Personal Audio

Meet the Wireless Sony MDR-XB950BT Headphones with NFC

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 19, 2014 | 20 comments

Last week, we introduced you to the Sony MDR-1a Premium Hi-Res Stereo Headphones which, as the name suggests, offer support for Hi-Res audio. This week, we’d like to turn your attention towards the Sony MDR-XB950BT. While the name/model might be a mouthful, these latest headphones offer quite a bit of features that will likely resonate with more casual listeners at a more affordable price. As you’ve likely guessed, the Sony MDX-XB950BT are wireless headphones, thanks to the built in Bluetooth which allows for wireless music streaming and a handsfree phone experience thanks to the built-in mic.

After the jump, we reveal more details about the Sony MDR-XB950BT.

Sony MDR-1a Specs

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 14, 2014 | 3 comments

Earlier in the week we introduced you to the Sony MDR-1a Premium Hi-Res Stereo Headsets which offer a sophisticated design and booming base. Beyond the more premium design and generally better sound which is found in premium headphones, as the name suggests, the Sony MDR-1a support Hi-Res audio, a new digital format that’s designed to better capture music and offer a more lossless sound experience. For those in need of a little bit more details on the headphones, we’ve included the Sony MDR-1a specs for you, after the jump.

Meet the Sony MDR-1a Premium Hi-Res Stereo Headphones

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 12, 2014 | 3 comments

Over the last two years it’s becoming abundantly clear that Sony believes that music is meant to be a transformative experience. Not content with tinny sounds from ear buds and MP3 files, Sony has been investing heavily in Hi-Res audio, a new format (and not propitiatory!) that’s meant to capture the equality many audio aficionados believe was lost when we transitioned to MP3. Besides needing proper hardware to support His-Res audio, something which Sony is incorporating more and more into their products like the Sony Xperia Z3, you also need Hi-Res headphones in order to truly drive home that experience when you’re on the go.

After all, it only does so much good if your device can output Hi-Res but your headphones can’t bring through the extra quality. To that end, the Sony MDR-1a Premium Hi-Res Stereo headphones exist. More after the jump.

Sony Walkman WS610 Specs

by Sohrab Osati | Sep 11, 2014 | 2 comments

Despite the popularity of smartphones that have rendered useless the need for a separate MP3 player, there are still occasions where a dedicated device is best. Athletes know this all to well and to answer that cry, Sony is releasing the Walkman WS610. While we’ve already covered the Walkman WAS610 in depth, tech specs can reveal interesting information about a device that might help us make a purchase. To that end, after the jump, the full Sony Walkman WS610 specs awaits you along side a video overview.

Meet the Wearable Bluetooth Sony Walkman WS610

by Sohrab Osati | Sep 10, 2014 | 0 comments

The Sony Walkman NWZ-A17 is a beast of a device. 50 hours of music playback with native High-Resolution audio make it MP3 player of choice for music lovers. However, not all of us are that and there are still plenty of situations where that device just doesn’t seen appropriately, namely, when working out. Luckily for us and athletes, Sony has another solution in mind. The Walkman WS610, also announced at IFA takes everything you’d expect an portable MP3 player like the iPod Shuffle has to offer and wraps it in a more wearable design that’s waterproof with a neat Bluetooth trick up its sleeve.

Lets talk details shall we?

Sony Announces Walkman (NWZ-A17) With High-Res Audio

by Sohrab Osati | Sep 8, 2014 | 3 comments

In the past year, Sony has been focusing on High-Resolution audio. For those unfamiliar, High-Res audio is part of a movement that involves artists, labels, and device makers that want to move beyond MP3 and provide better sounding music. In the battle for High-Resolution audio supremacy, Sony finds itself in a unique position by owning a record label and producing devices capable of playing back the higher quality files. One such device is the new Walkman NWZ-A17. Announced at IFA, the new Walkman A17 is the world’s smallest and lightest High-Resolution Audio digital music player that packs a 64GB drive that can deliver 50 hours of music playback.

Interested? Let’s talk details.

Sony Bluetooth and Noise Canceling Headset (MDR-ZX750BN) Launches in India

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 15, 2014 | 0 comments

If you’ve been wanting to get your dance on in India but have been tied to silly cords that don’t let you get the movement you want than the following news should cheer you up. Sony is officially bringing their Bluetooth and noise canceling headphone (MDR-ZX750BN) to India and it has a whole lot of goodies for music fans. Some of those include Bluetooth for wireless music listening and NFC for easy pairing to smartphones and tablets, say like the upcoming Sony Xperia Z3?

After the jump, we talk price and details.

FIFA Bans Players Using Beats Headphones at World Cup; Sony Remains Official Sponsor

by Jonathan Nolan | Jun 23, 2014 | 0 comments

Football may celebrated as the ‘international sport of the world’, bringing people together from every corner of the world in a way that few cultural events truly do, but it’s easy to forget that behind the glamour and fun, it’s big business too. For example, this is estimated to be the most expensive World Cup ever, costing Brazil more than the previous two Cups combined at roughly $14-16bn. It also represents the biggest single-event sporting competition in the world, with more than 1 billion unique viewers expected to watch online, by smartphone, TV and in public places. Just imagine what those figures mean to companies in communications, PR, marketing, also for merchandise producers and a whole lot more. Like Sony, for example.

FIFA has just announced that it’s banning players from wearing Beats branded headphones from all stadia involved in the World Cup.

Read on to find out why.

We Unbox the Sony Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (SRS-BTV5)

by Sohrab Osati | May 8, 2014 | 0 comments

The Sony Wireless Speaker SRS-BTV5 is a Bluetooth speaker with speakerphone functionality built-in for iOS and Android devices. Designed to be stylish, portable, and powerful, the BTV5 not only makes pairing and streaming of music easy from your mobile device, but also comes at an affordable price range of $69.99 MSRP, making it attainable by most measures. Interested? Our video unboxing (above) has more details.

Save Up to 60% Off at Closing Sony Stores

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 16, 2014 | 5 comments

Unfortunately, the old saying that “one mans loss is another mans gain” continues to echo true. Late last month, Sony announced that they’d be closing 20 of their 31 retail stores in the US. While a significant reduction of the company’s retail presence, the closing of the store more importantly has drastic consequences for all employees who will soon find themselves without a job. With little retail stores left, Sony has no good destination to send the products that reside in each store. This has resulted in the company announcing a huge sale at each of these locations with up to 60% off.

After the jump, we’ve got more details about the sales but your milage may very.

iF Design Awards Celebrates 26 Sony Products

by Jonathan Nolan | Mar 4, 2014 | 0 comments

Sony has proven itself once again in design terms, with no less than 26 of its products earning the seal of approval from the iF Design group, with three products earning a gold award. In individual company achievements, Sony ranked the third highest awarded company, ahead of rivals Apple and LG.

iF is an international group that recognises excellence in product design. It is their aim to “strengthen public awareness of design” and their logo has been an illustrious global standard of design for over sixty years. This year’s event took place on February 28th in Munich, Germany.

It probably surprises few that Sony would do well with awards for design. The company has always raised the bar with iconic and effortless designs with current class-leaders in the Xperia Z2, the PlayStation 4 and the luxury X9000A Bravia TV line to name but a few.

Read on to find out which Sony products earned gold and which two awards come at a bittersweet time.

Sony Receives 13 CES Innovations 2014 Design & Engineering Honoree Awards

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 12, 2013 | 1 comment

Sony may have a problems when it comes to marketing its products to consumers and conveying to them why they should buy a Sony but it doesn’t mean they face the same issue with critics. Today, the electronic giant was recognized with 13 International CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Honoree Awards, including four Best of Innovations honoree awards. These include products like the attachable smartphone lens, the Cyber-shot QX10/100 and VAIO Flip PC. Phil Molyneux, president and COO of Sony Electronics who was on hand to receive the awards said:

We’re honored to have won the most Innovation Awards among a competitive field of great consumer electronics. We feel this year’s winning products represent significant breakthroughs in our design and evolution of the fast-changing CE industry. Sony will continue to offer new experiences in both productivity and play while always incorporating the best technologies from our display, imaging, and audio groups.

While in the US Sony has struggled to gain mainstream traction while competitors like Apple, Samsung, and Vizio have dominated the mobile and home theater space, the company continues to pump out solid products with inspiring designs and features. In fact, Sony’s mobile line of smartphone and tablets, married with their NEX and Cyber-shot series of cameras may just be some of the most innovative and refreshing products out in the market while companies like Samsung continue to pump out generic products. So what other products did Sony receive awards for those? The list awaits you after the jump.

Xperia L – Update to Jellybean 4.2 Version 15.3.A.0.26 (Updated)

by Jonathan Nolan | Nov 9, 2013 | 3 comments

The Xperia L has finally been updated, after been left quiet on the update front since May this year. Some users had began to doubt the update support for the device until now. Thankfully it has jumped to a newer version of Android too – Jellybean 4.2. Sony says to expect an updated user interface, new camera features and more. Read on to find out when, where and how.

Update – Xperia L 4.2 Jellybean Update Certified – 15.3.A.1.17.

Sony Invites You to Hear High-Resolution Audio

by Jonathan Nolan | Oct 21, 2013 | 2 comments

You may remember our previous coverage of Sony’s portable media players featuring high-resolution audio. High-resolution audio promises to do for audio what high-definition did for video. If you haven’t yet graced your ears with this, then prepare to hear a lot more from your favourite music than you’ve heard before. Sony has been busy organizing industry efforts behind the scenes to help stimulate the up-take of high-resolution audio. Why bother with dedicated media devices any more? Sony presents: ‘bringing audio quality back’.

Sony Walkman NW-F880 Announced with Four Colors and 4-inch Triluminos Display

by Sohrab Osati | Oct 11, 2013 | 0 comments

If the Sony Walkman NW-ZX1 is your type of thing but you can’t afford the $760 price tag, know that you’re not alone and that Sony is aware of this. Thats why for the common folks, Sony has announced the Walkman NW-F880 which packs the same 4-inch Triluminos display with 480 x 854 pixels and runs on Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, giving you access to thousands of apps. Like its bigger brother, the Walkman NW-F880 also offers S-Master HX digital amplifier, DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) HX technology, Clear Audio+, all designed to give you a better audio experience with the many file formats that it supports. Those include: