Vinyl turns high-tech for Sony at CES

If you needed any further proof that vinyl was back, Sony’s CES press conference should have provided it.

While much of the event concentrated on 4K products from TVs to projectors and video cameras, the company also revealed a new record turntable that supports High-Res audio.

The PS-HX500 allows you to record your vinyl to your computer in high resolution, preserving your music and making it available to one of Sony’s high-res audio players.

it's yet another product supporting the standard that Sony has been pushing with its range of compatible players and headphones.

"The return to the vinyl LP reaches across generations," Mike Fasulo, chief operating officer at Sony Electronics, said.

At CES, the company debuted its expanded range of H.ear high resolution products, from wireless headphones to mini speakers.

Unveiling the new products, Mr Fasulo said the company had a passion “for never accepting just good enough, but rather enhancing how you see hear and share life”.

“It’s not about turning up the volume, it’s about dialling up the sound quality.”

On the visual side of things, the company responded to the challenge laid down by rivals LG and Samsung earlier in the day, revealing a slimmed down Bravia TV.

Sony also plans to launch Ultra, a service that will be available in the US for customers to buy and stream ultra high definition content on its compatible Bravia TVs.

“Two years ago I said, 4K for the price of 2K. Last year, I said 4K for 1K,” Mr Fasulo said. “This year I say, 4K for everyone. I know it’s weak, but that’s all I have.”

Among the products on display at Sony’s booth is a portable ultra short throw projector, a wireless portable projector that can display images up to 80 inches in size.

Sony also plans to bring its LED bulb speaker and its glass LED illuminating sound speaker to the US by the summer.

Although it didn’t feature heavily in the pre-CES presentation, Sony is also getting set to release its virtual reality headset, PlayStation VR, in the coming months.

It’s all part of Sony’s move to establish itself throughout the home and consumers’ lives.

"This is a choice at Sony to stand out from the crowd, not simply to fit in," Sony president Kaz Hirai said. "This is a choice to make objects of sensation."