[SilverEars]

Can the battery be removed from a pin or is it soldered? I

If you look on the pic, you see the solder points.  If replaceable batteries are offered  you can of course use your soldering skills.

 

[purk]

   
 
....So you  think the A17 will sound good?
 
I have known for some time that Sony is releasing  a Walkman with microSD, but I had my money on an updated ZX1 for the US market, and now I look at the A17 and wonder, WHY Sony?
 
I doubt (but hope) that it will be on par with the ZX1, what do you know about its SQ Purk? or anynody?
 
Thanks in advance Head-fiers

I personally think so given that the A17 will inherit the same capacitor type as that of the ZX1 (the F88x doesn't have that).  Its sonic performance should be between the F88x to that of the ZX1 which make it a really an attractive buy.  I'm glad that Sony is getting serious again.  I'm looking forward to owning it especially for the $299 price tag.  Plus I already have the 128GB microSD card and could use an extra playtime on the A17.

 

[estreeter]

   
How about a sound comparison b/w the HUGO and PHA-2 when connect with the ZX-1 digitally?  
 
 

 
when i get back from japan in late sept

 

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

  I personally think so given that the A17 will inherit the same capacitor type as that of the ZX1 (the F88x doesn't have that).  Its sonic performance should be between the F88x to that of the ZX1 which make it a really an attractive buy.

 
The A17 will most likely be using the F880 design, not the ZX1. The output power of the A17 is 10 + 10mW, which is the same as the F880. While the ZX1 gained a bit extra power using os-con caps to make 15 + 15mW. I doubt the A17 will sound better than the F880, they will probably sound identical.
 
The A17 is just going to be a cheaper version of the F887.

 

[SilverEars]

   
The A17 will most likely be using the F880 design, not the ZX1. The output power of the A17 is 10 + 10mW, which is the same as the F880. While the ZX1 gained a bit extra power using os-con caps to make 15 + 15mW. I doubt the A17 will sound better than the F880, they will probably sound identical.
 
The A17 is just going to be a cheaper version of the F887.

Hey trance, can you explain how the os-con adds the extra juice at the output?

 

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

  Hey trance, can you explain how the os-con adds the extra juice at the output?

 
The reason is the os-con caps can swing more voltage creating a larger power reserve. The caps in Sony daps don't function as decouplers like they do in other daps, the caps in the Sony's are an integral part of the charge pump circuit which amplifies the pwn signal. The Sony daps use a four channel pwm signal (a + and - signal for each L,R channel). These four signals are sent to the 4 os-con caps, a voltage oscillator is constantly reading the difference in charge between 4 caps and outputs an audio signal from that.

 

[Nella]

I personally think so given that the A17 will inherit the same capacitor type as that of the ZX1 (the F88x doesn't have that).  Its sonic performance should be between the F88x to that of the ZX1 which make it a really an attractive buy.  I'm glad that Sony is getting serious again.  I'm looking forward to owning it especially for the $299 price tag.  Plus I already have the 128GB microSD card and could use an extra playtime on the A17.

The ZX1 will always sound better than it's cheaper sibblings, Sony will always have to cut cost somewhere to offer more affordable products

 

[feederer]

tried the pha-2... can't hear significant difference with the zx1 or maybe it's just my ears.

 

[yakkosmurf]

Which headphones were you using for your PHA-2 audition? Something the ZX1 easily powers? Just curious, as I'm debating the PHA-2 and moving to larger headphones.

 

[Nella]

Which headphones were you using for your PHA-2 audition? Something the ZX1 easily powers? Just curious, as I'm debating the PHA-2 and moving to larger headphones.

Sony XBA H3 and MDR 1RMK2, just as the PHA-2 these are the best iem+headphone to be paired with the ZX1

 

[Gvnlr]

Tried it with westone um pro 30 and it sounded fantastic!

 

[rawrster]

Why do people still waiting about official release in the US when they can order from asian sites and received within 3days by express shipping ??!!

 
It's probably similar to why I don't buy customs outside of US anymore. If anything goes wrong the warranty is much easier to deal with within the same country than outside and there is always the possibility of a language barrier with some of these asian companies.

 

[yakkosmurf]

Sony XBA H3 and MDR 1RMK2, just as the PHA-2 these are the best iem+headphone to be paired with the ZX1

Thanks. I found a set of IEMs I preferred to the XBA H3s. And they sound great with the ZX1. But, I'm thinking of larger ones. Those Sony's are on my list.

 

[feederer]

Which headphones were you using for your PHA-2 audition? Something the ZX1 easily powers? Just curious, as I'm debating the PHA-2 and moving to larger headphones.

tried it with my audio technica im03...I feel that It loses the warmth and becomes more neutral. might be wrong.. will go audition again.

 

[purk]

The ZX1 will always sound better than it's cheaper sibblings, Sony will always have to cut cost somewhere to offer more affordable products

If u re-read the press released, you will see that the a17 used the same type of capacitor as the zx1 hence why I think it will sound some where in between the f88x and zx1.