Sony Unveils Wireless Speaker With A Built-In TV Remote

Sony Japan has introduced an unusual new product that combines a large wireless speaker with an atypical television remote control. The device enables users to listen to the television content no matter where they're located in the house; the built-in controls eliminate the need to carry around the remote alongside the speaker. The device would be particularly useful for the elderly.

Sony describes its new SRS-LSR200 speaker as a convenient way to listen to the TV when you're not close to it — maybe you have to venture into the laundry room to fold clothes, for example, or perhaps you have to wash some dishes, but you don't want to miss whatever is happening on the screen. The speaker can be connected to the TV and carried wherever you go.

The built-in remote control enables the user to adjust the TV even if they're in a different room; there's a huge knob for adjusting the TV's volume, for example. The remote also has number keys for entering the specific channel you want, channel buttons for toggling up and down through the stations, and more.

Each speaker built into the product is tilted upward slightly, ensuring the audio is directed at the user from the speaker's position on a table or desk. The speaker includes 2.4GHz wireless connectivity; the TV's audio can come out the portable speaker and its own built-in speakers so that people in two different rooms can hear the content.

The SRS-LSR200 is likewise splashproof, which will come in handy if the speaker is used while washing dishes. The model has a built-in speaker that offers up to 13 hours of run-time per charge, as well; it takes around three hours to recharge the battery. The speaker is available to order in Japan for around $180 USD, but it's unclear whether the company plans to launch the product internationally.