I hope this was not asked before but I couldn't find it after some brief search.
Has anyone found a proper cable to connect WM1Z to TA-ZH1ES? The cable that comes in the box is super short (and looks cheap) which makes it such a pain in the a... when using it when its connected to the amp.
Any recommendations?
I hope this was not asked before but I couldn't find it after some brief search.
Has anyone found a proper cable to connect WM1Z to TA-ZH1ES? The cable that comes in the box is super short (and looks cheap) which makes it such a pain in the a... when using it when its connected to the amp.
Any recommendations?
Yes, that's it. Dock came way before the Signature series and accepts the wm port. It works well with 1A, 1Z, ZX100 and many others. Go for it. You can play, charge simultaneously. Also, use another cable and connect to your computer, toggle a switch at the back and start transferring music.
A few weeks back I had my 1Z modded, with as highlights quality platinum-based solder and PW Audio 1960 4-Wire internal cabling (which is actually an 8-wire cable due to its coaxial design, that retails as a $2K iem cable). The mod is the second product that iem and cable specialist Music Sanctuary has released under their own brand name, which consists of modifications of existing products by upgrading components; the other being the recently released cable Eos in cooperation with Effect Audio, which uses the same high-grade solder.
In my previous post I expressed content for the improved performance in terms of resolution and especially transparency, as well as growing appreciation for the different signature – be it after an adaptation period, as the altered signature was a departure from its original tuning. Therefore, I also felt restraint in unequivocally endorsing the mod, as it might not be to everyone’s liking. Although the signature can overall be considered balanced, it includes a lifted treble around 10-12 KHz, which gives the tuning a different direction.
For while the lifted treble provides an enjoyable touch of sparkle, the treble itself is brighter and colder in tone. As a result, the sound is highly detailed, but not completely smooth in its note release. The articulated sound vaguely leans towards a ‘reference’ approach: excelling at performance, though coming at the cost of some of its naturalness and coherency, at least when compared to a player like the RW AK380cu. Overall, the 4-Wire mod provides a resolved sound that retains a warm and fairly accurate midrange, with an added touch of sparkle that may or may not be appreciated, depending on preference.
But Music Sanctuary pried the 1Z open yet again, with one goal in mind: fitting in the 1960 8-wire cable. As the cable is essentially a 16-core headphone cable, its thick size only fits the balanced output considering the available space. I pride myself on making balanced statements, trying to keep difference preferences in my mind. And practically speaking, there’s always some downside to each upside. The 8-wire mod makes this problematic, as I find it nothing short of spectacular.
The 4-Wire’s articulate treble could be considered engaging, but there is a trace of brightness in its attack. The 8-wire on the other hand has an even further but more linearly extended upper treble. Accordingly, the 8-wire creates a warmer treble tone, benefiting the timbre and overall coherency. As a result, the 8-wire presents higher resolved notes, yet with a significantly smoother note release. And while the differences in stage between the 4.4 and SE output in the previous mod were reduced to a minimum, the 8-wire in turn creates a more spacious stage in all directions. So where the 4-wire has a well-separated, articulated sound consisting of a warm midrange with a brighter treble, the 8-wire sounds more natural and accurate, providing higher resolved detail in a smoother manner.
Taken together, the 8-wire modded 1Z can be described as having a lightly warm tone with a beautiful timbre, and overall excellent tonal balance. Combined with high resolution and transparency, as well as its characteristic black background, the MS mod is pretty close to what I would consider a reference player; but not the modern interpretation of the term, but what it was originally meant to imply. A benchmark product in all facets of audiophile sound reproduction: accurate tone, excellent performance, both in resolution as well as smoothness.
So while reader discretion was advised based on signature preference for the 4-wire mod, I’m struggling to find any noticeable weaknesses that might put someone off. As a nice byproduct of the limited space, it retains the 4-Wire mod for the single end, giving the outputs two different sounds rather than just one better and inferior one. The single ended 4-Wire mod pairs better with darker iems, providing a welcome touch of clarity. Even so, I practically don’t see myself really using it unless it’s necessary. So please forgive me for somewhat uncharacteristically praising it without restraint, but it’s very rare for me to find a product I can fully endorse, according to every angle I judge equipment. The mod might be pricey, but I find it justified when you consider the ratio of its original price to the improved SQ. I personally consider it an immediate upgrade in both signature and performance.
WM1Z/A MS 2/4/8-wire Mod
Spec list:
1. New Pentaconn 4.4mm socket (to ensure that solder used on the socket is fresh, and not contaminated by existing solder)
2. 1960s wiring mod for both single ended and balanced outputs
3. Exotic Mitsubishi Heavy Industries precious metal-based solder used for all soldering, existing solder will be cleaned off prior to soldering with the precious metal-based solder.
4. 1960s wire for the DC ground wiring
5. Isolation of inductor coils and capacitors with shielding products from Japan (Oyaide and fo.Q)
Price (including free DHL/FedEx shipping):
2-wire (single 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $549
4-wire (dual 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $699
4-wire single ended, 8-wire balanced (dual 1960s wire for DC ground section): SGD $899
The epiphany needs to occur where your mind gets used to portables.
I love my WM1Z but truth be said, I have a Rega Planet CD transport going to a $300 AV DAC going to a Schiit Asgard One that beats out the 1Z on every level in audio with all my IEMs.
That’s why when I read reviews where they state the 1A or 1Z is a complete replacement for desktop units, I simply laugh. Even putting a humble $800 desktop rig together is going to win out over these new Walkmans if you choose and group your equipment right.
The primary difference is the portable DAP and IEM group are placing more soundstage imaging inside of your ears. So if your used to headphones and home systems, it’s like “ What’s the fuss about?”
It’s just that one system is apples and one system is oranges, you can’t actually compare. But even if someone is expecting to spend $5K on a portable rig and think it’s going to win out over a $5K well chose desktop, they are simply delusional. What you do get with the Signature Walkmans is a personal intimate relationship, where everything is there just in smaller size. Again stuff is more inside the cranium and some outside, where with large soundstage (full-size) headphones it’s 5 inches out side your head. Though I did notice a nice 1Z soundstage improvement after 50 hours of burn in and at that time going to FW 2.0.
You may want to try different IEMs too. I have come across a 1/4” to 3.5mm adapter which made all my headphones sound like they were mono. I actually tossed it in the trash as I was tired of being fooled by it.
But it’s a strange issue that occurs after you get a large collection of headphones, adapters and IEMs, truth be said, they at rare times don’t work together. Some members have made strict plans always keeping the adapters with the same headphones for this reason.
Man you are an asset to us, as you keep things real especially for people like us who live in countries where we can not audition things, I learned the hard way when once I bought the ak380 and amp, and hugo and I said I will never ever follow hype people again
Yes, that's it. Dock came way before the Signature series and accepts the wm port. It works well with 1A, 1Z, ZX100 and many others. Go for it. You can play, charge simultaneously. Also, use another cable and connect to your computer, toggle a switch at the back and start transferring music.
I second the Dock station for wm1z/A. I use it in my End-game setup, and it is so satisfying that I have been away from HF for a while . Just checking in to see if Sony is going to be exciting anytime soon!
I've had Sony and Panasonic portables ever since the late 1980s, and absolutely the 1Z is one of the best I've heard. Though Ray Samuels once showed me a balanced Audio Emmeline F-35 and "Baby Orpheus?" combo at a home meet that was mind blowing.
It's just that your paying for the fact that everything is small. The benefits are that it's an all in one unit; the variables are lowered. There is no choice of having to get power regulators or RCA interconnects. So Sony can give the consumer one complete package. Our control is simply IEM choices and IEM cable choices. And our final improvement choice is obviously music file choices.
And all this is fully subjective, with maybe the best IEM reviewers simply talking about sound image placement being different after they take their IEMs out of the Z1 and plug them into a reference home rig. In many ways there is such a delicate balance and smoothness from the Z1 which ends up being natural and organic. Mid-Fi home systems are simply going to change the overall IEM sound. But in my humble opinion (depending on equipment) the sound is more reference than the Sony Signature Walkman.
Sony must know this to include the TA-ZH1ES amp and extra docking system (or cord) to get the 1A and 1Z to performance of home rigs. But the ease of use is you can take your Walkman to work then listen at home all with one integrated system. We can now see companies like Sennheiser are adapting 4.4mm Pentaconn cables to everything new so far, even the new Flagship HD820 full-size headphone.
But it would be interesting to hear from folks using their 1Z or 1A with an extra portable amp. If you look back into this thread maybe a couple hundred posts, you will see I'm not the only one simply pointing out that there are limitations to the amp in the 1Z/1A.
After seeing graphs it's pretty much accepted that even easy to drive IEMs as well as normal full-size headphones are going to sound like they have more bass coming from a more powerful amp. After studying graphs it's almost always a fact that the bass has only been increased by about 1 decibel, that what's occurring is actually much more wonderful. Even with easy to drive IEMs (more with dynamic driver IEMs).......the bass seems like more but it's only more delineated and clear. The slight increase in amp power is just making the bass more clear.
And besides the slight image placement changes using home equipment with your IEMs, it's that bass clarify which is most noticeable in direct comparison with using the the Walkman Signatures with your IEMs.
The whole argument with using a CD transport attempting at better timing is also a highly subjective matter. As using the Signature Series normally bypasses any and all USB timing issues we may encounter with a computer. That's really one of the main reasons I love the Z1 so much, and my idea of maybe why they will never upgrade the FW to make it a computer DAC.
I've had Sony and Panasonic portables ever since the late 1980s, and absolutely the 1Z is one of the best I've heard. Though Ray Samuels once showed me a balanced Audio Emmeline F-35 and "Baby Orpheus?" combo at a home meet that was mind blowing.
It's just that your paying for the fact that everything is small. The benefits are that it's an all in one unit; the variables are lowered. There is no choice of having to get power regulators or RCA interconnects. So Sony can give the consumer one complete package. Our control is simply IEM choices and IEM cable choices. And our final improvement choice is obviously music file choices.
And all this is fully subjective, with maybe the best IEM reviewers simply talking about sound image placement being different after they take their IEMs out of the Z1 and plug them into a reference home rig. In many ways there is such a delicate balance and smoothness from the Z1 which ends up being natural and organic. Mid-Fi home systems are simply going to change the overall IEM sound. But in my humble opinion (depending on equipment) the sound is more reference than the Sony Signature Walkman.
Sony must know this to include the other amp and docking system to get the 1A and 1Z to performance of home rigs. But the ease of use is you can take your Walkman to work then listen at home all with one integrated system. We can now see companies like Sennheiser are adapting 4.4mm Pentaconn cables to everything new so far, even the new Flagship HD820 full-size headphone.
But it would be interesting to hear from folks using their 1Z or 1A with an extra portable amp. If you look back into this thread maybe a couple hundred posts, you will see I'm not the only one simply pointing out that there are limitations to the amp in the 1Z/1A.
After seeing graphs it's pretty much accepted that even easy to drive IEMs and well as normal full-size headphones are going to sound like they have more bass coming from a more powerful amp. After studying graphs it's almost always a fact that the bass has only been increased by about 1 decibel, that what's occurring is actually much more wonderful. Even with easy to drive IEMs (more with dynamic driver IEMs).......the bass seems like more but it's only more delineated and clear. The slight increase in amp power is just making the bass more clear.
And besides the slight image placement changes using home equipment with your IEMs, it's that bass clarify which is most noticeable in direct comparison with using the the Walkman Signatures with your IEMs.
The whole argument with using a CD transport attempting at better timing is also a highly subjective matter. As using the Signature Series normally bypasses any and all USB timing issues we may encounter with a computer. That's really one of the main reasons I love the Z1 so much, and my idea of maybe why they will never upgrade the FW to make it a computer DAC.
1A via dock into the PHA3 feeding my Beyer DT1770's on balanced output. 1A has enough in balanced and high gain to drive the 250 ohm Beyers on average at 90 - 105 on the volume but hook it up to the amp and it definitely makes use of those Tesla 2 drivers.
Well, to be truthfull I went to purchase the 1Z in hopes of replacement of much of my home rigs. In many reviews and maybe in an advertisement or two, that's the level these things are pushed to. But I'm totally happy to be able to be closer to changing files and having it all in my hands as a nice home rig. I have yet to listen to a ton of full size headphones with it. but the Sony Z5 IEMs sound pretty darn close to full size headphones in balanced mode. So it's win-win.
This talk maybe only effects those who are on the fence about purchasing a 5K home rig or a Walkman as their home rig?
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