which come into play when the side speakers are detached. These tweeters are actually angled in order to reflect audio from surrounding walls to strengthen the sense of immersion
Finally, we have the magnetic speaker modules that de-couple when you slightly pull them and pushing them back into the soundbar requires a little bit of pressure but the connection is absolutely secured. These modular speakers pair with the PHILIPS FIDELIO B97 7.1.2 CHANNEL SOUNDBAR via WiFi and on trying this a few times, we can confidently say that the connection was secure and stable all the time.
Not only are the detachable speakers an exciting feature to behold, but there are times where detaching them actually reduces the overall footprint of the soundbar, and that in turn, makes it easier to place it in tight spaces with a lot more ease. Just ensure that you place the two speakers within range in order to enjoy seamless coverage.
Overall, Philips seems to have hit the design and build right out of the park. It’s really good to see a soundbar that perfectly complements the interiors of almost any home. The footprint is not obnoxiously big and it all just sits right into your space and the experience after that is glorious.
