Sony showcases in-car audio excellence at IFA 2015

At IFA 2015 Sony went yet another step further to prove that Hi-Res Audio is a true standard for acoustic luxury in all listening environments. Sony showcases its new in-car Hi-Res Audio line-up including the RSX-GS9 head unit, XM-GS4 4ch amplifier, XS-GS1 Super tweeter, XS-GSW121D subwoofer, XM-GS100 mono amplifier, XS-GS6921 rear speakers[1] and XS-GS1621 front speakers. Visitors to this year’s IFA will be immersed into an in-car audio listening experience beyond CD quality including the World’s First^[2] native DSD playback.

Supreme Acoustic Enjoyment with Hi-Res Audio

As the pinnacle of audio quality, Hi-Res Audio refers to sound quality that uses more sampling points than those of a CD. This form of digital lossless capture and playback delivers a rich, full, yet crystal clear sound otherwise only found in original sources in the recording studio.

To really pay respect to the beauty of Hi-Res Audio, Sony focused its design and manufacturing to exclusively include components that create the best sound reproduction, while minimising electro-magnetic noise and vibration. It is this marriage between High-Res Audio and attention to detail that make this in-car audio system a true work of art.

RSX-GS9 digital media player – Where attraction turns into fascination

Sony’s RSX-GS9 in-car digital media player brings to you the most premium driving experience yet.This is most obvious in the RSX-GS9’s internal design which facilitates the unit’s ability to reproduce the most breath-taking soundstages.A super rigid, dual-layer chassis makes for an anti-resonance, low interference design.The high-end components – from the operational amplifiers to the clock generator - have been put together to maximise sound clarity and quality, while minimising negative impacts from the harsh vibration experienced in a typical in-car setting. Most notably, Sony incorporated the ES9018S, the world’s highest performance 32-bit audio D/A converter by ESS Technology, Inc. The D/A converter translates your music files to analogue signals in an impressive dynamic range of up to 135dB and THD+N (Total harmonic distortion and noise) of -120dB to deliver a clarity and presence that can only be rivalled by live performances in concert halls or recording studios.

Listening to uncompressed music files is the best way to do this device justice. In fact, the RSX-GS9 is the world’s first car audio player that is natively compatible with DSD (5.6MHz/1bit, 2.8MHz/1bit), an audio format that reproduces music with unprecedented accuracy. If you have a library of MP3s then Sony’s DSEEHX™ (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) upscales your music to near Hi-Res Audio quality so you are sure to maximise your enjoyment no matter which format your music is stored in.

This acoustic superlative is mirrored by the media player’s sleek outer design to complete your unrivalled listening experience as the front panel features a clean, single-shell design made from fully machine-cut, hairline-finished 14mm aluminium and is complemented by an easily visible OLED display, backlit selection keys and a large aluminium trimmed volume dial that seamlessly fits in the middle on the panel.

Advanced connectivity features such as LDAC™ supported Bluetooth®/ NFC™ in connection with Sony’s SongPal™ App[3], two USB (Type A) slots and a USB micro-B (USB DAC) ensure that you can play your music from any media storage, including your smartphone, USB flash drive, or mp3 player.

XM-GS4 4ch amplifier – Fine detail across the whole spectrum

Sony’s new XM-GS4 4-channel amplifier is another key component for the ideal Hi-Res sound reproduction as it transforms low-power audio signals into gigantic sonic waves that let you dive into your musical pleasures. With its incredibly wide frequency response from 10Hz all the way up to 100KHz it consistently delivers powerful, voluminous tones that can be further adjusted to your liking thanks to variable low pass / high pass filters that allow for easy optimisation of cross-over frequencies to perfectly match your system configurations.

XS-GS1 super tweeter – Bringing your music to life

No audio system is complete without speakers that bring your music to life. When it comes to ultra-high frequency sound, Sony’s premium XS-GS1 25mm soft dome super tweeter is the ideal addition to realise the Hi-Res Audio experience in your car, as they easily cope with superior frequency ranges reaching 50kHz.

While these high frequency sounds have a very narrow transmission field, the XS-GS1 focuses on maximising their dispersion throughout the entire car. In terms of design, wide-open grill nets and the smoothly sloped front baffles maximise the speaker’s sound radiation properties. In addition, the XS-GS1’s can be installed to face the windshield rather than the listener, thereby increasing the dispersion and quality of high pitched notes to smoothly deliver those charming, delicate highs that accentuate a harmonic, soulful sound.

The Hi-Res Audio capabilities are not only recognised through the ultra-high sounds, but the astonishing dynamic range, the resolution of the emitted sound, and the smooth fluctuation of the sound pressure through all frequency ranges. This is perfectly performed with the GS series full range speakers (XS-GS1621) and subwoofer (XS-GSW121D) driven by the mono amplifier (XM-GS100), utilizing Sony’s original Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) and MRC honeycomb diaphragms.

Sony’s in-car Hi-Res Audio line-up will be available from January 2016. For more information please visit sony.co.xx.

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Selected technical specifications

[1]Displayed for showcase purposes only. Not available in Europe.

[2]As of September 2015

[3]SongPal can be downloaded for your Android and iOS devices from Google’s Marketplace as well as Apple’s App Store.