Hiroyuki Komuro
Sony Corporation Video & Sound Business Division V & S;
Business Development Division Content Solution & Service Development
Division General Manager
After joining Sony in 1991, after engaging in business equipment sales, engaged in sales engineering of CD mastering system. After that, we will provide production site support for Super Audio CD (SA-CD) release domestically and overseas. Currently in cooperation with record companies and music distribution companies, we are expanding the high reso market from the aspect of contents.
After joining Sony in 1991, after engaging in business equipment sales, engaged in sales engineering of CD mastering system. After that, we will provide production site support for Super Audio CD (SA-CD) release domestically and overseas. Currently in cooperation with record companies and music distribution companies, we are expanding the high reso market from the aspect of contents.
DSD 5.6 MHz How to enjoy live streaming delivery Hardware edition
DSD 5.6 MHz To enjoy live streaming delivery, a playback environment compatible with DSD is required. From high-res beginner to high-end user, Sony's Hiroyuki Komuro is familiar with listeners' know-how to listen to music with high sound quality. Find a style that suits yourself and jump into the rich world of high resolution sound sources.Basic knowledge of high resolution sound source
What is the definition of the high resolution sound source?
High resolution, that is, a sound source using high-definition sound data. As was the case with the words "high fidelity" and "hifi" so far, the desire to listen to music with good sound has been found in music fans of all ages. With the development of digital technology, the listening environment has been enhanced enough to enjoy high-definition sound sources even on smartphones, high-resolution sound sources have been drawing attention in recent years.What is the attraction of the high res?
The power of music is in the amount of information that the original sound source has. It is good to think that it is the attraction of high resorption that can enjoy it without limit. There are various ways to enjoy, but you can fully enjoy the goodness of the high resolution without having a big speaker at home. In 1999 Sony released SA-CD players about 500,000 yen. It was quite expensive to match the corresponding amplifier and speakers, but now every device is easy to purchase.What is the meaning of sound quality?
When digitizing an analog sound, how much finely acquired sound information per second is indicated by the index of sampling rate. Since the CD sampling rate is 44.1 kHz, it means that 44,100 analog signals are sampled every second. Sound data is recorded with 64 times the SACD and 128 times the DSD 5.6 MHz. The sound quality of YouTube depends on the content, but compression is the mainstream, and even relatively good sound quality is about a quarter of CD. Because there is such a big difference, the difference in sound quality can be clearly seen by everyone.Are there many seniors for high-res fans?
There are a lot of fans of seniors, but it is actually popular among young people. When delivery of high reso music started at the official WALKMAN music store "mora", the high respirator lovers were predicted to be mostly elderly people who prefer classical, jazz, classic rock etc. Actually, however, it turned out that half of the users were young people in their 20s to 30s, and the popularity of J Pop and animation series was also high. Earlier this year, the company also began distributing DSD sound sources, and the number of young musicians who stick to DSD is on the rise.
Create an environment to enjoy high res sound sources
How can high-res beginners enjoy high resolution sound sources with minimal expense?
It is the WALKMAN "A series" for high responders who can easily listen to high-res music files by those who do not have playback equipment. The built-in memory capacity is 32 GB and it is deployed in a price range that is easy to purchase (about 25,000 yen (about tax excluded) in our online store). If you download the high resolution sound source and listen with high resolution headphones, it is enough for the introductory use. The first person will surely be surprised by the good sound quality.What do I need to listen on smartphones and PCs?
As a headphone amplifier compatible with DSD, Sony also sells PHA-2 and PHA-3. It is a common style to connect to WALKMAN, smart phone, PC etc via USB, listen with headphones plugged in. We also have many headphones compatible with high resolution. For example, Sony's MDR-1A is a product oriented towards high resorption, sticking to the feeling of attachment to the ear. Also, the PHA-3 has balanced terminals with separate plugs for the left and right channels, so you can enjoy a delicate sound with increased sense of separation by using headphones that support balanced connections. The user of the headphone amplifier is like taking out a reduced version of the audio at home to the outside, and music is enjoyed with high sound quality even outside.
What is the environment required to enjoy DSD live streaming delivery?
First of all, on the premise that you have a computer, you need a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that connects the USB to the computer and converts the DSD signal to analog. Actually, the above-mentioned headphone amplifier also functions as a DAC, so if there is only one, DAC is unnecessary. Software for playing can be downloaded for free from the site dedicated to live streaming delivery this time.What kind of speakers do you recommend?
When enjoying a live streaming sound source, it is key to express the realism that conveys the sound field of the concert as it is rather than the size of the speaker. Sony manufactures speakers with super tweeters that have increased the expressiveness of high frequencies, and we are preparing from the 40,000 yen level those that feel high-definition sound quality like DSD. To enjoy the atmosphere of the concert venue in the near future, headphones are also nice, but we would like you to try the speakers as well. This time DSD 5.6 MHz live streaming delivery is a good opportunity to create an environment that can reproduce DSD sound quality by aligning DAC and speaker.Enjoy music more than ever with high sound quality
Has the way of enjoying music change?
The flow of encountering my favorite music when I was young and becoming enjoyable in earnest is still unchanged. However, most of the modern 10 to 20's will purchase songs by download, not LP or CD. Or even more opportunities to know music free of charge through YouTube and the Internet without even purchasing increased. Meanwhile, there was also a request from musicians who put in the spirit and making music to want music to be delivered with better sound.Is there a growing number of people who want to listen with high sound quality?
As some people listen to headphones that make over 100,000 yen on smartphones, demand for high sound quality is rising. When enjoying music with mobile devices, it is difficult to remodel the device itself, so we will devise a peripheral device. The number of listeners that put portable headphone amplifiers also increased between playback equipment and headphones. Since the amount of information of the digital file itself does not change, it is the key to how to play it without waste. I am feeling a growing momentum to listen to music with better sound quality, in line with the enhancement of peripheral equipment.
What is the change in consumer trend across the music industry?
Although the overall market of AV equipments is on a declining trend, high value-added product development including high responding is progressing mainly in Japan and Asia, and market trends of each product are rising and changing.There are also fast-growing categories such as sound bars for listening to the sound of televisions firmly, headphones, wireless speakers and so on. As content, not only the download but also the number of people enjoying streaming, the music festival is extremely popular all over the world. While packaged media is decreasing, live and concerts are on the rise, and I feel that people who enjoy music as a whole are not decreasing.
Is the enhancement of the high resolution sound source advanced?
In 2013, high resolution distribution of "mora" began with 600 titles. It is now over 5,000 titles. Even Label Gate which runs mora is enriching the lineup of the high resolution in various genres. Even among online sales, the presence of high resorcement is increasing more and more. Even overseas, the label that sticks to the sound will appear more and more. Both old and new, high sound quality is becoming a new standard.How will the future of music change with a high resolution sound source?
The scene of music production was an environment where high resolution could be produced for a long time. However, as the leading role in distribution was CD, there was also the reality that it is only necessary to convert and distribute the sound quality accordingly and distribute it. It has become an era where the sound of the sound of the recording site and the sounds the artists and engineers are listening at the studio can be delivered as it is, with the help of the development of the Internet. Works that you built in the studio for weeks, too, are the perfect content to enjoy live tone generators that convey vibrations for a lifetime for high-res. Please feel the future of wonderful music with this time DSD 5.6 MHz live streaming delivery.
