Sonys new AV receivers with PS5 & Sonos support are the future-proof option
we need

Date:
Fri, 03 Feb 2023 21:12:48 +0000

Description:
After a five year hiatus, Sony has launched a range of fully decked out receivers, and the results look and sound worth the wait.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

I recently had the opportunity to get an in-person and in-depth overview of Sonys new ES AV receiver lineup at an event that happened in an atypically frozen-over Austin, Texas. Fortunately, the power remained on long enough
icy rains had knocked it out for 120,000 Austin customers during my stay to get a thorough demo of these impressive models, the first new receivers to emerge from Sony in five years.

There are five new models in total: four ES receivers aimed at the professional custom installation channel, and one consumer model. All receivers share many of the same features, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding and multiple HDMI 2.1 ports with 8K, 4K 120Hz, Dolby Vision HDR, and IMAX Enhanced support.

They also support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), making them a future-proof option for gamers. Sony TV and PlayStation 5-specific perks include pass-through of Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode, features meant to optimize picture quality for specific PS5 games on compatible Sony Bravia TVs.

The ES models are designed to fully integrate with many of the key
whole-house control systems on the market such as Crestron, Savant, and Control4. Furthermore, they are Works with Sonos certified, which lets them connect up to a multiroom wireless Sonos system. STR-AZ7000ES: 13.2 channel ($3,299.99) STR-AZ5000ES: 11.2 channel ($2,099.99) STR-AZ3000ES: 9.2 channel ($1,699.99) STR-AZ1000ES: 7.2 channel ($1,099.99) STR-AN1000: 7.2 channel ($899.99)

All receivers are available now for presale and come with a 5-year warranty.

ES series power output specs range from 100 watts-per-channel on the 7.2
model to 150 watts-per-channel on the 13.2 flagship. The 7.2-channel STR-AN1000 consumer model is rated at 165 watts. Sonys new receivers all
sport a range of design changes meant to improve both sound quality and reliability, with new 32-bit DACs, large capacitor power transformers, and a frame buffer board chassis. The ES offerings have also been beefed up with a 200% thicker bottom panel and 120% thicker side walls than previous models. Phantom speakers generated by Sony's 360 Spatial Sound Mapping processing. (Image credit: Sony)

A new processing feature for Sonys 2023 receiver lineup is 360 Spatial Sound Mapping. Previously used in the companys HT-A9 wireless speaker system this can work to fill in sonic gaps in a typical 5.1.2 or 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos
speaker configuration. 360 Spatial Sound Mapping is enabled via the companys new Digital Cinema Calibration IX, a feature that uses a stereo microphone to do variable height measurements of distance, angle, and sound pressure of
each speaker and create a 3D sound map of the room. Once thats done, you
press the 360SSM button on Sonys remote control and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping generates phantom speakers between the system's actual speakers to deliver an enhanced sense of immersion.

Along with phantom speakers, Sonys new receivers also support wireless ones. The companys SA-RS5 and SA-RS3S wireless models can optionally be added for use as rear-channel speakers, and the same option applies to its SA-SW5 and SA-SW3 wireless subwoofers. New audio options

Streaming music to Sonys receivers is made easy with ChromeCast, AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect support. Works with Sonos also means you can integrate
the receiver with your homes wireless multiroom system and control music playback using the Sonos S2 app when a device like that companys Port is connected.

The new receivers are also Sonys first models to support 360 Reality Audio. Music encoded using Sonys proprietary Spatial Audio mixing format can be
found on services like Tidal and Amazon Music Unlimited, and you can stream
it to the receiver via Chromecast or play it from apps on a connected Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K or Apple TV 4K. (Image credit: Sony ) Analysis: A/V
receivers are finally ready for the future

Its been a minute since weve heard about a new Sony AV receiver, but these latest models appear well worth the wait. That delay might actually have been strategic on the companys part, since HDMI 2.1 hardware supporting the full range of HDMI 2.1 features like 8K and 4K 120Hz pass-through wasnt readily available to manufacturers, some of whom pushed through half-baked products with a promise of enabling more features in a future firmware update.

The best AV receivers now ship with comprehensive HDMI 2.1 support, making them perfect home theater companions for next-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S consoles. Sonys latest models fit exactly into this category,
and they offer a whole range of tech-forward expansion options on top, including Works with Sonos and other whole-home integration features.

At Sonys Austin event I had the opportunity to listen to music encoded in 360 Reality Audio ( Come Through , by H.E.R. and Chris Brown), and the
adventurous object-based mix made generous use of 360 degree space. Two-channel music can also be upmixed to 360 Reality Audio, so its a feature that can be applied to legacy sources as well.

The home theater demo room where I watched movie clips and listened to music was powered by Sonys new STR-AZ7000ES flagship, and the 9.6.4 presentation using KEF speakers and subwoofers, no less was powerfully immersive. There were so many speakers on tap that the receivers 360 Spatial Sound Mapping wasnt needed!

Im sure that 360SSM will improve the performance of my own 5.1.2-channel system, and since Sony sent me an STR-AN1000 to test, Ill soon be able to report back on that.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/sonys-new-av-receivers-with-ps5-and-sonos-suppo rt-are-the-future-proof-option-we-need


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