If it looks like years since Sony launched a brand new Audio/Video receiver (AVR), that’s most likely as a result of it has. Their most up-to-date AVR providing, the STR-DH790, was launched in 2018. The newest replace to the premium ES (Elevated Customary) line was even longer in the past than that. That dry spell has ended with a brand new suite of Sony A/V receivers which function 8K video assist, Sonos integration, HDMI 2.1, Dolby Atmos, CI integration and (maybe most importantly) Sony’s personal model of immersive encompass sound: 360 Actuality Audio with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping.
Sony held a press occasion in Austin, Texas right this moment to unveil the brand new lineup, and we have been “within the room the place it occurred.” There may be one new mannequin in Sony’s normal AVR line (STR-AN1000) and 4 new fashions within the ES lineup. All fashions embrace 8K/60 and 4K/120 HDMI 2.1-compatible inputs. All fashions are anticipated to start transport quickly (Spring, 2023).
Sony’s 2023 A/V Receiver Line:
- Sony STR-AN1000 ($899.99) – 7.2 Channel, 100 Watts/Channel (2 channels pushed @ 6 ohms)
- Sony STR-AZ1000ES ($1099.99) – 7.2 Channel, 100 Watts/Channel (2 channels pushed at 8 ohms)
- Sony STR-AZ3000ES ($1699.99) – 7.2 Channel, 120 Watts/Channel (2 channels pushed at 8 ohms)
- Sony STR-AZ5000ES ($2099.99) – 9.2 Channel, 130 Watts/Channel (2 channels pushed at 8 ohms)
- Sony STR-AZ7000ES ($3299.99) – 13.2 Channel, 150 Watts/Channel (2 channels pushed at 8 ohms)
Placing the “Immersive” into Immersive Encompass
Immersive encompass, 3D encompass sound, spatial audio: it goes by many names. However these phrases all discuss with the identical idea: encompass sound designed to successfully immerse the listener in an all-enveloping soundscape. Immersive encompass places the viewer into the film or the listener contained in the music. Conventional encompass sound creates sound coming from the entrance, rear and sides of the listener. Immersive encompass enhances this with sound coming from above the listener similar to it does in actual life.
Whereas this kind of encompass sound impact may be virtualized for playback via headphones or sound bars, it’s way more efficient coming from a number of bodily audio system devoted to producing sound from all instructions. To this finish, all the receivers in Sony’s new line-up supply at the least seven channels of built-in amplification for a minimal 5.1.2-channel immersive encompass implementation. On the highest finish, the AZ7000ES can energy as much as 13 separate audio system (plus two subwoofers), supporting a 9.1.4 or 7.1.6 speaker configuration for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and 360 Actuality Audio content material. We bought to listen to a demo of the AZ7000 in a 9.6.4 configuration – 13 KEF audio system and 6 powered subwoofers – and it sounded spectacular.
Sony’s immersive encompass answer is each a competitor to Dolby Atmos and an enhancement to it. 360 Actuality Audio is an encoding format for film and music producers and engineers. 360 Spatial Sound Mapping can improve immersive sound codecs equivalent to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X to be much more immersive and enveloping. 360 Spatial Sound Mapping makes use of digital processing and psychoacoustics to fill within the areas between audio system and create a seamless dome of sound across the listener.
You’ll find 360 Actuality Audio encoded music on music streaming providers equivalent to Amazon Music Limitless, deezer, nugs.web, and Tidal. I’ve been testing the Sony STR-AZ1000ES receiver utilizing the Tidal app (with “HiFi” tier), related through the receiver’s “Chromecast built-in” function and might verify that this configuration helps 360 Actuality tracks in all their multi-channel glory. You’ll be able to then improve these 360 Actuality Audio tracks, in addition to content material in Dolby Digital, DTS, DTS:X or Dolby Atmos by partaking the receiver’s “360 Spatial Sound Mapping” function.
Enabling the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping function requires that you just first run via a speaker calibration routine. Not like the mono microphones utilized by conventional calibration packages like Audyssey, Sony’s “Digital Cinema Auto Calibration IX” makes use of a stereo microphone to map out speaker ranges, areas and room interactions with a purpose to create a 3D map of the room. It then makes use of this map to create digital speaker channels along with the true audio system within the room. When you’ve performed the calibration, you should utilize the devoted “360SSM” button on the distant to allow or disable the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping function.
Evaluating Dolby Atmos music tracks with and with out 360SSM, I discovered that enabling the 360SSM typically introduced the combination ahead a bit, placing the listener inside the combination, moderately than in entrance of it. The impact enhanced some Dolby Atmos tracks, however not all. On most tracks, it expanded the soundstage to be wider and deeper than it was with out processing. However in some instances you lose the immediacy and intimacy of the combination, notably with a music with a robust heart vocal monitor. Utilizing 360SSM on motion pictures positively enhanced the immersive impact, bringing me proper into the motion. I’ll be testing this out extra and can publish a full evaluation with my ideas within the close to future.
The ES receivers additionally function compatibility with all the main CI (Customized Integration) platforms together with Control4, OvrC, Savant, Crestron, ELAN, RTI, Domotz, URC and Vantage. They’re additionally “Works with Sonos” Licensed – simply plug in a Sonos Port and your Sony receiver turns into a Sonos zone like every standalone Sonos speaker. This additionally means that you can entry any supply related to the receiver throughout the Sonos app, so you possibly can play music or film sound from the receiver on any Sonos speaker in your house.
The 2 greater finish receivers (STR-AZ5000ES and STR-AZ7000ES) supply a whole set of pre-amp outputs – eleven channels on the 5000 and fifteen channels on the 7000. This permits the shopper so as to add devoted energy amps for bigger dwelling theater functions.
The Backside Line
It’s good to see Sony again within the AV receiver sport. Competitors helps drive corporations to be higher and provides customers extra selections. And now with Sony 360 Actuality Audio encoding coming to extra content material, potential receiver patrons ought to take into account shopping for a mannequin that features the format for max compatibility. Test again quickly for a full evaluation of the STR-AZ1000ES.
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