AUDIO VENDOR BOWERS & WILKINS (B&W) PLANS TO release a high-end 5.l-channel wireless surround sound system later this year, the company announced at CES 2008in Las Vegas. B&W is perhaps best known for its Zeppelin iPod dock, which is also on display at the company's booth. Dubbed the "Liberty" system, the speakers use 2.4-GHz wireless technology to connect as many as five speakers and a subwoofer. Although B&W was showcasing its speakers and a diagram of the speaker system, it is still months away from a functional unit.

"There is still some fine-tuning in terms of quality," according to Greg Williams, Director of Business Development for New Media at B&W. Although the technology uses the relatively crowded 2.4-GHz band, William says the frequency hopping technology ensures a clean, clear signal and very high audio quality. The Liberty should ship later this year for an estimated Rs.6,00,000. Originally the system will be sold only as a complete set, but William says in the future the company may sell the speakers separately for use in distributed audio systems. That way you could use the B&W speakers in different rooms throughout your house.