The contoured shape and meticulous construction of the SS-AR1 and AR2 enclosures help to control resonance and maintain a balanced, natural sound. What appears from the outside to be a single enclosure is actually divided inside by two thick pieces of birch separated by an air cavity. This creates two separate enclosures: one for the woofers and one for the midrange/tweeter.

Each sub-enclosure is also vented with a bass reflex port that's been carefully tuned and positioned to mitigate distortion and coloration.

From your listening chair, you can't see any of these extraordinary measures. But you can certainly hear them.
Next: The Drivers

Fabricating precision drivers for the SS-AR1 and AR2 required particular expertise. So the Sony team reached out to a transducer specialist in Scandinavia. Working in close collaboration, they produced a four-unit/three-way system that exceeded our high expectations.

The twin aluminum woofers are remarkably strong, with a robust magnetic circuit. A copper ring optimizes the symmetry of the magnetic field, reducing distortion. The SS-AR1 employs a pair of 200 mm woofers while the AR2 uses two 165 mm units.

The 130 mm midrange driver incorporates an exclusive sliced paper cone. The material is deliberately cut and re-adhered to suppress resonance and realize flat response.

The 25 mm soft dome tweeter includes a special back chamber, which smoothes out the air pressure behind the diaphragm and around the magnetic circuit. Six neodymium magnets arranged concentrically also produce high flux density in minimal space.

All of this results in a more realistic soundfield, helping music achieve an almost life-like presence.
Next: Interactive 3D Demo

Get an in-depth 3D view of the SS-AR Series from the inside out and visually explore the woodwork, accuracy of build, interior components, drivers and finish.