I have tried multiple firmware with my Walkman in the past and noticed very little changes to the sound as well, definitely not as much as some people have claimed. This dude goes into some detail on how he tested it also, might be worth checking out before claiming he's deaf etc. Personally I...

I was actually referring to sites like headfonia or THL, what are you referring to? :)

Having seen enough things from a vendors perspective leads me to believe most "reviewers" are just consumers who don't want to pay full price. That's why despite the many fancy words flying about, I don't trust any reviewer who hasn't disliked anything, whatever justification they share...

Yes, AK doesn't actually exist, it's a brand. iriver on the other hand is a twice-bankrupt company currently owned by a South Korean telco.

There's a fantastic deal on a bridge I'd like to talk to you about :p

Speakers.

The blobknifepeek emoji was made for moments like this.

So I see you're kicking round these parts again :) Welcome back, Mim.

If an iem sounds garbage with everything except 1 specific obscure type of tips, maybe it's just bad, or at least a failed design. Not that I buy that it's even possible to change that much, but I haven't heard it myself.

This is what happens when memes get too real. To be precise, they are two separate individuals who were previously totally unaffiliated.

True, now maybe they should also start making them.

I think it's all a bit of a joke how much people get worked up about gear in a hobby that's supposed to be in service of music. And the shenanigans manufacturers get up to need some light shed on them sometimes, keeps them honest. I wouldn't blindly trust anything a manufacturer/dealer or...

Does it make gear sound worse when people are negative about it?

Nerds.

Have you tried a source with more power?

Lulz, no it doesn't :) IER, sure.

I mean, all WM1* are Malaysian, technically, but whatever works for you, eh? :)

It's slowly being adopted, when even Sennheiser is now offering it as a main option. And obscure CN DAPs have always had all sorts off odd configurations, I'd look at more mainstream usage, tbh.

For the NW-ZX1 and NW-ZX2 Walkman, was 3.5mm TRRS

Nah, it's pretty much a dead format now. Sony and Hifiman used it in the past, almost nothing released new in the past year that I can think of offers this as a main option. 4.4 is the new standard that's slowly being adopted.

Ye, I have the older version without the cable management, works fine with my pelican. This might be better to keep things well packed.

This looks neat https://www.vannuys.co.jp/official/new_item/ve043/

I meant, I'm not expecting much :p

Profit margin?

You actually own what you're talking about, that's more than most can say, don't worry about it :)