Sony Walkman custom firmware (non-Android)

[andnej]

I settled on CA, so basically it is Bright, V2, High Gain, Alternate DAC, region=CA
It is either similar to SP 1000 Cu or WM1AM2, sparkling extended treble, neutral mid, deep and strong bass. Love it!

 

[Lpm3134]

I settled on CA, so basically it is Bright, V2, Gain, Alternate DAC, region=CA
It is either similar to SP 1000 Cu or WM1AM2, sparkling extended treble, neutral mid, deep and strong bass. Love it!

Hi, Hard gain normal or high? THANKS

 

[Hung Tuan]

ive been using my cca duo and it is a fairly bright set with weak bass. it sounds phenomenal when listening to strings, big drum sets, and even vocals. very revealing set for using only 2 dynamic drivers on each side. this is the one iem i am really noticing changes done from the firmware end. i started with j3, v2, 1z, alt dac, and high gain. settled on u, v2, 1z, stock dac and high gain. stock dac softens up those spikes, and u adds some sub-bass and plays a little more with the stereo separation. i messed around with the duo's filters and got better bass. it's still not the best bass kz offers but it's a fun niche tuning that gets love with the right tracks.

can you share your mod? I use 500 mesh on CCA DUO but the change is very subtle.

 

[andnej]

Hi, Hard gain normal or high? THANKS

high gain on both unbalanced and balanced

 

[greymousetaxi]

can you share your mod? I use 500 mesh on CCA DUO but the change is very subtle.

used narrow bore tips and i used a spare filter from my kbear ink for these. added some large pore foam underneath the filters. the filter is slightly larger to allow the bass port to reache the filter rather than the adhesive on the filter.

 

[Lpm3134]

high gain on both unbalanced and balanced

THANKS. Gain = 1 or Gain = 0?

 

[aceedburn]

THANKS. Gain = 1 or Gain = 0?

I think he meant the gain settings on the Walkman itself, not in the config file.

 

[andnej]

THANKS. Gain = 1 or Gain = 0?

gain = 1

I just measured again, compared it with SR 25, sound signature is aligned, WM1A with Bright,gain=1.region=CA,alternative dac init=1,plus V2, has similar sound signature with more extended treble and deeper and stronger bass. I have yet to compare with SP3K, need to go to an audio store for comparison

Then, just now, I switched the signature to WM1Z,region=CA,dac init=1, plus V2, pretty similar to WM1AM2, by memory, the difference is only on the technical side which is wider sound stage in WM1AM2. Will use this setting for a while

 

[andnej]

The following is a quote from @Redcarmoose from an old thread

It’s not a flaw but a direction they are going. The early early firmware was just so-so. They then came out with 1.02 and more people had an opinion about it. As the players are released...... they have what ever firmware was out at the time. Every firmware is available except 1.0 (or 1.01?) which was installed in the first Walkman production run. As the firmware was updated a trend has taken place. Also features have been added. By the time 3.00 came out the Walkmans could now receive Bluetooth as well as send it. They added a vinyl sounding effect filter. But as a whole the software has allowed the players to become broader in soundstage and have more midrange.......to the point that 3.02 has almost too much midrange and too broad a soundstage for the 1A. Though it’s a matter of taste but 3.02 is perfect for the 1Z. 3.00 was too bass trimmed for the 1A but 3.01 was perfect. Remember too the players have become way louder since the early firmware releases.......that’s not random.

But your right, they do release bad quirks....like 3.00 had a very slow way of adding up the song database file set. 3.00 also crashed off and on for some.

This is a planned direction on the part of Sony to improve DAP performance. Though due to the polarized personality between the two DAPs it’s difficult for one software to bring the best to both.

Much of this is obviously synergy between IEMs. Also people like to stay with a sound they have become accustomed to. You still have many on firmware 1.02 as it’s maybe the warmest most analog and most forgiving. The most confusing thing is that the firmware seems to move the song imaging around. This effect is even different than you may get with EQ. Once we have songs we are used to, new firmware rearranges the instruments placing different emphasis on parts, basically delivering a whole new DAP. With a attenuation of bass, midrange and treble can be emphasized. Pace, rhythm and timing change as there is more space between the beats.

All this would be bad if it was a forced option. Lucky folks can simply choose a sound personality that goes the direction they want.

The best part is many of us feel we have a completely different and better sounding DAP then years ago right after the purchase. The DAPs have been out since 2016. If Sony didn't care, they could simply make new DAPs and put new firmware in them and charge us for getting new better sounding merchandise. All of us own Apple products that have become obsolete due to firmware issues. Instead we are given Sony gifts!

Did anyone experienced 1.02 firmware on their 1.02 ? how is MrWalkman 's Warm sound signature compared to 1.02 firmware ?

And also if anyone has any experience in trying a real DMP-Z1, I am curious on how similar is it between a real DMP-Z1 and Bright signature. I can reproduce Cayin N3 Pro solid state sound using Bright + J2 (V1,High Gain, alternative DAC) which is using an AKM chip (a lesser cheaper AK 4493 compared to the AK 4497 inside DMP-Z1)

 

[Redcarmoose]

The following is a quote from @Redcarmoose from an old thread

Did anyone experienced 1.02 firmware on their 1.02 ? how is MrWalkman 's Warm sound signature compared to 1.02 firmware ?

And also if anyone has any experience in trying a real DMP-Z1, I am curious on how similar is it between a real DMP-Z1 and Bright signature. I can reproduce Cayin N3 Pro solid state sound using Bright + J2 (V1,High Gain, alternative DAC) which is using an AKM chip (a lesser cheaper AK 4493 compared to the AK 4497 inside DMP-Z1)

MrWalkman’s idea of warm is less warm than the first three iterations of stock firmware for the WM1A and WM1Z. They were very syrupy and analogue. If I remember right. MrWalkman’s was open and bigger accessing more sound processing?

 

[greymousetaxi]

kr3 isnt mentioned anywhere but once here. I'm going to try out again and see what works

 

[andnej]

MrWalkman’s idea of warm is less warm than the first three iterations of stock firmware for the WM1A and WM1Z. They were very syrupy and analogue. If I remember right. MrWalkman’s was open and bigger accessing more sound processing?

Is using region J and Warm and turn on Vinyl Processor and DC Phase Linearization Type A Standard comparable to the first three iteration of WM1A firmware ?

 

[Redcarmoose]

Is using region J and Warm and turn on Vinyl Processor and DC Phase Linearization Type A Standard comparable to the first three iteration of WM1A firmware ?

No, there may still be the second and third variant of Sony’s first software as it use to be available for download from Sony, it is in member’s hands, still. Then later Sony would erase the older editions. I bet someone on this thread has earlier versions? Remember those editions didn’t have BT receive or vinyl processes and didn’t play APE files, among other features. The very first (1.01) was never for download as it only came with players. I got the 1Z first right around when 2.0 came out, so mine had 1.02 from the factory, and I switched to 2.0 before really my unite was burned-in. But the old 1.02 is out there, If you read the old thread people were reporting using it up until about a year or two ago, they may still be quietly using it. It’s around!

It’s totally different software from Sony.

 

[nc8000]

I’ve got all these plus 3.01 and 3.02 but I’ve never tried any of the early ones. Mine came with 1.10 as I recall

 

[Redcarmoose]

I didn't even know 92 and 94 existed, plus I didn't know 1.00 was even for download? Did 1.00 come from MrWalkman?

I’ve got all these plus 3.01 and 3.02 but I’ve never tried any of the early ones. Mine came with 1.10 as I recall