Sony Walkman custom firmware (non-Android)

[SteeLMinder]

Hi guys,

I was sent this nifty little adaptor, the DJ44S M1 by DDHiFI recently for testing purposes. Basically what it does is that it adds the missing grounding that Sony left out to the WM1A/1Z’s 4.4mm port via the 3.5mm ground pin connection. It’s very clever and built very solidly I must say. There’s a black version for the 1A (the one I have) and a gold version for the 1Z to match the colors. It fits beautifully into the ports and sits very majestically on the top as you can see. And it fits just nicely even with a case on my 1A. It’s internal build is full copper all the way.

Now for the sound impressions. I did an AB testing on the same songs using my offline songs directly from my SD card to keep it clean and simple. I used a Sony XBA-Z5 paired with kimber kable solely for this test as this is probably one of my most beloved IEMs of all time. At first listen, I immediately heard a blacker background. Everything just became quieter and the music had more focus. It’s not a huge leap but I felt that change almost immediately. Noise floor was non existent and there were no crackles or pops that don’t belong to the music. Just pure sound with the already stellar soundstage and headspace that you experience with Walkman One firmware. For the record, I’m on the Warm Signature with Plus mode on 2 and DAC on normal. No gains and all sound processing switched off except for DSEE AI. I enjoyed listening to some quieter tracks that I had simply because I feel that it removes the added noise that it had without this adaptor and cleaned up the sound that much more.

All in all, for about USD100, is it worth it? In my personal opinion, the price is a little steep for what it does, but you immediately feel the build quality of this nifty fella when you hold it in your hands, and coupled with the clever engineering and impeccable practicality of it, the added benefits of getting a crystal clear, noise free sound reproduction from an already amazing product from Sony is surely the icing on the cake. It completes the experience on the WM1A. That’s how I would sum it up.

I've been using this adapter for about a year and my first impression about blacker background of the music is same as yours, although I'm using firmware 3.01.

 

[Steen Pihl]

Hi guys,

I was sent this nifty little adaptor, the DJ44S M1 by DDHiFI recently for testing purposes. Basically what it does is that it adds the missing grounding that Sony left out to the WM1A/1Z’s 4.4mm port via the 3.5mm ground pin connection. It’s very clever and built very solidly I must say. There’s a black version for the 1A (the one I have) and a gold version for the 1Z to match the colors. It fits beautifully into the ports and sits very majestically on the top as you can see. And it fits just nicely even with a case on my 1A. It’s internal build is full copper all the way.

Now for the sound impressions. I did an AB testing on the same songs using my offline songs directly from my SD card to keep it clean and simple. I used a Sony XBA-Z5 paired with kimber kable solely for this test as this is probably one of my most beloved IEMs of all time. At first listen, I immediately heard a blacker background. Everything just became quieter and the music had more focus. It’s not a huge leap but I felt that change almost immediately. Noise floor was non existent and there were no crackles or pops that don’t belong to the music. Just pure sound with the already stellar soundstage and headspace that you experience with Walkman One firmware. For the record, I’m on the Warm Signature with Plus mode on 2 and DAC on normal. No gains and all sound processing switched off except for DSEE AI. I enjoyed listening to some quieter tracks that I had simply because I feel that it removes the added noise that it had without this adaptor and cleaned up the sound that much more.

All in all, for about USD100, is it worth it? In my personal opinion, the price is a little steep for what it does, but you immediately feel the build quality of this nifty fella when you hold it in your hands, and coupled with the clever engineering and impeccable practicality of it, the added benefits of getting a crystal clear, noise free sound reproduction from an already amazing product from Sony is surely the icing on the cake. It completes the experience on the WM1A. That’s how I would sum it up.

Get the full details of the DJ44S M1 here.
https://cn.ddhifi.com/en/product/dj44s-m1-dj44s-max/

I have the NPaudio mod and that's been added too. But I can agree on all of the observations!

 

[nc8000]

Hi guys,

I was sent this nifty little adaptor, the DJ44S M1 by DDHiFI recently for testing purposes. Basically what it does is that it adds the missing grounding that Sony left out to the WM1A/1Z’s 4.4mm port via the 3.5mm ground pin connection. It’s very clever and built very solidly I must say. There’s a black version for the 1A (the one I have) and a gold version for the 1Z to match the colors. It fits beautifully into the ports and sits very majestically on the top as you can see. And it fits just nicely even with a case on my 1A. It’s internal build is full copper all the way.

Now for the sound impressions. I did an AB testing on the same songs using my offline songs directly from my SD card to keep it clean and simple. I used a Sony XBA-Z5 paired with kimber kable solely for this test as this is probably one of my most beloved IEMs of all time. At first listen, I immediately heard a blacker background. Everything just became quieter and the music had more focus. It’s not a huge leap but I felt that change almost immediately. Noise floor was non existent and there were no crackles or pops that don’t belong to the music. Just pure sound with the already stellar soundstage and headspace that you experience with Walkman One firmware. For the record, I’m on the Warm Signature with Plus mode on 2 and DAC on normal. No gains and all sound processing switched off except for DSEE AI. I enjoyed listening to some quieter tracks that I had simply because I feel that it removes the added noise that it had without this adaptor and cleaned up the sound that much more.

All in all, for about USD100, is it worth it? In my personal opinion, the price is a little steep for what it does, but you immediately feel the build quality of this nifty fella when you hold it in your hands, and coupled with the clever engineering and impeccable practicality of it, the added benefits of getting a crystal clear, noise free sound reproduction from an already amazing product from Sony is surely the icing on the cake. It completes the experience on the WM1A. That’s how I would sum it up.

Get the full details of the DJ44S M1 here.
https://cn.ddhifi.com/en/product/dj44s-m1-dj44s-max/

Over the years there have been several versions of this idea from several manufacturers. I have the NPAudio mod on both my players which has added the ground connection directly to the 4.4mm socket so don’t need it. I also have a 4.4 to 3.5 single ended adaptor that I can use now that ground has been added to the 4.4 as the 3.5 on both my players has been removed during the modding

 

[Hinomotocho]

Is there any difference in amping the 4.4mm over the 3.5mm. Some amps like the iFi Zen Can, my Gryphon, and the Oriolus BA300 have a balanced input.

 

[nc8000]

Is there any difference in amping the 4.4mm over the 3.5mm. Some amps like the iFi Zen Can, my Gryphon, and the Oriolus BA300 have a balanced input.

Yes. Use the balanced out if the amp has balanced in

 

[hamhamhamsta]

I have a modified Sony WM1Z upgraded with internal Mundorf gold & silver cable if anyone is interested. Selling because I have 2 upgraded Sony WM1Z, no sense in keeping both. Better be in the hand of someone who will appreciate this.

https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/sony-wm1z-upgraded-with-silver-internal-cable.68947/

 

[Excavation]

I know this is a question thats been asked a thousand times in this forum. Im stuck in the loops between deciding to buy a WM1 but cant decide if I want to settle on the A or bite the bullet on getting a Z despite the steep cost increase. Im stuck on the thought of "is it enough of a difference to justify the increased cost?"

Obviously I know the hardware is definitely better and some people question if they would have bought one, especially after what the software over the years, including Walkman ONE has done to close the gap. But how large actually is the gap after all of this?

how exactly (subjectively) would you describe they are different in sound between both of them?

Im just impatient because my A55 is nearing its end of life after about 4.5 years with the battery showing age, and a recent accident cracking the screen and damaging the jack. And im in an awkward spot finally where i can comfortably afford a WM1A but am just of reach of a WM1Z in good condition that would be reliable and a solid device that would hopefully last me many, many more years. Kinda like a buy one and be done. In about a month or a few weeks if all goes well, i should be able to easily afford one though, i just need to make a decision on what my plans are

Any input would be helpful if its not of annoyance to anybody.

 

[nc8000]

I know this is a question thats been asked a thousand times in this forum. Im stuck in the loops between deciding to buy a WM1 but cant decide if I want to settle on the A or bite the bullet on getting a Z despite the steep cost increase. Im stuck on the thought of "is it enough of a difference to justify the increased cost?"

Obviously I know the hardware is definitely better and some people question if they would have bought one, especially after what the software over the years, including Walkman ONE has done to close the gap. But how large actually is the gap after all of this?

how exactly (subjectively) would you describe they are different in sound between both of them?

Im just impatient because my A55 is nearing its end of life after about 4.5 years with the battery showing age, and a recent accident cracking the screen and damaging the jack. And im in an awkward spot finally where i can comfortably afford a WM1A but am just of reach of a WM1Z in good condition that would be reliable and a solid device that would hopefully last me many, many more years. Kinda like a buy one and be done. In about a month or a few weeks if all goes well, i should be able to easily afford one though, i just need to make a decision on what my plans are

Any input would be helpful if its not of annoyance to anybody.

If I was to buy one today I would buy a 1A and then send it to nayparm for modding rather than buying a 1Z

 

[gLer]

I know this is a question thats been asked a thousand times in this forum. Im stuck in the loops between deciding to buy a WM1 but cant decide if I want to settle on the A or bite the bullet on getting a Z despite the steep cost increase. Im stuck on the thought of "is it enough of a difference to justify the increased cost?"

Obviously I know the hardware is definitely better and some people question if they would have bought one, especially after what the software over the years, including Walkman ONE has done to close the gap. But how large actually is the gap after all of this?

how exactly (subjectively) would you describe they are different in sound between both of them?

Im just impatient because my A55 is nearing its end of life after about 4.5 years with the battery showing age, and a recent accident cracking the screen and damaging the jack. And im in an awkward spot finally where i can comfortably afford a WM1A but am just of reach of a WM1Z in good condition that would be reliable and a solid device that would hopefully last me many, many more years. Kinda like a buy one and be done. In about a month or a few weeks if all goes well, i should be able to easily afford one though, i just need to make a decision on what my plans are

Any input would be helpful if its not of annoyance to anybody.

For me it's simple. Yes the 1Z costs more. And even if the modded 1A comes close or even matches it sound-wise, that pride of ownership for the iconic gold brick Walkman is priceless. Just my 0.02 and general philosophy in life, not just this hobby.

 

[Electrocrytic]

I know this is a question thats been asked a thousand times in this forum. Im stuck in the loops between deciding to buy a WM1 but cant decide if I want to settle on the A or bite the bullet on getting a Z despite the steep cost increase. Im stuck on the thought of "is it enough of a difference to justify the increased cost?"

Obviously I know the hardware is definitely better and some people question if they would have bought one, especially after what the software over the years, including Walkman ONE has done to close the gap. But how large actually is the gap after all of this?

how exactly (subjectively) would you describe they are different in sound between both of them?

Im just impatient because my A55 is nearing its end of life after about 4.5 years with the battery showing age, and a recent accident cracking the screen and damaging the jack. And im in an awkward spot finally where i can comfortably afford a WM1A but am just of reach of a WM1Z in good condition that would be reliable and a solid device that would hopefully last me many, many more years. Kinda like a buy one and be done. In about a month or a few weeks if all goes well, i should be able to easily afford one though, i just need to make a decision on what my plans are

Any input would be helpful if its not of annoyance to anybody.

An NP audio modified 1A outperforms a stock 1Z and matches an NP audio modified 1Z. (All running Walkman One same sig/settings)

p.s. I sold my 1Z and kept my 1A V5 mod. Both look the same in a fatbear case but the 1A is much more comfortable in my pocket.

 

[nc8000]

An NP audio modified 1A outperforms a stock 1Z and matches an NP audio modified 1Z. (All running Walkman One same sig/settings)

p.s. I sold my 1Z and kept my 1A V5 mod. Both look the same in a fatbear case but the 1A is much more comfortable in my pocket.

Yes the 1A is surprisingly light. However I don’t use my 1Z on the go, only in hotels and so on, so the weight does not bother me.

I recently had a chance to compare the 1A V5 mod against my 1Z V2.5 mod and my ears where not able to hear any significant differences. That does not mean that there are no differences and people with more sensetive ears could probably detect them

 

[gLer]

Meanwhile the weight of the 1Z is one of its best features for me. Feels like a mini gold brick, literally.

 

[baskingshark]

Meanwhile the weight of the 1Z is one of its best features for me. Feels like a mini gold brick, literally.

I brought my Sony WM1A to a holiday last year to some Indonesian island, and was stopped by the customs haha.

They were very interested to check out this big brick - not sure if the customs officer was an audiophile or was worried about a bomb LOL.

 

[SteeLMinder]

Here comes the question. What kind of sound boost will WM1A get after NPAudio mod ?
I just don't understand what it will give me as a user. For me it is interesting, but unclear because the cost of the mod is higher than the cost of the player in the ads.

 

[gLer]

Here comes the question. What kind of sound boost will WM1A get after NPAudio mod ?
I just don't understand what it will give me as a user. For me it is interesting, but unclear because the cost of the mod is higher than the cost of the player in the ads.

On a sidenote, how do you rate MUB1 compared to WM1A. That little powerhouse is building up quite a reputation for itself.