There’s been a lot of excitement lately among audiophiles, stirred by the foray of Sony Corp. into the high-resolution audio arena.
Sony, after all, has been in the forefront of home entertainment since the day it revolutionized the way we watch color TV with its Trinitron technology. Then came the iconic Walkman, the prototype of which was built in 1978 by Sony audio-division engineer Nobutoshi Kihara. It was marketed the year after, became famous the world over and transformed the way we listened to music. It was meant to be a portable audio cassette player, but soon became a status symbol when virtually people from all walks of life began sporting it wherever they went. To this day, I still believe that the sound quality of the Walkman is much better than that of the iPod’s.
And who could forget the famous quote from the late Norio Ohga, Sony’s former chairman and chief executive officer: “This will replace LP records.” He was referring to the compact disc invented by James Russel in 1965 and improved on by the Netherland-based Philips Electronics. Philips executive L.F. Ottens even invited Ohga to forge a partnership between their companies in launching the CD in 1980. For countless audiophiles the world over, however, LP records or vinyl to this day remains their format of choice.
What went wrong?
For a while, CDs ruled the music room of audiophiles and music lovers who revelled at the way CDs reproduced clinically clean music. But “golden-eared” audiophiles soon complained of listening fatigue. They missed the “warmth and presence” of artists in their music rooms and so were the depth and dynamic range that they used to enjoy while listening to music from a spinning record. Sound engineers scrambled to come up with a new music format which would sound like the vinyl of old. Alas, these alternative music formats came -- Super Audio CD (SACD), Extended Resolution Compact Disc (XRCD), and High Resolution CD (HRCD), among others -- and failed to rival the sound of LP records!
Today, Sony is again in a trailblazing mode. It recently launched its version of high-resolution audio, or hi-res audio, which it believes represents the highest audio quality recording that is available with modern technology. With a sampling rate of 96kHz/24bit or higher, Sony is hoping that its Hi-Res Audio will make it possible to recreate music with no compromise; the fidelity of which is the closest sample that music has ever come to the original source. Sony must have seen the market potential as storage media costs continue to decrease and internet speeds get faster.
According to Celine Anolin, Sony’s marketing officer for personal audio, the company believes that the ability of a product to reproduce music “in its purest form wherever we are has never been greater.”
She explains: “Sony has grown its personal audio lineup by placing pure sound and state-of-the-art design at the center of its business. We remain committed to developing new and exciting devices to meet their customers’ evolving appreciation for music.”
In a recent Sony Sound Workshop, the company showcased its latest lineup of hi-res audio products, including their award-winning SRS-X9 Wireless Speakers. Selling at a suggested retail price of Php39, 999 in all Sony Centres nationwide, the SRS-X9 was recently recognized by What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision, the world’s leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products.
The SRS-X9 is a seven-unit wireless speaker that promises a seamless listening experience of harmonious highs, deep and resonant bass, sleek form, and multiple functions.
The workshop also featured Sony’s MDR-ZX750BN wireless headphones which highlighted their pioneering Bluetooth and noise cancelling technology. Although not supported by hi-res audio, Sony also proved how they continue to revamp their personal audio lineup, harping on their rich history of audio innovation.
Anolin extended an invitation to all music lovers to “come visit authorized Sony Centres and experience first-hand the clarity that only our personal audio lineup can offer.”
Her invitation is worth taking if only to see whether Sony lives up to its promise. Whatever it is, we have a lot to thank Sony for most especially for its contribution to way we appreciate music.
* * *
For comments or questions, please e-mail me at audioglow@yahoo.com. You can also visit www.wiredstate.com for quick answers to your audio concerns.