Sony SRS-RA5000 and SRS-RA3000
Sony released two 360 Reality Audio sound, wireless speakers, during CES 2021, model SRS-RA5000 and SRS-RA3000. These two wireless speakers through Sony’s self-developed 360 Reality Audio sound technology, built-in multiple speakers to achieve a spatial audio experience. At present, these two products have appeared on the Sony UK official website.
Sony SRS-RA5000 is the flagship of the series, a total of seven speakers, three located above, three in the middle; besides, there is a downward sounding woofer inside the speaker, the rear of the speaker has a reverse phase hole and power jack. This speaker design is stylish, the whole has a black mesh wrapped, the top speaker grille with bronze material. Bass diffusion holes are located in the lower part of the speaker and the bottom, to bring 360° Reality Audio to the home. Besides, the SRS-RA5000 speakers have Hi-Res certification.
Sony SRS-RA3000 model is the entry model of the series, with no Hi-Res certification. This speaker also has a bronze medal grille and black cloth exterior but in a smaller size. Speaker for the six-pronged design, the upper surface has touch control buttons; speaker side with two sound holes, two passive diffusers. This speaker generation system uses a unique sound guide tube design, the speaker is located at the bottom. The design can maximize the sound diffusion to different directions, with no dead space. Besides, the speaker also has a large size woofer inside.
Both Sony SRS-RA5000 and SRS-RA3000 wireless speaker support Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity while adapting Spotify Connect technology and Chromecast. Besides, the two speakers have access to Google Home, Amazon Alexa smart home system, you can adjust the volume through voice control. But the Sony speaker itself does not support voice input function, you need to control it through other smart speakers.
Besides, these two speakers can automatically adjust the volume according to different songs, but also can use low-latency technology to connect to Sony TV. RA3000 models have an additional moisture-proof design, which users can use in the kitchen, bathroom.
Sony SRS-RA5000 speaker is priced at £500, about 49,800 INR; SRS-RA3000 is priced at £280, about 27,900 INR. According to Sony’s UK website, both products will be available in February this year.
Sony SRS-RA5000 and SRS-RA3000 Comparison of Specifications
| Model | SRS-RA5000 | SRS-RA3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Number Of Speaker | Upfiring Speaker 3 Mid-Speaker 3 Subwoofer 1 | Tweeter Unit 2 Full-range 1 Passive Radiator 2 |
| Speaker Size | Upfiring Speaker 46mm Mid-Speaker 46mm Subwoofer 70mm | Tweeter Unit 17mm Full-range 80mm Passive Radiator 103 x 37 (mm) |
| 360 Reality Audio | Yes | Yes |
| DSEE | — | Yes |
| Preset EQ | Yes (OFF/BASS/EXCITED/BRIGHT/VOCAL) | Yes (OFF/BASS/EXCITED/BRIGHT/VOCAL) |
| Custom EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Volume | Yes(ON/OFF) | Yes(ON/OFF) |
| Auto Sound Calibration | Yes | Yes |
| Immersive Audio Enhancement | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 235 x 329 x 225mm (W × H × D) | 146 x 247 x 155mm (W × H × D) |
| Weight | 4.9kg | 2.5kg |
| Wireless Connections | GOOGLE ASSISTANT ALEXA CHROMECAST BUILT-IN SPOTIFY CONNECT | GOOGLE ASSISTANT ALEXA CHROMECAST BUILT-IN SPOTIFY CONNECT |
| Bluetooth | Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP(Absolute Volume), SPP Codecs: SBC, AAC | Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP(Absolute Volume), SPP Codecs: SBC, AAC |
| Wi-Fi | 11a, 11b, 11g, 11n 360Racast Chromecast Built-in | 11a, 11b, 11g, 11n 360Racast Chromecast Built-in |
| Interface | Audio in(3.5mm) | Audio in(3.5mm) |
Sony 360 Reality Audio in Video Streaming
Sony recently announced the launch of an upgraded version of the 360 Reality Audio ecosystem, with new video streaming capabilities and content creation tools. Through these efforts, Sony will continue to expand the 360 Live Sound technology.
Available in 2019, Sony’s 360 Reality Audio technology enables the placement of human, choral, and instrumental voices in different locations in a spherical virtual space, making it easy for artists and creators to make music. This revolutionary audio experience can bring a music studio or live music-like experience to people indoors.
Currently, people can access approximately 4,000 360° live audio tracks from artists such as Alicia Keys, Lil Nas X, Zara Larsson, and more. Sony Music artist Zara Larsson will be streaming a live 360° audio performance on January 12 at 6:00 a.m. BST, which can be viewed on cell phones via the Artist Connection App. If you have Sony headphones that support 360 Live Sound, you can set them up using the Headphones Connect App, which allows users to optimize their experience by using the camera to analyze the shape of their ears through the mobile app.
The 360 Live Sound technology creates a lifelike live experience, and Sony hopes that this technology will solve the problem of not being able to watch live music due to the new crown epidemic. During the call, Sony said it will work with mainstream record labels and music service providers to launch the technology’s live streaming capabilities later this year.
Sony has partnered with Virtual Sonics to develop a new content creation software called 360 Reality Audio Creative Suite, which makes it easier for musicians and creators to create 360 Reality audio and is compatible with mainstream DAW audio software. The software will be officially released at the end of this month.