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Sony has a suite of new headphones to consider, including one system with a pseudo 9.1 channel output.
The MDR-HW700DS digital surround wireless headphone system uses digital transmission and a 5.1 driver layout to create a 9.1ch surround sound effect. The processing unit includes 3 HDMI inputs as well as S/PDIF and RCA stereo jacks and can decode an excellent range of audio formats.
Codec support includes Dolby TrueHD, DTS, Linear PCM 2ch/5.1ch/7.1ch, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital , DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, DTS Express, DTS Digital Surround, DTS-ES and DTS 96/24 so that’s just about all bases covered.
The wireless connection is dual band, supporting 2.4GHz and 5GHz, so listening should be free of interruption.
The ‘Cinema’ listening mode in the HW700 was created with the support of Sony Pictures Entertainment and its Academy Award winning Supervising Sound Editor Tom McCarthy and the special mode developed for gamers was developed with the consultation from sound designers at Sony Computer Entertainment.
The 50mm driver units should provide satisfying bass and power and Sony promises a battery-life of up to 12 hours and a “fast recharge.”
The MDR-HW700DS also allows native 4K video content to be passed through in its original quality to a 4K TV or projector.
The other new cans are a bit more low key but still support wireless transmission. The MDR-HW300K and the entry-level MDR-RF811RK are stereo only and just have stereo inputs so they don’t support decoding all the latest audio codecs, as per the HW700DS.
The new MDR-HW700DS, MDR-HW300K and MDR-RF811RK wireless headphones systems should be available this month (April 2014). |
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