Sony intros iPod-friendly S-AIRPLAY multi-room audio system

You know how it goes with Sony -- proprietary just seems to rule the roost. Thankfully, the outfit is at least recognizing a trend in the market by trotting out an iPod-friendly version of its S-AIR wireless audio technology. The new S-AIRPLAY system (formally known as AIR-SA20PK) comes with one iPod docking station and a pair of S-AIR wireless speakers, though there is an AM / FM tuner built in should your stored jams get stale. Sony suggests that music can be beamed some 164-feet away from the dock sans cabling, and so long as your S-AIR speaker is plugged into a power outlet (and within the aforementioned range), it'll pick up the signal and start talkin'. Look for the kit to land next month for around $400, while additional S-AIR wireless speakers will set you back $130 apiece. Full release after the break.

SONY UNVEILS WIRELESS MULTI-ROOM AUDIO SYSTEM FOR IPOD PLAYERS

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 21, 2008 – Sony today took the wraps off its new wireless, multi-room audio system for listening to iPod® players.

The new S-AIRPLAY™ system features Sony's S-Air™ technology, which provides a practical, wireless multi-room solution without complicated set-up requirements. Wireless audio can be transmitted from the system's main docking station in one room to various rooms throughout the home -- up to nearly 164 feet-simply by plugging a separate S-Air wireless speaker into a power outlet.

"This technology makes it easy to listen to music from a compatible iPod without carrying it from room to room," said Andrew Sivori, director of marketing in the personal audio group at Sony Electronics' Digital Imaging and Audio Division. "It's an easy, inexpensive way to get multi-room audio without professional installation."

S-Air technology delivers audio wirelessly to the included speakers without interfering with other household devices. The system comes with one docking station and two S-Air wireless speakers, but it can transmit to up to 10 speakers simultaneously (additional speakers sold separately).

Equipped with an AM/FM tuner, the S-AIRPLAY system's dual source feature lets users listen to music from the iPod player or from a radio station. Listeners in one room can hear their favorite radio station, while listeners in another room can enjoy music from the iPod at the same time.

The S-Air wireless speakers include remote control capability for the iPod player's music tracks so you can advance or go back to previously played songs. The speakers also incorporate sleep timers and an alarm clock function, making them perfect for bedside placement.
To connect to an existing home theater system or television set, the docking station includes composite A/V outputs. It also charges the iPod while it is docked.

Pricing and Availability
Pre-orders for the S-AIRPLAY audio system are now being accepted online at www.sonystyle.com. The system (model AIR-SA20PK) will be available in September for about $400 at Sony Style® retail stores and select retailers nationwide. Additional S-Air wireless speakers will also be available next month for about $130 direct from Sony.

[liuping @ Aug 21st 2008 10:42PM]

"This technology makes it easy to listen to music from a compatible iPod without carrying it from room to room"

Is carrying an iPod that hard? They only wieght a few ounces...

$400 for wireless speakers that only go 164 feet seems pricey.

[pball_inuyaha @ Aug 21st 2008 10:58PM]

164 feet sounds great to me. How many people have houses longer in any direction than that range. Well maybe the people who will fork over the 400 dollars for it.

Wonder what the average real world range will be 80-100 feet maybe

[brandon @ Aug 21st 2008 11:55PM]

80-100 feet would be nice. Bluetooth headphones amaze me if they work 15 feet indoors in the same room line of sight, about HALF the posted range.

50 feet in the same room? 30 feet through one wall? No thanks, I'll just turn the volume up :P

[Jim @ Aug 21st 2008 10:44PM]

Or, you can just use an Airport Express for $99 and use the free Remote App for something that's way better and way cooler and way cheaper.

[Malfoy Roark @ Aug 21st 2008 11:21PM]

Except an airport express requires you have speakers at every spot you have an express and a wireless signal to cover the distance. 164 feet isn't that bad esp give what the bedroom in a house is what 20 feet long? thats 8 rooms deep.

I have an airport express, like it, and probably will buy a few more. At the same time though I like the potential for this for an overall cleaner setup. Only down side is I wish the speakers acted as repeaters for each other so they needed to be 164 feet from each other and not all 164 feet from the dock.

[ntlam @ Aug 21st 2008 11:04PM]

so now I can really have my whole house to go surround. ;-)

[Axolotl @ Aug 21st 2008 11:17PM]

Huh, yeah, that is a first.

[BA @ Aug 21st 2008 11:19PM]

It doesn't meantion being shielded but in the pic it shows an iPhone wonder if u can use it without having to put it in airplane mode

[skeeter @ Aug 21st 2008 11:28PM]

I know that this isn't relevant, but how do I log in so I don't have to confirm email every time? Sorry for my noobishness.

[simon @ Aug 21st 2008 11:27PM]

"You know how it goes with Sony -- proprietary just seems to rule the roost. "
... unlike Apple, the other company mentioned in this piece, who are known for their openness.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:50AM]

Right, but this is Sony we're talking about. Come on. If they had given half a thought to what consumers want, they could rule the PMP world now, rather than being another company churning out iPod speakers.

Say what you want about Apple, but they sure try a hell of a lot harder to deliver a usable product than Sony does.

[Mike @ Aug 22nd 2008 3:23AM]

The editors here are clearly r etards, Sony is only really as proprietary as most other companies. Sure they came up with ATRAC, but they also came up with CD, Blu-ray, the 1.44MB floppy disc and many other non-proprietary things.

If Sony were as bad as the r etards here think, why does my PS3 have card slots for MS, CF and SD?
If Sony were as bad as the r etards here think, why does my lexmark photo printer have a MS card slot?

[Elevator @ Aug 21st 2008 11:47PM]

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&productId=8198552921665518556&langId=-1

Some of the "highlights" of the system....

8 Watts total output (4W x 2)

6.5 CENTIMETER Drivers (speaker size = ~3")

85 dB sensitivity


those are some of the worst specs i have seen in a Sony product in a long time... i really WANTED to buy this but after reading that there is no way Sony will be getting my money for this...too bad. I wasn't expecting full Home Theater quality but I was hoping for a little bit more.

[pt @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:08AM]

Dare I say the best of both worlds:

Favorite MS Powered Product: Office 2008 for Mac

Favorite Apple Product: Office 2008 for Mac

[Striker @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:26AM]

And this is relevant why?

[VeeDee @ Aug 22nd 2008 2:12AM]

Isn't that an iPhone in the dock? :P

[GforCe @ Aug 22nd 2008 2:32AM]

The whole 164 feet might not be enough because the signal will get weak when going through floors, but for apartments it should work like a charm.



...and i like how its 11:17 on the phone yet 9:45 on the dock. awesome!

[Vink @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:47PM]

To continue with the messed up rendering:

Why can you see the reflection of the button and the chrome ring, but not the reflection of the screen?
I guess that explains why the times are off. They added the image of the screen to the final product after shooting.

I hate when they do that. I've seen better Photoshop from readers on this site.

I definitely agree with Jim about the AirPort Express. Even if you get 4 of them for 4 separate rooms, you only spend $400 (plus some decent speakers that can hook up to a 3.5mm jack) instead of $920 (assuming that the $130 is for a pair of speakers plus the actual dock.) For a savings of $520, I would rather be able to control my music from my iPhone that is in my pocket anyways and possibly have to buy some speakers. And in the rooms I want better music, I'd get a nice 2.1 set up that has powered sub for less than an extra speaker.

[Paul M @ Aug 22nd 2008 3:47AM]

it'd be nice if they also did s-air headphones, so that you can have speakers in the house but also wander round the garden listening to music too.
I wish there was a standardised slot for fitting a transmitter module to AV amps and TVs, so that it'd be easy and cheap to add cordless speakers to your system. Because different countries have different licensing, no manufacturer would want to build it in, but a proper ISO standard module would be ideal.

[maxperchus @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:03PM]

Does it implement Upnp ? 'cos a multiroom product without Upnp just sucks!!

[JMC @ Aug 22nd 2008 9:47AM]

I can't find anyinfo on the sony site about iphone compatability, nor can i find any oictures of S-AIRPLAY paired wit han iphone. what gives?

[Cal @ Aug 22nd 2008 9:40AM]

i have to say this is quite good looking.

[vikas @ Aug 23rd 2008 12:39AM]

I know there is someone else who believes that Apple products attract the feminine side and Sony knows that ;)

[papazano @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:16PM]

is it that hard to have an aux in for every speaker?

[Vink @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:51PM]

All the new Sony iPod players are iPhone ready. They don't need Airplane mode. Plus, it's the speakers that need to be shielded. Since they are across the room, you'd be good to go already. You wouldn't get that annoying GSM "buzz pop pop buzz crackle crackle buzz".

[Chris Spacecadet @ Aug 22nd 2008 3:53PM]

On the sony style site specifications, it lists this under capabilities (click on the '1'):

1. Compatible with iPod® 4th generation (color display), iPod 5th generation (video), iPod Mini 1st and 2nd generation, iPod Nano 1st generation, iPod Nano 2nd generation (aluminum), iPod Touch, iPod Nano 3rd generation (video) and iPod Classic.

I hope that it has iPhone 3G capability, but this does not look like it, regardless of the p-chopped photo (and it is a p-chopped photo)

here is the link:
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665518556

[Vink @ Aug 22nd 2008 2:02PM]

I guess he saw an Apple product and his trolling nature took over and had to throw a little hate. Wonder if he knows this is about Sony?

[ontop @ Jan 21st 2009 7:46AM]

An additional speaker phone feature would be nice for iPhone users.

[distordz @ Aug 23rd 2008 3:01PM]

You can see an iPhone/iTouch app whos gives the illusion of a 3d hologram jumping off the screen on http://www.ilogan.info/?p=739