Duncan, a tragedy occurred. I took my X out into the light... and looked at the serial number again, and it's 406 not 106... I can't possibly enjoy it now that I know yours is newer

Poppy - it doesn't say where they're made. All the Sony Insider admin said was that the first 2800 were being dispatched from Japan, and the next 15,000 were being dispatched from Europe. Oh, and Walkmans haven't been volume capped in the UK since the S700 I think. It was a French thing anyway, but we all got punished back then

- maybe the French versions are still volume capped?
And as far as power is concerned, Sony always has weak specs on paper, but apart from the 'B' series, I've never had any problem with them. And the X is not weak!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a bully boy!
EDIT: walkingman, so long as yours is anything under 2800 - it's from the first batch, if Sony Insider is correct
