I see there's still a small handful of new T5050's on Ebay in Europe. Mine is 827. just arrived today.

That wiring diagram, are these wired for balanced out of the box?

According to the response Sony put out to my review of the product on their website - the volume caps are about conformity to a recent standard.

Let’s nip this in the bud here please, there’s other threads to argue this in. The original MDR-Z1R thread got super toxic, I and everyone else do not want this to get locked like that one did.

iOS is definitely snappier - I think Sony have taken the deliberate choice to use a lower powered SOC in this system, ZX507 before it definitely wasn't fast either. You'll definitely find other Android based players to be quicker in this regard.

I've been listening to some Black Metal with these - specifically Windir's Arntor, and 1184. and my word, even for a genre so 'lo-fi' this makes the production just sing. The lead guitar in 'Saknet' and 'Svartesmeden go Lundamyrstrollet' is just sublime. Listening on a WM-1AM2 via 4.4mm balanced.

Do Sony offer a locking 4.4MM Cable in the same style as the .25" cable?

Welcome to the cult. The majority of my listening is done via USB from a PC. But I do make use of the Walkman port for my WM1AM2 (you may be able to too if you have a DAP that supports USB audio out)

Very surprised to find these on Amazon U.K., especially given that the MDR-M1ST didn’t officially make it over here. The 4.4mm cable from the MDR-1AM2 works with this set. Currently enjoying some heavy metal (Solstafir and A Pregnant Light) on these. Immediately more enjoyable than the M1STs...

59,000 Yen by the looks of things, quite expensive (directly converting that to GBP)

I’ll not delve too deep into the measurements aspect of things but the Taz is all I’ve wanted in an amp. I’ve not run out of headroom with it or found it wanting at all on any headphone. All I want from it is a pair of USB-C‘s one for my DAP and another for my computer. But those are minor wants

Have Sony ever performed a major Android version upgrade on their Walkman devices? I don’t remember one for the ZX507/A105 series. Especially seeing as this shares a very similar SOC to that series of systems

That looks like exactly the same board as the NW-WM1AM2

There’s been so much change in the back end software with MacOS in recent editions since this last firmware came out (2017) - it may be the case that the firmware update program no longer works on newer versions of MacOS. Do you have access to a Windows machine to try this from?

It was November - the 1A/Z m2 has had two updates since then, i’m not sure it’s going to happen

It will connect to bluetooth - the BTR5 does the same. What you can do however is set the order of prescedent - that is to say, from the menu you can choose what input is the preferred input.

I've been digging further - unfortunately the EU restrictions appear to be configured in a filesystem named 'nvp' - and I don't know how to even attempt to access it. This appears to be similar to that seen on the earlier wm1a/wm1z system documented here and is presented from...

In the default launcher? no unfortunately this is not possible - but you can replace the launcher with another from the Play Store

I have been doing a bit of digging - I have a EU NW1AM2 - it appears that the volume control dial is the same app as on the zx507. Meaning that like on that system there are some vestiges of the High Gain options in the app. With ADB you can manually invoke the menu to open high gain mode...

If you forgive my prying - are you experiencing poor performance with it? I ask as i have a European model (both ZX507 and WM1Am2) and use it quite happily with Andromeda Gold and 2019 Andromeda.

I had a great experience with the original BTR5's Balanced Output especially with very sensitive IEMs like Andromeda - I'm really looking forward to trying the BTR7 to see if this continues the tradition. Edit: One question - Does the new model allow you to use it's microphone when attached to...

Improved output power would be nice, and replacing the microUSB and USB-B ports with USB-C ports would be fabulous

I can’t answer question 1, but I can answer the other two - you can plug an iPhone or an iPad directly into the TAZ and it will work properly with Apple Music Hi-Rez Lossless. I also use a Mac Studio, and it works without issue, but you have to manually set the sample rate globally in MacOS if...

Have you tried a factory reset of the system from the recovery menu?

Ohh FYI if you have an MDR-1AM2, the balanced cable that comes with that is perfect for this. It’s the same pin out.