Sony Introduces New ‘Multi-room’ Audio Products

Sony comes with a new range of wireless ‘Multi-room’ products. This concerns loudspeakers, sound bars, AV receivers and micro hi-fi systems with which sound can be distributed throughout the house. The devices can be linked or individually assigned to specific streams via Sony’s SongPal app.

The Multi-room system can use various online music services, such as Spotify Connect. Other services can also be streamed to the system via Google Cast. With the proprietary SongPal app, playback from various music sources can be controlled via tablet or phone. If the same music has to be played throughout the house, the playback devices can be grouped via the app. The devices use Sony’s LDAC Bluetooth connectivity technology. This ‘Hi-Res’ technology enables transfer rates via Bluetooth of up to 990 instead of 328 kbit/s.

The Multi-room speaker comes in three different variants, the SRS-X99, SRS-X88 and X77. The latter variant has a built-in battery, which according to the specifications can provide up to ten hours of music. The sound bar HT-ST9 offers 7.1 channel sound. The smaller brothers HT-NT3 and XT3 deliver 2.1-channel sound. Sound can be sent to the STR-DN1060 and DN860 AV receivers via six and five HDMI inputs respectively. Screen mirroring enables UHD display of an Xperia smartphone’s screen through the amplifiers’ single HDMI output.

The mini system CMT-SX7 offers the possibility to play CDs. Listening to the fm band is a second perk on the mini sets, where the CMT-SX7B offers dab in addition to fm.

The specifications are online and prices are also known. The cheapest wireless speaker is the SRS-X77 for 330 euros. The sound-bar HT-ST9 changes hands for 1500 euros.