So I was stupid enough to buy the MUC-M12BL2 Balanced cable (http://www.sony-asia.com/electronics/headphone-extension-cables/muc-m12bl2) for my XBA-N3 for use with my new WM-1A that I ordered days ago... Ordered them at the same time from different places and just assumed the Walkman would...

Thanks. They do seem to carry it (http://www.saturn.de/mcs/product/_SONY-NW-ZX100HN-High-Resolution-Audio-Walkman-mit-Noise-Cancelling-silber,48352,2327766.html), wonder if I can pre-order for pick-up in one of their stores. I'll e-mail them and ask.

Anyone know of any stores in Germany (Cologne or Düsseldorf) selling this kind of tech? Going there next week so might not need to have it shipped to me :)

I'm mostly interested in a comparison from an SQ standpoint. Will probably go for the PHA-3 this time, maybe get the ZX2 next year if no new model is announced. Another question though, on the Japanese/Hong Kong versions of ZX1/ZX2, did the device automatically lower the volume and display a...

T.R.A.N.C.E. and others: do you think that the audio components in the ZX2 surpass those of the PHA-3 (OS-conns, super capacitors, clocks, DAC chip and such)? I was very close to getting the PHA-3 when this got announced and caught my attention instead. I already have the ZX1 so am in no great...

I want some impressions on output power compared to the ZX1. Almost considering getting this instead of the PHA-3. Will be hard to afford both! For the ZX2 though I would plan to use it with IEMS, want the XBA-Z5 but perplexed as to why they have not been announced for Europe yet.

Non of all these high end components will matter when paired with an external amp right? I will be getting the PHA-3 to be able to use the balanced connection of my MDR-Z7. And if I'm going to use PHA-3 any source/transport able to play hi-res would suffice. So I don't really see the point of...

I tried using it in my office, using any volume above 75% of my Walkman ZX1 or 50% of my Vaio Z leaks a bit. Definitely leaks more than the MDR-Z1000 which I used previously, and I don't think it blocks out sounds as well either.

Hm, is it possible that the connected source (Walkman or phone) is charged when the PHA-3 is turned off? I know that it's not charged while playing, just as the PHA-3 itself isn't.   Anyone able to test this? Would probably require the PHA-3 to be connected to AC power source, as USB to a...

Finally got my MDR-Z7 over here in Sweden. I'm in no way an experienced audiophile so impressions on sound quality would be sparse. My Walkman ZX1 is not giving them justice, even my Xperia Z3 seem to output slightly louder. My Vaio Z does not really deliver any exceptional sound either...

Any idea if the PHA-3 works with Linux? I read that using it with Windows requires you to install a driver + a proprietary software for playing Hi-Res files, however with Mac you don't. Linux should be more similar to Mac as both are Unix-based. Or does a connection via USB Audio not work at all...

purk - Is the battery of the ZX1 drained considerably faster when connected to the PHA-3? How long would you think it lasts?

Sounds like a tempting combo to use the ZX1 and PHA-3 with line-out, I will probably have to try that one sometime too. Do you know if there is any official Sony WM-PORT line-out cable, or is FiiO L5 the only option?   However, as stated earlier, to use the balanced headphone connection it...

  Thanks for your thorough explanation! The S-Master is an amplification chip, right? So even if I were to use analog line out, like T.R.A.N.C.E suggested, the ZX1 will only convert the signal to analog and then leave amping to the external DAC/amplifier, leaving S-Master HX out of the...

Do you think the Walkman ZX1 will be able to drive these by itself? Thinking of getting a PHA-3 later on, but one can only afford so much at a time :)