Sony was the only “mainstream” manufacturer at The New York Audio Show. By that I mean that it was the only brand that most people on the street would recognize. That said, Sony wasn’t showing off any mainstream products. The company brought its new SS-AR2 tower speakers ($28,000/pr) that feature a four-unit/three-day driver system of aluminum woofers with copper rings to optimize the symmetry of the magnetic field. The cabinets are crafted from a tight-grain Japanese maple that are intentionally cut in November when the weather produces the best grain characteristics.

We listed to DSD downloads from Blue Cost Records and then a Stevie Ray Vaughn CD. The speakers produced excellent detail in vocals and guitars. They had a great low end and three-dimensional imaging.

www.sony.com