[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

 
Sony is mostly integrated into a single silicon chip (greatly more-so than a normal op-amp chip, which may partially form the amplification stage of competing DAPs), and appears (until any contrary information is forthcoming from a reliable source) to be exactly the same S-Master chip as that in the ZX1.

 
^ That only means that ZX1 and ZX2 will have similar power output, the actual quality of the power output and thus SQ is still mostly dependent on what is being fed to the S Master Chip. Class D is in fact much more sensitive to power ripple and noise than any class A amp output. So the ZX2 design of super cap, power filtering, circuitry improvements etc, will be improving SQ of S Master more than you think, not to mention the improved analog stage. Power output is not the be all end all, Calyx M only has 1.25v power output, yet the much cheaper X5 can do 3v output. Sound quality and power don't go hand in hand, I'm confident that the SQ of the ZX2 has been drastically improved.

 

[bowtung]

Just listened to the zx2 for 30mins today, have to say that I'm very impressed. Right when I plug my jh13 and listened to the first track, I can tell the difference. Similar to previous impressions, the sound is kinda warm. I also find it more coherent and organic, as the zx1 sometimes feel digital to me. The bass, especially the deepest ones were rendered very very very nicely.

I think the output power has improved maybe like 25%? hard to tell
The metal finish is also very nice and feels solid, the buttons feel very "right", seems like the whole design is clearly thought out.

However, I just think it doesn't look that good, kinda plain, just my opinion.

 

[musicday]

I don't think audiobreeder understands what native dsd actually is lol. Only three daps do "native" dsd, QLS 360, Cayin N6, AK240.

You forgot about Lotoo Paw Gold.

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

From Sony US:
 

1. Audio

   1. Station Preset(s) : Up to 30
   2. Audio Power Output : 10 + 10 mW
   3. Tuner : FM Tuner
   4. Tuner Frequency Range : 87.5 - 108.0 mHz
   5. Frequency Response : 20 to 40,000 Hz (when playing data file, single signal measurement)
   6. Audio Format(s) Supported :
      MP3: 32-320 kbps (incl. VBR) at 32, 44.1, and 48 kHz
      WMA: 5-384 kbps (incl. VBR) at 8-48 kHz
      FLAC: 16/24-bit at 8, 11.025, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 kHz
      L-PCM: 16/24-bit at 8, 11.025, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 kHz
      AAC: 16-320 kbps (incl. VBR) at 8, 11.025, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, and 48 kHz
      HE-AAC: 32-144 kbps at 8, 11.025, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, and 48 kHz
      ALAC: 16/24-bit at 8, 11.025, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 kHz
      AIFF: 16/24 bit at 8, 11.025, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 kHz
      DSD: 1-bit at 2.8224 or 5.6448 Mhz

 
So, the last line says DSD supported.  Maybe you were testing with a different format?
 
And whats that?  FM tuner?

 

[Mython]

  From Sony US:
 

1. Audio

   1. Station Preset(s) : Up to 30
   2. Audio Power Output : 10 + 10 mW
   3. Tuner : FM Tuner
   4. Tuner Frequency Range : 87.5 - 108.0 mHz

 
And whats that?  FM tuner?

 
Curious that my Cowon J3 offers 76.0 - 108.0 for the Japan setting. This might imply that the Sony spec is for an international version.
 
 
Also, 10+10mw doesn't seem correct for ZX2, given that the ZX1 = 15mw+15mw.
 
Maybe the specs are for a different DAP?
 
 
.

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

http://store.sony.com/128-gb-walkman-hi-res-digital-music-player-zid27-NWZX2BLK/cat-27-catid-All-MP3-Players
 
I agree, it does seem a bit off.  But that is the listed specs...

 

[djricekcn]

it clearly states "supported" which it does but playback is in linear pcm jp website is more detailed

 

[djricekcn]

最近のハイレゾオーディオプレーヤーの上位機種では、バランス接続対応製品も増えているが、NW-ZX2のヘッドフォン出力はアンバランス仕様だ。ただし、ヘッドフォン出力端子は3.5mmの4極端子となっているようで、編集部で用意した4極端子のケーブルと、ヘッドフォンのMDR-1Aを組み合わせてテストしたところ、音が出ることが確認できた。当然メーカーの保証外だが、今後きちんとしたケーブルなどが発売されれば、バランス接続でも利用できそうだ。

 
don't know much about Balanced Audio but it says that they used a "4 Plug Terminal" with a MDR-1A, they were able to get an audio..not sure if that's the answer you guys wanted.

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

^ That unfortunately doesn't confirm whether ZX2 has a TRRS or TRS socket though, using a TRRS plug can still work out of a TRS socket and vice versa.

 

[harmonix]

You forgot about Lotoo Paw Gold.

If we want to be picky I don't think any dap is a true DSD converter. There is a difference between "native DsD" and "true DsD". Since true dsd is a 1 bit signal you can argue a (and I believe) most daps are really delta sigma multibit converters....

 

[Conext]

I happened across this and didn't find it yet posted in this thread (although admittedly, it would take quite a long time to double check manually, considering the length of the conversation thus far):
 
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://articles.imp3.net/65950-4.html&prev=search
 
This appears to have more shots of the UI than I've seen before. It...pretty much looks just like the ZX1. Although, they appear to have added some post-processing options for DSD playback.
 
Something they don't show is the lock screen. Since it's running Android 4.2, I'd kinda like to have a lock screen widget for the audio player. It'd be nice to be able to see the album art and track name on the lock screen, as opposed to having to swipe my grubby paws across the screen to do it. But that's a pretty minor quibble one way or the other.

 

[zfannewb]

sony.ca now has it listed for 1200 crackers.  Do I wait for Japan or just pre-order?   ...hmmmm.....

 

[johnston21]

Yes, but the fancy dock is not...

 

[bond007]

  sony.ca now has it listed for 1200 crackers.  Do I wait for Japan or just pre-order?   ...hmmmm.....

yes, i don't understand the logic behind this, if they are going to close all the stores in a month or two then whats the point of bringing all that new products.

 

[djricekcn]

yes, i don't understand the logic behind this, if they are going to close all the stores in a month or two then whats the point of bringing all that new products.

sony stores. not resellers and Online