[SkyZippr]

I don't use it much anymore. I use it only to buy stuff I can't get on CD or download which is quite rare. It's also very format limited.

I went from iTunes to Musicbee. It has a built-in syncing function which is pretty nice. There's also an Android Wifi sync app, but it doesn't seem to work very well on ZX507.
Musicbee takes some time to get used to. Be sure not to turn on any auto-organizing function before testing on a small group of files to make sure it's working the way you want it to.

 

[likearake]

Dunno what the consensus is on sound quality, but if anyone is interested in trading their ZX500 for a WM1A then give me a PM .

Have less time for critical listening these days but more time for long lonesome walks.

 

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

Links to download all ZX507 Firmware's below.

This means if you are still on original 1.0 you can manually install whichever version you want if you don't want to jump straight to the latest with OTA (V1.21).
To install copy file to root of player internal storage then go into settings-> system->advanced->system updates, to launch manually.
Keep in mind you can't go back to a previous version once you install a newer one.

Japanese rom:

V1.01 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0001/NW-ZX500_0001_V1_01_00_NW_WM_FW.UPG
V1.1.03 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0002/NW-ZX500_0001_V1_10_03_NW_WM_FW.UPG
V1.2.02 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0003/NW-ZX500_0001_V1_20_02_NW_WM_FW.UPG
V1.21 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0004/NW-ZX500_0001_V1_20_10_NW_WM_FW.UPG

International rom:

V1.01 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0001/NW-ZX500_0000_V1_01_00_NW_WM_FW.UPG
V1.1.03 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0002/NW-ZX500_0000_V1_10_03_NW_WM_FW.UPG
V1.2.02 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0003/NW-ZX500_0000_V1_20_02_NW_WM_FW.UPG
V1.21 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0004/NW-ZX500_0000_V1_20_10_NW_WM_FW.UPG

 

[Love Music]

Links to download all ZX507 Firmware's below.

This means if you are still on original 1.0 you can manually install whichever version you want if you don't want to jump straight to the latest with OTA (V1.21).
To install copy file to root of player internal storage then go into settings-> system->advanced->system updates, to launch manually.
Keep in mind you can't go back to a previous version once you install a newer one.

Japanese rom:

V1.01 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0001/NW-ZX500_0001_V1_01_00_NW_WM_FW.UPG
V1.1.03 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0002/NW-ZX500_0001_V1_10_03_NW_WM_FW.UPG
V1.2.02 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0003/NW-ZX500_0001_V1_20_02_NW_WM_FW.UPG
V1.21 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0004/NW-ZX500_0001_V1_20_10_NW_WM_FW.UPG

US rom:

V1.01 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0001/NW-ZX500_0000_V1_01_00_NW_WM_FW.UPG
V1.1.03 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0002/NW-ZX500_0000_V1_10_03_NW_WM_FW.UPG
V1.2.02 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0003/NW-ZX500_0000_V1_20_02_NW_WM_FW.UPG
V1.21 - https://info.update.sony.net/PA001/...ents/0004/NW-ZX500_0000_V1_20_10_NW_WM_FW.UPG

I bought mines from hong kong so i guess its an asia version?

 

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

I bought mines from hong kong so i guess its an asia version?

There shouldn't be any issues using another regions update, if your's came with google playstore then it is likely the US/international rom. If no playstore then China rom which I haven't made links for but can.

Bolded part of link is region, 0001 is Japan, 0000 is international, 0003 is China, and I don't know which regions 0002, 0004 and 0005 are. But like I said, doesn't matter which region you use, just determines what extra apps you get or don't get. Though it is best to do a system reset if you do an update from a different region.

info.update.sony.net/PA001/NW-ZX500Series_0001/contents/0001/NW-ZX500_0001_V1_01_00_NW_WM_FW.UPG

 

[Love Music]

There shouldn't be any issues using another regions update, if your's came with playstore then it is likely the US/international rom. If no playstore then China rom which I haven't made links for.

I see. Thanks. Im not sure which one i liked. It was meant to be 1.1 version on the actual sony music app. I have updated the silver one to the latest 1.21 which is 1.0.1 in the sony app. The separation, clarity and soundstage is good but lacks a bit of bass in some songs.

 

[1slyB]

Hello all, have a issue with my zx507. The issue is when copying via usb, not everything but certain music folders but it always seems like the same point it disconnects from my computer no matter what I have tried. It's not a size issue or a hard drive bad sector issue, it seems pretty unusual and cant figure it out. I have a few folder of music that wont copy from my computer to both the hard drive or the sd card which are about 2-3gb. I can take the sd card out and copy it across and then can move it with an app to the hard drive which works fine. I can copy other 11gb folders so why I dont think its a size issue but just some specific folders it just wont copy accross? Anyone else have this issue? Is it a DMR issue or a file issue or a usb issue?

 

[chortya]

Maybe filename or path length issue?

 

[eternalEquilibrium]

Have you tried downloading to the internal storage?

I have no problem with my unit and Tidal (and used both internal and SD storage), but I did get a dud of an sd-card (Integral 512GB from Amazon - was basically either fake or defective) - Might be worth ruling that out...

I swapped over to another card and all seems ok so far. The dud one had its own mind in what it wanted to save and what to not save.

 

[chortya]

So after spending 30min or so with A/B testing of ZX507 and WM1A (direct source on for both) with IER-Z1R iems I can say the following:
- Couldn't hear any audible difference with single ended output on same volume and different tracks. I used "Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disk" as Hires for full range sound and "House of Zef" from Die Antwoort for bass heavy tracks.
- WM1A has significantly more power left. 75 volume setting in low gain matched at 100 on ZX507.

This again confirms that volume matching is key for any comparison. And all the nice audiophile lingo heavy comparisons "out of memory" are often just pure crap if you start digging deeper and identify multiple influencing factors.

If you need streaming out of the box - take ZX507.
If you want solid battery life, more power, USB DAC and Bluetooth streaming - take WM1A.

This is not an easy choice for me now... I was hoping to improve my overall situation by sidegrading to ZX507 but now I miss Bluetooth streaming and think that carefully curating the music saved on DAP is part of the experience. Tidal and Plex in DAP give more flexibility on the other side. Decisions, decisions...

 

[eternalEquilibrium]

So after spending 30min or so with A/B testing of ZX507 and WM1A (direct source on for both) with IER-Z1R iems I can say the following:
- Couldn't hear any audible difference with single ended output on same volume and different tracks. I used "Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disk" as Hires for full range sound and "House of Zef" from Die Antwoort for bass heavy tracks.
- WM1A has significantly more power left. 75 volume setting in low gain matched at 100 on ZX507.

This again confirms that volume matching is key for any comparison. And all the nice audiophile lingo heavy comparisons "out of memory" are often just pure crap if you start digging deeper and identify multiple influencing factors.

If you need streaming out of the box - take ZX507.
If you want solid battery life, more power, USB DAC and Bluetooth streaming - take WM1A.

This is not an easy choice for me now... I was hoping to improve my overall situation by sidegrading to ZX507 but now I miss Bluetooth streaming and think that carefully curating the music saved on DAP is part of the experience. Tidal and Plex in DAP give more flexibility on the other side. Decisions, decisions...

How do you tell if you have a volume capped 507? The one I have goes to 120. And I really have no idea how someone can listen at those levels. This was with 40ohm IEMs. Oh, and I just stick it in high gain and leave it there. A nice listening level is around 60-75 for me

 

[mikaell]

How do you tell if you have a volume capped 507? The one I have goes to 120. And I really have no idea how someone can listen at those levels. This was with 40ohm IEMs. Oh, and I just stick it in high gain and leave it there. A nice listening level is around 60-75 for me

The NOT capped one has a "high gain" option that the European version lacks. Not sure if the "normal gain" is different.
I've got the European model too atm and yes, for brickwalled tracks I can listen comfortably ant 60-70 volume but many high dynamic range tracks (DSD files, classical especially, ambient electronica, even some Leonard Cohen) I have to push it past 110 and often hit 120.

 

[mikaell]

So after spending 30min or so with A/B testing of ZX507 and WM1A ....

Thank you for this, very good insights!
the WM1A I assume is uncapped, Is the ZX507 European capped?

 

[eternalEquilibrium]

The NOT capped one has a "high gain" option that the European version lacks. Not sure if the "normal gain" is different.
I've got the European model too atm and yes, for brickwalled tracks I can listen comfortably ant 60-70 volume but many high dynamic range tracks (DSD files, classical especially, ambient electronica, even some Leonard Cohen) I have to push it past 110 and often hit 120.

Guess it's the uncapped one. It was an eBay purchase from a Japan refurbished shop or whatever but I take those location things as a grain of salt

 

[Iggnasty]

Hello all, have a issue with my zx507. The issue is when copying via usb, not everything but certain music folders but it always seems like the same point it disconnects from my computer no matter what I have tried. It's not a size issue or a hard drive bad sector issue, it seems pretty unusual and cant figure it out. I have a few folder of music that wont copy from my computer to both the hard drive or the sd card which are about 2-3gb. I can take the sd card out and copy it across and then can move it with an app to the hard drive which works fine. I can copy other 11gb folders so why I dont think its a size issue but just some specific folders it just wont copy accross? Anyone else have this issue? Is it a DMR issue or a file issue or a usb issue?

I had/have the same issue. The problem is Android does not like special characters (i.e. ?). Take the special characters away from the music file names and iy\t should work, at least it worked for me