Sony Launches New High-End ES Speaker Lineup

[admin]

Sony is solidly back in the US high-end speaker market with the release of their new ES speaker line and the continuation of their AR speakers. The new ES line lends from the AR series on some design traits, but branches out into completely new territory with others. Sony’s goal with the ES line of speakers was to create a speaker system that faithfully reproduced sound without adding anything to it. Essentially, they tried to remove the speaker from the equation, allowing listeners so hear what was recorded, nothing more and nothing less. The cabinets are built from Scandinavian birch, and the bass drivers and high/mid drivers are built in separate enclosures. The most unique feature of these speakers is the I-Array tweeter system, which uses one 25mm soft-dome tweeter and two 19mm soft-dome tweeters. We listened to a demo and thought the sound was natural and bass was punchy. We look forward to seeing more of this new ES line.

Discuss "Sony Launches New High-End ES Speaker Lineup" here. Read the article.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Let's see some measurements and then we'll pour in the judgement.

 

[j_garcia]

I give Sony a hard time and the fact is the majority of their speakers are directed at the low cost crowd, but a buddy of mine has had some mid-fi Sony towers for years and I honestly do like them. If they didn't have the Sony label on them, nobody would question them

 

[cpp]

Sony makes a lot of equipment we just don't see in the US, like the Sony SS-AR1 ($27,000) & AR2 speakers
https://dealersource.sel.sony.com/dsweb/p/ar1/


And NO ADTG, I don't know how they measure

 

[monkish54]

Sony makes a lot of equipment we just don't see in the US, like the Sony SS-AR1 ($27,000)

The SS-AR1 is most definitely sold in the USA.

I've heard a pair myself at THE Show.

Like the Pioneer EX line, the SS line by Sony is seldom spoken about on forums. Not many people want to shell out 27 thousand dollars on the Sony name. ESPECIALLY since they use Scan-Speak drivers that one can purchase for a few hundred dollars.

It's a real shame about the EX line. They had some of the best loudspeakers around!

The SS AR1:

View attachment 11189

 

[Bghead8che]

Let's see some measurements and then we'll pour in the judgement.

The AR series, which they are based on, measure extremely well. "Text-box" design and a "statement" product according to Stereophile. I would imagine these measure well also. I am big fan of Sony's speakers because they eschew bright, analytical drivers and sound, which I can't stand. I'm pretty sure the 3 tweeters are crossed over at higher points, however (aka Supertweeters).

I think they use the same drivers as the AR series also which is kinda cool considering they AR goes for $30K.

I'm in the market right now and I am seriously considering these. I just need an Sony ES dealer with a big discount.


-Brian

 

[cpp]

The SS-AR1 is most definitely sold in the USA.

I've heard a pair myself at THE Show.

Like the Pioneer EX line, the SS line by Sony is seldom spoken about on forums. Not many people want to shell out 27 thousand dollars on the Sony name. ESPECIALLY since they use Scan-Speak drivers that one can purchase for a few hundred dollars.

It's a real shame about the EX line. They had some of the best loudspeakers around!

The SS AR1:

View attachment 11189

Wow monk, I've been to a lot of shows but have never seen them.

 

[monkish54]

The AR series, which they are based on, measure extremely well. "Text-box" design and a "statement" product according to Stereophile.

Hardly textbook measurement, IMO. Just another standard loudspeaker with a directivity mismatch and a 5 digit price.

The Revel Salon 2, Pioneer S-1EX, and JBL LSR 6332 are textbook, and they all cost less money!

Wow monk, I've been to a lot of shows but have never seen them.

That is ironic, I've only been to one show!

 

[corey]

Let's see some measurements and then we'll pour in the judgement.

I think what's really needed are some measurements and listening tests on the top half of their range - from 22 Khz to 45 Khz.

 

[monkish54]

I think what's really needed are some measurements and listening tests on the top half of their range - from 22 Khz to 45 Khz.

That would be one boring listening test. I'd say it would be a draw seeing as humans can't hear that high.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

And NO ADTG, I don't know how they measure

Oh, that's just not fair. And you automatically assumed I was going to ask for measurements?

Why, I never!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hardly textbook measurement, IMO. Just another standard loudspeaker with a directivity mismatch and a 5 digit price.

The Revel Salon 2, Pioneer S-1EX, and JBL LSR 6332 are textbook, and they all cost less money!

I agree. The Sony AR isn't as good as a lot of speakers, including the KEF 201/2 (any of the KEF Reference & up)....maybe even the KEF LS50.

With so many great speakers to choose from in this price range on down, I think the Sony brand is a difficult sell. They might have to branch out and create a high-end label like TAD did to distinguish from Pioneer.

 

[monkish54]

I agree. The Sony AR isn't as good as a lot of speakers, including the KEF 201/2

Agreed!

I think the Sony brand is a difficult sell. They might have to branch out and create a high-end label like TAD did to distinguish from Pioneer.

They should branch out. Pioneer was very smart to create TAD. Also very stupid to put the EX under Pioneer!

It's really a shame audiophiles don't like Pioneer, they make some great stuff! D

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Agreed!



They should branch out. Pioneer was very smart to create TAD. Also very stupid to put the EX under Pioneer!

It's really a shame audiophiles don't like Pioneer, they make some great stuff! D

Yeah, I think it was so stupid Pioneer put the EX speakers under the Pioneer label! It should have been TAD all the way. And then the "TAD EX-2" monitors would be sitting in my house.

Not that I regret the TAD 2201. I like them a lot. I read they were built in the same plant as the Pioneer EX.

 

[Bghead8che]

Hardly textbook measurement, IMO. Just another standard loudspeaker with a directivity mismatch and a 5 digit price.

The Revel Salon 2, Pioneer S-1EX, and JBL LSR 6332 are textbook, and they all cost less money!



That is ironic, I've only been to one show!

How would you know they don't measure "textbook". You are basing this on? Did you see the Stereophile review of the AR speakers? They measured very well indeed. What do you mean by "directivity mismatch"?

I'm also confused how you deem them to be too expensive when the Revels cost 120% more and the Pioneers are $800 more.

I have no clue how they sound or measure but I still think they are worth listening to. Like I said at 1/3 price and the same drivers as the AR series its worth checking out.

-Brian

 

[Bghead8che]

I agree. The Sony AR isn't as good as a lot of speakers, including the KEF 201/2 (any of the KEF Reference & up)....maybe even the KEF LS50.

With so many great speakers to choose from in this price range on down, I think the Sony brand is a difficult sell. They might have to branch out and create a high-end label like TAD did to distinguish from Pioneer.

I agree that if you like bright, nails-on-chalk speakers KEFs are your golden ticket to paradise!

(ducks and hides)

-Brian

 

[Bghead8che]

According to Stereophile:

I confirmed this by looking at the step responses of the individual
drive-units (not shown); the important point to note is that the decay
of each unit's step in this graph blends smoothly with the start of the
unit next lower in frequency. This implies optimal crossover design and
correlates with the excellent integration of the drive-units' outputs in
the frequency domain. The SS-AR1's cumulative spectral-decay plot
(fig.7) demonstrates superbly clean decay through the region covered by
the tweeter. (Ignore the dark ridge just below 16kHz, which is the usual
pickup of the computer monitor's line-scan radiation.)

Higher in frequency, the Sony speaker is remarkably flat throughout the
midrange and mid-treble, its farfield response averaged across a 30°
horizontal window meeting superb ±1.5dB limits from 300Hz to 9.9kHz

The Sony SS-AR1's measured performance indicates almost textbook design,
and that beautifully constructed enclosure is as acoustically effective
as it is drop-dead gorgeous to look at. I am not surprised that KR
considers it a "statement" product.—John Atkinson

 

[gene]

The SS-AR1 is most definitely sold in the USA.

I've heard a pair myself at THE Show.

Like the Pioneer EX line, the SS line by Sony is seldom spoken about on forums. Not many people want to shell out 27 thousand dollars on the Sony name. ESPECIALLY since they use Scan-Speak drivers that one can purchase for a few hundred dollars.

It's a real shame about the EX line. They had some of the best loudspeakers around!

The SS AR1:

View attachment 11189

Scan Speak makes some of the best drivers in the world. A few hundred $$$ on drivers per speaker is nothing to snuff at. You would be surprised how inexpensive the drivers that some of the big brands use in their products. That being said, the new Sony speaker lines do look impressive, despite their rather luxurious pricing

 

[monkish54]

How would you know they don't measure "textbook".

I've seen the measurements!

This is your original quote:

The AR series, which they are based on, measure extremely well. "Text-box" design and a "statement" product according to Stereophile.

You are basing this on?

The measurements.

Did you see the Stereophile review of the AR speakers?

Yes I did. Those are the measurements.

They measured very well indeed.

They measured alright. Poor for a 27 thousand dollar speaker.

What do you mean by "directivity mismatch"?

They played the midrange through beaming. Look at the off-axis.

I'm also confused how you deem them to be too expensive when the Revels cost 120% more and the Pioneers are $800 more.

We are talking about the SS AR1. Well, I was when I replied to your post. The AR1 is $17,000 more than the Pioneer S-1EX.

Like I said at 1/3 price and the same drivers as the AR series its worth checking out.

Those drivers can be purchased and one can build a better speaker for less, IMO.

I agree that if you like bright, nails-on-chalk speakers KEFs are your golden ticket to paradise!

First of all, define bright please.

Secondly, what, from a design perspective, makes the KEF bright?

 

[monkish54]

Scan Speak makes some of the best drivers in the world.

Agreed! You misunderstood my post, Gene. You will hear no argument from me. I'm sure that's why Scan drivers are used in the 8T.

A few hundred $$$ on drivers per speaker is nothing to snuff at.

I was talking about a few hundred per driver! My point wasn't that they didn't spend enough, but that with the proper knowledge one can buy the same drivers and build a comparable speaker for a LOT less than Sony's asking price!

You would be surprised how inexpensive the drivers that some of the big brands use in their products.

I have seen it. Some great speakers use fairly cheap drivers. Look at Andrew's Pioneer. What, maybe $10 drivers? They are damn good speakers for the asking price.