SONY NW-A30 SERIES

[Artmuzz]

Thanks,

ZX300 doesn't have the VPT surround function, and you can change from EQ to Tone Control.

Tap

to select [Equalizer] or [Tone Control]. The selected setting will take effect.

Thanks. I forgot to tap on that icon when in the EQ section to select to Equalizer or Tone Control.

 

[WilcoRoger]

The procedure is about the same as for the A40, but i did not package it in a fancy way yet.
I included the linux and windows binary of scsitool for you to use, if you set the destination before you'll be familiar with it

Thanks for this - I used your download, because of the linux tool you included, there is not one Windows machine in the whole household it worked well on Debian. Of course a big thanks goes to MrWalkman for doing the actual hacking work - it's always a joy to hack electronics to bring out their full potential.

The bits that are missing from this fw vs the stock fw are really not going to be missed by anyone (except maybe for the radio) so there's no actually loss but big gains.

There are some light cosmetic issues, e.g references to A40 instead of A30, but that's just nitpicking.

In general, I'm amazed how well this works - and how much potential this DAP has, which Sony unfortunately left unrealised. Also it makes me think how the fw is not really tuned to the max in terms of optimisation - if it were tightly tuned to the originally intended hardware, it wouldn't run on different specs

 

[WilcoRoger]

Have it been mentioned, that with the hacked fw AptX-HD is now available on the A35? As I recall it was not an option with the original fw

When connecting to my B&W PX7 it says AptX-HD.

 

[MrWalkman]

Have it been mentioned, that with the hacked fw AptX-HD is now available on the A35? As I recall it was not an option with the original fw

When connecting to my B&W PX7 it says AptX-HD.

The codec was added in a later update to the Walkman OS (to all devices running this OS). Unfortunately, they didn't update the A35 firmware anymore, so this update was not applied for it.

 

[WilcoRoger]

Actually there seems to be an important drawback with the hacked fw - I don't seem to get sound out via the WM port, so if I hook the player to an amp, I must now use the 3,5mm plug.
Is this a bug or a feature (or I just cannot figure it out)?

 

[MrWalkman]

Actually there seems to be an important drawback with the hacked fw - I don't seem to get sound out via the WM port, so if I hook the player to an amp, I must now use the 3,5mm plug.
Is this a bug or a feature (or I just cannot figure it out)?

Did it work with the stock firmware? The thing about the digital out adapter is that it doesn't always work with any equipment, even for my WM1A.

 

[WilcoRoger]

Yes that's how I used to use it.

Setup 1/ A30 ->WM-to-3,5mm connector ->amp (analogue signal)

Setup 2/ A30->WM-to-microUSBconnector -> Fiio Q1Mk2 DAC/Amp (digital signal)

With the ZX300 firmware neither setup works.

 

[MrWalkman]

Yes that's how I used to use it.

Setup 1/ A30 ->WM-to-3,5mm connector ->amp (analogue signal)

Setup 2/ A30->WM-to-microUSBconnector -> Fiio Q1Mk2 DAC/Amp (digital signal)

With the ZX300 firmware neither setup works.

I'm sorry to hear it, I don't think there is something I can do about it.

 

[WilcoRoger]

No problem, you did a great job!

For me it means a choice between digital out vs aptxhd + other improvements

 

[robiceli]

Is there a way to "hack" the a30 to enable the equalizer for bluetooth connections? Can the zx300 firmware enable that?

 

[MrWalkman]

Nope, no Walkman OS device can do that (not software implemented, of course).

 

[WilcoRoger]

Is there a way to "hack" the a30 to enable the equalizer for bluetooth connections? Can the zx300 firmware enable that?

I think it is (must be) done at the other end, ie the headphones. IIRC, you can apply equaliser e.g. for the Sony 1000X series using the app.

 

[robiceli]

I think it is (must be) done at the other end, ie the headphones. IIRC, you can apply equaliser e.g. for the Sony 1000X series using the app.

I use the Sony WF1000XM3 for outdoors and the Sony WFSP800N in the gym but both require Android for the equalizer to work (requires its own app). It would've been cool to be able to use the Walkman's EQ for these wireless devices.

 

[WilcoRoger]

That's what I said - except it doesn't NEED Android, works well with iOS as well

 

[stefT]

I'll add a UPG file soon for restoring the device to stock.

Hi,
I would like to restore my A35 to stock, please can you help me?
Thanks.