Sony sonic innovation... mono?

[Yuri]

Sony's new Sountina speaker (NSA-PF1) looks gorgeous. More elegant than just about any other speaker I've seen.



The concept of an omnidirectional sound field with a vertical driver is also very interesting but it only works for mono sound?? Is this the direction Sony's taking audio progress?

The thing's got analog inputs and 24-bit 96 kHz PCM decoding built in (like any decent device nowadays) but even though the inputs are stereo the sound most be folded to a single internally.



There are about 26 SACDs that are mono and I think I have one or none in my collection.

This object must be great on the floor of a minimalist shop but for my living room: thanks, but no thanks. I love modern design but I'll stick to 5.1 instead of 1.0.

For more information see:
http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/AV-HiFi/sountina/
http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200805/08-0528/
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20080528/sony1.htm
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20080528/sony2.htm

[Jens]

Sony is now pushing the concept in Europa, at the IFA.

http://presscentre.sony.eu/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=256&NewsAreaID=2

[Brandon B]

bang & Olufsen have some similar concepts, although not mono.

THe Beolab 5 used the same vertical with omnidirectional dispersion concept (although rather ;larger package, always reminded me of a Jetsons Apt complex):

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/page.asp?id=40&bhsp=2709567&bhqs=1

It does however have built in room analysis and room correction built in. More about being able to place the speakers anywhere you want than paring them down to a single unit.

All seem like a real niche market to me. Most people who will spend that kind of money on their sound equipment want to get high end performance, and would eb building their room around the sound I would think.

But B&O has been in business for a while, so evidently it's a healthy enough niche.

[Jens]