HK WM1A - 200+ hours - update. Firmware 1.01, K10/Whiplash TWag v3 / TRRS 3.5mm plug.
From the comparison at the store, listening with the Z5 to the same tracks on the 1A and the 1Z.
- WM1A/Z - I have the same impression as the Sony engineers description of the SQ.
- Compared to ZX2 - More detailed and open. It's like the ZX2 is like looking through water that is clear, until you compare to water in the Caribean, where it looks like there is no water, it is so clear. The 1A is like the water in the Caribean.
- Bass is more solid.
- More details, which may give the impression of better high frequencies. The sound is not tiring.
- 1Z/1A sound is similar. But the 1Z has more detail. Example is on voice, the 1A sounds detailled and clear. Switch to the 1Z, and there is a rasp in the voice that was on the 1A, but you did not notice because it is low and almost buried, until you listen for it. But on the 1Z, you notice it right away. So while very small differences, the 1Z is recovering more micro detail, which is what provides the positioning cues, and space in a recording.
What I heard was a more immediate and involving sound for vocals. Yes, you can say it is a very small difference for a large amount of price difference, but with the right setup (IEM/cable/plug), that small difference grabs you in a way that the 1A does not. Yes, if I could afford it, I would get the 1Z. As it is, I will enjoy the 1A and try not to listen to the 1Z, to keep the upgrade urge in abeyance.
How does the 1A sound compared to the ZX2? I believe it is a significant improvement. Again, they are small differences, and depending on your system synergy, you may hear very little difference. But the difference/capability is there, if your setup can resolve it. What this points out is that if you take your IEM/Headphone to the store and try the 1A/1Z, and you hear no, or little difference, then you don't need to upgrade. If you do upgrade, then it would only make sense if you also upgraded IEM/Headphone/cable.
My impression is subjective. I random play through 7k+ songs on the player, mostly FLAC, a good portion of it is hi-res, mixed with some MP3. Music is just about all genres.
I like the setup with the ZX2 and now with the WM1A, and Noble K10, where the system is able to make all the various music, and bit rates, sound good. What I look for is whether the music is involving, or boring. If I find myself skipping to the next track on most music, which I did when I first got the 1A, then it is not what I am looking for. After 200+ hours, I'm finding that songs that I did not particularly like on the ZX2, I am listening to on the 1A. And it seems to have more of what has been described as PRAT, that ability to get your foot tapping to the music. Jazz and Classical come through very well.
So no double blind, and not even switching back and forth between the ZX2 and the WM1A, comparing similar tracks. ( Don't have the ZX2 anymore, so cannot directly compare anymore. )
I've also spent too much time in this audio hobby, comparing snippets of music, listening for the speed of the drum note, the decay, the separation/detail of the instruments, the harmonics of a violin.
In the end, all the details are just a means to a whole, and the final goal is whether the system delivers music, or just a sequence of notes/sounds. If a system is able to deliver most music that to you is enjoyable, and draws you temporarily into the artist's world, and communicates some of the emotion of the music, then it is getting closer to what I want. Some systems are resolving, but not necessarily musical.
So that's my feeling at 200+ hours. It's a relief that I feel the 1A is more musical and a step up from the ZX2, so I don't have to agonize about getting rid of a good player, and winding up with something that was not as musical, which is what I was afraid of, as there was no way to tell if the 1A sound when it was new, would progress to a musical player, after a proper burn in.
I did go through the above regret when I replaced the AK100 with the Calyx M. The M was beautiful on some songs, but overall, I found it not that involving for too many songs. And the 4+ hours battery life became to great a negative, as you had to constantly charge it, and if using it for longer periods of time in a day, you would find yourself with a dead player too often. So I sold the Calyx M at a significant loss, and replaced with the ZX2.
And I know that this update on the 1A will not be enough for many people, who are looking for more detailed comparisons, so just take this as my contribution of a subjective impression, listening to music. And not trying to compare specific aspects of music. I'm fine that this may not be relevant to many people, and I would agree that more specific details are needed. Which I am sure will show up.
From the comparison at the store, listening with the Z5 to the same tracks on the 1A and the 1Z.
- WM1A/Z - I have the same impression as the Sony engineers description of the SQ.
- Compared to ZX2 - More detailed and open. It's like the ZX2 is like looking through water that is clear, until you compare to water in the Caribean, where it looks like there is no water, it is so clear. The 1A is like the water in the Caribean.
- Bass is more solid.
- More details, which may give the impression of better high frequencies. The sound is not tiring.
- 1Z/1A sound is similar. But the 1Z has more detail. Example is on voice, the 1A sounds detailled and clear. Switch to the 1Z, and there is a rasp in the voice that was on the 1A, but you did not notice because it is low and almost buried, until you listen for it. But on the 1Z, you notice it right away. So while very small differences, the 1Z is recovering more micro detail, which is what provides the positioning cues, and space in a recording.
What I heard was a more immediate and involving sound for vocals. Yes, you can say it is a very small difference for a large amount of price difference, but with the right setup (IEM/cable/plug), that small difference grabs you in a way that the 1A does not. Yes, if I could afford it, I would get the 1Z. As it is, I will enjoy the 1A and try not to listen to the 1Z, to keep the upgrade urge in abeyance.
How does the 1A sound compared to the ZX2? I believe it is a significant improvement. Again, they are small differences, and depending on your system synergy, you may hear very little difference. But the difference/capability is there, if your setup can resolve it. What this points out is that if you take your IEM/Headphone to the store and try the 1A/1Z, and you hear no, or little difference, then you don't need to upgrade. If you do upgrade, then it would only make sense if you also upgraded IEM/Headphone/cable.
My impression is subjective. I random play through 7k+ songs on the player, mostly FLAC, a good portion of it is hi-res, mixed with some MP3. Music is just about all genres.
I like the setup with the ZX2 and now with the WM1A, and Noble K10, where the system is able to make all the various music, and bit rates, sound good. What I look for is whether the music is involving, or boring. If I find myself skipping to the next track on most music, which I did when I first got the 1A, then it is not what I am looking for. After 200+ hours, I'm finding that songs that I did not particularly like on the ZX2, I am listening to on the 1A. And it seems to have more of what has been described as PRAT, that ability to get your foot tapping to the music. Jazz and Classical come through very well.
So no double blind, and not even switching back and forth between the ZX2 and the WM1A, comparing similar tracks. ( Don't have the ZX2 anymore, so cannot directly compare anymore. )
I've also spent too much time in this audio hobby, comparing snippets of music, listening for the speed of the drum note, the decay, the separation/detail of the instruments, the harmonics of a violin.
In the end, all the details are just a means to a whole, and the final goal is whether the system delivers music, or just a sequence of notes/sounds. If a system is able to deliver most music that to you is enjoyable, and draws you temporarily into the artist's world, and communicates some of the emotion of the music, then it is getting closer to what I want. Some systems are resolving, but not necessarily musical.
So that's my feeling at 200+ hours. It's a relief that I feel the 1A is more musical and a step up from the ZX2, so I don't have to agonize about getting rid of a good player, and winding up with something that was not as musical, which is what I was afraid of, as there was no way to tell if the 1A sound when it was new, would progress to a musical player, after a proper burn in.
I did go through the above regret when I replaced the AK100 with the Calyx M. The M was beautiful on some songs, but overall, I found it not that involving for too many songs. And the 4+ hours battery life became to great a negative, as you had to constantly charge it, and if using it for longer periods of time in a day, you would find yourself with a dead player too often. So I sold the Calyx M at a significant loss, and replaced with the ZX2.
And I know that this update on the 1A will not be enough for many people, who are looking for more detailed comparisons, so just take this as my contribution of a subjective impression, listening to music. And not trying to compare specific aspects of music. I'm fine that this may not be relevant to many people, and I would agree that more specific details are needed. Which I am sure will show up.
