The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) is a global trade association of companies involved in the electronic systems industry. Founded in 1989, it has 3,500 members who specialize in home automation, networking, communication, security, lighting control, HVAC and entertainment systems. The organization influences public policy, provides referrals, promotes better business practices, educates members and provides other benefits. CEDIA hosts an annual trade show, the CEDIA Expo, to allow exhibitors to showcase the latest technological advances to industry professionals.
CEDIA Expo has been held in Atlanta, GA (my home town) for the last several years, and will transition to Indianapolis next year.
Sony had a healthy presence at CEDIA 2010, offering a robust booth experience that demonstrated their latest products in home theater receivers, Blu-ray, 3D gaming, 3D photography, LCD TV’s, and projectors. Sony’s big announcement during the show was the VPL-VW90ES, which is a $9,999 Sony ES 3D HD Projector With 240Hz. We also did a hands-on With Sony AV Receiver Remote App on an iPad, which was really cool.
On a side note, I was hoping to see some kind of demo for Google TV, but apparently it remains confidential until its October 12th unveiling in NYC.
Here is a video of various footage we caught during our time at Sony’s booth during CEDIA 2010, including VP of Television Chris Fawcett and VP, Home Audio and Video Brian Siegel talking about Sony’s refreshed Home Audio and Video lineup:
Here is our gallery of pictures taken at Sony’s booth during CEDIA 2010:
During CEDIA 2010, Sony showed off its innovative multi-room (aka zone) remote control app that is available for iPhone (and iPad) called AV Receiver Remote. The app basically allows you to operate your Sony receiver and/or components connected to your Sony receiver (such as a Blu-ray player). The software is pretty amazing for its first version, and allows you to do many things. We were impressed with the ability to select zones and set custom backgrounds for them, and power control so you can turn on lights in the desired room.
The app also allows you to select the input for the receiver, and also play specific music, photos and videos on your TV. Rhapsody, Shoutcast, FM, AM and Sirius options are also available that allow you to tune into your favorite feed. There are even macros you can program so your usual routine becomes extremely simple (e.g. theater, party, going away settings).
I soon realized that this app, especially on an iPad, is an incredible all-in-one remote control. Not only odes it control media, but it can also do lights. While AV Receiver Remote cant rival more expensive custom solutions, the fact that the app is free is a great play by Sony. You can download the app on the iTunes store and actually play around with it in demo mode.
The AV Receiver Remote app, in its first version, is pretty amazing. However, we would like to see Sony update the app to support the retina display on the iPhone 4. We also were a little disappointed that the app, on the iPad, had to be scaled to size using the built-in app zoom.
Here are some various pictures of the app in action. If you can’t see the pictures when they pop up because the video is blocking them, just scroll down past the video then click on the image again.
Sony’s latest addition to ever expanding line up of Walkman Docks is this quite versatile, do it all multimedia hub – CMT-L7D. It is by far more than just a Walkman Dock. With its 9-inch LCD and an output of 100W, it will play your DVDs as well as become a Photo Frame with various transition effects, when not in use you can use it as a clock or a calendar. There is also support for an external USB device, SD cards and Sony’s memory stick with MP3, WMA and AAC file support. Quite a versatile system! I only see one thing that is missing – a touch screen. 9 inches of LCD estate would be perfect for touch functions, swiping and scrolling and even better if Sony could slap Dash features into this thing, it would definitely rock. But since we most likely will not see this product hitting US shelves (most likely), we will be content.
It should be out in October for about $600. Check out video and pics below. You may read more about it in Japanese here.
PIIQ and Jienne are new headphone/earbud series from Sony that debuted in 2010. The colorful PIIQ series was released several months ago in the USA (and eventually worldwide), and the Jienne series has not reached the USA. Both series of headphones and earphones indicate a bold new direction in headphone design, which Sony Design says is a “shift in focus of product development from utilitarian function to stylish form.” We couldn’t agree more. In this exclusive interview with Sony Design, we learn more behind the creative process behind Sony’s PIIQ and Jienne series.
Wada: Sony is one of the few manufacturers that can develop headphone drivers in-house. Over the years, we’ve also built up a wealth of expertise on ensuring a good fit. But what makes success difficult in the headphone market is that refined features alone won’t necessarily win consumer loyalty. Like genres of music, people’s tastes in headphones are amazingly diverse. No matter how impressive headphones sound or how comfortable they are, many people just won’t pick them up if they don’t like the design. And this is now a growing trend.
Headphones have always piqued people’s interest, and they’re a product that reflects personal tastes to an extreme. In this kind of product category, the user experience hinges on the thrill and satisfaction of finding and using headphones of your preferred design. That’s why, increasingly, designers must shift from traditional, function-oriented product development to design focused on people’s attitudes and sense of style. As a pioneer in styling products for sports and fitness enthusiasts, clubgoers, and others with special interests, Sony has responded to a range of diverse tastes for some time.
Two lines that emerged from this kind of development are PIIQ, inspired by urban “street” culture in the U.S., and Jienne, designed mainly with the tastes of Japanese women in mind. Here, we’ll discuss PIIQ first, a project based on local market research, and one that brought together Sony offices in U.S. and Japan for design.
Clark: We noticed something interesting when studying the U.S. headphone market. Sony sales were strong, and we hold a leading market share, but at the same time, some new brands were growing fast. In other words, these brands were carving out a new market without capturing Sony market share, which meant there was a segment we weren’t serving.
The people in this market segment are mainly teens into urban street culture. For insight on their lifestyles, we interviewed local skaters, surfers, DJs, and musicians. What did they think was cool? What influenced them, when finding out about and buying new products? Acting on what we learned, we worked with our Tokyo design team to decide what products they would like. Designers led all efforts in this project, from planning to promotion.
Clark: To reach people in our target market effectively, we needed a new brand. By itself, the Sony brand doesn’t resonate enough with younger generations who grew up around street culture. They recognize Sony quality but associate the brand with high-end products for older generations, not products this group uses every day.
So, the design team in the U.S. developed the PIIQ name and logo. It comes from peak, as in “highest point.” The PIIQ name stands for headphones that are made for younger generations taking on challenges and pushing limits in many ways.
At the same time, this group clearly appreciates the Sony brand itself, which is a distinct advantage in branding. PIIQ style, backed by Sony performance-help people make this connection, and they’ll know that the headphones not only look cool but are designed and built well.
Wada: For this reason, PIIQ logos appear in prominent positions on the headphones while Sony logos appear on the inner housing, plug tips, and other areas where they’re a reassuring reminder of Sony quality. This was like a slap in the face to our product managers, whose headphones have borne the Sony name for decades. But to establish a brand that stands for new ideals in both performance and style, it was unavoidable.
PIIQ product design was managed in Japan, but only because that’s where Rui was living at the time. He has lived in the U.S. for years, where he was immersed in street culture through BMX, DJing, and other interests. His contributions at the planning stage and throughout the project helped tremendously. Even the most seasoned Sony designers aren’t qualified to design for teens into street culture, if they’ve never ridden a skateboard. Under Rui’s guidance, we kept a user-oriented perspective to serve a market segment that’s hard to reach with traditional Sony design theory alone.
Morisawa: Five models round out the PIIQ line, but in design, we sought one goal. Instead of viewing headphones as just a device to listen to music, we tried to design an enjoyable listening experience. Some things are very distracting when active youth trying to listen-worrying that your hair will get caught or tangled up in the headphones, that earbuds will come off your ears, or that the band will get scratched. We eliminated these problems as much as possible while adding details that will make you glad you own the headphones. For this reason, they combine all kinds of tweaks you won’t find in regular product design.
Take the top PIIQ headphones (MDR-PQ1), for example. The cloth-covered housing is a first for Sony. It’s disappointing when gross painted headphones eventually get scratched, but with fabric, over time they develop a nice, worn look and you become attached to them. Another nice sign of use is how the pink base color gradually begins to show through the black surface of the buckles. This reminds me of how, right after some skaters get a board, they intentionally scratch it up a little. The way it’s scratched shows what moves or tricks the skater is good at. We brought this mind to the headphones and actually made it easier to show some character through wear and tear by embossing the surface. This thinking and fabrication is the complete opposite of “scratch-resistant” product design manner.
MDR-PQ2 headphones have a cloth-wrapped headband, molded pads, and rubber hanger covers. Covering the sliders and mechanical structures prevents hair from getting caught, even with an afro or long hair.
Meanwhile, MDR-PQ3 headphones have a very simple structure, shaped and constructed of a rubbery material to be tough. We chose this material so there’s no need to worry about scratching or abrading them.
PIIQ earbuds come in two models.
MDR-PQ4 earbuds gently clip on your ears, which keeps them on even if you’re upside-down. And when you’re not wearing them, you can hang them on a sleeve or pocket to show a little style. Slide them together, and you’ll notice that the shapes on each side form the PIIQ logo.
MDR-PQ5 open-air earbuds are also available. Here, we took advantage of the holes (used to fine-tune the sound quality) to create an iconic “gas mask” from the bass ducts.
Besides this, there are many other details you may not notice until you use the headphones. The cord junction is shaped like a P, fonts and finishes in L/R labeling vary by model, and so on. When you do notice these touches, we hope you feel more attached to the headphones.
Zamani: PIIQ packaging was designed at our U.S. office. Rui’s cool, vibrant, and fresh product design is such a departure from the regular Sony design image that we wanted to break from tradition in packaging, too.
Packaging generally follows product shapes, functions, and other elements, and this time, we matched the PIIQ logo style and headphone look-and-feel in the packaging. This helps us ensure a consistent brand image. Along these lines, we let the PIIQ attitude shine through while including understated Sony logos as assurance of quality.
All PIIQ packaging looks fresher, brighter, and bolder than regular Sony packaging. This not only catches the eye of the younger generations the headphones were made for but also distinguishes PIIQ from competitive brands in stores. Blister packs for the two-earbud models hang by a ball chain-a bit adventurous in packaging design. Usually headphone packaging just hangs there on the racks, looking rather lifeless and unfashionable. We attached the chain to a corner so that the packaging hangs at a 45° angle, somehow fitting for active younger generations that are always on the go.
Fukamatsu: Jienne is a new headphone series designed with women in mind. Women in Japan tend to respond to things that are cute, pretty, “kawaii” or trendy, but of course, every woman has her own tastes. And because our style and mode of behavior may depend on how we feel that day, where we’re going, or whom we’re with, our tastes may defy classification. Somehow, through design, I wanted to satisfy women with a range of tastes and an acquisitiveness that should sometimes be indulged.
The approach I chose was “layered” design. It’s helpful to mention that Japanese women tend to express themselves through just the right combination of clothes and accessories, worn just the right way. We also enjoy coordinating layers of clothing, rings, and so on. This observation led me to layer materials and colors of different kinds until I had a collection of cuteness in the two current Jienne earbud styles-Chic and Pop.
Jienne Chic may remind you of craftsmanship with a delicate touch, as for jewelry or lace. The ring on top is encircled by zirconia or faceted like cut crystal. Here, I wanted to capture some of the sparkling glamour women enjoy in jewelry and cosmetics.
Jienne Pop was inspired by the feeling of happiness and contentment sweets give us. Scrumptious layer cake delights many women, for example, and it even looks delightful. In Jienne Pop, we squeeze together slices of cute, vivid colors into little orbs, coated with a glossy finish. They look like candy.
Pick them up and look closely, and you’ll see that each color has a slightly different finish, which also makes these design themes enticing. Cord colors match each earbud, of course, but you’ll also notice matching patterns on the cord slider and plug: gemstone facets and diamond shapes on Chic and hearts on Pop. These details invite you to pick the earbuds up for a closer look. I hope the Jienne series will hold a special place in the hearts of girls and women as favorite accessories.
Yuyama: As you can see, the broad Jienne spectrum doesn’t include any traditional Sony colors. It’s easy to understand why-the earbuds wouldn’t look right in those colors. Jienne Chic, for example, calls to mind jewelry, so we never planned to introduce colors that would seem out of place in jewelry. Jienne Pop recalls candy, so we avoided intense, edgy colors.
Both Chic and Pop come in 12 colors, and it’s part of the fun to choose your favorite. We know how a lot of women probably enjoy jewelry. Instead of buying one expensive piece to wear every day, they carefully acquire a collection of affordable pieces over time, and they enjoy choosing the right piece for their mood. We wanted to bring this casual fashion fun to headphones.
The packaging also had to be just right. For headphones in this price range, we rarely have a chance to reach people through TV commercials or magazine ads. Packaging is therefore a crucial point of contact with consumers, and we can showcase design. Jienne Chic packaging is faceted like gemstones to catch the light and look luxurious. Unique and cute Jienne Pop packaging enfolds the buds in a carefully crafted bouquet.
PIIQ and Jienne have just been introduced. Above all, we think it’s your emotions that headphones should amplify, so style was as important to us as sound quality. The launch was not the end of our design work-it brings us to a new starting line.
I don’t blame Sony for using the gorgeous design found in the popular Walkman A Series a second time around. In some ways, this Walkman is probably up there amongst the best product designs the company has made in the last 64 years. Is that really so much of a bold claim? There is still something special about this Walkman even in its second generation. Meet the new Sony Walkman A850 series. Despite the fact the competition is so insanely fierce, Sony has added a few things here and there to make this still an incredible audio player for the high-end enthusiast.
Sadly, this is not the Android Walkman you’ve been looking for.
I always read about how slim audio players are getting and the NW-A850 series is no exception, as it maintains the same shape as the previous models at only 7.2mm thin. That is really slim. It’s the perfect fusion of analog greatness and digital innovation. It has buttons. Buttons to go Back, or Home, Options, and the usual Play/Pause and directional pad.
This Walkman is very hard to perfect for Sony because in some ways; this type of design will soon become obsolete as music players mostly have big screens, few buttons and will soon have unconventional form factors. Look at the iPod for example, the device that destroyed Sony’s portable audio dominance – the most popular music player of all time with its navigation wheel has transitioned to nearly all touchscreen models. The iPod Classic is still available, but faces extinction soon. And when Apple goes all touchscreen, the majority of the portable music player industry will too.
Nonetheless, I believe the Walkman A series has the pinnacle of what one would consider a good multimedia experience. It’s a worthy device to carry along with your phone. It’s drag and drop, meaning you can transfer music to it by dragging from your library to the drive. Capacity is no issue, as there are 16GB (NW-A855), 32GB (NW-A856), and 64GB (NW-A857) versions. Battery life is up to 29 hours, while video playback clocks in at 11 hours. The display is a crisp and goregous 2.8 inch OLED screen and is available in Black, Rose and White colors. Audiophiles will bask in the glory of the integrated Digital Noise Cancelling feature/earphones (13.5mm), which in my experiences at CES earlier this year, was able to completely drain out noise around me when I tried the earphones on. That’s pretty impressive considering there was hundreds of people around me. There are three sound modes: Transit, Airplane, and Office modes adjust the settings for the best noise cancelling possible.
The Walkman A Series has a S-Master digital amplifier, DSEE, and Clear Stereo for incredible sound. These options have been a staple feature in the highest end Walkmans and allow you to color the audio to your liking. Support is pretty robust with MP3/WMA (DRM not supported) / ATRAC / ATRAC Advanced Lossless / Linear PCM / AAC (DRM not supported) / HE-AAC. Can you believe they are still supporting my beloved (ha ha) ATRAC in Japan after removing it everywhere else in the world?
Video playback is great with the ability to do MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MPEG-4, WMV (DRM supported), up to 720 × 480 resolution. Which is basically SD. Sony says that movies will look pretty clear through the analog WMC-NWV10 audio/video cable when connected to a TV. Speaking of connections, it can also connect to a Japanese Sony All-in-one Blu-ray Player and DVR and transfer content and recordings straight to the Walkman.
In Japan, the Walkman A Series is a little different. Lyric support is included, which is an exclusive service that you pay into, but this has never been integrated in any version of the A series Walkman outside of the country. It also has an improved Karaoke mode over last generation with several new features including key control, song speed and others. A cool thing with the Karaoke mode is that Sony encourages you to buy the cable that connects the Walkman to the TV so you can do Karaoke for everyone.
There is also now a collaborative feature with the mora service called “Listen little mora” that delivers 10 songs together in one pack from a certain genre every time you sync your Walkman to x-app. They also will have special packs for holidays, such as for Christmas. I think this is actually a really smart play on Sony’s part – automatic music delivery of top tens or cherry-picked tracks every time you connect. We’ll see how that plays out and see if this music delivery strategy for Sony will evolve further. We also spotted an update to the x-app application, version 2.0, which is a popular PC management program for newer Sony Walkmans and other devices.
Sony Japan has updated their headphone line for 2010, and one of the most exciting introductions set for release on November 10th is the flagship model MDR-Z1000 (Y61,950). Sony is aiming these stereo headphones towards professionals, and has engineered them to excel in audio post-production. There are several new features in this headphone that have never been integrated in a Sony headphone before. In the official press release, Sony states that the development of the technology within the Z1000 has taken years of expertise in headphone design to accomplish.
The design of the Z1000 is quite unique, but still attractive in its own way. The Z1000 most certainly does not look like headphones Sony have released in the past. The housing component is actually made of magnesium alloy, and is 10% thinner in comparison to conventional models. Portability and ease of use was also kept in mind as the Z1000 has the ability to use 1.2m/3m cords that can be detached from the base of the headphone (as seen above).
One of the biggest features of the Z1000 is the 50mm driver unit and the ability to handle frequencies of 5-80,000 Hz. This is very similiar to the previously released MDR-Z900HD, but a major difference is that the Z1000 can handle a maximum input of 4,000mW.
The Z1000 is also one of the first headphones by Sony to use a liquid crystalline polymer diaphragm, which is nearly five times as strong as conventional designs and reduces inner plate vibration significantly. If you eliminate or greatly suppress vibration in a headphone, it enables a much more accurate listening experience and greater fidelity. Signal purity is almost no question with the integration of oxygen free copper (OFC) wires, which boast a 7N signal grade, and will ensure low distortion and minimal signal loss. There is also a new gasket that covers the gap between the housing and the driver unit to enhance sound isolation from the outside world while preventing sound leakage.
The design of the headphone pads in the Z1000 have been greatly improved in comparison to past models, and after dozen of trials Sony Japan feels they may have the perfect fit. With a wider fit and an improved foam cushion, the Z1000 reduces hair pinching and has less of a squeezing feeling on the ears.
Qriocity is a network service platform that connects many of Sony’s network-enabled devices and allows consumers to enjoy high quality entertainment across multiple devices. Through Qriocity, Sony will deliver a variety of digital entertainment content and services that are “powered by Qriocity”, including video, music, game applications, and e-books over time, and through these services, and in combination with its networked devices, Sony aims to bring new and exciting entertainment experiences to customers.
Today at the IFA 2010 show in Berlin, Sony announced plans to introduce “Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity”, a new, cloud-based, digital music service. Available by year’s end, “Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity” will give music lovers access to millions of songs stored and synchronized through the cloud. “Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity” will initially be available across Sony’s 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TVs, Blu-ray Disc players, Blu-ray Home Theater systems, as well as PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems and VAIOs and other personal computers, and will become increasingly available on a range of Sony’s portable devices.
“Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity” brings together the features cited as most important by music enthusiasts. With access to a huge library of songs through the cloud, users can discover new music through channels personalized to their tastes on multiple devices and without the requirement to manage digital music files. The convenience resulting from this new consumer music experience will further enhance the value of music, thus creating new opportunities for the industry. Details of the service plan will be announced in the future.
“We are excited to offer our customers high quality, cloud-based entertainment experiences across many of Sony’s network-enabled devices,” said Kazuo Hirai, President of Networked Products & Services Group, Sony Corporation. “Services ‘powered by Qriocity’ will revolutionize the way that users play, listen, watch, share, communicate, learn, discover and create their digital entertainment content.”
The Sony DR-GA500/DR-GA200 high-end PC gaming headset is a phenomenal new offering that Sony Europe/Asia Pacific showed off last week made specifically for gamers. The design of the headset is one of the best looking I’ve ever seen because of its open ear design. Many of the high-end PC gaming headsets currently out there have a closed-ear design that becomes quite uncomfortable after extended use. As the current standard for expensive PC gaming headsets is to have advanced sound, the DR-GA500 meets that challenge with incredible audio quality due to the Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoder with unique Sony Virtual Phones Technology (VPT) to create convincing 7.1ch 3D surround effects. The signal processing hardware is contained in a compact external unit.
With such sound capabilities, gamers have the ability to hear things in games they may have not heard before with lesser headsets. Maximum audio performance is ideal for first person shooter (FPS) games that require your absolute attention. Having great sound means that you can hear enemies in games sneak up on you, or hear greater detail in explosions, gunfire, and other tactical sounds.
Here are some more pictures of the headset, starting with the mic extended:
EISA is the unique association of 50 special interest magazines from 19 European countries that choose the best of the best in consumer electronics. The editors-in-chief from all EISA member magazines meet each June to decide which of products analyzed in their publications during the past year deserve the coveted EISA Award. There are six main categories, including Audio, Video, Home Theater, Photography, In-Car Electronics Electronics and Mobile Devices and then subcategories within that for various products. Historically, Sony does pretty well in this competition and 2010 is no different.
Sony won in five product categories in this year’s EISA awards, including 3D-LCD TV’s, photography/video products, and car audio. We have compiled some great pictures and videos of the winning devices for your enjoyment.
Let’s take a look at the products EISA said Sony was the best in European consumer electronics this year:
The EISA Judging Panel commented: “Although the Sony a NEX-5 is the smallest system camera in the world, by using a large APS-C CMOS image sensor it is still able to deliver excellent image quality. The camera is aimed at compact camera users and beginners who want to improve their skills, so Sony has made the user interface simple and straightforward. The extra-large, hinged, LCD screen makes viewing captured still images and Full HD videos a pleasure. Already equipped with Sony’s Sweep Panorama, this will be the first camera to offer a 3D Sweep Panorama mode as well.”
Here is some sample footage shot by Sony with the NEX-5:
The EISA Judging Panel commented: “The Sony KDL-52HX900 delivers tremendous video quality and hyper-realistic results with 2D and 3D sources. Sony’s magic touch is clearly visible in the huge contrast ratio, top-class movement compensation, the superb BRAVIA Engine 3, and the most efficient Direct-LED Backlight yet. Even standard 2D sources may be watched in thrilling 3D due to Sony’s conversion process. The Sony KDL-52HX900 is much more than a TV: it’s an amazing hub for all sources and is even equipped with a versatile Wi-Fi internet browser. This piece of modern art from Sony combines the beauty of a unique design with a maelstrom of technologies that bring the excitement of 2D and 3D cinema experiences to your living room.”
I couldn’t resist linking to the great BRAVIA design story video about the 2010 BRAVIA series, which explains the design element of the HX900/HX909:
The EISA Judging Panel commented: “If you are looking for a compact camera that packs a powerful zoom but still fits the pocket, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V should be at the top of your list. With its 25-250mm 10x zoom lens and features such as GPS, compass, Intelligent Sweep Panorama, long-lasting battery, 10fps shooting and Full HD-quality video recording, it is an ideal companion for travel as well as everyday events. Using Sony’s Exmor R CMOS sensor the camera is able to work well in low-light conditions, producing images with very little noise.”
Here is a video showing off the HX5V in further detail:
The EISA Judging Panel commented: “Never before has an advanced consumer camcorder been so similar to its professional counterpart. The HDR-AX2000E combines a complete range of easy to use manual functions with pro-style XLR connectors and a phantom power supply for external microphones. The lens is a 20X wide angle zoom and the three CMOS sensors deliver stunning pictures with great detail, even under extremely low light conditions. A hi-res viewfinder and touch-screen control combine with the convenience of SD and Memory stick recording to offer the enthusiasts the opportunity to make professional quality video at a price he/she can afford.”
Here is a video from Youtube of jump ropers in the incredible smooth slow recording mode on the HDR-AX2000:
The EISA Judging Panel commented: “Making in-car multimedia most enjoyable is what Sony’s XAV-70BT is designed for. Its 7”-screen provides lively pictures. To yield the best sound, signal paths and power supply are completely separated for sound and imaging – a true high quality design. Exclusive features like the “ZAPPIN” function make it easy to find the right song while “SensMe” software is able to analyze the music’s style and mood in order to play a tailored list. A clearly arranged user interface makes all the functionality easily usable – No more trading comfort for performance. This is the difference.”
This video goes over some of the functions found within the XAV-70BT:
Sony is set to debut two new headphones aimed towards gamers, especially those who play long online gaming sessions or frequently use Teamspeak/Ventrilo. There are several options out there from various manufacturers such as Logitech, Plantronics, Razer, Creative Sound and others but many of the options out there have this terrible enclosed ear solution that I find uncomfortable. The new Sony DR-GA500 and DR-GA200 headsets are some of the coolest and comfortable gaming headphones I’ve ever seen.
The DR-GA500 package is really incredible, offering an external Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoder with unique Sony Virtual Phones Technology (VPT) to create convincing 7.1ch 3D surround effects. This enables the listener to precisely hear where the action is coming from. In my experiences, it is a real advantage in FPS, RTS, MMO, and other strategy games if you have a great audio system. Sometimes when I snipe in games such as Battlefield: Bad Company 2, having a nice headset can allow me to know if someone is about to sneak up and kill me with a knife. There’s also other handy features such as compression and FPS mode.
It’s important to clarify the DR-GA200 doesn’t have 7.1ch digital surround sound.
The other benefit of these headphones is the comfort aspect – padding aligns the inner portion of the headphone ensuring a comfortable fit for extended periods of time. Plus, with the unique headphone design, you still get incredible sound that doesn’t trap your ears in a cave. The Sony triple enfolding design has its origins in user research underlining the importance of ventilation and avoiding pressure on the ear.
Both models incorporate a high quality, compact boom microphone that can be muted as well.
Sony Develops “SmartAR” Integrated Augmented Reality Technology
Sony Memory Stick Gets a Speed Boost of Up to 50 MB/sec
Sony Bravia HX929 Firmware Available, New Features Abound
Sir Howard Stringer Addresses PSN/Qriocity Customers
PSP®go Phase Out
Music Unlimited Service Coming to Your PSP
