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Anyone heard te Sony SS-AR1

I heard Sony's 27k new speaker today. Sony is obviously not a name you think of when it comes to high-end audio, but this speaker is sony's effort to get back into high-end audio. I'll be honest, going in, I thought anyone who spends 27k on a pair of speakers by Sony needs their head examined.
That being said, I was really, really impressed by this speaker. I compared it head to head with some dynaudio tempations (44k) and thought that the sony's at least held their own. The dealer told me that Sony is only planning on releasing 60 pairs in the US this year, and there are only 6 dealers in the country right now. Also, the wood that they use for the cabinets comes from a special Japanese tree that is specially aged, etc.
Apparently there is a review coming out in stereophile next week.
My question is, with all the great speakers out there at this range, Wilson, magico, Von schweikert, hansen, etc, has anyone heard these, and how do you think they stack up against some of the big boys?
dserota17
rgs92
974 posts
 
Well, Sony did make what many say were the best dynamic headphones ever (R10s).
robr45's avatar
robr45
319 posts
 
Sony has superior resources than almost any other high end company. They choose where to allocate these resources. If they have chosen to do it in a $27k speaker I am not surprised at all it holds its own.
dserota17 OP
16 posts
 
Thanks for the feedback, guys. I really was shocked by these speakers. I really think they sounded better than the dynaudio temptations that cost 50% more and have a way bigger footprint. Its a bit
more than I wanted to spend, but I'm actually considering buying these speakers. (i'll just need to cover up the Sony logos). They really had no weakness that I could tell, detailed, dynamic, tight and powerful bass, and a huge soundstage. When I closed my eyes, I really could not tell where the speakers were located. Anyway, I'm eagerly awaiting the reviews in TAS and Stereophile.
nmmusicman
276 posts
 
Why would you need/want to cover up the Sony badge??? Sony makes some damn fine products that compete on all levels of the high end audio scene. The issue is that most people associate Sony Audio with mid-fi and judging from the Sony products sold in the big-box stores, they are dismissive when presented with one of their high end products such as the SS-AR1.

Me personally, I would want to proudly display the SS-AR1's and then sit back and enjoy as I watched the jaws of unsuspecting/dismissive listeners hit the floor as so many did at RMAF... :-)
maineiac
649 posts
 
It is funny, when I started reading this thread I was thinking that the best way to market these would be to create a sub-brand because Sony although probably one of the very most recognized brands is not known for high-end audio. I would find/create an eccentric engineer at Sony and come up with a story of how he had been secretly working on this design for years and then they caught him or he unveiled his creation on the executives and they were stunned at how amazing it was and they all had to have it in their own houses, so they decided to release it to the public.

Here is the result of his secret labor of love and genius - I present to you the Sony "Arinori"!
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