Without digressing to much to start with and ignoring the RMAA results the new Sony or any come to that when I originally got the Sony X when it was released I also got the Ipod Touch 32gb 2G model without exception of amping the Touch was a let down in terms of SQ even though it had a fairly balanced airy sound it was poor on both low and high end in terms of control and detail weak in the power department leaving it sounding anemic sounding when pushed on the volume so was gone within six months as the Sony even though warmer or coloured as some describe it sounded more dynamic/ powerful and controlled with better quality in the bottom end & highs.
So just to get a focal point a little here are the iphone 4's better than the 2g Touch I had or current Touch for that as I heard from someone that had both the 2G Touch and current version there was not much improvement in term's of SQ.
Enough digressing though as I am one of those who have been waiting for the X replacement so to speak despite it's browser **** up on the X I loved the build quality, UI and most importantly the SQ and despite this new A865 maybe still not ticking all the boxes will tempt me in a 64gb if the SQ is as good if not better than the X.
For me the X has been a revelation as I have not got fatigued listening to this in the two years I have had it, like anything it is only good as the rest of the chain and without going into the EQ debate - I am one who decides not to engage EQ using only WAV files through JH16pros with TWag cable and even though it is a warmer old school analogue sound to it (irony for a digital amp) call it colouration if you will (sure most will) still delivers good instrument separation with a pretty good controlled bottom end bass, not perfection but not far from it and the high end has a realistic tonal quality which sparkles to symbol's and hi-hats and even though maybe the soundstage could be a a little improved it is still fairly good for a standalone dap and the midrange is quite lush but would not say it is thick sounding as some might describe that it deters away from the detail to be heard.
So if the new MX amp is an improvement on the S master amp in my X will be happy as long as it is 64gb and a few months down the line in a sale for the price of a 32b model.
In the same breath Sony are not to far away from making a perfect all round player ie, the other bits Apple seem to get right and Sony do not, they are close but yet so far away. As when considering the price premium for this new model why is it not Android now with the technology advancing like it is, at least to give it that extra dimension of having app's and customization but more importantly why did they stick the hard buttons down the side and not keep them on top in the perfect place like the X? mind is boggling there : {
Still no on-the-go play list's, a basic function that many including me call for on these Sony's still not implemented, as again many keep calling for gapless and even flac ability but it never happens, apart from flac maybe Sony could easily bring the other overdue omitted features into these Walkman's.
At least the volume cap issue has been addressed by Sony which I guess is the step in the right direction as this killed EU sales of the A845 model but I don't know if Sony realize it or not but they are not far off from making again what could be called modern day classic Walkman's and regain a better global sales figure in the process.
One last thing that does concern me is that the battery life on this model spec is less than to previous models which baffled me a bit, wonder if it is anything to do with the drawer of the new amp design? Hope it is not the same type as what the X had as it seems the quick charge battery's the X has for many owners have degraded in the two years which mine has to a certain degree also or died all together.
Despite all that a Walkman sounding at least as good as the X with 64gb storage I will be a sucker for!
and there still aren't any available, ****! however sites on specs r all saying it is aluminium body. I guess it feels a little weird to be plastic? I don't know can anyone in headfi confirm this? There literally no reviews of this walkman . It's me and cliffroyroycole are the only people in the world who have it.
. Talk about feeling lonley!
. I remeber when some expert headfi users reviewing the X mentioned it had recessed lows. Which at the time I honestly didn't know what that meant.
I think I do now.
