Size Comparison: Sony ZX100 vs Sony A20

Here is a real world size comparison between the new ZX100 and A20.  The new ZX is not that much bigger and not much thinner and compact when compared to the ZX1.  When comparing the ZX2 to ZX100, the difference is minimal, ZX2: 6.5 x 13.1 x 1.8 cm vs ZX100: 5.4 x 12 x 1.5 cm.  Price is 699 Euros for the ZX100, so rather steep, but not as horrible as the ZX2.

More photos below from AV-Watch.

Source: AV-Watch

Sony introduces new 'h.ear on' and 'h.ear in NC' Headphones

Sony’s “h.ear on” headband type headphones ooze style as they combine a bold single finish design with a comfortable fit. Hi-Res Audio compatibility and accurate bass responses are complemented by the 40mm HD driver unit that reproduces sounds of up to 60 kHz, while lightweight CCAW voice coils yield high-linearity responses in high-pitched sounds. Aiming to provide the best sound experience, the diaphragms have been titanium-coated to minimize unwanted vibrations resulting in crystal clear sound. This is the ultimate listening experience. Should you want to take you headphones on the move with you, their foldable mechanism and a detachable, cross-talk reducing cable in matching colour allow for the “h.ear on” to be securely packed in the handy supplied carrying pouch.

“h.ear in NC” In-ear Headphones

Sony’s “h.ear in NC” is a great example of Sony’s focus on functional design and iconic aesthetics. Thanks to Sony’s newly developed 9mm high sensitivity driver unit, the slim and compact in-ear headphones can reproduce frequencies of up to 40 kHz delivering the sweetest, clearest Hi-Res Audio sounds.

To ensure an immersive musical experience even in the noisiest of places, these compact in-ear headphones feature battery-powered,state of the art dual noise sensor technology - and the Automatic AI Noise Cancelling technologies that filter out any unwanted noise for up to 16 hours, making them the world’s first digital noise cancelling Hi-Res Audio compatible in-ear headphones. Should the built-in lithium-ion battery run out of juice you can easily recharge it via microUSB while you continue your sonic adventures – noise cancelling included.

h.ear on

• driver: 40 mm, dome type (CCAW Voice Coil) 
• 103 dB/mW
• 5 Hz ～ 60,000 Hz
• 24 Ω at 1 kHz
• Approx. 220 g without cable 

h.ear in NC

•  driver: 9 mm, dome type (CCAW adopted)
• 103 dB/mW (when the power is on)/100 dB/mW (when the power is off) 
• 5 Hz ～ 40,000 Hz
• 32 Ω at 1 kHz (when the power is on)/17 Ω at 1 kHz (when the power is off)
• Power source: DC 3.7 V (Built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery), DC 5 V (When charged using USB) 
• charge time: Approx. 2.5 hours
• Usage time: Max. 16 hours
• Approx. 27g(Headphones: 5.1 g, Control box: 5.4 g, Battery box: 16.3 g) 

Sony Updates A-Series Walkman (NWZ-20)

Carrying on the standard set by the Walkman NWZ-A15, new Walkman NW-A25HN/NW-A27HN features everything you have come to expect from a Hi-Res Audio powerhouse plus even more. With the dedicated Hi-Res Audio compatible Digital Noise Cancelling headphones made for the Hi-Res Walkman, it means you are left to enjoy your music away from the distractions of the outside. With advancements to Sony’s S-Master HX™ full digital amplifier, music is played with more delicate and dynamic sound than ever before. Meanwhile, Sony’s unique upscaling technology DSEE HX™ enhances compressed music files like MP3s making them near-Hi-Res Audio quality.

High quality wireless listening is also enabled via LDAC, a new audio technology from Sony that allows you to enjoy high quality wireless audio via Bluetooth®. With 3x more data transmitted, LDAC provides an enhanced wireless listening experience for all your music.

Two capacities are available, 16GB (NW-A25HN) and 64GB (NW-A27HN) and with an added microSD card slot for expanded memory it allows you to enjoy even more of your favourite tunes and extensive Hi-Res Audio libraries. With a 50 hour battery life you can carry on listening without needing to top up with extra charge.

Sony’s new range of h.ear headphones and Walkman NW-A25HN/NW-A27HN will be available in Europe from October 2015.  No price just yet.

• 16GB / 64GB with microSD support
• Black/ Blue/ Pink/ Red/ Yellow
• 2.2 inch, TFT colour LCD, QVGA(320×240)
• Noise Cancellation (Full-auto AINC, Bus/Train, Airplane, Office)
• 43.6 x 109 x 8.7mm
• weight: 66g
• come with headphones finally (MDR-NW750N or MDR-NW750NE)

Sony introduces new ZX100 Walkman

In pursuit of its aim of providing the highest quality sound possible, Sony is introducing the new NW-ZX100HN Walkman®, equipped with a new High-Resolution Audio compatible digital noise cancelling function.

By using Sony’s acoustic engineering technologies, Sony’s expanding range of Hi-Res Audio products aims to reproduce music just as artists truly intended in beyond CD quality. The ZX100HN stays true to form and delivers not only Hi-Res file formats in stunning quality but also enhances your compressed music files such as MP3 using DSEE HX™, which complements the treble of compressed sound sources and bit length beyond their original values up to a region that corresponds to near Hi-Res Audio quality. Even when in a busy, noisy environment the ZX100HN mutes the distractions to allow the full enjoyment of your music and immersive yourself deeper in the sound, thanks to the Hi-Res compatible Digital Noise Cancelling bundled headphones.

Aimed at achieving a more delicate and dynamic sound, S-Master HX™ performs full digital processing of the audio signal to support playback of High-Resolution sound. Headphone driver performance is improved by reducing noise in the High-Resolution sound range, by eliminating the coupling condenser for headphone amplifier output, and by utilizing a unique design that incorporates four independent headphone driver power supplies for the positive, negative, and left/right channels.

Giving you more choice in how you listen to your tunes, the ZX100HN incorporates LDAC, a new audio technology from Sony that allows you to enjoy high quality wireless audio via Bluetooth®. With 3x the data transmitted, LDAC provides an enhanced wireless listening experience for all your music.

Even the design of the ZX100HN, both inside and out is aimed at achieving the highest quality sound. With its sleek, rounded aluminum frame and bass plate for high rigidity, it realizes clear vocals, powerful and firm bass and a bright, high range. On the inside its component parts are made from the best materials to achieve first class sound. For example high quality tin solder is used specifically to achieve a more natural frequency balance. Whilst the circuit board VIA hole is filled with copper to produce a more firm bass and distinct high range and clear vocals. This unique method stabilizes the power line and lowers the impedance of the circuit.

Keeping you and your extensive music library going is the 45 hour battery life and expandable memory in addition to the large 128GB internal memory. The addition of a microSD card slot means there are no limits to the amount of songs you can store, with additional support for micro SDXC cards larger than 64GB.

The NW-ZX100HN is available from October 2015.  Supposed price is 699 Euros.

• 128GB
• microSD support
• 3.0 inch、TFT colour LCD、QVGA(400×240)
• S-Master HX／DSEE HX／Clear Audio+／Clear Bass／Equalizer／VPT(surround)／Dynamic Normalizer
• Noise cancellation (Full-auto AINC, Bus/Train, Airplane, Office)
• Weight: 145g
• comes with headphones finally (MDR-NW750N or MDR-NW750NE)
• 53.8 x 119.5 x 14.8 mm

From AV-Watch

Sony IFA 2015 Press Conference (Live at 16:15 CET)

IFA officially starts today, well press days, and Sony will be holding their press conference at 16:15-17:00 CET today.  The live stream will appear at this link, but I will add the stream to this post once it is available.  Here are the times for various time zones.

LIVE STREAM LINK

Tokyo - 2 September, 23:15:00
New York - 2 September, 10:15:00
Los Angeles - 2 September, 07:15:00
London - 2 September, 15:15:00
Sydney - 3 September, 00:15:00
Singapore - 2 September, 22:15:00

Expected at the show should be the new ZX100 and A20 Walkmans.  Maybe Sony will bring something else, be it a lower end model or something but I doubt it.  Apart from that, the new Xperias will be shown which should be exciting.

Some photos of the prep just before the show.