A series "Reiji Asakura's New Digital Review" is a series of audio and visual critics Reishi Asakura talk about hot equipment and genres.This time, I will introduce the wireless home theater that has been attracting a lot of attention since 2021.While many audio devices such as headphones and speakers are wireless, why aren't the home theaters wireless?I will also explain what happened in the background that attracted attention this time.
Two reasons why home theater is difficult to spread
In 2021, two home theater products released one after another are attracting attention.One is Onkyo's "Sound Sphere".The other is "HT-A9" released by Sony in July.
「SOUND SPHERE」 「HT-A9」In each case, the wireless home theater system that wirelessly connects to satellite speakers is a product that has solved the disadvantages of the home theater, which is "installed, wiring is troublesome."
In the first place, why is the home theater spread even though the product itself has appeared for a long time?There are two main reasons.One is that users who are planning to build a home theater at home are limited to so -called manias, and general users have a "sound bar".The other is that it is difficult to reach out because the installation, wiring is troublesome, and the product is expensive.
On the other hand, the evolution of the video side does not stop.Now that 4K resolution TVs have appeared and organic EL TVs are increasing their popularity, the image quality and resolution of the TV are getting better.However, the built -in speaker is completely inversely proportional to the evolution of the image as the TV is thinned and the installation area has been reduced, and the sound is deteriorating.As the user wants to increase the satisfaction of the sound when watching TV, Onkyo's Sound Sphere appeared.
This fact has been greatly supported by Sound Sphere sales.Sound Sphere sold in crowdfunding 2.1ch (from 54,800 yen), 3.1ch (69,800 yen from 69,800 yen), 5.3 models of 1ch (89,800 yen or more).Initially 2 from a price perspective.I saw that the 1ch model would be the center of sales, but if you open the lid, most are 5.It is said that the 1ch model was occupied.
2.1chシステム 3.1chシステム 5.1chシステム
What you can read from here is, "There was no appropriate product in the home theater, so what was appropriate was wireless."This is the market for breakpoints.
The Sound Sphere, which wirelessly solves the large hurdles at the time of the introduction of the home theater where the installation and wiring are troublesome, are also popular.
Bluetooth, which is often used in headphones and speakers, is easy, but it is necessary to compress and transmit sounds, must be buffered when compression and thawing, and a delay of sound occurs.Lip -sink gaps are fatal to use as a home theater.That's one of the reasons why the wireless home theater has not become widespread.
Sound Sphere adopts the wireless transmission technology "WISA".The transmission of 96kHz lossless audio is realized.The WISA has the same transmission accuracy as a wired connection, and can build a playback environment that does not bother delay even if it is mixed with wired.
Wireless home theater without a connection that WISA is realized
In fact, WISA is not a new standard.More than 10 years ago, the US semiconductor company, Summit Semiconductor, has been developed, and more than 50 companies have already been introduced in global.So why did you come here and begin to attract attention?The reason is that at the end of 2020, a transmitter called "Soundsend" was released.
Previously, the transmitter and the receiver needed to be completed with the same brand, and the combination of WISA functions of the same brand was generally combined.Then there is no choice but to purchase TV and speakers with one set.While it was a closed wireless transmission system, Soundsend has built an open system to WISA speakers.
Soundsend is compatible with EARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), an audio transmission function of HDMI.It has an HDMI input, connected to a TV, receives an EARC audio signal, and sends audio signals to speakers.Many Japanese TV manufacturers are already compatible with EARC, so the compatible devices will spread at a stretch.The benefits that can be obtained from this are very large, and I think that the opening of the standard is good for WISA and for television manufacturers and audio manufacturers.
The Sound Sphere, which adopted WISA quickly and attracted attention, is not the only advantage.The speaker is 171mm in height 171mm✕ 110mm in width, but it is a compact size of 143mm in depth, but with a solid sound finish, you can enjoy a clear sound.There is no so -called donchari feeling, and the fact that the high -quality sound quality has been realized may also support the popularity of Sound Sphere.
This time, it was a sales method called crowdfunding, but onkyo has taken measures such as holding a audition in advance, and I think that it has also led to the environment where such sounds can be heard, which also led to the sales.