Attention Extreme Sports Fans: Sony's New S2 Sports Line Ready to be Pushed to the Edge

Business Wire, Feb 5, 2002

Business & High Tech Editors

PARK RIDGE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 2002

Imagine the spine-tingling feeling of the wind screaming past your ears, adrenaline racing through your body, music pumping in your veins.

This is the extreme life where Sony's new S2 Sports(TM) line of portable audio products fits perfectly. You name it - back country, rails, courts, roads - this gear is designed to perform virtually anywhere.

Created for the "fashion forward", the new S2(TM) line features a radical, pearl white and orange look. New ergonomic shapes and advanced features are the rage in the S2 Sports line which includes two CD Walkman(R) players, a Net MD(TM) Walkman recorder, a boombox, an armband radio and coordinating headphones.

For maximum performance, the creation of the S2 line is based on four key concepts: water resistance, reflective finish, active control and shock resistance.

"Sony led the way 15 years ago with the first line of sports electronics gear - which countless manufacturers have since tried to emulate," said Todd Schrader, Vice President of marketing for Sony Electronics' personal audio products. "As the definition of sports evolves, we have adapted our sports line to meet the needs of the more extreme Gen Y enthusiasts. As a result, the S2 line has an extreme look and cutting-edge features."

S2 Net MD Player (MZ-S1)

Sony's S2 line breaks new ground with the first sports Net MD(TM) player/recorder. A direct USB connection allows tune-addicts to transfer more than five hours of music to one $2 disc at up to 32x the normal recording speed. It is outfitted with Sony's skip-free G-Protection(TM) technology(a), 54 hours of playback on one "AA" type battery and MiniDisc Long Play for recording over five hours of music on a standard 80-minute disc.

The MZ-S1 model also sports a reflective body with shiny surface for easy nighttime recognition. OpenMG(TM) Jukebox software, the QuickRip(TM) CD dubbing application and a USB connecting cable reflective handstrap and one 80-minute MiniDisc are included. The S2 Net MD Walkman personal stereo will be available in April and is expected to sell for about $180.

S2 Boombox (ZS-X3CP)

The lightweight S2 CD boombox features an easy-to-carry handle, making it the perfect companion for active sports gurus who want to rock out at the beach or on the slopes. The new ZS-X3CP model is equipped with MP3 playback capabilities and a backlit, four-line dot matrix LCD display to facilitate file navigation. ESP2(TM) CD shock protection works to prevent skips and its water-resistant design helps keep out moisture, sand and dirt.

The unit has a digital synthesized AM/FM stereo tuner and 20 memory presets for easy access to favorite stations. It will be available in March for about $150.

S2 CD Walkman Players

Active consumers want their music with them anytime, anywhere. Sony's S2 CD Walkman players are the ideal companions, delivering uninterrupted listening. All three (D-SJ301, D-CS901and D-FS601) players are equipped with skip-free G-Protection(TM) technology, which offers up to 15 times faster shock recovery than conventional skip protection.

For active control on-the-go, the D-SJ301 model features an ergonomic shape and Jog Stick Control function that fits naturally in the hand and enables easy access to playback controls. With CD-R/RW playback capabilities, 64-track RMS programming and nine playback modes, this model also offers expanded listening and customizing options. It will be available next month for about $100.

In addition to the features loaded on the D-SJ301 model, the D-FS601 S2 CD Walkman player includes an AM/FM radio tuner, a TV weather band and 51 pre-set stations. This pumped-up model will be available in July for about $130.

The D-CS901 CD Walkman player features CD-R/RW and MP3 playback capabilities. A two-line/10-character dot matrix LCD displays track titles and folder information. The easy-access folder function lets users quickly navigate between multiple MP3 folders. The variable bit-rate allows playback of MP3 files recorded at any rate from 8 to 320 kbps.

The D-CS901 S2 CD Walkman player comes with two rechargeable Nickel Cadmium batteries. It has the ability to achieve up to 24 hours of continuous MP3 music playback with the addition of one "AA" type battery. Available in July, it will sell for approximately $150.

S2 Arm Band Radio (SRF-M80V) and Street Style(R) Headset Radio

(SRF-HM01V)

Sony's SRF-M80V arm band and SRF-HM01V Street Style(R) headset radios offer a hands-free workout with a comfortable wrap-around armband or behind the neck headphone style. For the first time ever, these new models feature a weather band tuning function and a TV tuner, allowing users to listen to their favorite television programs. In addition, the devices are equipped with an AM/FM digital synthesized tuner and a stopwatch with split-timer functions.

The arm band is designed with a convenient LED display angle, ergonomic layout of keys, and 25 presets allowing for easy control without interrupting activity. Complete with Sony Sports vertical in-the-ear headphones, the new arm band radio will be available next month for about $50.