Sony held its CES 2016 press conference yesterday, taking the opportunity to announce a slew of new products. Sony President Michael Fasulo introduced new 4K BRAVIA Ultra HDTVs, fresh multi-room speakers and a sweet hi-res turntable. Details were also released on a new streaming service from Sony Pictures that will bring “new and classic titles” from its library of films directly to the just-announced televisions. More below.
First up, Sony discussed its plans for 4K Ultra HDTVS in 2016 with high-dynamic range (HDR) compatibility. The new X930D BRAVIA 4K LCD UHDTVs include Sony’s Slim Backlight Drive technology that the manufacturer claims will take “picture quality to new heights.” Sony is leaning on Android TV to power its 55- and 65-inch sets and manage the built-in smart functionality. Sony also announced a new X850D line that arrives without the Slim Backlight Drive but still can handle HDR sources.
Along those lines, Sony Pictures has taken the wraps off the new ULTRA streaming app that will launch later this year in the United States. The service will provide consumers with the ability to purchase and stream 4K HDR movies or TV shows from its back catalog. More details are set to come on this new venture in the coming months.
CES 2016 also saw the announcement of a few home audio speakers from Sony. It will be expanding its multi-room line-up with two new options that focus on improving your home theater. The SRS-ZR7 and SRS-ZR5 each feature HDMI inputs and can be configured in wireless stereo mode or as a part of a larger TV setup. Both speakers can be controlled via Sony’s SongPal app and offer support for Google Cast and Spotify Connect.
Sony also announced a soundbar and wireless subwoofer that can be paired with a multi-room setup as well. With a built-in 4K-compatible HDMI connection, this soundbar is worth a look for home theater enthusiasts. All of Sony’s new speakers are slated for release this spring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2aEpncHG0Y
Finally, Sony is taking note of vinyl’s resurgence over the last couple of years by announcing a new turntable that is capable of digitizing your collection with a high-resolution output. The new PS-HX500 connects to your computer or other recording device via USB and offers an output with direct stream digital quality. While converting vinyl records to digital formats isn’t a new phenomenon, doing so with this level of resolution hasn’t always been available to consumers. Pricing and release details are yet to come.
Be sure to keep it locked to the entire 9to5 family of sites as we cover latest Apple, Google, electric vehicle and consumer technology news out of CES 2016.
More from CES 2016:
- Nikon jumps into the action camera fray with its new Keymission 360
- LG drops new ultra-slim OLED 4K UHDTVs at CES that focus on HDR capabilities
- Harman Kardon releases a new multi-room speaker line with outdoor functionality
- Parrot’s new DISCO drone hits the skies with 50MPH speeds and extended flight times
- DJI introduces new 4K drone with a more affordable price, updates Inspire 1 PRO
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Sony Unveils its Latest Products at CES 2016
Tokyo, Japan – Sony Corporation will unveil its new lineup of products slated for release in 2016, at the 2016 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held from Wednesday, January 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
At the Sony press conference held on Tuesday, January 5 (local time), Sony Corporation President and CEO Kazuo Hirai stated, “From the choices we’re making to be differentiated and unique, to the curiosity that drives our passion to face challenges, to our commitment as enablers of creativity, it is clear that the philosophical and strategic pillars are in place to continue to build a stronger, better, more profitable Sony. Providing kando continues to be the core focus and goal of our business.”
Sony Electronics (SEL) President and COO Michael Fasulo then took the stage to introduce some of Sony’s upcoming products to be released within the year, across a wide range of categories. Sony’s 4K BRAVIA® TVs heavily emphasize picture quality and look, and they bring next-generation level visual experiences right into your living room. Sony’s ever expanding range of audio products offers you different ways to enjoy music to fit your unique tastes, from High-Resolution Audio (“Hi-Res”) to extra bass. Its line of digital imaging products enables you to capture easy-to-miss moments in the great outdoors and preserve memories of life’s most important events in stunning true-to-life detail. And finally, products in the Life Space UX series blend right into physical living spaces and redefine how entertainment is experienced. Sony will be bringing forth new products in each of these categories throughout the course of the year.
Sony will pursue ever more realistic and immersive visuals, by merging its superb 4K picture clarity technologies together with HDR (High Dynamic Range), which has recently garnered significant attention as a new technology. HDR dramatically expands the range of visual expression possible, by realizing higher brightness, higher contrast and more vibrant colors. Starting this year, Sony will brand its BRAVIA TVs that are capable of taking full advantage of 4K HDR content with a new “4K HDR” logo, in order to clearly convey to consumers that – with these TVs – they are assured of next-generation, emotionally compelling visual experiences.
Additionally, at its press conference, Sony unveiled ULTRA, a new app from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to be launched this year in the US. With ULTRA, you can purchase and stream 4K HDR movies and TV shows – the best new and classic titles from the 4K digital library of Sony Pictures – directly on your Sony BRAVIA TV.
Some of Sony’s new audio products will also feature new Wireless Surround functionality, allowing you to easily achieve an immersive home theater set-up by wirelessly linking *1 Sony sound bars and wireless speakers*2.
Both the h.ear and EXTRA BASS series were designed to recreate the sense of “being there in the moment” as faithfully as possible, from the subtleties of the artist’s breathing to the powerful sound of a live stage performance. Sony will continue to expand these lineups further, in order to meet the needs of music lovers around the world, who have increasingly diverse listening styles and musical tastes.
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