Sony NW-WM1Z/WM1A DAPs

Wow, dac/amp functionality might sway me away from my WM1A towards the ZX300 unless they can patch it in with firmware.

 

http://thewalkmanblog.blogspot.sg/2017/08/sony-zx300-walkman-leaked.html?m=1

Looks pretty good, might get this.

Key points

• USB DAC
• Matte touch screen
• 64GB internal
• USB DAC
• Did I mention USB DAC?

 

The ZX300 really looks good, but I don't think it's worth an upgrade from the ZX2.

I'd really miss Android and to be able to use Spotify/Tidal on it.

But that's also already a problem with the WM1A/WM1Z, so yeah. But once the Android version on the ZX2 is even more outdated than now, it'll be a offline player just like those.

 

Any comparisons of the ZX100 and AK Jr SQ wise? I'm fine with the AK Jrs sound, but the battery life bugs me.

 

I never managed to get the AK Jr to chooch on both occasions I've asked for it, but the ZX100 has a very similar sound tone to a ZX2 with SE off.

 

So the ZX300 is going for $699. A little rich for my blood, but hopefully prices will drop.

https://www.sony.com/electronics/walkman/nw-zx300

 

It even supports (MQA) streaming somehow even though it doesn't have WiFi. Probably referring to the USB DAC functionality, although I'd be surprised if it supports phone based streaming over BT.

 

various japanese interviews/articles certainly make the zx300 very tempting, the gist is that it's more a cutdown version of the the WM-1A (tech, construction, etc) than an improved zx100. the no streaming bit is a bummer, tho now that apple music and spotify have launched in japan, things may change in a generation or two in terms of hardware development.

 

The Headfi thread suggests the balanced out is much better than the SE (like the Pono player), FWIW.

 

The zx100 sure did feel poorly built, so I would imagine any improvement there would be welcome

 

The ZX100 wasn't that bad, although there was many reports of button death. If it has the solidity of the WM1_'s chassis that's a run away winner though.

 

apologies if this was shared previously, google translate at the ready...

zx300 team interview

(it is marketing fluff, but imho, still somewhat interesting)

http://www.sony.jp/walkman/special/flagship/zx300/interview03.html

 

had a brief test drive with the zx300 at jaben hk today... spurred on a head-fier who uploaded an image of the zx300 acting as a usb dac for an iphone (via cck).

it started off promising enough, the zx300 allows you to set it to not draw power during usb dac mode. connecting an iphone 7 via cck > usb to wm cable, resulted in proper "handshake" btwn the two... streaming worked! and it sounded pretty nice.. for one song ... after which it stopped working, "walkman" still showed on the iphone's output device, zx300 still recognised the comnection, but was greeted with silence... despite rebooting, swapping cables and cck adapters... silence...

potential issues a) the sony was low on battery (one bar, low battery mode) b) cck adapter(s) malfunction c) first connection was a lucky fluke... d) its friday 13th ...

might try again at a later date.

*wanted a dap/dac to replace the PITA need to carry a dac for the iphone (for apple music/spotify) on top of a dap, esp for international long haul flights and shit...

 

Deaf any impressions against the wm1a?

 

unfortunately no, there was a qeue for the zx300 demo and i used up my time trying to get the damn things to hook up! meanwhile, some other punter was deming the wm1a

should auditioning again on the last week of oct. according to the guys at jaben, sony is collecting these demo units tmrw and there wont be another demo unit until the last week of october.

 

Ithink the 30 hrs was for mp3 playback at like 128kbs, which uses less processing power for an additional 6.