AN IMMERSIVE hybrid headphone amplifier and stereo system that’s perfect for any room, Sony CAS-1 High-Resolution Audio system might look small but its sound is large and of a quality that will blow you away.
It can sit by your desktop or notebook computer and reproduce high-quality music from Hi-Res audio files either through the matching High-Res headphones or through its two compact speakers.
The CAS-1 audio system features dual-amps and separate speakers to accurately recreate original soundspaces for the ultimate in hi-res audio experiences.
I tried it with Sony MDR-1ABT Hi-Res headphones, and I found that it played even the more subtle notes, helping me pick up details on Roger Waters’ “The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking” even at low volumes. I also tested it with Hi-Res 24bit/192 kHz files, which have five times music resolution than an audio CD.
To ensure high-quality sounds, the CAS-1 boasts a reinforced chassis frame with beams designed to prevent casing and circuit board kinks and enhance sound quality. The main unit has a footprint of only 55x178x210mm and each of its speakers measure 95x178x172mm – perfect for sitting beside your notebook. Despite these compact sizes, the CAS-1 filled my large living room with good-quality sounds.
The CAS-1 also pleases when you are sitting at your desk. The two speakers point 8-degrees upwards to ensure sound quality when you are seated 75 to 200 cm away. By tilting the separate speakers into the optimal position, they deliver better sound straight to the ears, without unwanted reflection or interference.
To allow you to enjoy excellent acoustics in a small space without troublesome adjustments, the CAS-1 audio system comes with accessories especially designed to avoid interference and deliver high-resolution audio in the near field – defined as the area between 75 and 200 cm from the separate speakers. All you need to do to mitigate excess reflection is to install the included brass spikes to elevate speakers and the included 5-mm-thick steel speaker base attachments.
The CAS-1 has incredible deep bass too thanks to its 62-mm rigid carbon fibre cone woofers. The clarity comes courtesy of 14-mm Soft Dome Tweeters.
It uses electronic volume (NJW1194 ) with high sound quality to minimise noise and distortion when lowering volume, resulting in less deterioration of the sound quality.
For its headphone amplifier function, the CAS-1 uses the same 32-bit high-precision digital to analogue converter (DAC) used in Sony’s acclaimed HAP-Z1ES Hi-Res audio player. This DAC extracts high-resolution audio detailed sound field information from sound sources in its entirety, producing a fuller, richer sound.
The CAS-1 also uses the same excellent headphone amplifier used in the high-precision Sony PHA-2 Portable High-Resolution Audio DAC/Headphone Amplifier to drive headphone sound powerfully and precisely.
The front of the CAS-1 features a robust 3.5-mm mini plug headphone port made from high-quality metal parts. These ensure that your headphone jack fits snugly and securely each and every time, staying in place for a stable connection to prevent distortion and deliver uncompromising sound quality.
The CAS-1 also comes with adjustable gain control. You use the headphone gain toggle switch to match impedance to your headphone type, thus enhancing the listening experience for headphones of varying impedance.
To use the headphone amplifier, you must connect the CAS-1 to your computer, using the provided USB |cable and install the driver software. You can then |stream hi-res music to the CAS-1, using Sony’s own software.
The CAS-1 has a select switch to change its functions between Bluetooth speakers and headphone amplifier. Apart from the main USB-B terminal port for connecting to a PC, it also has a front USB-A port for connecting to an MP3 player that supports music streaming through the USB port.
To use it as a Bluetooth speaker, you must pair it with your smartphone, which is easy thanks to NFC. I had no trouble using the NFC function to pair the CAS-1 to both my smartphones.
Moreover, the CAS-1 also supports Sony’s LDAC wireless streaming technology, a new audio technology that allows you to enjoy high quality wireless audio via Bluetooth. With triple the data transmitted, LDAC provides an enhanced wireless listening experience for all your music.
I tried the LDAC connection with Sony NW-A25 Walkman and was impressed by the quality of the music.
Of course perfection doesn’t come cheap. Sony CAS-1 High-Resolution Audio system has a suggested retail price of Bt35,900.
Key Specs
– Speaker type: 2 way, 2 drivers speaker system , Bass reflex
– Speaker size: Tweeter: 14 mm, soft dome type, Woofer: 62 mm, cone type
– Input and output terminals: Headphone Out, Speaker Output, USB A, USB B
– Bluetooth spec: 2.4 GHz band (2.4000 GHz – 2.4835 GHz)
– Main Unit dimensions: Approx. 55x178x210 mm
– Speaker Unit dimensions: Approx. 95x178x172 mm
– Main Unit weight: Approximately 1.3 kg
– Speaker unit weight: Approximately 1.5 kg
This source first appeared on The Nation Life.