NEW Sony Walkman Z Series mini review!!! - Page 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloodflowerz 

Please let us know how much customs tax is going to be when you get it in the UK. Cheers.

 

I buy a lot on ebay so I can safely say that providing the customs-form says £30 or $50 you won't get hit for taxes, after that you start with £12 Post-Office/Courier Fee, then Import-Tax and then VAT.... I daresay if you bought from Amazon Com (not co.uk) with all the taxes it would still be under the UK £300 price tag of the Z-32gb..... me, I'm lucky, I have a good friend in Canada, we linked up and they were ordering from Sony I was ready to pay via Paypal (Sony accepts that), when it's received it will be double-boxed & sent to me (the customs-form will state 'birthday present' & have a value of $40), so I don't expect any charges.

I did get a quote from NYBox for the Sony-Z, cost came out at about $438 (they let you set your amount on customs-form), for over $100 more than the Sony-USA website they can shove it, you'd be better off buying it from Amazon Com (will be listed soon, bound to be a tad cheaper than Sony) and paying the duties which would imho still work out less than the UK volume capped version of the Z-32gb.

Another bonus.... I contacted Sony-UK with regard that my friend (now Sister lol) could not purchase the Accidental-Damage Protection insurance from Sony-Canada because she was shipping it to the UK as a 'present'.... this was Sony's reply & I quote directly 'please if you contact us on 0844 8466 555, that will take you through to our Walkman Product Support line and they will be able to help'..... I'll be phoning them in the morning and I'll let you know the outcome, the one year guarantee in not affected as its worldwide.
 

I have noticed that there are quite a few amps/dacs that have 8mm connects protruding out the back of the device (RCA & Optical)..... I happen to know someone on ebay who gets manufactured & sells vinyl RCA End-Caps.... if you go to ebay co.uk they're sold worldwide (if you give your user-name & mention head-fi I'll ensure you get a discount, request invoice before paying for discount)... hope that helps some of you, as protection of any equipment from dust, knocks & exterior electrical noise should always be considered when you invested your hard earned scheckles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizkit 

OK-Guy,

 

I guess the real question is now "Which amp do you choose"? Well, that depends on what your goals are. In my case, I sometimes spend months away from home and lugging around a desktop amp between a few countries to just to power a pair of cans isn't an option. So, I went with the ALO Continental V2. The size of the amp is a on the large side and it over kill for your average IEM, but it has the ability to drive full sized phones better than most of the non-portable amp in it's price range. I've been really impressed with it thus far; than again, it's $500 pocket(ish) amp, and it better impress for that price. Turokrocks has gone a different path by mating a TTVJ Slim to his 1070. I can't comment on that rig, besides that it looks to be much more pocket portable (to the point of making me jealous) than my ALO and he says that it gives the Sony a tube like sound. At $350, it's less of a monetary hit too. iBasso seems to make some great stuff and are worth a serious look. Regardless of what you choose, the 1070 really starts to shine once it's amped.

 

My rig:

 

 

Turokrocks:

 

 

 

Next up is the LOD cable for amp. I can firmly stand behind saying that you should avoid the Fiio at all cost. I've been through 3 of them in 4 weeks, each failing in the same manner. Hopefully my last one holds until my E-bay or Fancy Japanese LODs arrive because I refuse to ever purchase a Fiio product again.

 

 

I'm actually phoning the Chord.Co (the cable guys) as I know a few of the guys there, I'm going to see if they can make both a small jack-jack connector and a lod for the Sony (I need to know where I can buy the bit that connects to the bottom of the Walkman & what its called.... same for the ipod)..... I love their cables and they owe me favour so hears hoping I can get a few made for head-fiers (I'll let you know the outcome).... they already do a audiophile jack-phono lead (2m minimum I think(?).

PS.... before I forget thanks to Biskit, Turorocks & Lover for photo's & stirling advice, it's appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OK-Guy 

I'm actually phoning the Chord.Co (the cable guys) as I know a few of the guys there, I'm going to see if they can make both a small jack-jack connector and a lod for the Sony (I need to know where I can buy the bit that connects to the bottom of the Walkman & what its called.... same for the ipod)..... I love their cables and they owe me favour so hears hoping I can get a few made for head-fiers (I'll let you know the outcome).... they already do a audiophile jack-phono lead (2m minimum I think(?).

 

PS.... before I forget thanks to Biskit, Turorocks & Lover for photo's & stirling advice, it's appreciated.

Hi OK-Guy, 

I have Chord cables for my Arcam-Tag Mclaren-B&W hi-fi also, very good cables indeed.  Only cable I do not use by them in my chain is the speaker cable which is Van den Haul. 

The bit that connects to the line out/charge section is called a 22 pin WM Port connector and should be able to buy them on eBay, I have seen either the plug you can solder your own wire into or they do it as a 3.5 jack adaptor which is handy and flexible: I think the ipod is maybe a 21 pin (don't quote me on that one, been a long time since I had a Touch ipod) hopefully someone can chime in on that one....

That jack phone lead by Chord they can be any length, you just have to phone them up, which should be no prob as you know some of them there also. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sony-Walkman-MP3-Player-Line-out-Dock-LOD-3-5mm-Jack-/280508140763?pt=Other_MP3_Player_Accessories&hash=item414f968cdb#ht_3182wt_1037

Reading your previous post's with dacs if you also wanted a built in headphone amp also might want to check out the Audiolab Mdac £600 but have heard the amp section is not as good as the Naim Headline with NAPSC power supply I used to have.  I'm hoping to demo the Mdac myself soon but afraid I might just like it.

First thing first is a 64gb Z to replace my ageing X Walkman if someone does not want their Japanese version and happens to live in the UK ; )

Quote:

Originally Posted by FortisFlyer75 

Only cable I do not use by them in my chain is the speaker cable which is Van den Haul. 

So you would choose Monoprice speaker cable over VDH's one?

Quote:

Originally Posted by uelover 

So you would choose Monoprice speaker cable over VDH's one?

Only when I have a Matsui system 

Quote:

Originally Posted by FortisFlyer75 

Hi OK-Guy, 

 

The bit that connects to the line out/charge section is called a 22 pin WM Port connector and should be able to buy them on eBay, I have seen either the plug you can solder your own wire into or they do it as a 3.5 jack adaptor which is handy and flexible: I think the ipod is maybe a 21 pin (don't quote me on that one, been a long time since I had a Touch ipod) hopefully someone can chime in on that one....

 

 

Whats the best way for the LOD soldered or by Jack.... I've read that a Jack-Jack doesn't work as good soundwise so would it be better via a Jack-Jack/LOD ie connecting a jack to a LOD.... I'm more interested in Sony that iFlop's but I was just having a mad rush of headblood thinking there may be a lil opportunity seeing as quite a few are after quality LOD's for their Walkmans.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FortisFlyer75 

Only when I have a Matsui system 

that made me giggle.... quality.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Achmedisdead 

There are people out there who buy these wifi players just so they can use Pandora/Slacker/Spotify type apps. I know many people who bought 8GB Touches for that reason.

 

Exactly the reason why I'm interested in the Sony. If I just wanted to play onboard music, an a-series Sony would have sufficed.

More impression on the sound quality of the Z1060/1070 please especially against the X1060.  My 32GB on the X is not cutting it for me any more.  Does the Z series support Flash content?  

Quote:

Originally Posted by purk 

More impression on the sound quality of the Z1060/1070 please especially against the X1060.  My 32GB on the X is not cutting it for me any more.  Does the Z series support Flash content?  

Yes, the Z supports Flash, but the native browser is basic, and only in Mobile-mode, not Desktop (note correction to earlier comment re: this).

A very unscientific SQ comment: the A846 is like running JRiver without IzonePro, and the Z is with IzonePro enabled. I know, VERY unscientific and not an apples to apples comparison (duck head for incoming objects be thrown towards me... :-) 

I spoke to the guys at Chord Co. this afternoon and this is what the said they can do.... they will not make a Sony based LOD, what they can make using their iChord cable is a Jack-Jack (5-6 inches in length) cable that can be used via a wm-port or jack socket.

I've used a photo of their iChord Jack-Phono cable as a example of the cable obviously both will be terminated 'jack's'... cost would be between £48-50 ($75-80).

I got to phone back on Monday with regards to numbers, so if anyone's interested..... like all Chord products it will carry a lifetime-guarantee, for those of you who have never heard of Chord Co. they make some of the finest cables around (personally I have several of their products RCA's & Speaker Cables and they sound pretty amazing, very detailed)

I see they are now in stock at the Sony store online.  That's pretty good.  A week earlier than projected.