[Mathieulh]

Hmmmm...If I do hear a difference, could it be that you are the placebo effect? One of the constant voices that affirm that their belief is the only real truth, and all others are following false idols?

This is very troublesome, if we are to deny what we hear. How will we know what is real and what is not, if we cannot believe what we observe/hear? How will we know that those claims of "placebo" are from the audio god, or the audio devil?

I am lost in the audio wilderness. Maybe I'll take up drinking, as the effect of strong alcohol cannot be denied. Though that also may be a placebo effect. Who knows what is real, and what is not?

I am telling you, having analyzed the firmare that there are no tuning differences between uncapped destinations (that is destinations other than CEW and CEW2), on respective devices (that is, there are technically no changes in tuning profiles in the firmware files!) So, whatever differences you think you hear aren't there, period.

 

[unifutomaki]

I am telling you, having analyzed the firmare that there are no tuning differences between uncapped destinations (that is destinations other than CEW and CEW2), on respective devices (that is, there are technically no changes in tuning profiles in the firmware files!) So, whatever differences you think you hear aren't there, period.

Have you written up your findings somewhere (methodology, results, conclusions) where we can review them?

 

[nc8000]

I am telling you, having analyzed the firmare that there are no tuning differences between uncapped destinations (that is destinations other than CEW and CEW2), on respective devices (that is, there are technically no changes in tuning profiles in the firmware files!) So, whatever differences you think you hear aren't there, period.

Just about everybody myself included hear subtle to quite noticable changes in sound between regions, you do seem to be the only one to insist that there are no sound differences. I choose to believe my own ears rather than your claim

 

[unifutomaki]

I'm happy to consider the veracity of any claim if given the appropriate information to do so. In favour of subtle but perceptible tuning differences we have a firmware modder's accounts and corroboration from users. In favour of no effects whatsoever we have a claim that is purportedly based on some kind of analysis. If that is the case, then show the receipts.

 

[Queen6]

There are no sound signature changes between destination, other than CEW and CEW2 which are volume (and on some devices) pressure capped. All other destinations share the same tuning on respective devices. Everything else is the placebo effect.

If you want a decent destination setting, set E or E2, those are used (depending on the model) for the international/tourist/overseas versions sold in Japan, they will not sound any different from the J destination.

E is APAC and very different to J on WM1A as is flipping from CN to MX3. Sony clearly implement regional differences for numerous reasons. A friend of mine is an acoustics engineer and said such practises are neither uncommon nor surprising,

Q-6

 

[aceedburn]

There are no sound signature changes between destination, other than CEW and CEW2 which are volume (and on some devices) pressure capped. All other destinations share the same tuning on respective devices. Everything else is the placebo effect.

If you want a decent destination setting, set E or E2, those are used (depending on the model) for the international/tourist/overseas versions sold in Japan, they will not sound any different from the J destination.

I don’t know how you hear music. But there are without a shadow of a doubt, small to huge differences between regions. I trust my ears far more than your perceptions and as a humble word of advice, if you honestly can’t hear differences between regions, you may want to make an appointment with a good ENT specialist near you. Cheers.

 

[MrWalkman]

Also, the region is used when initializing the DAC/S-Master, separately from it being used to enable/disable items in the interface.

 

[Queen6]

When I bought my ZX300 it was on E region with no complaints, when I bought my WM1A it was on CN which was rapidly flipped to E and subsequently J. Thing is at the time I had no real insight into the regions or their flavourings & leanings. So effectively a blind test, a good way down the road and a lot more understanding. What Sony is doing with the regions doesn't surprise me for one second.

Another member generously shared a chart of his listening opinions through the various regions which markedly matched my own observations, with way different headgear? If we are hearing something that's just in the mind, then we are all imagining the same things or potentially some are not able to discern the differnce. Our hearing is an immensely complex process with everyone's being unique. My own ears are far from being shot, equally they are also not all they used to be, as ever hearing and listening are two very different matters...

Q-6

 

[Mathieulh]

Have you written up your findings somewhere (methodology, results, conclusions) where we can review them?

I have not, take my word for it or start looking at UPG files.

 

[unifutomaki]

I have not, take my word for it or start looking at UPG files.

Then I shan't. Thanks. The burden of proof of your claims isn't on me, by the way

Let it be known for the record that the claimant has been given the opportunity to substantiate their arguments and they have elected not to.

 

[Mathieulh]

I don’t know how you hear music. But there are without a shadow of a doubt, small to huge differences between regions. I trust my ears far more than your perceptions and as a humble word of advice, if you honestly can’t hear differences between regions, you may want to make an appointment with a good ENT specialist near you. Cheers.

It's not about "hearing" or "perception", it's about looking at how audio/tuning profiles are applied and their variations (or lackthereof) across versions in the firmware themselves for a given device, which is a more scientific approach than the subjective "I hear a difference when I change to region XYZ".

 

[Mathieulh]

Then I shan't. Thanks

Let it be known for the record that the claimant has been given the opportunity to substantiate their arguments and they have elected not to.

I just don't want to waste my time on this, documenting this is work that I can put on doing elsewhere, feel free to look at UPG yourself, nobody's stopping you, I don't care if you don't believe my claims either, not enough at least to spend hours documenting the stuff.

 

[Mathieulh]

Also, the region is used when initializing the DAC/S-Master, separately from it being used to enable/disable items in the interface.

That is indeed true, this doesn't mean however that the sound profile changes depending on what region is set during the DAC init (it's in fact, quite unlikely), you can't tell for sure unless you use a scope (therefore removing the human element out of the equation) though, something I am personally unwilling to spend more time on.

 

[unifutomaki]

I just don't want to waste my time on this, documenting this is work that I can put on doing elsewhere, feel free to look at UPG yourself, nobody's stopping you, I don't care if you don't believe my claims either, not enough at least to spend hours documenting the stuff.

With that kind of attitude, why did you even bother raising this issue in the first place? Do you really believe that you can waltz in here with this sort of statement and expect it to be accepted without any elaboration and or documentation as to how you arrived at your conclusions? From what it sounds like, you haven't even attempted to measure the thing.

If you can't even be bothered to put in the minimum effort to substantiate your argument, don't bother making one in the first place.

 

[aceedburn]

It's not about "hearing" or "perception", it's about looking at how audio/tuning profiles are applied and their variations (or lackthereof) across versions in the firmware themselves for a given device, which is a more scientific approach than the subjective "I hear a difference when I change to region XYZ".

Like I have said a thousand times before. I don’t care about graphs or charts or even science for that matter. Those are al measurements and theories that are documented on paper to confuse and mislead people. Has a headphone actually sounded exactly how the measurement charts were? Well never! Real crap to me. I trust my ears. And they’re never wrong as they’re wired to my brain. So the difference between regions are very very real. Believe that!