Sony Walkman custom firmware (non-Android)

[aceedburn]

Damn another FW! Won't have time til the weekend but very exciting. What's the bass quantity & soundstage like on Project Z compared to the FE+?

Project Z in plus mode is like the best of FEv2 classic and Plus combined and more. It adds an analogue and natural sound signature with added warmth yet never taking away anything in the mix. It’s not bass boomy neither is it bass light. It’s just perfect for me as I always love warmth. It’s also very airy and detailed at the high notes and stage is holographic. Nothing seems forced. Vocals are superbly defined. Timbre is excellent as well. It’s full and musical. It’s the bomb!

 

[MrWalkman]

Damn another FW! Won't have time til the weekend but very exciting.

I was thinking of something like this for some time, and I had to do it eventually. I'm not looking for weekly/daily releases here

What's the bass quantity & soundstage like on Project Z compared to the FE+?

This is very good said from my most trusted tested @aceedburn Thanks for others who helped test anything too, of course!

Project Z in plus mode is like the best of FEv2 classic and Plus combined and more. It adds an analogue and natural sound signature with added warmth yet never taking away anything in the mix. It’s not bass boomy neither is it bass light. It’s just perfect for me as I always love warmth. It’s also very airy and detailed at the high notes and stage is holographic. Nothing seems forced. Vocals are superbly defined. Timbre is excellent as well. It’s full and musical. It’s the bomb!

There is certainly more presence in the lows area.

This firmware made me realize how much I like a good warm sound signature. Some bass guitar can literally make me think of the word "delicious" especially with the Sony Z7M2, but also with the Beyerdynamic DT1770 Pro - the latter are brighter than the Z7M2, and the warmness definitely helps, with detailed highs still being there no problem.

 

[newworld666]

I have spent a couple of hours today with the Project Z.
It's always difficult to make an A/B comparison as it is very long to switch between firmware (too long) and still a bit too long switching between Classic/Plus.
As I am playing those days with some other solutions (Kann Alpha, CentranceM8V2), I am evaluating various possibilities which includes of course the WM1A ...

I have to say that I didn't notice the sound volume could be so loud with the WM1A and your FE and Project Z firmware. I had some issues even with the Z7M2 for some DSD which were a bit too low recorded.

After bying some other options, though keeping the WM1A, I hoped somewhere that I could get better results now with modern powerful DAPs (Kann Alpha) or Portable Dac/Amps (M8 V2+Fiio M11), but, I have to admit the WM1A is still better in many situations with the FEv2 and Project Z particularly with some modern big band orchestra (Ibrahim Maalouf's Illusions) which can be so detailed, limpid and clear even when some powerful sound comes from everywhere !!!

I am impressed the WM1A seems it can never die !!! I wanted to send it to Nayparm to change/improve some capacitors and even battery .... but as it is, with Project Z firmware, the WM1A stays damn good and it's in the DAP race not far to be one of the best ! I am wondering why should I take some risk with some hardware mod and loose what I have now.

 

[pascallito]

Project Z in plus mode is like the best of FEv2 classic and Plus combined and more. It adds an analogue and natural sound signature with added warmth yet never taking away anything in the mix. It’s not bass boomy neither is it bass light. It’s just perfect for me as I always love warmth. It’s also very airy and detailed at the high notes and stage is holographic. Nothing seems forced. Vocals are superbly defined. Timbre is excellent as well. It’s full and musical. It’s the bomb!

+1
Yeah man it is also for me a watered down FEv2 ******, with all the ingredients and the right doses for the spicy

 

[pascallito]

I am impressed the WM1A seems it can never die !!! I wanted to send it to Nayparm to change/improve some capacitors and even battery .... but as it is, with Project Z firmware, the WM1A stays damn good and it's in the DAP race not far to be one of the best ! I am wondering why should I take some risk with some hardware mod and loose what I have now.

Really exactly like me !! Ah ah ah ... since the WA11 passes through it is as if it came out of the oven while keeping as much speed of execution and rendering in the bass,
I no longer need any hardware modification

 

[etlouis]

I installed FE+ / project Z over non 3.02 firmware and it is possible.

Is there a difference or should I upgrade to 3.02 first?

 

[MrWalkman]

I installed FE+ / project Z over non 3.02 firmware and it is possible.

Is there a difference or should I upgrade to 3.02 first?

You could only do that if you are on old WM1A/Z+ or something like that. Otherwise, you would need to use StockRevert of the currently installed firmware first.

If you installed FEv2 or Project Z and their external tunings (the update bar on the player's screen should reach the end before restarting), and you see in "Unit information" the name of the firmware, then it's ok.

 

[etlouis]

Upgraded correctly to Project Z finally. Ah... this is nice. Hands down a favorite. It is like tea. Not as bland as water, but just the right amount of coloring and flavor. Comfortable for long listens and non-fatiguing. Project Z is warm and polite. It adds a dash of detail across the whole frequency without being too forward. It is laidback like the official FW 2.00 except better. I can dip my attention in and out of a particular part of the song. Dip back out and listen to the overalls with ease and comfort. Sometimes an instrument jumps out and surprises me. It's a pleasant adventure.

MrWalkman pushes the boundaries once again!

 

[superuser1]

Project Z sounds something meant for the ZX300 too

 

[Hinomotocho]

I was thinking of something like this for some time, and I had to do it eventually. I'm not looking for weekly/daily releases here




This is very good said from my most trusted tested @aceedburn Thanks for others who helped test anything too, of course!



There is certainly more presence in the lows area.

This firmware made me realize how much I like a good warm sound signature. Some bass guitar can literally make me think of the word "delicious" especially with the Sony Z7M2, but also with the Beyerdynamic DT1770 Pro - the latter are brighter than the Z7M2, and the warmness definitely helps, with detailed highs still being there no problem.

My initial comments about me preferring the FE Plus were when I tested the Project Z using my iems which are quite warm and bassy, I should go back and try with my MDR-Z1R which may benefit from the warmer presentation to take the edge off the treble.

 

[cn11]

For trying a newer firmware, do you need to revert back to 3.02, or just do the new Z one without reverting?

 

[Hinomotocho]

For trying a newer firmware, do you need to revert back to 3.02, or just do the new Z one without reverting?

Unless on stock always use the appropriate revert before installing a new one.

 

[Fsilva]

And again, the Wizard of Walkman aka @MrWalkman, did his Magic!!!
Spent all afternoon listening to project Z plus mode on my modded 1z, and there are only 2 phrases which occurs to me:

Can´t get more analog than this!!!!
Can´t get more real than this!!!!

I almost feel sorry for those who abandon the Wm1 waggon, and bought the "next big thing"...because the wm1 series is still the BIG THING, with all these FW improvements that we´re lucky to receive as a gift!

The Wizard should be praised by the Allfather (Sony)!!!!!

 

[cn11]

Got the Project Z update successfully installed... running on Plus, with J region. Sounds stellar! I think this is an improvement over the last FEv2. I was a bit afraid I'd find it too warm, since I'm using mainly the Penon Volt, but no need to worry it is perfect. If anything, I think the sense of space and layering is even a bit better than the previous. I took the chance to listen to a couple songs back on stock 3.02 when I reverted as a frame of reference, and was immediately struck at how it sounded closed in and not nearly as dynamic and layered. Then once Z was in place, it was just like

Great work on this, so very much appreciated.

 

[Hinomotocho]

Got the Project Z update successfully installed... running on Plus, with J region. Sounds stellar! I think this is an improvement over the last FEv2. I was a bit afraid I'd find it too warm, since I'm using mainly the Penon Volt, but no need to worry it is perfect. If anything, I think the sense of space and layering is even a bit better than the previous. I took the chance to listen to a couple songs back on stock 3.02 when I reverted as a frame of reference, and was immediately struck at how it sounded closed in and not nearly as dynamic and layered. Then once Z was in place, it was just like

Great work on this, so very much appreciated.

To make sure I'm not caught up in the hype or imagining things I always have a quick listen to stock when reverting before a new installation and you can definitely hear how improved the sound of any of the firmwares are.