HT-AX7 Personal Home Theatre - but which person?
A video today featuring a current(ish) odd product from Sony. I do like ‘odd-Sony’, but even I’m having difficulty understanding who the customer is/was/should-be, for this.
https://youtu.be/nY4ZbIxbvIU
I had to take the car to Liverpool today for its annual wallet emptying ceremony. So I took the opportunity to take my laptop in to the library and edit this together while I waited. It turns out there was plenty of time - the car was in the garage for seven hours. I think they must have rushed things this time, this might be a new record for them.
Have a good one, take care.
UPDATE: Made a couple of tiny fixes to things I couldn’t see on the laptop screen but couldn’t ignore at 100”.
UPDATE 2: Reverted outro audio pitch due to concerns.
Comments (48)
I really want to like this system, and it's great that Sony are (well, were) trying to create a new type of product just like in the old days, but sadly it's a bit of a technological dead-end. A shame really, as if it was a Dolby Atmos system with inputs and rechargeable dockable speakers for corners where there are no plug sockets (like my living room which also has 2 doors in the way of where you would run cables and a wooden floor so that you couldn't hide them anyway), it may have made some sense.
Eh, yeah I can kind of see it as a portable projector speaker system. Maybe. Kid's bedroom, well it'd be similar to a system I had as a kid which was a surround system (4 speakers + sub, 4.1?) that I think Creative Labs made. Not very good speakers, a slight improvement on the crappy "computer speakers" that you got in the 1990s. I remember playing Quake 2 with it, and I remember quasi surround. It was alright. Kid me liked it. Adult me wouldn't be so impressed I'm sure.
What is the brand/model of the mini projector you tested the speakers with? Looks not too bad for such a compact device. Looked to see if you had a review of it but didn’t find. Thanks!
It’s a Nebula Capsule 3 (I think) - it was going to be in a video of its own but I changed my mind.
SIDE ISSUE: If you want to reduce the cost of your ‘annual wallet emptying ceremony’ may I suggest an EV? We bought one four years ago and have saved HEAPS on fuel AND service costs; just one service in four years @ $220 AUD, plus new tyres. The cars are less expensive now, and used cars are a great way to start at a much lower initial outlay, while selling your ICE vehicle for a good return.
I’ve got a couple of those, but this one was a classic.
Maybe it's doing Dolby Pro Logic II? That is able to provide 5.1 surround sound over a two-channel audio format, but due to the nature of matrixed systems (all the way back to SQ and QS quadraphonic), the separation between channels isn't perfect.
A friend used to work for Sony UK 20 or so years ago and had access to the employee shop where they sold off end of line products at generous discounts and he did buy some strange and exotic items. I mainly recall his weird waterproof radio with its downward pointing speaker designed for use on boats.
" annual wallet emptying ceremony" - BRILLIANT !
Nice bedroom etc setup. Although for the full price you can get a propper 5,1 system that I guess would rival it. The discount , and yeah. Its wort it
This is the kind of product that again makes me think: I prefer it the old-fashioned way... Your introduction reminded me of window-shopping as a kid in the 1980s, seeing all the nice stuff you wanted to have but definitely couldn't afford... Miss those days too! Although at the moment, I'm just interested in stuff that uses the least amount of power (and produces the least amount of heat) possible...
Sony doing Sony things. I miss this. Instead they are just killing of product after product. Even in Japan, where they often had some weird products, it's hard to find anything new and exciting.
The shape would always make me think of Airpods and why I didn't spend half the money on those instead.
I still have the back pain, however I can sit still enough to watch the video (sitting makes the pain worse). You're right; I'm not really seeing a lot of use cases here. I initially thought if you are visiting someone that doesn't use external speakers on their spare bedroom TV and said TV has Bluetooth capability? Whoever in Sony that pitched the idea for this (and got the go-ahead for production) must be quite persistent. Also: I like your thumbnail with the 'floating' speakers. I'm undecided if I like the sped-uo version of the 'Over Time' outro music. Take care 🤍
A similar fringe use case that occurred to me is whenever we set up a projector and screen outside for summer parties. Seems like it would be ideal for that.
The sound is way too personal for that use, it’s very localised.
"I do not believe that any amount of market research could have told us that the Sony Walkman would be successful." If Sony's Akio Morita had followed the market research (carried out by his own company) the Walkman would never made it to market. It went on to be one of Sony's most successful and recognised products. These days there are lots of 'updates' on existing products, but I also can recall the last time I was wowed by some truly innovative peice of consumer technology.
Reminds me of a contact lens case
Very true.
Will it join you on the next cruise? You did that video about portable projector setups and were talking about wanting a setup to take with you.
That’s part of the problem, it’s a really bulky object. I wouldn’t want to give up all that space in my suitcase for this. I did take the projector you see in this video on the last holiday and I never found the opportunity to use it. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s likely going to be of zero use to me.
How does Cuba Baion sound through it though 🤔
Use case? I'm thinking: Dorm Rooms, Temporary Lodging (TDY, contract job lodging, etc). Places where you are going to be living for several months but have no reason to try to set up anything grand.
That was my thought as well.
I'm thinking Maybe I'd have a use for this if I wanted better audio while playing games on my steam deck in my bed? if it was half the price i'd consider it
"I know what it is, and I'm prepared to be disappointed." I've been waiting for a review of this thing since launch, it's such a goofy thing.
Outro playing fast. Anyone else notice
It was deliberate - I liked it, I thought it was more cheery. I guess I'm the only one.
Great video but lack of inputs put me off. What was the cart system to your right (underneath reel to reel)? A Easter egg for a future video or something I've missed?
I'm sure you've seen it already - but its this one https://youtu.be/yq179lvycjA
Great video! The setup at the end of the video would be the perfect travel companions for a couple in a small camper van.
I wonder how this would handle some old matrixed Dolby surround and Pro-Logic tests. Like the ones at the end of this video. https://youtu.be/vI9UUjrpNVs?t=867
Unfortunately I will have to watch this when my back pain subsides - I managed to mysteriously injure myself, probably a muscle strain. Take care 🤍
I know exactly what you're going through. I have a trick back that goes out more than I do. Take it easy.
An expensive solution looking for a problem. Very on theme.
Innovation died years ago
All the way through I was thinking it could potentially be useful in my bedroom with my Capsule projector since I can’t have a permanent setup - and now I kinda want one, though not at that price!
I love the very thorough reviews of super niche tech. :D Extremely entertaining for whatever reason
This makes me realize how great we had it in the early oughts when Japanese companies were just making fun and interesting stuff. That's gone now. Phones are boring and Japan is disappearing from the market. A real shame.
This was made for people in single room apartments in Tokyo. In that scenario, where you don't have room to have a surround system hooked up and laying out all the time, this works well.
Wouldn’t they be better off just using headphones?
Nice review of a rather overpriced product imho.
The outro made me think I was having a stroke there for a moment. Well, it still can't be ruled out. Great video!
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Nice video. I enjoyed it. Thank you.
Nice video. How was the lag? Is it adjustable?
I didn’t see any lag. The only controls are the ones shown in the video. Bass, vol, surround level, spatial on /off
annual wallet emptying ceremony😂😂 sorry but i’m definitely stealing that!