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Anyone heard te Sony SS-AR1

I heard Sony's 27k new speaker today. Sony is obviously not a name you think of when it comes to high-end audio, but this speaker is sony's effort to get back into high-end audio. I'll be honest, going in, I thought anyone who spends 27k on a pair of speakers by Sony needs their head examined.
That being said, I was really, really impressed by this speaker. I compared it head to head with some dynaudio tempations (44k) and thought that the sony's at least held their own. The dealer told me that Sony is only planning on releasing 60 pairs in the US this year, and there are only 6 dealers in the country right now. Also, the wood that they use for the cabinets comes from a special Japanese tree that is specially aged, etc.
Apparently there is a review coming out in stereophile next week.
My question is, with all the great speakers out there at this range, Wilson, magico, Von schweikert, hansen, etc, has anyone heard these, and how do you think they stack up against some of the big boys?
dserota17

Showing 3 responses by pryso

pryso
1,970 posts
 
Apparently not all are ATC. A couple of years ago John Marks related the story in Stereophile of Sony going to the trouble of ordering Duntech Princesses from OZ for a NYC studio. Also the Sony SACD introduction I attended used the SS M9ED mentioned by Mr Bill. Now I must believe some of the SS-AR1s will show up in their studios.

Like Pioneer, Kenwood, and perhaps others, from time to time Sony has made attempts at the higher end in audio. And why not? They certainly should have the resources.
pryso
1,970 posts
 
Rgs92, you picked a bad example with Duntech. They are still in business, albeit without a US importer (which I feel gave more weight to my Sony story). The person who bought my Duntechs just had a midrange driver fail and was able to get matched replacements directly from Duntech in Australia. That was for a now 21 year old speaker. And owners of Dunlavy Audio Labs should not have difficulties with replacements even though DAL is out of business since they utilized non-esoteric drivers.

Shadrone, no disrespect to ATC speakers. I was just pointing out that Sony does use other brands too. Also, no confusion with the All Terrain Carriage Company.
pryso
1,970 posts
 
Rgs92, the (somewhat) quick history is that John Dunlavy started Duntech in Texas, I believe in the '80s, then moved to Australia in the mid-to late '80s. Most of their speakers were large and heavy so long-distance shipping was expensive. My Princesses were 180 pounds apiece and the Sovereigns weighed twice that. Sometime in the mid-'90s John returned to the US to set up production of a new Duntech model, mainly intended for the American market, thus reducing shipping costs to allow more competitive pricing. That model failed sales expectations but John remained in the US and started Dunlavy Audio Labs (DAL). The degree of his attachment to Duntech at that point was not made public. With DAL he introduce several similar models to the Duntech line and added an even larger top-of-the-line model. He continued to design and operate DAL until selling it shortly before his death. The new owner lasted less than a year before folding the company. Duntech Australia remains in business, selling world-wide but without a current US importer.

I brought up DAL because you are not the only one confused by the sibling brands.
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