[LanceSaintPaul]

Do not hesitate to run from the 3.5mm output into any decent amp, headphone or otherwise, the Sony amps in these DAPS are so clean that a line out won't really be missed. I set the DAP volume to 100 and use a Nordost Blue Heaven 3.5 mm to RCA cable and it's all good. In fact it seems ideal.
Another way to say it is it surpassed my expectations that it might not be as fine that way - it delightfully surprised me.

 

[Sp12er3]

I used the bal out to my hybrid tube amp, it's doing just fine.

 

[sunnygsm]

How easy is it to get the battery changed in these DAPs? Wondering if I should just pick up a used one instead of the new WM1AM2. I have an Xperia III which should suffice for streaming with IEMs.

 

[RYCeT]

I tried to connect my iPhone 6s to wm1a through bluetooth to use as DAC, however both devices can’t see each other. How do I do this?

 

[nc8000]

I tried to connect my iPhone 6s to wm1a through bluetooth to use as DAC, however both devices can’t see each other. How do I do this?

You activate BT receiver from the home screen on the 1A and press Add device at the bottom and then pair it on your iPhone. I’ve been using this on my iPad for movies and concerts for years

 

[Gamerlingual]

If the firmware is reverted back to stock, will the Bluetooth settings work properly again?

 

[nc8000]

If the firmware is reverted back to stock, will the Bluetooth settings work properly again?

What do you mean work properly ?
BT receiver works fine both on stock fw and WalkmanOne fw.
What is not working for you and where ?

 

[Gamerlingual]

What do you mean work properly ?
BT receiver works fine both on stock fw and WalkmanOne fw.
What is not working for you and where ?

Oh I’m ok. I just thought that if I install the firmware, that the Bluetooth signal might receive static sound

 

[slinkyjynx]

I managed to get incredibly lucky and pick up a WM1A, WM1Z _and_ a pair of MDR-Z1Rs in the last few months, all at incredibly good prices. I stopped just short of getting the TA-Z1HES though as I couldn't really justify it as well as the WM1Z...

A few observations:

Both WM1A and WM1Z sound great. I could be happy with either, but the difference is that every time I pick up the 1Z I smile. I turn it this way and that as I listen to music and watch the light catch on the knurled buttons and sparkle across the chassis. For me it's part of the experience, and one that the 1A doesn't quite have.

Both deliver better sound to the Z1Rs through balanced vs single-ended, but only because of the extra power that the balanced connection gives. When I run both out of the 3.5mm into any dedicated amplifier (tube or solid state) it sounds better than just through balanced on the device. Double amping isn't a concern whatsoever as the amp in the 1A/1Z is digital anyway which makes distortion negligible at any volume.

The synergy between 1Z and Z1R is incredible. Don't let anyone fool you into believing it's 'warm on warm', it simply isn't. Trebles are great, bass is great, it's all great (and at this price it should be!!)

Both the 1Z and the Z1R are 'forever' items. The 1Z is the most versatile little player, I use it for everything from music to movies thanks to the DAC and receiver functions. It really is a do-everything audio device and I couldn't be happier.

 

[nc8000]

Oh I’m ok. I just thought that if I install the firmware, that the Bluetooth signal might receive static sound

Why would a different fw introduce static interference to the sound ?

 

[RYCeT]

You activate BT receiver from the home screen on the 1A and press Add device at the bottom and then pair it on your iPhone. I’ve been using this on my iPad for movies and concerts for years

I believe I did that. I'll try again tonight.

 

[nc8000]

I believe I did that. I'll try again tonight.

I just did it with my iPhone and it worked like a charm

 

[proedros]

1a is more than great if you are on a budget - and the best 'value for money' dap of the 2 by far

1z is that little extra for those with big wallets , who don't need a 'value for money' dap

SONY did all music lovers a huge favor as both daps cpover the entire spectrum of music lovers

 

[Vamp898]

Honestly i was hoping that Sony would ditch this whole 1A/1Z thing and just make 1 DAP and sell it for less. That would have absolutely made sense looking at the market but... well Sony just works how Sony works.

 

[slinkyjynx]

You may be the only person that hopes for that, haha! The beauty in all of this is that we have options across the entire Walkman line from budget to luxury.

Personally, I'm just so incredibly glad Sony are still making Walkmans at every level, like they always have done. They don't need to. It certainly isn't the money maker for them that it once was. But that's the thing with Sony, specifically the Japanese arms of Sony: They have pride.

They didn't have to create a series of top of the line DAPs and create a customised highly-bespoke audio solution for each. They definitely didn't even have to stay in a market of devices that has been so heavily cannibalised by smartphones that it will never be lucrative to their bottom end...

But for those of us who remember getting their first Walkman as a kid and being spellbound by it, that magic is very much still alive in the 1 series and I have the feeling that the engineers responsible for their creation would smile knowing that as much as we smile listening to it.