↑ Sony’s HT-AX7. The price at the Sony store is 77,000 yen (tax included)
Are you familiar with the term “stereophonic sound”? Sometimes called 3D audio, this is a method that captures the sound field in three dimensions. Each manufacturer has proposed its own system, such as Apple’s spatial audio, Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, or Dolby Atmos, and it is a technology that has received particular attention in recent years.
The charm of stereophonic sound is that the sound that should be heard from both the right and left ears can be felt with three-dimensional depth, such as above and behind. However, there were issues such as technical difficulties in expressing the sound and the need for multiple speakers. It’s like reproducing the way you hear in a movie theater, so to speak.
The wireless speaker “HT-AX7” reviewed this time has solved these problems with an interesting approach, “Why don’t we just put the speaker where we want?” It has a very unique structure.
Separate rear speakers to form a three-dimensional sound field
↑ A standard wireless speaker at first glance
It looks like a simple and stylish speaker, but as you can see from the top image, the disk-shaped part at the top can be removed. In other words, the oval-shaped main body (front speaker) + two disc-shaped rear speakers, a total of three speakers are in one.
↑The top surface is covered with a silicon cover, and the playback and volume control buttons are pushed in by clicking.
The usage is the same as a general wireless speaker, just connect to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. It is also compatible with watching movies, so it is also recommended to connect to the TV wirelessly.
↑ The rear speaker installation part is equipped with a charging terminal
If you remove the rear speaker from the front, there is a charging terminal under it. USB Type-C is used to charge the front unit, but power is supplied wirelessly to the rear speakers from the front side. Battery life for the entire speaker is approximately 30 hours.
The back side of the rear speaker itself looks like this. The round part in the center is the charging terminal, and charging is possible by contacting the terminal side of the main unit.
↑ On the back side of the rear speaker, the power button and the direction of LR are printed.
↑Fabric cover that gives a gentle atmosphere like interior
Both the front and rear speakers are covered with the same color fabric material. The feeling of gadgets is suppressed, and it looks like a modern interior.
The speaker specs are equipped with two 49 x 71 mm drivers on the front, and the enclosure adopts a passive radiator. The rear speakers are equipped with one 60mm driver, and the enclosure uses acoustic suspension.
If you make sound from the front and back, it will definitely be three-dimensional
The advantage of separating the front and rear is that the stereophonic space can be formed immediately. The biggest feature is that you can create a three-dimensional sound experience like a movie theater anywhere.
The official video calls it a “minimal theater,” and it feels like a minimal version of a home theater. Sony has worked on many speakers that can create stereophonic sound, but many of them required the installation and purchase of multiple speakers. With the HT-AX7, such multiple purchases are no longer necessary.
↑ It is best to place the rear speakers behind the head
For example, put the rear on the back of the sofa and the front in front of you. If you watch music or movies in this state, you can feel the stereophonic sound. The sofa is often placed facing the TV, so if you connect her speakers to the TV, you can create a truly minimal theater.
As for the sound quality, when you play music, it feels like you can hear the sound from all directions, not from the front. Depending on the genre, the effect may be difficult to understand, but I felt that it was different from ordinary speakers. There is a feeling of being wrapped up a little.
On the other hand, when I watched movies instead of music, I could hear the sound effects all over the place! For example, in the scene where the cavalry assaults, the sound of hooves and swords can be heard from all directions, giving it a movie theater-like impression. When I compared the case where the rear was placed behind and the case where I dared to return it to the front, the sense of realism was significantly different.
↑If you place it at an angle instead of facing upwards, the way you hear it will change.
The sound coming out of the rear has a slightly cut mid-low tone, and is tuned differently than the sound coming out of the front. If you press the button to turn off the “SOUND FIELD effect” that creates stereophonic sound, the front and rear will play the same sound. In this way, the same sound will be heard throughout the room, so it can be used like a pair of speakers connecting multiple speakers. The front is placed in the living room and the rear is placed in the kitchen to enjoy the same music.
↑ Carrying the speaker body is smooth.It’s fun to set up here and there and find your favorite place.
It is groundbreaking that it is no longer necessary to fix the listening position like a conventional home theater. However, whether you can actually place the front and rear in the best place will depend on the layout of your home. Some homes don’t have sofas, and placing them on the floor doesn’t feel right.
↑ Even if you put it on the left and right of the desk, you can feel the spread
For example, if you use it on a desk, you can also place it on the left and right of the listener, away from the rear without forcing it to be behind. Placing it next to the wall will allow the sound to flow around, increasing the three-dimensional effect somewhat.
Especially recommended for watching movies on a tablet.You can turn the whole room into a music room
The HT-AX7 allows detailed control via the app (bass volume, volume adjustment for the rear unit, etc.), so you’ll want to connect it to a smartphone or tablet rather than a TV. However, it is also true that if you watch a movie, you will want to watch it on a big screen like a TV. In this case, it is best to connect with a tablet that can use apps and has a larger screen than a smartphone. The official PV was also connected to the tablet.
↑ Because of its high design, it looks like a picture even if you put it on.
As for how to use it, I think it would be good to put it in a fixed position like a general portable speaker, and when you want to immerse yourself in a movie, you can set up the rear wherever you like to create a minimal theater. There is no need to try to separate the rear forcibly on a regular basis.
On the other hand, when playing music, it would be interesting to place the front and rear speakers in different places in the room to make the whole room look like a music room. With this, the listening position does not matter, so you can use it quite easily. If you make the bass more intense, you can create a pretty party feeling.
And so on, the HT-AX7 was a speaker that could be used in a variety of ways. If you had a speaker that could be split into 3 parts, what kind of place would you like to play it in?
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