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Sony SA-Z1 Hi-Res Near Field Powered Speaker System
Product Descriptions
Product Descriptions
Sony SA-Z1 Hi-Res Near Field Powered Speaker System
The Sony SA-Z1 is designed to be the ultimate desktop reference speaker system. Crafted with obsessive attention to detail, it delivers pristine audio that captures every nuance of your favorite music. Whether you're streaming from a laptop, connecting a Walkman®, Xperia, or a high-end digital audio player, the SA-Z1 adapts effortlessly to your setup.
Engineering Excellence: A Legacy of Audio Precision
Rooted in Sony's storied history of audio innovation, the SA-Z1 is a culmination of decades of engineering mastery. It combines proprietary digital amplification, precise signal processing, and custom componentry into one formidable unit. This isn’t just another speaker—it’s a benchmark-setting system that bridges the analog warmth of yesteryear with cutting-edge digital fidelity.
Coherent Impulse Response and Time Alignment
Conventional speakers often force you to choose between frequency range and time coherence. The SA-Z1 says "why not both?" Its coaxial layout, paired with Sony’s proprietary FPGA architecture, synchronizes impulse responses for pinpoint imaging and rich sonic realism. You get the accurate wavefront of a single-driver setup with the full-spectrum depth of a multi-way speaker.
The 'Tsuzumi' Woofer Layout: Inspired by Tradition
Borrowing its structure from the traditional Japanese Tsuzumi drum, the SA-Z1 features dual horizontally opposed woofers. This configuration cancels out internal vibrations, virtually eliminating enclosure resonance. The result? A tight, clean low end and a soundstage so accurate, it feels like the performers are right in front of you.
Bass Expansion Duct and Woofer Innovation
The bass doesn’t just punch forward—it radiates sideways too, thanks to a cleverly designed rear duct. Paired with slitted diaphragms and a breathable magnet layout, the woofer moves air with minimal turbulence. That means cleaner bass, lower distortion, and startling realism even at low frequencies.
I-ARRAY™ Tweeters: Highs That Go Beyond Hearing
Sony’s I-ARRAY™ tweeter configuration—one main tweeter flanked by two assist units—delivers shimmering highs up to 100 kHz. The titanium-sputtered dome maintains rigidity while minimizing resonance, preserving all the spatial and harmonic information in your high-res tracks. Even off-axis, the treble remains pristine and enveloping.
Resonance-Free Aluminum Body and Chassis Design
The chassis of the SA-Z1 isn’t just solid—it’s a fortress. Milled from multiple aluminum plates and inspired by Japanese joinery, the enclosure kills unwanted resonance dead in its tracks. Internal bridge arm structures isolate the amp and processor from the speaker units, while a frame-and-beam wall suppresses structural distortion. Audiophile-grade construction, meet samurai-level craftsmanship.
D.A. Hybrid Amplifier Circuit: Power With Precision
Sony’s D.A. Hybrid Amplifier combines the S-Master digital amp with a clever analog feed-forward path. Using Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors for ultra-fast switching, it reduces distortion before the analog stage even has to step in. The analog circuit then corrects any residual errors, ensuring your signal is reproduced with surgical precision.
Custom FPGA Signal Processing
Off-the-shelf DSPs weren’t good enough for the SA-Z1. So Sony built a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) from the ground up. This allows for complex, ultra-precise digital processing that supports time alignment, upsampling, and real-time tuning without compromise.
DSEE HX™ Upscaling and DSD Remastering
Using AI, the new DSEE HX™ technology rebuilds compressed audio by recognizing instruments and genres, reviving lost textures and depth. Simultaneously, the DSD Remastering Engine converts PCM signals to DSD 11.2 MHz, giving even standard sources a high-res touch-up worthy of the system’s capabilities.
Sound-Tuning Functions: Tailor It to You
The SA-Z1 gives you full control with tuning options for analog/digital blending, woofer motion, frequency range, and time alignment. Whether you want ultra-precise timing or a more relaxed sound profile, you can dial it in with lossless accuracy. It’s the kind of hands-on sound shaping you'd expect from a true reference monitor.
Supported Formats and Versatile Inputs
This system isn’t picky. It supports PCM up to 768 kHz/32-bit and DSD up to 22.4 MHz. Analog inputs include RCA, XLR, and stereo mini, while digital inputs span USB-B, optical, and micro-USB for Walkman®. You can even shut off Walkman® charging to reduce noise and preserve purity.
Signature Series: A Class Apart
The SA-Z1 is part of Sony’s Signature Series, a family of components built for those who refuse to compromise. Every detail—from materials to tuning—is geared toward immersive, audiophile-grade performance. It’s not about hype. It’s about hearing music as it was meant to be heard.
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Features & Specs
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Product Descriptions
Product Descriptions
Sony SA-Z1 Hi-Res Near Field Powered Speaker System
The Sony SA-Z1 is designed to be the ultimate desktop reference speaker system. Crafted with obsessive attention to detail, it delivers pristine audio that captures every nuance of your favorite music. Whether you're streaming from a laptop, connecting a Walkman®, Xperia, or a high-end digital audio player, the SA-Z1 adapts effortlessly to your setup.
Engineering Excellence: A Legacy of Audio Precision
Rooted in Sony's storied history of audio innovation, the SA-Z1 is a culmination of decades of engineering mastery. It combines proprietary digital amplification, precise signal processing, and custom componentry into one formidable unit. This isn’t just another speaker—it’s a benchmark-setting system that bridges the analog warmth of yesteryear with cutting-edge digital fidelity.
Coherent Impulse Response and Time Alignment
Conventional speakers often force you to choose between frequency range and time coherence. The SA-Z1 says "why not both?" Its coaxial layout, paired with Sony’s proprietary FPGA architecture, synchronizes impulse responses for pinpoint imaging and rich sonic realism. You get the accurate wavefront of a single-driver setup with the full-spectrum depth of a multi-way speaker.
The 'Tsuzumi' Woofer Layout: Inspired by Tradition
Borrowing its structure from the traditional Japanese Tsuzumi drum, the SA-Z1 features dual horizontally opposed woofers. This configuration cancels out internal vibrations, virtually eliminating enclosure resonance. The result? A tight, clean low end and a soundstage so accurate, it feels like the performers are right in front of you.
Bass Expansion Duct and Woofer Innovation
The bass doesn’t just punch forward—it radiates sideways too, thanks to a cleverly designed rear duct. Paired with slitted diaphragms and a breathable magnet layout, the woofer moves air with minimal turbulence. That means cleaner bass, lower distortion, and startling realism even at low frequencies.
I-ARRAY™ Tweeters: Highs That Go Beyond Hearing
Sony’s I-ARRAY™ tweeter configuration—one main tweeter flanked by two assist units—delivers shimmering highs up to 100 kHz. The titanium-sputtered dome maintains rigidity while minimizing resonance, preserving all the spatial and harmonic information in your high-res tracks. Even off-axis, the treble remains pristine and enveloping.
Resonance-Free Aluminum Body and Chassis Design
The chassis of the SA-Z1 isn’t just solid—it’s a fortress. Milled from multiple aluminum plates and inspired by Japanese joinery, the enclosure kills unwanted resonance dead in its tracks. Internal bridge arm structures isolate the amp and processor from the speaker units, while a frame-and-beam wall suppresses structural distortion. Audiophile-grade construction, meet samurai-level craftsmanship.
D.A. Hybrid Amplifier Circuit: Power With Precision
Sony’s D.A. Hybrid Amplifier combines the S-Master digital amp with a clever analog feed-forward path. Using Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors for ultra-fast switching, it reduces distortion before the analog stage even has to step in. The analog circuit then corrects any residual errors, ensuring your signal is reproduced with surgical precision.
Custom FPGA Signal Processing
Off-the-shelf DSPs weren’t good enough for the SA-Z1. So Sony built a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) from the ground up. This allows for complex, ultra-precise digital processing that supports time alignment, upsampling, and real-time tuning without compromise.
DSEE HX™ Upscaling and DSD Remastering
Using AI, the new DSEE HX™ technology rebuilds compressed audio by recognizing instruments and genres, reviving lost textures and depth. Simultaneously, the DSD Remastering Engine converts PCM signals to DSD 11.2 MHz, giving even standard sources a high-res touch-up worthy of the system’s capabilities.
Sound-Tuning Functions: Tailor It to You
The SA-Z1 gives you full control with tuning options for analog/digital blending, woofer motion, frequency range, and time alignment. Whether you want ultra-precise timing or a more relaxed sound profile, you can dial it in with lossless accuracy. It’s the kind of hands-on sound shaping you'd expect from a true reference monitor.
Supported Formats and Versatile Inputs
This system isn’t picky. It supports PCM up to 768 kHz/32-bit and DSD up to 22.4 MHz. Analog inputs include RCA, XLR, and stereo mini, while digital inputs span USB-B, optical, and micro-USB for Walkman®. You can even shut off Walkman® charging to reduce noise and preserve purity.
Signature Series: A Class Apart
The SA-Z1 is part of Sony’s Signature Series, a family of components built for those who refuse to compromise. Every detail—from materials to tuning—is geared toward immersive, audiophile-grade performance. It’s not about hype. It’s about hearing music as it was meant to be heard.
