[ad_1]
Earlier this week, Sony announced that it would replace its long-standing HT-ST5000 soundbar with a new model, the Sony HT-A7000.
Sony’s latest flagship soundbar will set you back $ 1,299 / AU $ 1,699 (around £ 950), but it’s a 7.1.2 system with built-in speakers for Dolby Atmos, an HDMI 2.1 passthrough. Complete for 4K / 120Hz and Dolby Vision HDR support.
It’s a fantastic list – and one, you might say – that makes it the perfect soundbar for the Xbox Series X. That’s because Microsoft’s console is the only one currently supporting Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos.
Not on the list of supported features? The PS5’s proprietary spatial audio format, Tempest Audio, which has yet to appear in any audio equipment other than the Sony Pulse PS5 headset. You can probably see where this is going …
Where is Tempest Audio support?
In an interview with TechRadar, Sony said that they designed the soundbar with the PS5 in mind – the 4K / 120Hz passthrough is also ideal for its console and it can even adjust to match the acoustics of your room.
On top of that, the soundbar supports 360 Reality Audio, Sony’s other spatial audio format, and works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and Apple AirPlay 2.
But the question of where Tempest Audio’s support arose in the interview. Sony’s response? No comment, at least for the moment.
It’s important to remember here that Sony is a huge brand with multiple divisions, one being Sony Electronics, the company that makes headphones and TVs, and another being Sony Interactive Entertainment that works on the PS5 and publishes games. video.
When Sony first spoke about Tempest Audio, they said it would work on all audio systems, from your TV’s built-in speakers to headphones, soundbars to stereo systems, but said the feature would not be available until after last year’s launch.
So far we’ve only seen one product with proper Tempest Audio support – and it’s the PS5 Pulse 3D that has been “optimized” for 3D audio. No other product has received this certification yet, but one would hope that it will make its way to Sony soundbars – some of the best soundbars on the market – before going elsewhere.
Mix and match your home entertainment setup
If there’s a silver lining to Sony’s inadvertently Xbox compatible accessory, it’s that Sony Electronics wouldn’t even care if you were using its soundbars with Xbox.
This happens all the time in the home entertainment world where you buy a TV from Samsung or LG, pair it with a soundbar from Sony or Sonos, and connect it to a Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, or PS4. Basically we all have assorted systems and it works well for everyone involved.
As long as the whole system is working, everyone is happy and there is no need to have brand loyalty to a manufacturer. Now that doesn’t allow Sony to create a Tempest Audio-compatible soundbar – as it certainly has to be on their roadmap – but until then we’re happy that we can pair the A7000 with our Xbox Series X for sound. maximum potential.
[ad_2]
Source link