Sony NW-WM1Z/WM1A DAPs

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by mrweirdude, Sep 1, 2016.

  1. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    Is anyone buying this transportable desktop thing from Sony? Seems seriously overpriced to me. Curious to see how it sounds, but definitely not interested in buying it for that price, or even at half that price. I'll stick to slumming with my 1Z. ;)

    Just read that brochure, Sony marketing... Gets me every time. Lol. Surprised that they didn't use their own dac or whatever they use in the 1Z. Now I really want to hear both of these things.
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2018
  2. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    What's the advantage of this over a nice sleek DAC/AMP and foobar or whatever else you use on your laptop?
     
  3. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    It's Sony, it's expensive, it has lots of Sony marketing bullshit. I can't imagine it sounding so much better than anything else out there, but I'm still interested in it for some odd reason.
     
  4. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    Resistance is futile...


    But more seriously, am interested in the updates to the 1Z!
     
  5. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    Lol... That $9k makes resistance a lot easier!! If it were $4k I'd be seriously tempted, but at 9...im definitely not interested, at all.

    I need to update my 1z, haven't in forever. Not sure what I'm missing, if anything.
     
  6. bengyeow

    bengyeow MOT: Porta-Fi (A Porta.Fi rip off)

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    Sony Walkman® Project Leader / Senior Electrical Engineer Tomoaki Sato has during the public session on the new DMP-Z1 at the Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show 2018, announced that users of the Sony NW-WM1Z, NW-WM1A, and NW-ZX300 can expect a firmware update in Autumn 2018.

    Read more at Porta-Fi
     
  7. bengo

    bengo Friend

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    Great idea! What could possibly go wrong?

    @Torq: "Welcome all, to the very first SBAF micro meet to be held on the water."
    <sound of expensive whiskey being poured>
    <laughter>

    @Elnrik: "Hey, what's that over there? It looks pretty."
    <plop>
    @Elnrik: "Oops... I'll get my coat."

    Also I thought that I would share this little gem with you:
    It seems we have all gone totally insane.
     
  8. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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  9. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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  10. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    "...expect a firmware update in Autumn 2018."

    Good to have a nice solid date. Anyone have any bets on if it will be closer to Sep 22nd or Dec 21st? Early Xmas present? Maybe Hanukkah? Thanksgiving feast item? Halloween? Diwali? There's lots of holidays during that period!
     
  11. ald0s

    ald0s Facebook Friend

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    I would like an updated ZX300 with usb-C and a perfectly smooth UI. Spotify/Tidal would be great but I'm not holding my breath.
    These big firmware updates make it long like I might have a while to wait though
     
  12. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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  13. Imraan

    Imraan Friend

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    That is has! Thanks for the heads-up @jowls :)

    Seat of the Pants Report:

    Downloaded, installed on my NW-WM1A with no hitches in under 10min.

    USB DAC Mode:

    Can confirm that the USB DAC works from:
    • Mac Mini/Macbook Pro direct, as well as out of a USB Hub. Mac OS and Roon sees it and both outputs audio to it as it would with any outboard DAC.
    • Android phone (S8+) - Tidal App as well as Roon App [Needs an OTG cable ofc]
    • iPad (10.5 iPad Pro) - Tidal App and Roon App [iOS needs a CCK with external power connected to get past the 'This device requires blah blah']
    I was stoked to see the Walkman charges while connected too, which is very useful for me. Might be a pain for others.

    There's a useful (volume control, bit-rate, live levels etc display on the device while music is playing in USB DAC mode:
    [​IMG]

    You can also access the EQ, DSP et al by swiping up from the now playing screen in USB DAC mode:
    [​IMG]

    Bluetooth Receiver Mode:

    Can confirm that the Bluetooth Receiver mode works from:
    • Mac Mini/Macbook Pro - Connects in aptX (okkk). Have not tried to control media playback on my mac via the Walkman yet, just listened to whatever was playing.
    • Android (S8+) - Connects in LDAC (YAAASS!) and controls track skip and play/pause from the Walkman. It might be able to control the phone's media volume too (I know I can link the phone's volume and external bluetooth device's volume somewhere) but I need to dive into the phone settings to figure that out.
    • iOS (10.5 iPad Pro) - Connects via AAC (yuk) and controls play/pause and skip. Does not control volume.
    Example Walkman Screen when connected via Bluetooth:
    [​IMG]

    Wrap-up:

    Will take some time and listen (Andros mainly) and report back if anyone wants, but I think should hope that USB mode will sound pretty much the same as playing media from the device itself. Remains to be seen how the Bluetooth mode sounds; LDAC is pretty good so I'm not worried.

    This is all pretty damn f'ing cool for us WM1A/Z owners who also use streaming a lot. It's a pretty killer transportable solution for travel/work/parent's house/weekend cabin/shits and giggles etc as well. I reckon my DFR might be up for sale soon :)

    PS - If anyone wants me to test/check something to do with the new firmware not covered here let me know, happy to!
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2018
  14. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    hmmm, this would most likely disable my hacked high gain output *FU Bruxelles*
     
  15. obsiCO

    obsiCO Thai Fish Experiment Gone Wrong

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    Last edited: Oct 4, 2018
  16. Imraan

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    Not that I've noticed @obsiCO. Just the relay click the first time you hit play (if the volume is high). Playback starts with no discernible delay for me! I also checked for lag if that's what you meant, and the audio was in-sync with the video on a YouTube stream when connected to my Mac.

    [/s] There's a lag - I was watching a video that didn't have a person's face visible when I checked (doh!), so did not notice the lag. :(
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2018
  17. t3hwx9

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    USB DAC mode charging can be disabled in settings if needed. Also that should help in case of unpowered CCK and iOS devices.
     
  18. likearake

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    Only downside for me so far is that you can't use Bluetooth receiver mode while also using USB audio output.

    I was hoping to send Bluetooth to my WM1A in the dock -> my dac for a streaming solution.
     
  19. Panohm

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    Using the USB dac function with video i have maybe a 0.2ms delay. This might be a mac only problem though.
     
  20. Imraan

    Imraan Friend

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    Yep, that works with unpowered CCK, thanks @t3hwx9
     

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