CE Pro September 2023 - 45

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Next-Generation Sony ES Series
Levels Up Home Theater Game
O
ne of the most anticipated booths each year at CEDIA Expo is
that of Sony Electronics. Ahead of this month's tradeshow in Denver,
CE Pro caught up with Jeff Goldstein, Head of Sales -Custom
Installation Channel at Sony, to hear about the latest AV trends.
Recently Sony introduced its latest-generation AV receivers.
Can you talk about the amount of R&D that went into the
products to make them stand out in a competitive category?
A tremendous amount of R&D was expended to ensure the highest
quality audio and video performance as well as deep integration
capability with all the key control and monitoring platforms. Everything
from a new, more rigid chassis design to custom-designed
high performance audio components, heat management, as well as a
new Digital Cinema Calibration IX and our proprietary 360 Spatial
Sound Mapping technology have been incorporated to deliver the
best possible immersive audio experience for the end user.
Can you explain Sony's 360 Spatial Sound Mapping feature?
Th is exciting technology, as applied in our new ES receiver line,
takes input from our Digital Cinema Calibration IX with extensive
room measurement data, and applies a unique Sony-developed algorithm
to deliver a perfect immersive audio experience. It's a great
tool to correct for less than perfect speaker placement and can create
" phantom " speaker locations to expand the soundstage beyond the
limitations of the physical speaker setup.
Additionally, 360SSM delivers precise placement of sounds within
the soundstage to deliver even more detailed and smooth tracking of
eff ects as they move within the immersive sonic bubble. Th is is great for
the home theater experience and enhances directional audio for gaming.
The receivers also include Sony's Center Speaker Liſt -Up,
Acoustic Center Sync, and Dual Center Speaker technologies.
What are the strengths of these technologies, and how
can installers implement them?
Th e center-channel features have been enhanced for this generation
of ES receivers. Th ere are multiple ways to apply these depending
on the specifi c application. If paired with certain Sony TVs, the
acoustic center synch has been upgraded to only utilize a portion
of the center channel frequencies. Th is results in the impression of
the sound coming directly from the center of the screen without
creating a mismatch between the TV speakers' sound and the rest
of the system.
Center Channel Lift-up utilizes Front Height speakers - if present
- to audibly lift the center-channel sound to the center of the
screen. Finally in our higher-end models, unused amplifi er channels
can be re-assigned to power a second center channel that can be
placed above the screen and balanced with one below to position
center-channel audio to the middle of the screen. Th is is especially
useful for applications where a large projection screen or LCD walls
are being installed.
The latest AVRs and flagship projector incorporate
proprietary technologies to deliver optimal performance.
How does a flagship product like the VPL-XW7000ES projector
complement Sony's AV systems to enable integrators to specify
and install state-of-the-art home entertainment rooms?
Th e VPLXW7000ES off ers spectacular brightness and color reproduction
at its price. It incorporates upgraded Wide Dynamic Range Optics,
all-new Advanced Crisp-Focused (ACF) Lens, Sony's latest generation
Native 4K SXRD (Silicon X-tal Refl ective Display) panel, fl agship-level
X1 Ultimate processor for projector, and all the control system compatibility
and remote monitoring functionality an installer could dream of.
Th e VPLXW7000ES is also very quiet with only 26dB of noise,
so it can be installed in the room with the client and not detract
from the cinematic experience. It's a great tool for integrators to
deliver unmatched video performance in a home theater or multipurpose
entertainment space.
Can dealers scale the size of their system installations using
the Sony line of AVRs and projectors?
Absolutely - we off er our ES AVRs and ES projectors at various
price points so integrators have the fl exibility to work with all budget
ranges. Th is ensures that great entertainment experiences for the
homeowner can be achieved at a variety of price ranges.
Are there best practices that Sony can off er to help dealers
to eff ectively sell and install complete Sony AV systems?
Of course! Sony has a Sales Support team, a nationwide network of
manufacturer's reps, and a dedicated CI support line that can assist in
project specifi cation, technical support, and aftercare. We also off er
industry-leading warranties on our ES products so integrators can specify
Sony ES with confi dence.
CE Pro September 2023

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