Sony Walkman custom firmware (non-Android)

[524419]

To clear the air If I may..... I think most gear on Head-fi is grossly over priced, I mean grossly. AK I am looking at you.... plus those 56 BA iterations of every high-end manufacturer (monthly releases) The DMP is however something I would seriously consider spending money on, yes that 8K price-tag is very steep, but if I wanted absolute summit-fi, at least to the extent that I have personally heard, that would be it.
And to think, I could modify that baby to my heart's content, change capacitors, and internal wiring...one can only dream.

 

[gerelmx1986]

To clear the air If I may..... I think most gear on Head-fi is grossly over priced, I mean grossly. AK I am looking at you.... plus those 56 BA iterations of every high-end manufacturer (monthly releases) The DMP is however something I would seriously consider spending money on, yes that 8K price-tag is very steep, but if I wanted absolute summit-fi, at least to the extent that I have personally heard, that would be it.
And to think, I could modify that baby to my heart's content, change capacitors, and internal wiring...one can only dream.

At such price ranges, it should have featured replaceable battery modules or powered by NiMG or akaline

 

[aceedburn]

To clear the air If I may..... I think most gear on Head-fi is grossly over priced, I mean grossly. AK I am looking at you.... plus those 56 BA iterations of every high-end manufacturer (monthly releases) The DMP is however something I would seriously consider spending money on, yes that 8K price-tag is very steep, but if I wanted absolute summit-fi, at least to the extent that I have personally heard, that would be it.
And to think, I could modify that baby to my heart's content, change capacitors, and internal wiring...one can only dream.

That’s the whole point I’m talking about. We spend an obscene amount of money on this absolute product and then find the need to spend again to change parts and modify it? Why didn’t the product come with these modified parts if its already absolute? And at that price point?

 

[Redcarmoose]

Well, if I am not wrong, you arrived to your position using a pragmatic approach, (I understand you did some A/B tests between your gear and a DMP unit), but I guess some DMP owners would still think you are a penny-pinching person in denial. And about the rest of us they may think we are a bunch of PB's in denial

That was great!

 

[INGRAMLI]

That’s the whole point I’m talking about. We spend an obscene amount of money on this absolute product and then find the need to spend again to change parts and modify it? Why didn’t the product come with these modified parts if its already absolute? And at that price point?

I agree to your point. For high end product, corners shouldn't be cut and the sound should be tweaked to the best possible state (with the know-how in sound tuning, which should be better than simply replacing parts with expensive equivalents by most DIYers without the expertise) as far as it is commercially viable. Not to mention modding does generally greatly reduce its resell value.

My thought is, don't buy something high end if it is not good enough out of the box, it just doesn't worth the hassle (unless money is nothing to you, and you know exactly what it takes to bring you to the sound you sought for).

 

[524419]

That’s the whole point I’m talking about. We spend an obscene amount of money on this absolute product and then find the need to spend again to change parts and modify it? Why didn’t the product come with these modified parts if its already absolute? And at that price point?

Good question. I have no answer......
Most manufacturers, go for the minimum effort required. The ultra high end audiophile gear uses the capacitors and wiring I am talking about, but they are in the 30+K price ranges. Using High end internals, pushes the price past the point that average consumers will find palatable.
On the other hand for eg, why does the 1A have non litz bare stranded copper wiring in it? The cost of a wire upgrade would be pennies.

ADD: For experinced DIYers, modding is an easy way to bridge the gap between price brackets, sometimes even in the 10-20k ranges. If you could hear some of the stuff that I have personally worked on, before and after extensive modding, you would not believe your own ears, the difference is quite stunning.
Again. most people on head-fi are very much against DIYers, and their snake oil sounding claims... but for the most part, they are based in fact.

 

[Damz87]

Spending on high end audio equipment is about as discretionary as it gets lol... The DMP is a pure luxury item. Like an expensive watch or designer fashion.

If you can afford it comfortably and like the way it sounds/looks/makes you feel, then hey, no harm in buying it if that’s what you want to do. But if it’s going to set you back financially in any way, then you definitely don’t need it, especially now that we have the amazing firmwares from @MrWalkman

 

[Gamerlingual]

Well, if I am not wrong, you arrived to your position using a pragmatic approach, (I understand you did some A/B tests between your gear and a DMP unit), but I guess some DMP owners would still think you are a penny-pinching person in denial. And about the rest of us they may think we are a bunch of PB's in denial

Not in denial. Far from it. Plus, buying it used means I’ll just have more money to save or play with. So it’s important to be pragmatic. People can say I’m in denial all they want. But then again, I know not many are in my position to have easy access to sample all the audio that I’ve done. It’s more like appreciating that I have access to these large audio database, so try to take time and be wise with my choices. I still have savings and I don’t need to resort to selling my audio equipment, which is something I never want to do. Everyone has a different story and @MrWalkman and his CFW have been a blessing for us

 

[gerelmx1986]

Not in denial. Far from it. Plus, buying it used means I’ll just have more money to save or play with. So it’s important to be pragmatic. People can say I’m in denial all they want. But then again, I know not many are in my position to have easy access to sample all the audio that I’ve done. It’s more like appreciating that I have access to these large audio database, so try to take time and be wise with my choices. I still have savings and I don’t need to resort to selling my audio equipment, which is something I never want to do. Everyone has a different story and @MrWalkman and his CFW have been a blessing for us

I buy either used or new from Gray market e.g. Accessory Jack. Buying used has always the risk of being told lies, f.e a used wm1A claiming only 150h burn — and behind the scenes the seller resetted it to factory default, so that the playback counter is set to 0;00— , juatlike resetting the odometer in a car being sold in order to get more money

 

[Redcarmoose]

Below is an opinion about the new MrWalkman DMP-Z1MK2 firmware which should be available soon.

Disclaimer:
This is just one person’s opinion YRMV.

DMP-Z1 MK2 with a “U” region 1A switched to 1Z and switched to “J” region with about 1000 hours of run time.

This has maybe been said before but I’m pretty sure this time the 1A sounds the most like the 1Z..............at least for the stuff I cue in on? The difficult thing would be to say which past edition of firmware on the 1Z? Only this becomes difficult as we forget how stuff used to sound. We can remember basic tones, but when it comes down to imaging and soundstage..........the old stock 1Z could actually be way, way behind what the 1A is doing now. So it’s easier just to move forward, and talk about basic elements and not even use the 1Z for reference much. You must be wondering why I don’t just roll the 1Z back to Sony 3.02 and do a side by side? It’s because the bigger question is how the 1A with DMP-Z1MK2 now goes against 1Z DMP-Z1MK1! And as difficult as that is.....rolling the 1Z back is irrelevant. It’s irrelevancy is due to the 1A being the best it’s ever been.................. making the difference in getting a 1Z.......maybe a distant need?

Let’s just say that the 1Z with DMP-Z1MK1 has slightly more physicality to the bass.....and there will always be that top level treble added to the response that may be due to parts? The two right now seem to have identical soundstage space. Of course as always the 1Z is more round with a greater front to back, yet there is so much “off-the-charts” imaging now with the 1A in DMP-Z1MK2...........that again it’s going to be fairly dramatic for folks.

So it’s just easier to talk about the 1A now, also I’m not even close to trying to confuse myself putting DMP-Z1MK2 in the 1Z. I need at least another month or two with it the way it is. Though I don’t foresee any adverse effects, it will probably make the 1Z even better. I’m sure someone with a 1Z will post comparisons when this drops.

So let’s get to it:

The 1A now has lost the slight over-smoothness that seemed to be a drawback on the DMP-Z1MK1 release in comparison to something like the 1A/1Z+. Many of us absolutely loved the 1A/1Z+ bass grunt. That has been restored to a pretty good level though it will be noticed it’s slightly different? It has the whole bass imaging thing that DMP-Z1MK1 had. But as mentioned earlier this firmware is more forward. It’s more clear all around. It’s also seems to have super nice midrange and treble imaging. But what everyone will love will be this polished and sophisticated completeness present. It’s all here......everything. It’s involving and entertaining yet not the least bit sharp or strident. The DMP-Z1MK1 may have been too smooth, yet here we are met with a perfect balance of treble detail and naturalness. It’s well-rounded and complete, so I’m not expecting to hear any negatives from anyone. My favorite part is the lower midrange bass speed......as it's kind of a new sound here! It’s one of those surprising things when you first start listening as it’s making songs you know quite new? Also I simply love the lower midrange vignette, the way everything is soo spread out into it. The vignette has a milky smoothness that’s just charming. People will also notice how connected everything is. Again just such a total amazing thing how nothing is left out and nothing is out of place. I may sound like a broken record here, but the biggest plus for the 1A with this firmware is giving the 1A the power and warmth of the 1Z. It’s obviously something else all together, of course; but I always judge stuff by what my first impressions remind me of. And of course there will be the giant groups that like the 1A better this way than they could ever have liked the 1Z.

Disclaimer:
This mini-firmware review is slightly off due to no history of ever adding DMP-Z1MK2 to the 1Z. The 1Z (with DMP-Z1MK2) could in-fact be even better than it is with DMP-Z1MK1? There will sure to be write-ups on the difference to follow this post!

 

[domiji]

Hello WM1 Lovers

does anybody have problems with album covers and DSD 256 files?

I've bought Jaco Pastorius Truth Liberty & Soul Album from nativedsd.com and no matter what i do i don't get an album cover shown with my WM1A (DMP FW).
I saved the files a few times with Mp3TagManager as well as TagScan and changed the covers but nothing happend. I also put a jpg with the folder name in it.

Thansk for your help

 

[Steen Pihl]

I have experienced the same and just about tried everything possible with no succes. I strongly suspect it to be something related to the size of each track. The long medley included on Abbey Road had to be shortened (ok, that's the text), and The Rock is Dead from The Doors Strange Days never stayed with the album (surfaced as a solo track).
I'm not computer expert, so I'm more of an trial & error type of person with a passion to make things work! Interesting to see if a solution pops up!

Hello WM1 Lovers

does anybody have problems with album covers and DSD 256 files?

I've bought Jaco Pastorius Truth Liberty & Soul Album from nativedsd.com and no matter what i do i don't get an album cover shown with my WM1A (DMP FW).
I saved the files a few times with Mp3TagManager as well as TagScan and changed the covers but nothing happend. I also put a jpg with the folder name in it.

Thansk for your help

 

[rbf1138]

As someone who primarily listens to flac files, is there any benefit of dsd over flac?

 

[Queen6]

That’s the whole point I’m talking about. We spend an obscene amount of money on this absolute product and then find the need to spend again to change parts and modify it? Why didn’t the product come with these modified parts if its already absolute? And at that price point?

They could produce and likely do have far more advanced experimental prototypes, however it's also about what the market will bear and the perceived value in the customers eyes. The Sony WM1A actually represents fair value with some other DAP's passing $4K, equally there must be a saleable market as to develop such hardware has it's, own costs and they clearly do sell at this price point.

Similar to many things the upper middle ground tends to offer the best ratio of value for money, with the bottom tier frequently being neutered and the top tier offering only a small fraction more for a significantly greater the asking price.

Q-6

 

[Redcarmoose]

They could produce and likely do have far more advanced experimental prototypes, however it's also about what the market will bear and the perceived value in the customers eyes. The Sony WM1A actually represents fair value with some other DAP's passing $4K, equally there must be a saleable market as to develop such hardware has it's, own costs and they clearly do sell at this price point.

Similar to many things the upper middle ground tends to offer the best ratio of value for money, with the bottom tier frequently being neutered and the top tier offering only a small fraction more for a significantly greater the asking price.

Q-6

The Sony Walkman 1A is the Toyota Camry of DAPs.