On October 21, 2021, Sony announced the wireless neckband speaker "SRS-NS7". The estimated market price is around 33,000 yen at the open price. It will be released on the 29th.
The SRS-NS7 is a new product that emphasizes realism, such as by connecting with the TV BRAVIA XR, you can enjoy stereophonic content of Dolby Atmos and a sound field experience optimized for individuals. There are 3 main features.
The first is the ability to play Dolby Atmos stereophonic content. The second is that if you switch on "3D Surround" from the BRAVIA XR menu, you can enjoy 2ch content such as terrestrial broadcasting and YouTube with stereoscopic sound.
Regarding these two points, Sony says, "You can enjoy the spread of sound by adding expressiveness in the height direction to the conventional surround sound field centered on the front, back, left and right." In addition, connection with the wireless transmitter included in the BRAVIA XR is required.
And the third point is that personal optimization is possible. It seems that the personal optimization technology of "360 Spatial Sound Personalizer" can realize a more realistic presence. Using the dedicated app "Headphones Connect" or "360 Spatial Sound Personalizer" to take an image of the ear, an original algorithm analyzes the individual's hearing characteristics based on the image data. "As a result, the sound field can be optimized for each person, and the 'realism' increases," Sony appeals.
In addition, it is necessary to create an account to use the app, the hearing characteristic data is saved on the cloud server, and the data is linked to that account.
Other features include a large speaker unit placed diagonally forward and upward, and a "dual passive radiator system" in which two "passive radiators" are placed for each channel to effectively enhance bass. By reviewing the internal structure, such as adopting it, we realized a clear sound with a sharp and presence bass and increased sound pressure and reduced distortion (Sony).
It also supports "360 Reality Audio". By adding location information to each sound source, such as vocals and musical instruments, and arranging them in a spherical space, you can experience the experience of actually listening to a live performance. Compatible content is distributed on "Deezer" and "nugs.net" (as of October 5, 2021), but "Amazon Music HD" is not compatible with the same content.
I got a chance to listen to a little bit, so I will report it briefly. This time, after optimizing the sound field individually, I played back the Dolby Atmos demo content. The first thing that surprised me was that the sound of thunderstorms and raindrops falling on the trees was reproduced realistically, down to the smallest detail, through a housing that was not headphones. Next, listen to the singing scene of the movie "The Greatest Showman". The impression is that turning on the round makes the vocals farther away, while turning it off makes them sound closer.
Compatible with Bluetooth (codec: SBC / AAC / LDAC) connection is also an evolution point from WS1. You can now listen to music on your smartphone or Walkman.
By the way, we also plan to sell the wireless transmitter "WLA-NS7" that comes with the SRS-NS7 separately. Like the SRS-NS7, the price is open, but the estimated market price is around 7000 yen. One of the selling points is that you can experience stereophonic sound with BRAVIA XRTM + WLA-NS7 + compatible headphones (below).
In addition to the above points of evolution, the burden on the shoulders has been reduced by ergonomically considering the contact surface with the body and distributing the weight. In addition, it has steadily evolved since the first generation, such as IPX4 grade drip-proof, hands-free calling, and quick charging.
Bundled items include wireless transmitter WLA-NS7, optical digital cable x 1, USB Type-C cable x 2, warranty card.
Sony products in the same category include the heavy bass-oriented "SRS-WS1" (announced in 2017, around 25,000 yen) equipped with a vibration function and Sony's unique wireless technology, and a lightweight dual microphone built-in. The "SRS-NB10" (announced in July 2021, 15,000 yen), which emphasizes call quality, is on sale, but the SRS-NS7 wins in terms of "powerful sound." I have summarized the features of each product below, so please look for my best choice.