My hands-on article on HWZ covers the HTS experience.
As I've a full fledged HTS setup at home, I want to run it side-by-side to compare the difference in expectations; that's what I want to do next. It will be challenging and not to its advantage as my hall is large, but that's precisely what I want to do - throw it in the fire and see if it can withstand such extreme use-case scenarios.
@Dr. Vijay, with respect I also wish to do the same but
since I am into HTS for so long and Creative supporter
since the Blaster era. (Sound, 3D, CD-rom and etc.)
Competing the Katana Soundbar against AVR + 5.1 setup
is clearly out of the picture cuz Katana is still a
PC segment
soundbar.
When I test I actually based on my experience of
Creative Katana (PC Segment) VS my own Sony CT380
(HTS Segment)that I owned that is why I can write such a long article.
To be honest, Creative are still PC speakers manufacturer.
When talking to the rep/engineers, could also that feel their field
of expertise is in PC.
Their subsidiary Cambridge Soundworks which actually is a Home Theater speaker expert/manufacturer with many popular products with rave reviews in the USA but since that is US based hence Creative did not allow it to be sold here.
The only exemption is the Cambridge Soundworks Megaworks 250D/550D
those are CS design not Creative.
But Cambridge Soundworks division was closed down many years back,
the Newton HD was the last great set of speakers.
https://www.cnet.com/products/cambridge-soundworks-newton-hd-home-theater-system/review/
Creative last attempt at 5.1 design was my faithful Gigaworks G500
which I shared that I felt the design and footprint was almost close to that.
If you pit Gigaworks G500 against HTS segment soundbar, probably it could win seriously no job in terms of sheer power and bass.
This I also share with the engineers but why did I give up my G500 is because prolong usage it overheat and died.
If the G500 had an external amp something it would have been a good product. Katana and the G500 share almost the same characteristics, punchy sound and deep bass since both are design for games.
I got nothing against you for testing the Katana in a auditorium room but as mention the sub placement will be a key factor.
The ideal placement as seen in my video is that the sub will be below
the main unit with the driver facing front. (The rep place it that way.)
Since Katana is PC segment based soundbar, how will it fare if one were to treat it as HTS soundbar that I leave to you.
For my I have come to a verdict for PC use is great no doubt.
But for HTS/Pro/Audio space user, sadly Katana is not for me.
After that demo session, I went through again the testing that I done which was recording in my mind with my own Sony CT-380 to conclude.
Few things still bug me especially positional audio when using devices other than PC it can be hard to be heard
due to Dialog Plus.
Yes sometimes I wish Creative should have no closed Cambridge Soundworks, if they are still around.
Cambridge Soundworks Newton Soundbar maybe we still live to see it.
Nevertheless Katana Soundbar is a worthy PC soundbar but HTS users not all may consider it.
Not to forget some competitors had soundbar that is priced lower than Katana like Yamaha, Sony and etc.