xjaynine
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2011
- Posts
- 257
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- 329
I believe everyone's made some interesting and valid points about what this thing is.
I'll admit that my interest for the Z1 was deflated after initially learning about the price, it's capabilities and some of the component choices. It is less intriguing because of those reasons. As much as I'd prefer the entire unit to be 'pure Sony', I'll nonetheless contest that it's still very much in the experimental DNA that is found in the most exciting Sony products.
But I think I am starting to make sense of this expensive block after @nanaholic has offered further insight. Off the shelf components, odd design choices etc. It'll be fun to validate in the future if the DMP-Z1 is a test bed for Sony DAPs to come.
After all the very well received PHA-3 was made possible by a third party DAC and OPAMP module. Going for these components at the time made it possible to decode higher bit-rate formats as well as providing higher output power. The S-Master solution found in the NW-ZX2 at the time was incapable of delivering those features. These features eventually found their way into the NW-WM1A/Z, which @purk has described the PHA-3 to be a good match up.
Heck Sony's current top of the line speakers (SS-AR and the SS-NA series) use Danish Span Peak drivers, and was predominantly an exercise in find suitable materials for developing a standout speaker cabinet.
Sony's soul doesn't necessarily have to be expressed by only proprietary technologies. One of the reasons why I'm enjoying the current crop of Sony hardware is the more open approach. I still find it crazy that I can drag and drop music files onto a Walkman without going through Sonic stage or converting it ATRAC. I love that LDAC can be enjoying on non Sony devices (The Shanling M0).
While I do agree that there are some key differences in design philosophies that gave rise to some of the legendary gear in the past like the R-Series components. The new guard is also accomplishing a lot whilst respecting that soul.
I'll admit that my interest for the Z1 was deflated after initially learning about the price, it's capabilities and some of the component choices. It is less intriguing because of those reasons. As much as I'd prefer the entire unit to be 'pure Sony', I'll nonetheless contest that it's still very much in the experimental DNA that is found in the most exciting Sony products.
But I think I am starting to make sense of this expensive block after @nanaholic has offered further insight. Off the shelf components, odd design choices etc. It'll be fun to validate in the future if the DMP-Z1 is a test bed for Sony DAPs to come.
After all the very well received PHA-3 was made possible by a third party DAC and OPAMP module. Going for these components at the time made it possible to decode higher bit-rate formats as well as providing higher output power. The S-Master solution found in the NW-ZX2 at the time was incapable of delivering those features. These features eventually found their way into the NW-WM1A/Z, which @purk has described the PHA-3 to be a good match up.
Heck Sony's current top of the line speakers (SS-AR and the SS-NA series) use Danish Span Peak drivers, and was predominantly an exercise in find suitable materials for developing a standout speaker cabinet.
Show SONY’s soul if that is SONY’s flagship product!
Sony's soul doesn't necessarily have to be expressed by only proprietary technologies. One of the reasons why I'm enjoying the current crop of Sony hardware is the more open approach. I still find it crazy that I can drag and drop music files onto a Walkman without going through Sonic stage or converting it ATRAC. I love that LDAC can be enjoying on non Sony devices (The Shanling M0).
While I do agree that there are some key differences in design philosophies that gave rise to some of the legendary gear in the past like the R-Series components. The new guard is also accomplishing a lot whilst respecting that soul.
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