[Sonywalkmanuser]

For those looking for a good test track to audition and compare equipment, I would highly recommend this track:

streaming links and downloads: https://lnk.to/MMI1r

What to look out for:
1) Smoothness and Naturalness of the vocals, ability of the equipment to handle the vocals without sounding "shouty"
2) Piano notes, how much decay/linger does the equipment reproduce, How does the piano decay sound in the soundstage. How does initial piano transient rise feel, is it fast or slow?

 

[rga02]

streaming links and downloads: https://lnk.to/MMI1r

Here's the purchase link for the First Take version if anyone is interested https://ototoy.jp/_/default/p/817195

 

[djricekcn]

too bad I don't like LiSA, only if it was LISA (m-flo)

 

[psikey]

And the UK Sony Centre one has just arrived!



Should get to test for cap/high gain this morning!

 

[djricekcn]

And the UK Sony Centre one has just arrived!



Should get to test for cap/high gain this morning!

grats

 

[Liono]

And the UK Sony Centre one has just arrived!



Should get to test for cap/high gain this morning!

Awesome! Very excited for you fellow UKer, very intrigued! I think you got the one and only as no stock at moment.

 

[myromeo]

And the UK Sony Centre one has just arrived!



Should get to test for cap/high gain this morning!

Literally the whole of head-fi EUROPE is waiting for the answer, do we get high gain? You are doing us all a service!

 

[psikey]

Awesome! Very excited for you fellow UKer, very intrigued! I think you got the one and only as no stock at moment.

Yep, need to be careful unpacking/using, with the high likelihood of returning when the disappointment sets in (if capped)

They even included a pre-paid Returns label in the box so that's nice of them! 28 day to request any return then another 14 days after that to get back to them! and just missed yesterdays CC bill (always clear each month) so this doesn't even need to be refunded until mid June

Few unboxing photos. Comes with case but leaving that all packed up for now. Immediate impression is wow, heavy, could use as a weapon and audio Jewellery. Stunning looks & build quality. Not found a flaw or imperfection visually.

 

[DarginMahkum]

Hiroaki Sato
https://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/series/dal/691795.html


Finally , I would like to ask you about the design of the Walkman. Perhaps the audio data is pre-read from the memory media, stored in the buffer, and then played back? If this buffer size is large, the microSD card's I don't think the behavior will be affected, but what about that?

Sato: Yes, we have a buffer, but it's a consumer device, so it's not that big. I have some margin so that the sound will not be interrupted, but there is still no capacity to read the entire song. Also, since the power does not turn off immediately after reading, I think that the influence of electromagnetic waves from here will inevitably come out.

This is a clear signal to whether a product is from Sony or any other brand doesn't mean that the manufacturer is trustworthy. Just like Intel now fused out the AVX512 support from their 12th generation CPUs, not because it is not implemented but because they don't want their consumer level CPUs to support these instructions. It is there and it is implemented but it is disabled. Now this guy is writing a stupid story so that they can sell their premium sound micro SD BS.

"Oh my god, I am into audio business for so long time, but I just realised that there is a difference. I was scared and didn't know what to do. We tried everything that is scientifically known to us (you know, we don't know much and this is our first audio product) and nothing worked to prove its existence. Ohhh, this was such a revelation. Now, please go and buy our premium charged micro SD cards."

 

[psikey]

Literally the whole of head-fi EUROPE is waiting for the answer, do we get high gain? You are doing us all a service!

And the news is ...

BAD

Can't find any High Gain option and according to online guide you're meant to find it here but no Output Settings Option:

– [Settings] – [Output Settings] ([Basic Settings]) – [High Gain Output] ([Headphone Output]).

All I see is a "Sound Menu" and the AVLS Volume Limit on or off

Will soon plug in my K10U as all I've brought to work with me and see what volume level is like. I previously had UK & Japanese A107 & ZX507 so know what it should be like if not capped.

 

[The1Signature]

And the news is ...

BAD

Can't find and High Gain option and according to online guide you're meant to find it here but no Output Settings Option:

– [Settings] – [Output Settings] ([Basic Settings]) – [High Gain Output] ([Headphone Output]).

All I see is a "Sound Menu" and the AVLS Volume Limit on or off

Will soon plug in my K10U as all I've brought to work with me and see what volume level is like. I previously had UK & Japanese A107 & ZX507 so know what it should be like if not capped.

please double-check that. this option might be somewhere else - shifted (for the EU version). i don't want to admit it

 

[Liono]

And the news is ...

BAD

Can't find and High Gain option and according to online guide you're meant to find it here but no Output Settings Option:

– [Settings] – [Output Settings] ([Basic Settings]) – [High Gain Output] ([Headphone Output]).

All I see is a "Sound Menu" and the AVLS Volume Limit on or off

Will soon plug in my K10U as all I've brought to work with me and see what volume level is like. I previously had UK & Japanese A107 & ZX507 so know what it should be like if not capped.

So there's no high gain setting here at the volume control?



It does say the menu might not be available in some countries/regions

 

[Ryokan]

Be interesting to hear how the new WM1A-M2's sound differs from the ZX507 as a few said the original was very similar or as good.


Bummer about high gain on the new 1Z but not surprised.

 

[gLer]

And the news is ...

BAD

Can't find and High Gain option and according to online guide you're meant to find it here but no Output Settings Option:

– [Settings] – [Output Settings] ([Basic Settings]) – [High Gain Output] ([Headphone Output]).

All I see is a "Sound Menu" and the AVLS Volume Limit on or off

Will soon plug in my K10U as all I've brought to work with me and see what volume level is like. I previously had UK & Japanese A107 & ZX507 so know what it should be like if not capped.

Isn't AVLS volume limit the 'cap'. I don't think volume cap has anything to do with low/high gain.

 

[psikey]

Using 3.5mm, volume limit warning comes in at 80/120. My listening level with my K10U needs to be 90-95/120 This playing a 24/192 MQA in Walkman player. Below 80/120 its too low to enjoy.

Using 4.4mm my level with K10U needs to be ~ 85-90/120. Full volume of 120/120 would not hurt your ears!

This should all mean driving headphones will be pathetic.

This is exactly the situation I found with the UK ZX507. With my SE846's with the UK version I would be at 85/120 while on the Japanese version 50/120.

Oh well, saves me £3,300! Will do more testing for a few days but this will be going straight back to them next week.