Audio Video News

Hoping to bring Hi-Res Music to an audience beyond audiophiles, executives from Sony, Best Buy, and three major record labels gathered at Best Buy’s flagship Magnolia Design Center store on New York City’s Columbus Circle this evening to announce that Hi-Res listening stations have been installed in 79 Magnolia Design Center stores across the country.

The kiosk—equipped with two Walkman players, a headphone amplifier, headphones, and an informational tablet—enables customers to experience brief clips from about 40 hi-res music recordings from labels including, Warner, Universal, and Sony Music. The tablet provides information about the benefits of Hi-Res Audio general, along with music discographies and video testimonials. Magnolia plans to update the track list at least quarterly, officials said.

Donning Sony’s MDRZ7 headphones ($700), I scrolled through several tracks on the high-end NW-ZX2 Walkman ($1,200) before landing on the Beach Boys landmark album Pet Sounds (96/24, 192/24) where I quickly became mesmerized by the lush production and spacious soundstage of “God Only Knows.”

“It’s time to take Hi-Res Audio to the next level and expand to a broader market of music enthusiasts,” said Mike Fasulo, president and COO of Sony Electronics, noting that the key to success is a quality demonstration and knowledgeable salespeople who can explain the benefits of high-resolution music.

At the event, Sony Music announced that between December 1 and January 16, 2016 those who buy a Sony NWZ-A17 or NW-ZX2 Hi-Res Walkman player will receive through HDtracks a free high-resolution download of Carrie Underwood’s latest album Storyteller.

For more information on Hi-Res Audio, see our just published “Guide to Hi-Res Audio”.

To find a Magnolia Design Center near you, visit magnoliaav.com and click on the Locations tab.

Also see “Music Retailers Adopt Hi-Res Logo”.