Sony is releasing five HDMI 2.1 receivers in the US
Sony is releasing five new receivers, all of which have different HDMI 2.1 connections. Among other things, these are able to connect to certain Sony TVs to combine the sound of the television with that of a center speaker.
It’s about four receivers in the ES series: the STR-AZ7000ES (13.2), STR-AZ5000ES (11.2), STR-AZ3000ES (9.2) and STR-AZ1000ES (7.2), supplemented by the STR-AN1000 (7.2). These feature according to Sony all about the Acoustic Center Sync feature. The idea is that by having the TV’s speakers and the center speaker produce sound at the same time, it seems like the sound of the dialogues is coming directly from the characters. This requires a connection via HDMI and a stereo mini cable to a compatible Sony TV that produces sound by vibrating the screen, including the newer OLED TVs or a high-end LCD TV.
The STR-AZ7000ES.
The receivers all have HDMI 2.1 connections to transmit 8k images and 4k120 material without any problems. So is Dolby Vision pass-through, Variable Refresh Rate and Auto Low Latency Mode. All models have at least two HDMI 2.1 connections, with the most expensive two, STR-AZ7000ES and STR-AZ5000ES, having four. The website Flat panels HD has understood from Sony that it concerns a maximum bandwidth of 40 and not 48 Gbit/s.
The STR-AZ1000ES and on the right the identical looking front of the STR-AN1000. The design of these receivers differs from that of the more expensive models.
All receivers feature Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology. According to the company, various non-existent ‘ghost speakers’ are placed in places in the room to create an even more spacious sound. This is part of the so-called Digital Cinema Calibration IX calibration system, which automatically measures the distance, angle and other elements of each speaker via a supplied microphone. The idea is that this eliminates the need for perfectly placed loudspeaker arrangements, as virtual loudspeakers can be ‘added’.
The STR-AZ7000ES, STR-AZ5000ES, STR-AZ3000ES, STR-AZ1000ES, and STR-AN1000 carry MSRPs of $3,299, $2,099, $1,699, $1,099, and $899 respectively in the United States. It is not known what the prices in Europe will be when the receivers come out here.