Sony unveils newest products and introduces latest efforts from entertainment businesses at CES 2019

(Dubai – United Arab Emirates) – Sony Corporation (“Sony”) will exhibit at the CES 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada, held from Tuesday, January 8.

Sony Corporation President & CEO Kenichiro Yoshida spoke at the Sony press conference held on Monday, January 7(local time), stating that “Sony is a Creative Entertainment Company. We at Sony partner with content creators who make the music, the movies, the television shows and the games that engage billions of eyes and ears and minds around the world. We’d like to showcase how Sony’s professional grade technologies support creators across the entertainment industries to produce compelling content. You will also see how our consumer products connect creators and users by enabling people to enjoy content at the highest possible quality.” 

He also introduced that “Communities of Interest,” communities of people who share similar interests, emotional values and experiences, are formed around our world-class entertainment content and hardware products such as PlayStation^® and α™ interchangeable-lens digital cameras. He closed by asserting that “with our technology, Sony is also there to deliver the very best entertainment experience to the fans and fill the world with emotions.”

Next to take the stage were Tom Rothman (Chairman, Motion Pictures Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE)) and Kristine Belson (President, Sony Pictures Animation, SPE). They spoke about how strong entertainment content and lasting IP are as crucial to fulfilling Sony’s vision as outstanding technology. They went on to describe how Sony’s technology and products help turn creators’ vision into reality. They then introduced examples such as Sony’s CineAlta Camera VENICE and α9 full-frame mirrorless camera that were used in the creation of TV shows and films. They also highlighted Sony’s new TV lineup, including the BRAVIA^® MASTER Series that adapts the creators’ artistic intent and delivers content to users.

Additionally, Rob Stringer (CEO, Sony Music Entertainment) took the stage and pointed to the “Lost In Music” brand campaign as an example of combining music and Sony’s latest technology. He then introduced that Sony will deliver new music experiences to music fans with 360 (THREE SIXTY) Reality Audio.

A video of the press conference can be streamed at the following website.

https://livestream.com/Sony/CES 

Main Products and Prototypes Being Showcased

The Sony booth consists of several zones such as “Visual Entertainment,” “Music Entertainment” “α” and “PlayStation.” Each zone introduces Sony’s efforts and products that connect creators and users through the latest hardware and technology, and deliver the ultimate entertainment experience to customers.

A stage has been set up in the center of the Sony booth. There, special talk show sessions and video screenings held several times per day will highlight the artistic intent of various content creators (including a Grammy Award-winning sound engineer, professional photographers, etc.). These shows will cover examples of creators’ content made using Sony’s latest products and their thoughts on the creative process.

Click the link below for more information about the Sony booth and stage show schedule.

https://www.sony.net/brand/event/ces2019 

Visual Entertainment

The booth showcases the BRAVIA^® MASTER Series’ new lineup and shows off Sony’s high picture and audio quality technology that faithfully delivers creators’ intent directly to users.

The BRAVIA MASTER Series Z9G (98”/85”), Sony’s first 8K LCD TVs, feature the next-generation image processor X1™ Ultimate equipped with 8K ultra-resolution algorithm custom database, enabling the 8K

X-Reality™ PRO to up-convert any content to 8K resolution. Additionally, Sony’s unique and evolved Backlight Master Drive technology features

a newly developed LED module and control algorithm optimized for 8K.

The combination of these technologies brings high resolution and high contrast picture quality images to life in stunning fashion. Additionally, Acoustic Multi-Audio™ featuring four speakers located above and below the screen will make you believe the audio is coming right from the screen, achieving a high level of audio quality befitting the immersiveness of large-screen 8K images.

The new flagship 4K OLED BRAVIA MASTER Series A9G (77”/65”/55”) are approximately half¹ the thickness of previous models when wall-mounted, seamlessly blending into any space. In addition to X1 Ultimate,

it features unique Pixel Contrast Booster™ panel control technology, which faithfully reproduces everything from the deepest blacks to the highest luminosity colors with stunning vibrancy. Alongside Acoustic Surface™ Audio+ technology that produces sound from the screen itself harmonizing the image and audio for a cohesive and immersive high-quality surround-sound experience and Center Speaker Mode², it is also compatible³ with Dolby Atmos^®, the latest audio format.

These TVs feature Netflix Calibrated Mode, which lets you enjoy a wide variety of entertainment from Netflix exactly the way the creators intended. Additionally, these TVs are part of the IMAX^® Enhanced certification program that is the result of collaboration between Sony’s engineers together with IMAX, DTS^® and content creators to faithfully deliver creators’ vision and intent.

1: Distance from front of the screen to the wall as compared to A9F Series when combined with compatible wall-mount unit.

2: Must be combined with existing home theater system.

3: Requires network update. Update scheduled for within 2019.

Music Entertainment

With the theme of co-creation between artists and Sony’s technology, Sony introduces 360 Reality Audio, a new music experience which creates “sound fields” that make listeners feel as if they are immersed in sound from all directions. This new experience will bring users new ways to enjoy music, adding to the “rich sound quality” realized by High Resolution Audio (Hi-Res) and “superb audio functionality” as seen in our highly-acclaimed noise canceling.

360 Reality Audio is made possible through object-based spatial audio technology. It can add distance, angle, and other positional information to a sound source such as vocals, chorus, instruments, etc. to produce a three-dimensional sound field where the different sounds and musical elements can be projected from anywhere inside a 360-degree space around the listener. This creates a rich and immersive music experience that feels just like being at a live concert. Compatible content will be produced⁴ in collaboration with major music labels and is expected to be made available through music distribution services⁵.

Key audio products on display at the Sony booth:

• A multi-speaker system composed of 13 speakers and a demo⁶ using MDR-Z7M2 headphones. A prototype display for a speaker system which delivers a 360 Reality Audio experience will also be on showcase.
• Signature Series Hi-Res compatible audio product lineup, which harnesses Sony’s high audio quality technology cultivated over many years, and last autumn’s WH-1000XM3 wireless headphones which feature industry-leading⁷ noise canceling performance.
• EXTRA BASS™ series of speakers from Sony - SRS-XB12, SRS-XB22 and SRS-XB32 have an enhanced deep and punchy bass sound. The XB22 and XB32 have dual passive radiators which work together with stereo full range speakers to enhance low-end tones and give bass a boost, despite the compact size. The XB12 uses a single passive radiator to achieve a similar effect. The speakers have an IP67 rating which means that they are resistant to water and dust.
• The new 2.1ch HT-X8500 soundbar delivers object based cinema sound which puts you in the middle of the action. With 320W of high power sound, the new HT-S350 soundbar delivers impressive surround and deep, powerful bass with its wireless subwoofer.
• The new line-up features high power audio systems MHC-V82D, MHC-V72D, MHC-V42D, MHC-V02 capable of filling even large party spaces, thanks to 360-degree sound and a new Jet Bass Booster. The new Jet Bass Booster creates clear and deep, space filling bass thanks to a carefully designed tapered speaker duct shape. The exciting new GTK-PG10 is perfect for outdoor parties and barbeques. With the top panels open, the built-in tweeters face upwards and outwards which spreads the sound wider for outdoor parties. The outdoor speaker also incorporates a table and cup holder on the splash-proof top panel to let nothing get in the way of your celebration.
• The new PS-LX310BT turntable brings the warm sound of vinyl to any wireless speaker, soundbar or headphones with the addition of a BLUETOOTH® transmitter built in, giving you complete listening freedom. Whether you are revisiting your old records or building up your collection with new releases, transport your vinyl into the present day with the PS-LX310BT turntable. 

4: Sony plans to provide content production tools and publish the file format. The format uses open standard MPEG-H 3D audio, optimized for music streaming with the cooperation of Fraunhofer IIS, part of Europe’s largest organization for applied research.

5: Service provision scheduled to begin on Deezer, nugs.net, Qobuz, and TIDAL, for a total of four services.

6: The demo first analyzes each individual listener’s hearing characteristics to provide an immersive, optimized sound field.

7: As of August 30, 2018, according to research by Sony Corporation, measured using JEITA-compliant guidelines. In headband style of wireless noise cancelling headphones market.

α

Responding to the artistic intent of photographers and film creators, Sony shows off the α9 and α7 series full-frame mirrorless camera, which allows for new imaging expressions, and a full array of custom designed mirrorless lenses including G Master™, along with professional photographic artwork.

Additionally, with just one mount (E-mount), you can cover a diverse array of still and video cameras, and Sony is also expanding its product lines that can leverage a rich spectrum of custom designed lenses. On display are the α interchangeable-lens digital camera (compatible with E-mount lenses that support full-frame and APS-C size image sensors), XDCAM™ memory camcorder, and a professional cinematic camera, CineAlta VENICE.

Sony aims to further refine the capabilities and features of its mirrorless camera’s five fundamentals (Lens, Image Quality, Speed, Battery Life, Compact & Lightweight). In the booth, we have set up various demo corners where visitors can experience all five of these fundamentals for themselves and enjoy a unique experience only available through α, which includes features that support professionals such as high speed, high resolution, high-performance AF and Eye AF functionality. Furthermore, visitors can photograph and film dances and performances at the special studio in the booth.

PlayStation

PlayStation, Sony’s largest “Community of Interest”, continues to build on the strength of PlayStation^®4 (PS4™), which recently broke 91.6 million[1] units in worldwide sell-thru, and PlayStation™Network, which features over 90 million[2] monthly active users globally. In the booth, visitors can play PS4 and virtual reality (VR) titles such as the action game Astro Bot: Rescue Mission on PlayStation^®VR, the VR system that enriches the gaming experience and further enhances the appeal of the PS4 platform.

In addition, visitors can go head-to-head on the two demo setups of Gran Turismo Sport available at the booth and enjoy promotional videos for PlayStation titles on a 16’ wide and 9’ tall Crystal LED display system, which delivers a stunning 4K HDR big-screen experience.

Accompanying the above, the booth will also feature a concept video of future autonomous driving achieved through Sony’s automotive image sensors, as well as the entertainment robot “aibo,” which launched in the U.S. in September 2018.

-Ends-

About Sony Middle East and Africa:

Sony Middle East and Africa FZE is a 100% subsidiary of Sony Corporation and is the regional headquarters for the Middle East and Africa regions. The company is engaged in the business of Sony Consumer Electronics, Recording Media and Energy, Mobile Electronics (Car Audio) and Computer Entertainment (PlayStation) products in more than 40 countries in the region.

Apart from stock operations in the Jebel Ali Free Zone Establishment in Dubai, Sony Middle East and Africa leads execution of various logistics, sales, marketing, advertising and customer services activities through its business partners and representative offices. 262 accredited third party service centers reinforce Sony’s presence in key markets in the region.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Rose Manaog
BPG Orange
Account Manager
Mob: +971 52 7354449
Email: rose.manaog@bpgorange.com 
Neha Gandhi
Sony Middle East and Africa FZE
Corporate Communications
Mob: +971 50 656 6016
Email: Neha.gandhi@ap.sony.com 

© Press Release 2019