EXPLAINED: Sound technology in Sony TVs

[_J.G.M_]

It doesn’t matter how good the picture is, TV sound can make or break a viewing experience. Sony TVs include unique and advanced sound technologies to ensure your entertainment is undisturbed, reproducing multi-dimensional sound that puts you at the heart of the action. Here, we explain what each technology does and which TVs from the 2020 TV line-up you’ll find them on.

Acoustic Multi-Audio™

Available on: ZG9 | ZH8 | XH95 (55”, 65”, 75” and 85” screen sizes) | XH90 (65”, 75” and 85” screen sizes)

Acoustic Multi-Audio™ creates the effect of sound coming directly from the screen, precisely matching the pictures you’re watching with the sound you’re hearing for a truly immersive experience. The XH95 and XH90 combine full range speakers at the bottom of the TV and two sound positioning speakers at the back of the TV towards the top to deliver the sound-from-picture experience. The ZG9 has four front facing speakers at the top and bottom of the screen instead of the sound positioning tweeters and adds a subwoofer for extra bass.

The ZH8 takes this technology even further with an added, innovative frame tweeter. Here, the frame invisibly vibrates, enabling sound to follow the action. This time, the frame tweeter combines with two front facing speakers and twin subwoofers for a full, rich sound.

Acoustic Surface Audio+™

Available on: AG9

Acoustic Surface Audio+™ places actuators behind the TV, which vibrate to create acoustics that move with the picture. Two additional subwoofers provide powerful bass and a spatial effect that allows sound to travel from one side of the room to the other. Imagine being in a concert hall with sound coming at you from different directions – that’s the type of multi-dimensional experience you get with Acoustic Surface Audio+™.

In Centre Speaker Mode, this is particularly powerful. Simply connect an amplifier to the output connector behind the AG9 television to transform it into a high-quality centre speaker in your home cinema set-up.

Acoustic Surface Audio™

Available on: A8

Acoustic Surface Audio™ also turns the screen into a speaker. Two innovative actuators behind the TV gently vibrate to create sound that moves within the picture so dialogue and special effects can be heard from precisely the right place and two subwoofers provide the low frequency bass tones. This type of sound-from-picture technology is designed to make films, TV shows and games more realistic, drawing you into each scene.

X-Balanced Speaker

Available on: XH95 (55”, 65” and 75” screen sizes) | XH90 | XH81 | XH80

The X-Balanced Speaker is brand-new for 2020.

Conventionally, TV speakers were round, producing good sound quality but requiring large TVs that took up more space. As TV designs became slimmer, thin oval speakers were used, but this compromised the sound quality. Our new, unique X-Balanced Speaker is designed specifically to deliver high-quality sound in ultra-thin TVs.

Ambient Optimization

Available on: ZH8 | A8 | XH95

Our ambient optimisation technology automatically adjusts the sound and picture settings to your environment.

A sound experience can change depending on the room you’re in. Curtains, for example, absorb sound whilst objects in front of the TV can disturb the passage of sound, compromising what you hear. The ZH8, A8 and XH95 TVs detect objects and reproduce sound that’s enhanced and optimised specifically to your room.

It works for the picture too. On conventional TVs, brightness stays the same regardless of the light in a room, often resulting in pictures that are too dark or too bright. Our Ambient Optimization technology uses an embedded light sensor to tailor picture brightness to the room conditions, boosting brightness in light rooms and reducing it in dark ones, so you get the perfect view.

ClearAudio+

Available on: X70

ClearAudio+ is suite of audio technologies that automatically fine tunes the sound, no matter what you’re watching. With greater clarity and separation, music, dialogue and sound effects almost surround you, creating a more lifelike and immersive experience.

Do you have an older Sony TV model?

You’ll find some of these technologies on our older models too, plus we implement regular firmware updates to continually improve your products. For instance, Dolby Atmos integration with our 2018-2019 TV models’ built-in speakers was made available on selected models through the Android™ 9 Pie firmware update. Dolby Atmos delivers sound from above, as well as from the sides, so you can hear objects moving overhead with more realism. It’s like the multi-dimensional experience you get in the cinema - but in your living room.

And all of our TVs – new and older – include specific sound modes that you can use to enhance your entertainment. Simply go to the Sound Settings on your TV and choose from Standard, Dialogue, Cinema, Music or Sports. Standard is good for general viewing, Dialogue for spoken content, Cinema optimises surround sound for movies, Music delivers dynamic sound like you’d hear at a concert, and Sports simulates the larger space of a stadium whilst keeping commentaries clear.

To see the full Sony TV line-up, click here.