Sony Walkman custom firmware (non-Android)

[conceptcar3]

I have 2 sets of A55 and 2 sets of WM1A with Mr Walkman mod installed.

Basically, the WM1A modded has better technicalities - imaging, soundstage for example - but there are huge diminishing returns going from the A55 to the WM1A.
Of note, on balanced, WM1A has much better power output - 250 mW versus the single-ended A55's 35 mW.

WM1A has slightly less battery life ~ 20ish hours compared to the 32+ hours I get on the A55.

What tuning option is best on a55? The instructions say to “change the tuning in the settings file” but I can’t figure out how. Any tips? Mine is on Walkman one with the w1mz tuning.

 

[baskingshark]

What tuning option is best on a55? The instructions say to “change the tuning in the settings file” but I can’t figure out how. Any tips? Mine is on Walkman one with the w1mz tuning.

I have one A55 on Mr Walkman neutral and one on WM1Z mode. The WM1Z mode is a bit more V-shaped and fun sounding, the neutral mode is warm neutral and more laid back.

You need to install a particular Walkman mode (there are 4 modes) by editing it on the document file inside the A55, only once you have installed the Mr Walkman mod.
Then you need to activate the respective firmware.

You can ask the rest for more details.

 

[Excavation]

What tuning option is best on a55? The instructions say to “change the tuning in the settings file” but I can’t figure out how. Any tips? Mine is on Walkman one with the w1mz tuning.

I personally ran Neutral on my A55 for the most part when I was running Moondrop Katos, but after moving on to the WM1A paired with R70X & Moondrop Dusks (Blessing 3) I've found a liking for WM1Z

 

[conceptcar3]

I have one A55 on Mr Walkman neutral and one on WM1Z mode. The WM1Z mode is a bit more V-shaped and fun sounding, the neutral mode is warm neutral and more laid back.

You need to install a particular Walkman mode (there are 4 modes) by editing it on the document file inside the A55, only once you have installed the Mr Walkman mod.
Then you need to activate the respective firmware.

You can ask the rest for more details

I installed Walkman one

I have one A55 on Mr Walkman neutral and one on WM1Z mode. The WM1Z mode is a bit more V-shaped and fun sounding, the neutral mode is warm neutral and more laid back.

You need to install a particular Walkman mode (there are 4 modes) by editing it on the document file inside the A55, only once you have installed the Mr Walkman mod.
Then you need to activate the respective firmware.

You can ask the rest for more details.

i have installed Mr Walkman mod, and it came activated with the wm1z firmware. How do you edit the document file inside the a55? On pc or on the a55? Once edited then you just run the pc tool to change tuning?

 

[baskingshark]

I installed Walkman one

i have installed Mr Walkman mod, and it came activated with the wm1z firmware. How do you edit the document file inside the a55? On pc or on the a55? Once edited then you just run the pc tool to change tuning?

https://www.mrwalkman.com/p/sony-nw-a50series-custom-firmware.html

Go to this site and download the firmware and go read the documents inside on how to edit etc.

This link also has a stock revert download in case you need to revert it back to the original stock firmware before introducing new firmware mods.

 

[conceptcar3]

https://www.mrwalkman.com/p/sony-nw-a50series-custom-firmware.html

Go to this site and download the firmware and go read the documents inside on how to edit etc.

This link also has a stock revert download in case you need to revert it back to the original stock firmware before introducing new firmware mods.

I read the documents but didn’t see anything on *how* to edit. Just that I should edit.

 

[Excavation]

I installed Walkman one

i have installed Mr Walkman mod, and it came activated with the wm1z firmware. How do you edit the document file inside the a55? On pc or on the a55? Once edited then you just run the pc tool to change tuning?

Just plug the Walkman into the computer, open the cfw folder and then the settings.txt document, next change the sound signature to the corresponding number in the list you want to apply, save the changes, reboot the player. Next find the tuning with the signature you just saved in the txt in the external tunings folder and run the program, wait for it to it to boot then check the about on the player, if it says "Tuning not applied!" Then it wasnt done correctly.

 

[Bigbeat]

I ripped my CD collection,a couple of thousand or so to ALAC.Having heard WAV,I ripped the whole lot again.WAV files play fine on the Sony,but I couldn't get the files to transfer in categories under file headings.

What is the point in ripping CDs with maximum data stream 1,411 Mb/s and 16 bit/44,1 kHz to WAV format? The above stated file parameters cannot be better. So if I am not mistaken, the result in WAV would be the same music with the same parameters but stored in files 2-3 times bigger than in a FLAC file.

 

[Bigbeat]

"Interesting" ideas, as unpacked flac is bit-perfect copy of the wav it was made from. Wav's advantaged is that it needs slightly less computing power (no uncompression) and thus slightly longer battery life at the cost of 2-3 times the storage needed.

This WAV to FLAC comparison holds in the case only that a compression level from 1 to 9 is set when ripping to FLAC. If zero compression is set, the battery play time for such FLAC files only should be longer than for WAV files only. Or am I missing something?

 

[WilcoRoger]

This WAV to FLAC comparison holds in the case only that a compression level from 1 to 9 is set when ripping to FLAC. If zero compression is set, the battery play time for such FLAC files only should be longer than for WAV files only. Or am I missing something?

It seems that you miss a lot

WAV - least pressure on CPU when playing, thus longer playtime
FLAC - slightly more CPU cycles needed (to decompress) thus slightly shorter playtime. Playing flac files (decompressing) is very CPU-friendly, so I don't think you'll see any meaningful differences in playtime. Where you WILL see difference is that you can put half less music on the same storage if you use WAV. (and possibly lack of metadata, but I have no idea if/how wav files store metadata)

 

[MrWalkman]

FLAC needs much more CPU power to compress, and a lot less to decompress, as it's optimized for decoding speed at the expense of encoding speed.

A FLAC with maximum compression will decode as fast as one with the minimum compression.

 

[firesign]

Is there any way to get the old MrWalkman firmwares? I'm interested in Project Z in particular.

I have fond memories of Project Z, which I used on my old WM1A. I've now got another WM1A, but with the Walkman One I can't get a 100% sound to my liking with any of the included profiles.

 

[proedros]

Is there any way to get the old MrWalkman firmwares? I'm interested in Project Z in particular.

I have fond memories of Project Z, which I used on my old WM1A. I've now got another WM1A, but with the Walkman One I can't get a 100% sound to my liking with any of the included profiles.

i think @nc8000 has them all stored , if not ring me up in a couple,of days to see if i can find mine

 

[firesign]

i think @nc8000 has them all stored , if not ring me up in a couple,of days to see if i can find mine

nc8000 has sent me a PM with Project Z link.

Thanks both of you!

 

[audionewbi]

My love for WM1A reignited thanks to how well it pairs with Madoo typ821. Not to region roll!