[WAmadeusM]

Sony UK marketing email to me uses the old models for referencing the new

the ultimate Freudian marketing slip....

 

[Whitigir]

the ultimate Freudian marketing slip....

They are just doing the same things…modifying the older one

 

[cfc7]

Will WM1AM2 be an upgrade from ZX2, considering that I didn't like the WM1A?

 

[Sonywalkmanuser]

Attached is the english translation for this article on Sony Japanese website:
Music producer Akimitsu Honma talks about the new flagship Walkman

On March 25, 2022, Walkman's new flagship "NW-WM1ZM2" will finally be released. To commemorate this, we asked Akimitsu Honma, a music producer who has produced many popular artists such as Porno Graffitti and Ikimonogakari, to listen to the sound of "NW-WM1ZM2". Mr. Homma, who also has a face as an artist such as providing music and arranging, talks about how he felt the "sound" of the new flagship Walkman at his own studio where he is actually making sounds. I asked.

 

[Sonywalkmanuser]

-Mr. Homma also experienced "NW-WM1AM2" this time. How was that? Homma: The basic impression remains the same. "NWWM1AM2" also reproduces a good sound more than enough. However, compared to "NW-WM1ZM2" , I felt that the sound quality was a little closer to pop music. There is a part where the sound pressure comes out, so you can get a good beat. So I thought it would be more suitable for dance music.

How about "NW-WM1ZM2"? Did you feel that the genre was not suitable?

Homma: No, it's a very versatile sound. I felt that flagship models are often aimed at listeners of instrumental music such as classical and jazz, but I like the fact that "NW-WM1ZM2" is not such an idea. Vocal songs also sound Very smooth. Vocal recording has also come to be deepened over time by devising the microphone to be used and layering various sounds. It's wonderful to feel that. By the way, making such sounds is also the idea of rappers in recent years.

-Isn't there a change in sound making with the times?

Homma: The essence of music hasn't changed, but mastering is trendy. For example, in the 90's and 80's, when the mastering method called "Sony Mastering" became popular, the vocal "sa-shi-su-se-so" It's a fashion unique to Japan that isn't found in overseas mastering. It used to be hard to hear, but it was also due to the listener's playback environment. So, even if I listen to those songs on "NW-WM1ZM2" now, I don't feel such dissatisfaction at all. The presence of vocals is also very solid at a high level. -The "NW-WM1ZM2" is a player that can cover everything from classical and jazz to so-called "song mono" pop music.

Honma: That's right, it's just general purpose. It's really wonderful that the vocals are so solid and the existence of each instrument can be seen properly. That doesn't mean that any sound is masked. In the sense that all the sound sources that should be there are reproduced, it can be considered that the original meaning of "faithful reproduction of the original sound" has been realized. "NW-WM1ZM2" is the highest sound quality version. Where does the difference between these two models come from?

-About that, Sato, the engineer who was in charge of sound quality design for "NW-WM1ZM2" and "NW-WM1AM2", is present, so I will answer from him.

Sato: Actually, both "NW-WM1ZM2" and "NW-WM1AM2" have the same board. The only major difference is whether the chassis, housing material and internal cables are kimber cables. Today, I brought a prototype model that shows the internal structure of "NW-WM1ZM2", so I would like you to take a look. The internal kimber cable is a little long, but the sound changes obviously.

 

[Quadfather]

The initial 2 clicks before playback might be due to mechanical relays but the third click is the issue here which happens when the music has already started playing.

If you alternate between CD quality and high resolution files, then you'll get a click going between the two.

 

[nc8000]

If you alternate between CD quality and high resolution files, then you'll get a click going between the two.

Only those hires that are multiples of 48khz so they require the alternate clock

 

[dennarwhal]

Sato: Actually, both "NW-WM1ZM2" and "NW-WM1AM2" have the same board. The only major difference is whether the chassis, housing material and internal cables are kimber cables. Today, I brought a prototype model that shows the internal structure of "NW-WM1ZM2", so I would like you to take a look. The internal kimber cable is a little long, but the sound changes obviously.

In my opinion, this last paragraph drives home the message that if you are really in it for the Sony sound and wondering whether or not the WM1ZM2 is worth the $$$, the WM1AM2 is close enough to perfection, even in the eyes of its chief engineer.

 

[musicasmedicine]

Ignore

- P

 

[WAmadeusM]

They are just doing the same things…modifying the older one

Open question to all friends here....WM1 series for serious music lovers with big collections of music. Why update the Sig WM1Z and not increase the on board storage? There's domestic Twitter talk over sound quality differences in the new models between Onboard and Micro SD. Even ignoring that rabbit hole...surely increased capacity for storage should have been a priority over gold flake solder.
Because we know the streaming cannot match quality output of the W app on the players. So your library anf getting as much of it in the best quality should be the paramount consideration.

Given all the new PR of the pseudo-science of copper chassis and gold flakes...the utility of the players had taken a downgrade....

 

[musicasmedicine]

Open question to all friends here....WM1 series for serious music lovers with big collections of music. Why update the Sig WM1Z and not increase the on board storage? There's domestic Twitter talk over sound quality differences in the new models between Onboard and Micro SD. Even ignoring that rabbit hole...surely increased capacity for storage should have been a priority over gold flake solder.
Because we know the streaming cannot match quality output of the W app on the players. So your library anf getting as much of it in the best quality should be the paramount consideration.

Given all the new PR of the pseudo-science of copper chassis and gold flakes...the utility of the players had taken a downgrade....

This is the type of stuff that makes me want to continue checking out from the audio sphere. So much fake news and faux science. I highly doubt specks of gold in the solder change anything drastically - especially to a perceivable difference.

Might just stick with my objectively good JDS Atom+ stack. Shame because I do love Sony products.

 

[ttt123]

Sonywalkmanuser said:
Sato: Actually, both "NW-WM1ZM2" and "NW-WM1AM2" have the same board. The only major difference is whether the chassis, housing material and internal cables are kimber cables. Today, I brought a prototype model that shows the internal structure of "NW-WM1ZM2", so I would like you to take a look. The internal kimber cable is a little long, but the sound changes obviously.

In my opinion, this last paragraph drives home the message that if you are really in it for the Sony sound and wondering whether or not the WM1ZM2 is worth the $$$, the WM1AM2 is close enough to perfection, even in the eyes of its chief engineer.

I have a different interpretation. The fact that there is a WM1ZM2 says that the design team thought that the WM1ZM2 was worth doing. Both models have something to offer, to different users and requirements.

So it is up to each user to decide on what meets their own requirements (as usual).
- Some will be ecstatic with the WM1AM2.
- Some will happily pay for the WM1ZM2, even if they only just take it out occasionally to fondle it.
- Some will be fully convinced that the WM1AM2 is the perfect choice, and that the WM1ZM2 is garish, with only minor differences, not worth the price, too heavy, too "Gold", etc. And then after awhile, will somehow change their mind, and realize that they "must" have the "Z" version, and will proceed to take a loss, sell the "A" and buy the "Z". So the cost will be even higher than if they had bought the "Z" right from the start. (That's what I did on the 1st generation)

Audio people would never be satisfied with one solution, when they can have 2 solutions. And there will be fanatic believers for both solutions.
And rightly so. There would be concern if we ever found that everybody agreed that one "thing" was perfect, and nothing else would ever be better. Because that would be so abnormal that we would suspect that everybody had been brainwashed, or bought off.

 

[dennarwhal]

Open question to all friends here....WM1 series for serious music lovers with big collections of music. Why update the Sig WM1Z and not increase the on board storage? There's domestic Twitter talk over sound quality differences in the new models between Onboard and Micro SD. Even ignoring that rabbit hole...surely increased capacity for storage should have been a priority over gold flake solder.
Because we know the streaming cannot match quality output of the W app on the players. So your library anf getting as much of it in the best quality should be the paramount consideration.

Given all the new PR of the pseudo-science of copper chassis and gold flakes...the utility of the players had taken a downgrade....

Let's ignore the whole discussion about sound quality differences between on board vs SD card. I think that is way too subjective to the point that it borders on lies in my opinion.

As for why they did not upgrade the storage, well, the whole purpose of putting Android in the walkman is so that you can stream the music that you once needed storage for. So I guess they just didn't add it on the pretext that its cost saved that can go elsewhere and you can add your own SD card if you need more storage.

Also, I have a feeling that if we ask this to Sato-san he might say that higher capacity memory on board may generate more "noise".

 

[dennarwhal]

Sonywalkmanuser said:
Sato: Actually, both "NW-WM1ZM2" and "NW-WM1AM2" have the same board. The only major difference is whether the chassis, housing material and internal cables are kimber cables. Today, I brought a prototype model that shows the internal structure of "NW-WM1ZM2", so I would like you to take a look. The internal kimber cable is a little long, but the sound changes obviously.

I have a different interpretation. The fact that there is a WM1ZM2 says that the design team thought that the WM1ZM2 was worth doing. Both models have something to offer, to different users and requirements.

So it is up to each user to decide on what meets their own requirements (as usual).
- Some will be ecstatic with the WM1AM2.
- Some will happily pay for the WM1ZM2, even if they only just take it out occasionally to fondle it.
- Some will be fully convinced that the WM1AM2 is the perfect choice, and that the WM1ZM2 is garish, with only minor differences, not worth the price, too heavy, too "Gold", etc. And then after awhile, will somehow change their mind, and realize that they "must" have the "Z" version, and will proceed to take a loss, sell the "A" and buy the "Z". So the cost will be even higher than if they had bought the "Z" right from the start. (That's what I did on the 1st generation)

Audio people would never be satisfied with one solution, when they can have 2 solutions. And there will be fanatic believers for both solutions.
And rightly so. There would be concern if we ever found that everybody agreed that one "thing" was perfect, and nothing else would ever be better. Because that would be so abnormal that we would suspect that everybody had been brainwashed, or bought off.

Either way Sony would be the ultimate winner.

You buy the WM1AM2 and they make money. You buy the WM1ZM2 outright and they make even more money. If you buy the WM1AM2, then sell it and buy the 1ZM2, they make the most amount of money from you.

Sony knows us and plays us like a fiddle. But as I said before and will proudly say again, all Walkman are music players but not all music players are a Walkman.

 

[WAmadeusM]

This is the type of stuff that makes me want to continue checking out from the audio sphere. So much fake news and faux science. I highly doubt specks of gold in the solder change anything drastically - especially to a perceivable difference.

Might just stick with my objectively good JDS Atom+ stack. Shame because I do love Sony products.

There's no doubt that sony threw the research sink at WM1 series. Tbe 1z provides fatigue free listening - though it's FW was too dark and it needed @MrWalkman chameleon for me. They dont measure well

Audio Science W1A review

But their sound processing is unique and combats some of the drawbacks of digital music reproduction.

So improvements to this high baseline will be incremental. The enginners have said as much.

But one instant market leader change would have put 1tb of internal storage plus SD.

Market leader position on a very niche market? And not expensive to do. So the question is...why not?