Head-to-Head Comparison: S-Master (NW-X1060, NW-A847) vs. S-Master MX (NW-Z1070)

As I posted in another thread, I picked up the NW-Z1070 that came out in Japan yesterday. I also picked up the privacy filter (PRF-NWP43) and the case that allows you to stand the unit up (CKL-NWZ1000). A few observations so far:

• The outer box was some of the coolest packaging Sony has used yet. It's a shiny box that shows prisms when reflected in light.
• Yes, as I posted elsewhere as well, English is confirmed. That's asked during the setup, and you can change it later.
• The music environment is a bit quirky in terms of navigation. It's largely the same as the non-Android Walkman DAPs I've used (X and A series), but definitely different.
• There are speakers built in which is a bit neat, but useless.
• Size wise, this thing dwarfs the A and X I have.
• Yes, ATRAC is still here, making this the first ATRAC-equipped Walkman with English in a long time.
• ATRAC is implemented properly - gapless works perfectly with my ATRAC files as expected.
• Drag and drop works fine (it's how I got my music from the A to the Z).
• The noise cancelling only woks with the supplied IEMs or the new MDR-NWNC200 (http://www.sony.jp/walkman/products/MDR-NWNC200/).

I'll post detailed impressions after I've had more time on the Z1070. I'm using the MDR-7550s which I've been totally happy with. My gut reaction is that it is as the X was to the A in 2009 when I got them. I'm enjoying listening to it - it's engaging (at least to me). The A847 feels more "cluttered". I can't speak for the new A series (A86x) which has S-Master MX, but I would bet it's good, but not as good as, the Z.

Nope, there's a clear difference in all of them. The players each have a slight different signature. There are similarities in them, but the same? No. Sony tweaked the S-Master from the X1060 to the A84x, and not in a good way. I find some IEMs played better with the Sony DAPs than others over the years.

Call out the police! I made a typo. Now corrected.

Quote:

Originally Posted by robiceli 

Good comparison but I am puzzled by one thing - you mentioned that the noise cancelling works only with the supplied IEMs. What about the IEMs from the X series? Don't they work with the new Z? Technically speaking, those IEMs (the included one) are similar made - like the wire/micro except from the diver of the phones of course. So if I purchase the Z, am I able to use the X's NC IEMs?

Thanks.

 

Oh and btw, I'm still waiting for a sound comparison between the X and Z :-)

No idea re: headphones. I'd have to dig up my X's box and see if they worked. Sony has only "allowed" the built-in NC to work with certain headphones for awhile. The Android app which controls this only lists two models. I wouldn't assume you can use the ones from the X (you may), but you could always use the ones that come with it and are supported.

Haven't had a few hours to do a real comparison. I plan to in the next week or so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by streetcar 

Three questions

 

1. Can this player surf the net like any android phone?

 

2. can it run most of the android apps such as angry birds etc, or is the app store on it pretty much limited?

 

3. Is the white version out on the 17th Feb?

1. I don't own an Android phone or any smartphone, but the Z works just fine on my WiFi network browsing the web.

2. I do not plan on getting an Android Market account and installing a ton of apps, but yes, you can install whatever Android apps you want on this as far as I can tell. I put a couple on with no real issues. Sony didn't lock it down.

3. I don't work for Sony nor do I live in Japan. Ask them when the white one is coming out.

You have to realize that Sony in Japan is a different beast than the rest of the world. In Japan, they make tons of dockable products with a WM-Port and lots of third party manufacturers do as well. In Yodobashi, they have a whole section dedicated to Walkman products including docks/speakers (including a Hello Kitty one I saw). It's the rest of the world that gets the shaft if you still support the Walkman line (whether or not you get a Japanese model). Heck, Sony still supports ATRAC in Japan. It's one main reason I get the Japanese players.

I do own the 7550s (nee MDR-EX800ST). I got them for $250ish before they raised the price from I think Sam Ash here in the USA. I've had a lot of IEMs over the years and they are near or at the top. Of course, that is subjective. Since I'm a musician, the fact they are "monitor" IEMs don't scare me. People have said they are like the ER-4 (which I owned a long time ago). I'd disagree based on my vague recollection. I like the 7550s better. The ER-4 sucked with bass. The 7550s seem pretty balanced in the whole tonal spectrum. While I can get a good seal, they don't isolate as much as I'd like on a plane. The MDR-NC300 IEMs (which I still own but need to sell) altered the sound I think too much in comparison to the 7550s, so that's why I'm considering getting the MDR-NWNC200 which is made for the Z.

Quote:

Originally Posted by streetcar 

And this player retains the 5 adjustable eq bands along with DSEE, dynamic normaliser etc etc?

 

Does it also allow you to use your own photo as the lock screensaver?

 

Does it contain FM radio, voice recording, language learning and kareoke mode as well?

 

 

1. Yes - EQ, VPT, DSEE, Clear Stereo, dynamic normalizer, xLOUD, Clear Phrase all there.

2. No idea as that is something I don't care about, but you can set a custom wallpaper. Maybe you can do this but I'll never bother to look.

3. Yes on FM (one big difference is that this is the first Japanese Sony Walkman I've had with FM that actually would scan US frequencies; the X1060 for example only had the Japanese ones), no idea on voice recording (I would assume so since the previous Walkman ones from japan have with the right adapter; they've never been sold outside of Japan). Couldn't tell you about language learning (nor is it a feature I care about) and there are lyrics. No idea if that means karaoke mode.