New Sony Hi-Res Headphones, DACs to Ship in October, November

Sony beefed up its Hi-Res headphone lineup with the MDR-Z7 banded model ($699), the MDR-1ADAC with integrated digital-to-analog converter (DAC)/amplifier ($399) and XBA-Z5 in-ear set ($699). The company also bowed the PHA-3 portable headphone DAC/amplifier ($999), a portable headphone cable engineered by Kimber Kable ($229) and balanced headphone cables ($249). The headphones and DACs are due in stores this month, and the cables will ship in November, Sony said.