[Cecala]

To all of you who think the new Sony micro Sd at $185 is expensive and unreasonable. Check this out...available now at your closest bestbuy store....64gb

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/sandisk-extreme-plus-64gb-microsdxc-uhs-3-class-u-3-memory-card-red-gold/9387093.p?id=1219014150534&skuId=9387093

And if that peaked your interest

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/sandisk-extreme-pro-64gb-microsdxc-class-10-memory-card-black-red/9303147.p?id=1219408996110&skuId=9303147

 
You forgot to mention:

Water-, temperature-, x-ray- and shockproof design Safeguards against various forms of damage.

 
 

 

[audioxxx]

I went and picked up my precious today, it's built like a tank, very solid feel, and fantastic design. It's curved like a beautiful woman, waiting for it to finish it's first charge.
But if this beastly DAP sounds as good as it feels, and looks, I will be loving this DAP for a very long time.
Sony have created a incredible DAP, on first impressions the astetic appearance and touch is knock out.

So far, I'm impressed.

 

[Steven R. Rochli]

I'm not arguing where you have problems with your unit, all I'm saying is, there is no way for you to mimic the test condition what Sony has used, and normally most companies states actual times vary from different conditions....

 
Agreed, no one knows the conditions. At least Apple is admitting only three(!) hours of use of their watch in some circumstances (18 on average ROFLMAO because my Galaxy Gear S has a cell phone too and I get about two full days of use). There are going to be A LOT of angry Apple people when they realize they paid top dollar for two generations behind the curve tech, and with horrible battery life too.
 
OMG, only 6.5 hours of music and..... your done!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Standby time was never good in that early version of Android, which is why an updated version of Android would be useful.

 
Oh, forgot to mention that I found out Sony does not have plans at this time to update to Android 5.0. BTW, found a $140 cubed charger accessory is available that allows some more options and charging of the NW-ZX2. Bought the (better imho) $75-ish leather case from someone in Japan for $100. Here's more about the desk stand/charger/digital out thingie:
 
 
www.ebay.com/itm/SONY-WALKMAN-ORIGINAL-OEM-OFFICIAL-CRADLE-BCR-NWH10-for-NW-ZX2-ZX1-A10-F880-/321689921013?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae636a5f5
 
 
Box pics with details are at http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-Walkman-cradle-BCR-NWH10-for-NW-ZX2-ZX1-A10-F880-Free-Shipping-EMS-/281600000268?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4190ab010c
 
 
ADDED: here's their Japanese page with all accessories
http://www.sony.jp/walkman/products/NW-ZX2/compatible.html
 

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0315/Astell_Kern_AK240_Vs_Sony_NW_ZX2_Walkman_Review.htm

Great review Steven. So now I'm back in the game and looking forward to being 1200$ lighter. Could you please test some DSD tracks on the zx2 and give your opinions on the sony's prowess with them.

 
 
As we know, the ZX2 coverts DSD to PCM. It is really close between the Sony and AK240, with the Sony still being a small touch better due to dynamic shading and other bits. So it is very, very close. Of course rhythmic ability still goes to the ZX2 handily.

 

[audioxxx]

^oh well that version of Android will be fine and stable at least,
and if the zx2 receives enough of a following, I really got my fingers crossed for a version of cyanogen, it is the best of the bunch from Android I've tried out.
I like the docking station, that will be very handy.

I agree, the flip case would have been better in the box, but the case in the box reminds me of something out of the army, like a holster, very well made, but I think never get any dust, dirt, or grit in there or is going to end bad. So I need the flip case as well.
And now for the burning in ceremony.

 

[Steven R. Rochli]

Ok, was looking at accessories... hold on, we can RECORD from analog in with this thing??? Does that mean I no longer need my field recording TASACAM HD-P2 24/192 unit ?
 
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sony.jp%2Fwalkman%2Fproducts%2FWMC-NWR1%2F&edit-text=
 
Wonder what format it records? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
 
Also on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Recording-Cable-Walkman-WMC-NWR1/dp/B000JJEAPS
 
 
Owners manual at https://docs.sony.com/release/WMCNWR1.pdf
 
UGH, might be only at CD rate. Nevermind  
 
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.sony.jp/walkman/products/ECM-NW10/&prev=search

 

[Whitigir]

Ok, was looking at accessories... hold on, we can RECORD from analog in with this thing??? Does that mean I no longer need my field recording TASACAM HD-P2 24/192 unit ?

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sony.jp%2Fwalkman%2Fproducts%2FWMC-NWR1%2F&edit-text=

Wonder what format it records? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Also on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Recording-Cable-Walkman-WMC-NWR1/dp/B000JJEAPS


Owners manual at https://docs.sony.com/release/WMCNWR1.pdf

UGH, might be only at CD rate. Nevermind  

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.sony.jp/walkman/products/ECM-NW10/&prev=search

I wondered about this too.....so.....there are 5 poles connector inside the 3.5 jack ?

Thank you Steve for the comparision from Zx2 to AK240. I understand that ZX2 is a tad better in sound quality ? If so, it is a must buy

1/ better sound quality
2/ better build
3/ Better battery life
4/ better design
5/ half the price

Also, I will have my cable today to pair with IM-04 and ZX2. I am currently using Sandisk Ultra Plus 64 gb. I will have extreme pro by Thursday and do some comparision. My wife has one Samsung Evo 64gb....but I don't really feel like trying it out

 

[audioxxx]

Yeah, thanks Steve, for a great review, it sealed the deal. I nearly cancelled my order.

This zx2 is one fantastic sounding DAP, right out of the box this DAP is the best I've heard in portable audio.
Well done Sony, this is sounding fantastic, powering my p7.

 

[Steven R. Rochli]

Whitigir
 
   Four poles being from tip to cable side are (TIP) L+, R+, Ground, and Ground (CABLE). While the unit is not true balanced, Sony felt there are benefits with separate grounds. I agree with Sony and thus only use balanced cables when possible.
 
1/ Yes
2/ About the same, yet the Sony does have nicer implementation of the buttons.
3/ HECK YEAH!
4/ Physically, to my eyes yes. It is akin to if you want a Ferrari/Pininfarina style (Sony) or Lamborghini (AK)
5/ Yes
 
Used the SanDisk Ultra 64GB XC1 (red on top, grey below) during review. Yesterday the SanDisk 128GB version arrived (all black, red writing) and it now has about 90GB of music on it    Sony is supposed to be sending me their new 64GB for music memory card to try out.
 
 
 
 
audioxxx,
(Blushing) ALWAYS glad to be of service. As ALWAYS, in the end what REALLY matters is that you...  Enjoy the Music 

 

[jonstatt]

Ok, was looking at accessories... hold on, we can RECORD from analog in with this thing??? Does that mean I no longer need my field recording TASACAM HD-P2 24/192 unit ?


 


https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sony.jp%2Fwalkman%2Fproducts%2FWMC-NWR1%2F&edit-text=


 


Wonder what format it records? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?


 


Also on Amazon


http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Recording-Cable-Walkman-WMC-NWR1/dp/B000JJEAPS


 


 


Owners manual at https://docs.sony.com/release/WMCNWR1.pdf


 


UGH, might be only at CD rate. Nevermind  


 


http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.sony.jp/walkman/products/ECM-NW10/&prev=search

 




Just to add that the ZX2 does have a built-in microphone (of course you woudln't record a concert with it). But just thought I would note this as I commented earlier that unlike the ZX1 it does not have a built-in speaker...but for some reason it does have a mic.

 

[jonstatt]

As I mentioned earlier, Sony ARE fairly specific about how their battery life is measured and I found with the ZX1 it was spot-on.

Battery life
The time below may differ depending on ambient temperature or the status of use.

Battery Life (continuous playback)
Actual battery life may vary depending on settings. The estimated battery usage hours shown below are based on typical usage conditions with “Settings for battery life measurement” as shown below.

Music
MP3 128 kbps

Approx. 60 Hrs



Linear PCM 1,411 kbps

Approx. 61 Hrs



FLAC 96 kHz/24 bit

Approx. 43 Hrs



FLAC 192 kHz/24 bit

Approx. 33 Hrs



DSD 2.8224 MHz/1 bit

Approx. 22 Hrs



DSD 5.6448 MHz/1 bit

Approx. 16 Hrs

Video
MPEG-4 384 kbps

Approx. 9 Hrs

Note•Even if the player is turned off for an extended period, a small amount of battery power is still consumed.
•Battery life may vary depending on volume setting, conditions of use and ambient temperature.
Settings for battery life measurement
Display

Brightness (*1): Default



Sound adjustment

ClearAudio+ (*2): OFF (default setting: OFF)

Equalizer (*3): OFF (default setting: OFF)

Surround sound (*3): OFF (default setting: OFF)

DSEE HX (*3)(*4): OFF (default setting: OFF)

Dynamic normalizer (*3): OFF (default setting: OFF)



Bluetooth (*5)

OFF (default setting: OFF)

(*1) The maximum brightness setting shortens the battery life for continuous video playback by about 19% compared with the default setting.

(*2) The [On] setting shortens the battery life about 37% compared with the [Off] setting.

(*3) Setting [Equalizer] to other than [Off], [Surround sound] to other than [Off], [DSEE HX] to [On] and [Dynamic normalizer] to [On] shortens the battery life for continuous music playback by about 70%.

(*4) The [On] setting shortens the battery life about 52% compared with the [Off] setting.

(*5) When listening to music wirelessly with [Bluetooth] set to [ON], the battery life is about 40% to 65% shorter than when [Bluetooth] is set to [OFF]. The battery life also differs depending on the selected codec.

 

[jonstatt]

I am curious what thoughts are on pure DSD to analogue, vs a "good" conversion to PCM first. I have a vast SACD collection, and still buy from cdjapan for some of those wonderful remasters from the 70s and 80s. Of course the purist thought is that DSD will not sound the same if it goes through any conversion process.....but on the other hand I have also read reports that DSD is not magic, and just like you can have a WAV file and a FLAC file sound absolutely identical because fundamentally they are the same information with a different encoding.....that DSD can be converted to PCM without any loss either, and that any "apparent" difference is placebo.

For example, check this article out which says as long as it's done right....it's fine.

http://www.psaudio.com/ps_faq/converting-dsd-to-pcm-bad/

 

[Whitigir]

Why does ZX2 has a built-in microphone ? Where is it ?

 

[jonstatt]

Why does ZX2 has a built-in microphone ? Where is it ?

 


No idea...and I couldn't see where it was. But it works because I was using Google Now and it "heard" me

 

[Steven R. Rochli]

Why does ZX2 has a built-in microphone ? Where is it ?

 
Not sure where yet the why might be for speech-to-text for Google, messaging, etc.

 

[Whitigir]

Not sure where yet the why might be for speech-to-text for Google, messaging, etc.

awesome . Does it means we can use viber calls over wifi .