O.K. So you're an audio enthusiast with a multi thousand dollar esoteric hi fi system at home. Only you like to travel, and there's no way 100 odd kilo's of gear are going to find a place in your samsonite.
Now here's a solution for all you music lovers out there who have been looking desperately for a portable system that adheres to higher fidelity standards: the Sony srs-Z1.They are very pleasing to the eye, but it's sound that we're concerned about, so I'll get right down to it.
Sweetness and clarity are the first things that spring to mind when describing these beauties.Absolutely no coloration in the mids, no boominess, and lacking that jarring harshness most associated with portables.Listening to the soundtrack from 'the mission', the voices were projected with a room filling strength that far belies it's meagre 3 watts per channel rating.The stereo focus was sharp, and voices were placed dead centre.
And this from a listening position about 10ft. away from the speakers!
It definitely lacks a bottom end, but more than makes up for it through its sheer musicality and yes, transparency.These are words normally reserved to describe expensive speakers within the main system, but I have no hesitation in using them here.
I was able to do a comparative listening test with the more expensive and heavier box like sony 1000Z, and the srs-Z1 win hands down.Sony claims to use a special bio-cellulose blended into the central part of the diaphragm for strength and lightness as well as using OFC copper lead polyester film capacitors in the amplifier for better clarity.
It seems whoever designed these at sony has an ear for sound.
There is definitely room for improvement- a compact subwoofer would take care of that thin bottom end, and dare I let my imagination fly...A couple of tubes and a remote?? That would definitely make it a dream hi end portable!!!
But back to earth for the moment, if you are looking for a portable hi end sound, this is it!
One other drawback- It only runs on a 9 volt adaptor, so if you are travelling to places (as i do) where electricity is still a vague notion, it might do well to improvise a battery pack.
(sony- are you listening ? )
