Sony SRS-RA5000 360 Speaker Review: An Expensive Experiment

Sony SRS-RA5000 360 speakers

"A fascinating but expensive speaker that doesn't quite live up to the hype."

  • Easy adjustment

  • Crystal clear sound

  • Chromecast support

  • Works with Google Assistant / Amazon Alexa

  • Expensive

  • Polarizing design

  • Difficult placement requirements

  • Overwhelming 360 RA effects

  • No hi-fi bluetooth codecs

When Sony unveiled its 360 Reality Audio (360 RA) music technology – a stunning 3D format designed to restore listening to live music – the only way to hear it was through headphones.

Starting in March, you can now listen to 360 RA tracks aloud through two models of wireless speakers: The Small Room for $ 300 Sony SRS-RA3000 and the much larger $ 700 SRS-RA5000.

They're both designed to optimize 360 ​​RA playback, but also have the ability to make regular stereo tracks an even more immersive experience if you so choose.

Sony was kind enough to send Digital Trends a RA5000 to try out. So we tested the unusual looking speaker to see if it actually offered a listening experience worth investing in.

What's in the box?

Sony SRS-RA5000 360 speakersSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sony keeps things simple with the RA5000. In the fully recyclable box you will find the speaker, its power supply and a collection of printed materials such as a quick start guide, safety information and warranty documentation. It's a bit of a surprise – especially considering the $ 700 price tag – that Sony didn't use a 3.5mm cable or two, but you might be expected to buy one when you need it.

With its copper-grilled speakers; curvy body wrapped in cloth; and tall stature, it will be controversial.

design

Sony SRS-RA5000 360 speakersSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

In recent years, Sony has been enthusiastic about black or anthracite-colored devices with copper accents. You can find this color scheme on the WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones and the excellent WF-1000XM3 wireless earphones, but the most bombastic display comes with the RA5000.

With his trio of copper-grilled step-up speakers; his curvy body wrapped in cloth; I suspect it will be a controversial purchase. I really like the way it looks, but my family members are divided about the aesthetics.

If a speaker isn't your cup of tea in terms of design, you can usually just stick it in a bookcase or in a corner behind a plant. That won't fly with the RA5000.

Although it can fill a room with sound from almost any position, the closer you get to it in a central location, the better able it is to accomplish its mission of true 360-degree sound.

However, this raises two questions: How can you supply a central location with electricity (there is no on-board battery) and how do you disguise the enormous power supply module?

Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to either question. For my assessment, I simply placed the RA5000 on a coffee table and let the power cord dangle over the edge. A nearby extension cord under my couch served as a power source, but the trip hazard it created (not to mention how unsightly it looked) means it would never work as a permanent place.

There are a total of six touch-sensitive buttons along the top edges that allow you to access the most frequently used functions such as playback, volume, source, Bluetooth on / off / pairing and sound calibration.

Sony does not include a remote control, presumably because a phone is required to use the RA5000.

Another difficult aspect of the RA5000 design is the use of metal grids over the three high-boosting drivers. These thin shields are eye-catching, but seem to be very easy to dent. Our test device arrived with a very noticeable and a slightly smaller bruise. This is something to keep in mind if you want to put the speaker in a very central location (exactly where Sony suggests it).

Setup and configuration

The Sony Music Center app serves as a guide for configuring the RA5000 and gives you access to settings such as EQ and turning the speaker’s Immersive Audio Enhancement mode on and off. You can also use it to trigger the speaker's automatic sound calibration. However, this can also be done using the touch-sensitive controls that line the upper edge of the housing.

Using the SRS-RA5000 as a Bluetooth speaker is a breeze. Just long press the power button to enter pairing mode, then select the speaker from your phone's Bluetooth device list.

To get the most of it, we recommend that you take the extra step of adding it to the Google Home app so that you can enjoy Chromecast audio.

This opens up all the functions that make the RA5000 unique: It enables 360 RA streaming, which is not supported via Bluetooth. This allows you to stream stereo tracks with much higher quality (up to CD quality), which is also not possible via Bluetooth. Finally, if you have other Chromecast-enabled devices, you can manage the speaker as part of a larger multiroom audio system. If you have a Google Assistant smart speaker, you can use your voice to control the RA5000.

Amazon Alexa users can also control the speaker using voice commands by adding the RA5000 as a device in the Amazon Alexa app.

Sound quality

Sony SRS-RA5000 360 speakersSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The SRS-RA5000 is a speaker with a mission: to enable people to listen to Sony 360 RA music without headphones, while “upgrading” their non-360 RA sources for an even more immersive sound experience. Given the high price tag, these two scenarios should better be fantastic. Otherwise it will be difficult to give the RA5000 our recommendation.

I just don't appreciate what 360 RA brings to the noisy listening experience.

To really get a feel for how it handles these tasks, I created several playlists in the Tidal app. I started by searching through Tidal's 360 RA track library for songs I'd heard countless times before – Heart's Barracuda, Billy Joel's Big Shot, Pharrell Williams' Happy, and Dave Brubeck's Take Five. Then I added the standard HiFi stereo versions of these tracks so I could easily switch back and forth between the two formats.

I also listened to these stereo versions with and without Sony's Immersive Audio Enhancement feature.

Sony SRS-RA5000 360 speakersSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The judgment? The RA5000 does a good job rendering 360 RA tracks with its signature open-air ambient sound. The up and side firing drivers add both width and height to these songs, making for an even more immersive experience than listening to the stereo version, even when using Immersive Audio Enhancement. Not sure if you are actually hearing 360 RA audio? An LED indicator light under the speaker glows cyan when the format is recognized.

But as noticeable as the effect is, I just don't appreciate what 360 RA brings to the loud listening experience. I find that opening up and “stretching” the music to fill the room with sound tends to hollow out the recordings. Intimate details in the mids that I know own these tracks are harder to spot. Lushness and immediacy give way to the ambience, and I think a lot of the songs don't survive this transition intact. Then there is the question of consistency. It turns out that not all 360 RA tracks are the same.

The upward and side fire drivers give these songs both breadth and height, making for an even more immersive experience.

Fire up the 360 ​​RA version of Heart's Barracuda, and the RA5000 does an excellent job of making the iconic rapid-fire guitar licks fill the room. But Ann Wilson's normally soul-piercing vocals sound like she's singing with her back to the audience.

Big Shot loses much of the deep bass thrumming that gives this song so much of its nuance, which is very strange given that the RA5000 is more than capable of producing excellent bass response.

Pharrell Williams' Happy 360 RA is a much better mix, and on the RA5000 at least, it's more fun to listen to than the stereo version. But I still prefer the way this song sounds when played on a traditional stereo pair of speakers. Only Dave Brubeck's Take Five sounded much better in its 360 RA version.

Is this an inherent problem with the 360 ​​RA format? I do not believe that. Some of the above issues can also be heard when listening with headphones. With headphones, however, the spatial rendering is much better controlled and can better convince your brain that the songs are being played by a band on stage in an open space.

The RA5000, despite its 360 degree driver suite, still acts as a very identifiable sound source, reducing the effectiveness of the 360 ​​RA spatial audio effect.

Now, if you gave me a choice between the 360 ​​RA tracks that play on the $ 700 RA5000 and Dolby Atmos Music tracks that play on the $ 800 Sonos Arc soundbar, I'd be Atmos take on the arc every day.

One thing that particularly confused me about the RA5000 is the Bluetooth capabilities. According to Sony, the speaker is designed for high resolution audio, which means it can accurately reproduce frequencies from 20 Hz to 40 kHz. The problem is that only SBC and AAC bluetooth codecs are supported, neither of which can carry high resolution audio.

That would be a bit understandable if there wasn't a better Bluetooth codec. But there is and Sony invented it. LDAC is one of only two Bluetooth codecs recognized as high definition by the Japan Audio Society. However, for reasons known only to Sony, the RA5000's LDAC was not supported.

More than music?

Sony SRS-RA5000 360 speakersSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Comparing it to the Sonos Arc soundbar raises another consideration: for $ 700, can this $ 700 spatial audio speaker do anything other than let you listen to streaming music?

The answer: it depends. You can connect the RA5000 to a newer Sony Bravia TV via Bluetooth. According to Sony, a signal is delivered with very low latency, which means that the audio and video remain well synchronized. However, Bluetooth doesn't allow for multi-channel audio like 5.1 or 7.1, and it definitely lacks the bandwidth required for Dolby Atmos, which is a huge missed opportunity given the RA5000's upstream drivers.

The TV connection feels like an afterthought. It is not officially endorsed by any other TV brand. Since the RA5000 has neither an HDMI port nor an optical port, it is pretty clear that Sony would prefer to use this speaker primarily for listening to music.

Our opinion

The $ 700 Sony SRS-RA5000 is a bold experiment – an eye-catching design that aims to bring immersive live music sound to rooms of all sizes. However, this experiment is not entirely successful, making the RA5000 difficult to recommend.

Is there a better alternative?

For a lot less money the $ 200 Amazon Echo Studio uses a similar multidirectional driver setup to support 3D sound formats like Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 RA. Plus, it can be connected via WiFi to select Fire TV streaming devices for home theater sound, and it's a full-fledged smart speaker from Amazon Alexa. It can't match the overall clarity and depth of the RA5000, but it's pretty impressive for the price.

For a traditional wireless speaker that's $ 700 Denon Home 350 has many of the same features (other than spatial audio) and offers bigger, bolder, more powerful sound, as well as decent stereo separation.

How long it will take?

Sony builds high quality products and the SRS-RA5000 is no exception. Since there is no internal battery to worry about and an additional analog input is no longer available, it should function without any problems for many years as long as you take care not to damage it (e.g. by accidentally pulling the power cord).

Should you buy it?

No. With the SRS-RA5000's unique design, cumbersome placement requirements, and high price tag, only those who want to experiment deeply with Sony's 360 Reality Audio should take the plunge.

Editor's recommendations




Nokia 8 V 5G UW Review: Phone Is Just Too Expensive

Nokia 8 V UW

"The Nokia 8 V UW is a solid proposition but is beaten by tough competition for the same price or less."

  • Great camera

  • Long lasting battery

  • Solid display

  • Retired Software

  • Too expensive

  • No water resistance

  • 60Hz display

Right now, 5G is all the rage. With networks claiming "nationwide" coverage and phone companies putting "5G" in the name of every new phone, it makes sense that you think this is a big deal. One day it will be, but for now, you face a decision: should you get a 5G compatible phone now, although it won't be really revolutionary for you, or should you wait until 5G really matters?

Nokia thinks you should do the former. The company recently unveiled the Nokia 8.3 5G, its first 5G-enabled version. With the new Nokia 8 V 5G UW, this device goes one step further. (Yes, it's a mouthful.)

The new device is the first carrier-focused phone from HMD Global, whose name "Ver" stands for Verizon. The rest of the name is pretty standard – aside from the fact that the UW stands for "Ultra-Broadband". Right, this phone supports Verizon's 5G mmWave network.

Other than that, however, the phone is no different from the original Nokia 8.3. It even costs the same at $ 699. Here are my thoughts after a few days on the phone. Note: As the phone is so similar to the standard Nokia 8.3, we are not doing a full review. You can read our full review of the Nokia 8.3 here.

The good

The Nokia 8.3 V 5G UW is a relatively large phone with a 6.81-inch display and 1080p resolution. It's not the highest resolution, but it supports HDR always on, gets nice and bright, and is definitely sharp enough for most uses.

There are relatively thin bezels all around the display, although the chin at the bottom is quite large for a 2020 device.

The rest of the design is modern but doesn't stand out as much aside from the big old round camera on the back. There's a fingerprint reader to the side, which is fast and responsive, and there's a headphone jack at the bottom that's easy to see. There is a hole punch cutout in the top left of the display.

Nokia 8v 5g uw rating 7

nokia 8 v 5g uw review 1

The phone comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, plus 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It's powerful enough for most tasks, and while it's not quite as nimble as an 8-series processor, the vast majority of users won't notice a difference.

The power is supplied by a 4,500 mAh battery, with which you can easily work for a whole day. Many people can work for two days. The phone comes with Android 10 and gets Android 11. Unfortunately, updates beyond Android 11 are not displayed, which is a major disadvantage compared to the competition.

The overall software experience is pretty low-key, but the Verizon-ness undo this a bit. Immediately after setting up your phone, there will be four Verizon apps on the home screen that you need to deal with. You cannot delete them either. So the most you can do is do it in your app drawer.

The camera is a four lens camera and is great. There are four sensors on the back, including a 64-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The photos are vivid and bright, with lots of detail most of the time, especially in low light. I would have loved to see a telephoto lens instead of a macro sensor, and the macro sensor isn't great, but those are really the only complaints that need to be made about the camera.

The bad

I've really only focused on the good things about this phone so far, but there are some bad things too – and those bad things essentially mean that you should avoid the phone entirely.

Let's talk about 5G very quickly. There are two types to watch out for: Sub-6, which can travel long distances but doesn't necessarily get that fast, and mmWave, which is very fast but can't travel distances or penetrate obstacles. This phone supports both, especially on Verizon. But you really shouldn't care – Verizon's mmWave is pretty much irrelevant right now, and while you can get widespread Sub-6 connectivity, it's not that fast yet and won't change much in how you use a phone. In my area, Verizon's Sub-6 5G is available and relatively fast, but not much faster than a good LTE connection.

Then there's the price – and it's the real killer. At $ 700, the phone is a little tough to sell. Sure, there are good things and the camera is great, but you could buy a Google Pixel 4a 5G instead, which is significantly $ 200 less than this device and has better software support, a camera that is at least as good as no better , the same processor and more. MmWave isn't supported, but that shouldn't matter – and if you're really into mmWave, you can get the Verizon variant of the Pixel 4a 5G, which is $ 600. That's still $ 100 less than the Nokia 8 V UW.

Our opinion

The Nokia 8 V 5G UW is by no means a bad phone. It's relatively powerful, with a nice big screen, great camera, and pared-back software experience. But the price is just not right. Nokia and Verizon are charging a premium for 5G, and it's not worth it to venture into just yet.

The only way this phone makes sense is when (or more likely when) Verizon decides to give it a huge discount as part of the latest vacation or add-a-line promotion. It wouldn't be surprising if the Nokia 8 V UW was available for around $ 450 in a few months if added to a financing plan, and at that point it's dramatically more enticing.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. If you're looking to save some cash, you'll get a better experience with the Google Pixel 4a 5G, which costs $ 200 less for the unlocked model or $ 100 less for the Verizon mmWave model. However, buy the unlocked model – you won't have to worry about mmWave for a few more years and it will still work flawlessly with Verizon.

If you don't mind spending $ 700 and are simply looking for the best phone you can get, then go for the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, which has a better processor, great camera, and price. Or you can get the new iPhone 12 Mini, which is more powerful than any Android phone currently on the market and comes in a nice pocket size.

How long it will take?

The Nokia 8 V 5G UW should be updated for two years, so only one major software update is guaranteed. It's also not waterproof, so do your best to keep it out of water.

Should you buy one?

No, you should look into that Galaxy S20 FE, Pixel 4a 5G, or iPhone 12 Mini instead.

Editor's recommendations




BeatsX Review: Expensive, But Maybe Still Worth It

Beats BeatsX wireless earbuds

Beatsx wireless headphones

"Though expensive for what you get, they're stylish, comfortable, and a joy to use."

  • Very convenient

  • Decent sound quality

  • Excellent call quality

  • Easy pairing with Apple products

  • A bit expensive for what you get

  • The battery life is no longer competitive

  • Not good for Android users

Apple's own Beats range of wireless headphones are perhaps best known for their large and bold studio over-ear model and its smaller sibling, the Solo Pro, but Beats offers more than big doses.

Take the $ 100 BeatsX, for example. Since their introduction in 2017, they have been the cheapest, arguably the most wearable beats you can buy.

But can the small and simple BeatsX hold its own in a world now dominated by true wireless earbuds (including Beats' own Powerbeats Pro)?

Time to find out.

What's in the box?

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The BeatsX comes in a simple box and sleeve. The only reference to plastic is the small black retail hanger loop and packaging that contains the optional three sizes of silicone earbuds. The rest is easily recyclable.

You will receive paper documentation such as the quick setup guide and a Beats sticker. A short USB to lightning charging cable is the only other accessory.

Apple does not include a travel bag or bag for the BeatsX. You must therefore find a safe way to store them when not in use.

design

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Beats products are usually flashy things with bold colors, shiny plastics, and wide headbands that are instantly recognizable from a distance.

But unless you go for the bright red and black color scheme, the BeatsX are subtle compared to their cousins. In the other two colors – silver and black – the only shiny surfaces are on the earbuds themselves, which are essentially hidden when worn.

The BeatsX use a hybrid cable design that combines a flat, tangle-free wire and a thicker, rubberized section around the neck that springs back into its U-shape no matter how hard you twist and turn it.

At both ends of the U there are elongated plastic housings that house the battery, electronics (including the W1 Bluetooth chip developed by Apple), as well as the charging port and power / pairing button.

Thanks to the combination of the rubberized coating and the dimensionally stable properties of the U-profile, the BeatsX stays in position – especially when it comes into contact with bare skin.

With just eight hours of battery life, the BeatsX are slowly showing their age.

The earbuds are closed together with magnets, which makes storage a little easier. However, I found it more useful when I took out the earbuds and used the magnets to prevent the buds from jumping around independently.

Despite the huge popularity of true wireless earbuds (not least thanks to Apple's other line of personal audio products, AirPods), the BeatsX are a reminder that there is still a reason to buy wired wireless earbuds.

There's no need to lug around a charging case, worry about where to put the earbuds when they're not in your ears, and the built-in control buttons on the right cord are easier to use than even the best touch controls.

Battery life

Beats BeatsX wireless earbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Another benefit of the BeatsX design should be battery life. With a lot more room in these plastic cases for a large battery than real wireless earbuds, the standard for this type of design is now anywhere from 15 hours (Beats Powerbeats 4) to 20 hours (1More Dual Driver ANC Pro). But after just eight hours, the BeatsX show their age.

But it's also the case that Apple's true wireless earbuds, the AirPods and AirPods Pro, only need about five hours before they need more juice. So when it comes to the length of a single session, the BeatsX are still an improvement.

With the BeatsX, you don't get a charging case to extend the battery life, but it only takes five minutes to charge to use another two hours.

I would like the BeatsX to give audible feedback about the battery status when it is switched on. Instead, you get two types of visual ads. The on / off switch on the neckband glows white if you have up to eight hours left (but this can mean anywhere from 1.5 to a full eight hours) and red if you have an hour or less left.

The more informative display is on an iOS device, where you can view the remaining power as a percentage right in the control center. The same information is available to Android users, but only when you open the free Beats app for Android.

Convenience, control and connections

Beats BeatsX wireless earbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Wired bluetooth earbuds are often more comfortable than their true wireless counterparts because the earbuds are basically just the drivers that produce the sound. So they are much smaller and lighter. For me, this was certainly the case for the BeatsX, which did an admirable job of sitting comfortably and securely in my ears.

The neck portion of the BeatsX is so light it's easy to forget you're wearing a wired set of buds in the first place. Except for the actual wires, of course.

These tangle-free flat wires are a treat, but you need to be careful not to twist them. By default, they stay away from your face, but if you grab an earbud that happened to be twisted the wrong way, the opposite happens and the wires are suddenly very shabby with your cheeks.

The inline controls are instantly familiar to you if you've ever used Apple's wired EarPods. The three-button module (which also contains the microphone) gives you access to all the most frequently used functions: play / pause, volume up / down, answer / end call, skip track forwards / backwards and voice assistant.

It's a really clever design too, as any button can be pressed with a press of your thumb and forefinger, regardless of which direction the buttons are facing.

Apple fans will love how Bluetooth works on the BeatsX. To pair them, simply turn them on a few inches from an unlocked iOS device with iOS 10 or later and you'll be instantly notified that your BeatsX are just a tap away from setup.

And while they don't have a true Bluetooth multipoint (which allows you to connect them to two devices at the same time), Apple's multipoint version is almost as good, so you can switch between Macs, iPhones, and iPads with just one click.

They deliver a lot of punch through the low and high frequencies, the kind of EQ that compliments rap and hip hop.

Finally, the BeatsX are also compatible with Apple's audio sharing feature, which allows two headphones or earphones equipped with W1 or H1 to listen to content from an iOS device at the same time.

Unfortunately, these three Bluetooth functions are not available for Android. Class 1 Bluetooth performance is available to all BeatsX buyers, giving them tremendous range compared to most non-Apple wireless headphones. Class 1 devices can operate up to 328 feet under perfect conditions – almost ten times further than class 2 devices.

The only thing really missing is a wear sensor so your music can automatically pause when you pull out an earbud. However, this is a rarity outside of the real world of wireless earbuds.

Sound quality

Beats BeatsX wireless earbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The BeatsX may not look like other Beats products, but you can be rest assured that you're still getting the full bass-forward sound signature that has become the brand's sound card.

They deliver plenty of punch through the low and high frequencies, just the kind of EQ that compliments rap, hip hop, and a variety of club and EDM subgenres.

They also get impressively loud when this is your cup of tea (try not to overeat, your ears will thank you later).

But the BeatsX, as the price suggests, won't be everything for everyone, at least from a sound quality standpoint. Your midrange range suffers from a lack of separation and definition, one of the clearest signs that these are not high-end earphones. There is also a flatness and narrowness in the soundstage – a sense that all of the individual elements are huddled together instead of taking up a larger virtual "space" in your head.

For $ 100, this isn't a deal breaker, and I don't think most BeatsX buyers will be put off by it. Still, these are not the wireless earbuds for you, if you want to sit back and relax in your own place and immerse yourself in all the details of your favorite songs.

These are great wireless earbuds that you can use to answer calls in all kinds of environments.

For that pursuit, you need to look up the food chain in the $ 150-250 range.

Call quality

Beats BeatsX wireless earbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

If you are unsure whether or not the BeatsX is for you, this may help: The BeatsX offer great call quality. Maybe I've just gotten used to the somewhat overwhelming call performance of most true wireless earbuds, but I can't get over how good these earbuds sound.

I suspect it has everything to do with the microphone placement. The BeatsX position their microphone much closer to the source of your voice (i.e. your mouth) than real radio buds can hope for, and this pays off in two ways.

First, your voice is just clearer. There is no distortion, no wobbly effects that I associate with these devices. Second, because your voice is closer, the headphones' background noise suppression circuitry doesn't have to work as hard to amplify it while everything else is reduced.

These are great wireless earbuds that you can use to answer calls in all kinds of environments.

Our opinion

For $ 100, you can get a pretty decent set of real wireless earbuds these days. Still, because of their convenience, good battery life, and great Bluetooth connectivity and call quality, the BeatsX are worth considering, especially if you've already invested in the Apple ecosystem.

Is there a better alternative?

If you like the BeatsX design around your neck, there are two great alternatives. The cheaper JLab Epic ANC for $ 79 are comfortable and have incredible battery life, but they won't impress you with their noise cancellation or sound quality, while the more expensive 1More Dual Driver ANC Pro for $ 150 are a big step up, though You want a significant improvement in sound quality and ANC.

How long will they last?

The BeastX are very well built, with durable materials and connections. They come with an Apple one-year warranty that can be extended with an optional AppleCare purchase. I think they will last for many years with normal use, although you can expect the battery capacity to decrease over time.

Should you buy it?

If you're an Apple customer, yes. While the BeatsX is a little expensive for what you get, it still offers a number of good features and sound quality. Android users should probably look for alternatives.

Editor's recommendations