TECHNOLOGY
Pioneer's "Aluminium Box" is the Latest in HD Audio
Japan's Onkyo & Pioneer Innovations Corp's new XDP-100R high-resolution audio player is set to go on sale in late November
November 26, 2015
Built out of a solid piece of aluminium, the player leverages two separate circuit boards to, as Pioneer explains, "eliminate the effects of digital noise."
A recent addition to the audio electronics market, high-resolution audio players reproduce the full range of sound on a recording, delivering far better and richer quality than MP3s on the average smartphone
Sony has been the most enthusiastic producer in this new market, rolling out a $700 USD Walkman ZX1 and then a $1,200 Walkman NW-ZX2 with a black-and-gold aluminium body. Despite not yet penetrating the U.S. market, high-resolution audio equipment is selling well in Japan, registering a 40% increase in sales in the first half of 2015.
Sony has been the most enthusiastic producer in this new market, rolling out a $700 USD Walkman ZX1 and then a $1,200 Walkman NW-ZX2 with a black-and-gold aluminium body. Despite not yet penetrating the U.S. market, high-resolution audio equipment is selling well in Japan, registering a 40% increase in sales in the first half of 2015.
At only $500, Pioneer's XDP-100R is set to undercut the new Walkmans and bring a more affordable high-resolution option to the table. With 32GB of internal storage and two MicroSD slots, Pioneer's latest gadget supports "lossless" sound in FLAD, MQA, ALAC, and DSD formats.
Even with strong sales in Japan, will these new devices be able to penetrate markets abroad? The jury is still out on whether the average music listener can truly distinguish high-resolution audio from the rest, but hardcore audio aficionados insist on their unblemished quality.
According to Ichiro Takagi, Sony's head of video and audio, the company plans to launch sales in the U.S. by focusing on high-resolution wireless speakers. As he puts it: "What we know and what we do is only a tiny fraction of the vast audio universe, and we are committed to explore it."
Even with strong sales in Japan, will these new devices be able to penetrate markets abroad? The jury is still out on whether the average music listener can truly distinguish high-resolution audio from the rest, but hardcore audio aficionados insist on their unblemished quality.
According to Ichiro Takagi, Sony's head of video and audio, the company plans to launch sales in the U.S. by focusing on high-resolution wireless speakers. As he puts it: "What we know and what we do is only a tiny fraction of the vast audio universe, and we are committed to explore it."
What we know and what we do is only a tiny fraction of the vast audio universe, and we are committed to explore it
Ichiro Takagi
Head of Video and Audio, Sony
Whether consumers ultimately seek out the higher audio quality of high-resolution players or stick to listening on their smartphones, aluminium will be key to making sure the devices remain portable and affordable.