[rgr555]

A shootout between the NWZ-A17 and FiiO X5 high-resolution players seemed like a good idea, as they're nearly the same price. The X5 is more powerful and can play full-size headphones a lot louder, but it's bigger and bulkier; I prefer the NWZ-A17's user-interface and easier-to-read display. The X5's controls are awkward to use, and worse yet, it occasionally stops playing tunes (the reset gets music back on track). The X5 sounds warmer and fuller paired with my Audio Technica ATH-M50x and Sony MDR 7520 headphones. The NWZ-A17 was lighter in tone, with a smaller sound stage. The X5 opens up the sound; it's less inside my head, and the X5 also did a much better job with difficult-to-drive (300 ohm impedance) Sennheiser HD-580 headphones. The NWZ-A17 didn't cut it with the HD-580s.

Continuing with Logitech UE 900 in-ear headphones, the X5 and NWZ-A17 were more evenly matched, but the tonal differences were still there. The NWZ-A17's sound is more present; the X5 is sweeter and more laid-back. Which is better is very much a question of personal taste. I prefer the X5, you might love the NWZ-A17.

http://www.cnet.com/news/sonys-tiny-high-resolution-audio-player-might-be-the-next-big-thing/#ftag=rss.audiophiliac.ftag

 

[goody]

   
It's perfect in my opinion.  I don't own super duper high end headphones worth more than my laptop but comparing it to other walkmans I have and owned, the A15 is the best so far in terms of audio quality. I personally do not hear any hiss, maybe my headphones are not as sensitive as others here, but I do plan on purchasing the new XBA-A2s one they are released, either here in Europe or just import them from Japan, so perhaps the hiss will appear then.
 
The A is what I've wanted in a walkman, smaller size, expandable memory, and built in amp, only thing missing is built in noise cancellation, but you can't always have everything.  I haven't used the F885, partly because it costs too much for a stand alone mp3 player and I already had an android device, my xperia z1.  As for the ZX1, it is not on sale here in Poland, and costs even more than an arm and a leg probably if I imported it.
 
Most of my music is 320kbps bought online, only flac I own is whatever I rip from my CDs, which is less likely now since my FW Vaio died and my Vaio pro 13 has no cd drive.  Buying hi-res audio is also not possible since my genre music is not sold in hi-res, except WAV but upgrading at this point in time would cost me way too much money.
 
It is always to best test out the device in store before deciding whether it is what you would like in a player.  The A15/17 can receive songs via bluetooth, so one can always bring their smartphone and send a song over bluetooth to test it out.

i am looking to buy the same XBA A2 as well...i am thinking of getting the Japanese import if there is  english menu  because of the atrac and noise cancellation support

 

[turokrocks]

  i am looking to buy the same XBA A2 as well...i am thinking of getting the Japanese import if there is  english menu  because of the atrac and noise cancellation support

....pricejapan.com confirmed that the menu can be changed to English.

 

[goody]

  ....pricejapan.com confirmed that the menu can be changed to English.

thats good to hear i will by the 32gb vesrsion in blue

 

[rgr555]

pricejapan charging $310 for the 32gb 

 I might just get usa 64gb for same price
 
but Tenso should be around $275 or less
 
glad to hear the Japan version BLUE will have English
if someone else can confirm that would be great

 

[tenedosian]

About sound quality, being near-perfectly happy with F886, I just wonder one simple thing actually :
 
- Do the A10 series have the ultra wide (though not so deep) soundstage of F886..?

 

[pinkbecca]

I won't believe what pricejapan says regarding the menu language until someone buys the Japanese version and confirms it does change to English, then I'd buy it for sure, why the heck do they put sound cancelling only for Japan!!??

 

[sardar17]

noise cancelling requires dedicated nc earphones too right?

 

[goody]

noise cancelling requires dedicated nc earphones too right?

yes it does and it will be included in the box ..

 

[goody]

  I won't believe what pricejapan says regarding the menu language until someone buys the Japanese version and confirms it does change to English, then I'd buy it for sure, why the heck do they put sound cancelling only for Japan!!??

i am certainly waiting for our Japanese friends on here to confirm that

 

[castleofargh]

as it was suggested it might be a way to get passed the european volume restriction and they think USA is in Europe?
or perhaps some unknown poll showed that noise canceling wasn't a great selling point abroad?
maybe the extra ring adds some noise or grounding quality problems and it would explain why the ZX1 didn't have it?
 
but most probably because Sony. ^_^

 

[nekromantik]

Those who have it, how is the bass on the headphone out?
Is there much low end bass or is it more neutral? 

 

[Silverprout]

  About sound quality, being near-perfectly happy with F886, I just wonder one simple thing actually :
 
- Do the A10 series have the ultra wide (though not so deep) soundstage of F886..?

 
Yes i want to know too !
??

 

[sardar17]

  yes it does and it will be included in the box ..

 
Then the price will be at least 50$ more if those active noise cancellation buds are included

 

[bond007]

or may its just the tweaking in the software side of the player rather than any hardware addition to Japanese version.