Hello, I came across this ground pin adapter by chance (https://www.dma-audio.com/products/pw-audio-sony-wm1-ground-pin-adapter). Has anybody of you used it? What is it good for? Is it worthy buying it?
The Continuation Of The Sony Walkman 1Z/1A Thread!
- Thread starter Redcarmoose
- Start date
nc8000
Headphoneus Supremus
Sony have decided not to connect the ground ring on the 4.4 to the ground plane of the dap. The 3.5 is connected to the ground plane of the dap. So what this adapter does is that it takes the 4 signals for balanced from the 4.4 and the ground from the 3.5 to form a grounded 4.4 output for situations where you want to connect the balanced output to something that requires ground. A very specialist situation
MrWalkman
Headphoneus Supremus
Not sure about sound improvements, but with an adapter like this and with some custom made 4.4 cable, you can also drive single-ended headphones from the balanced port.
This would work by using L+, R+, and ground from the 4.4 male connector.
The output power will be very similar to the one of the 3.5 port though, but the sound is a little different.
mmwwmm
100+ Head-Fier
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Then I’m sorry to say your unit surely is not a brand new one.
Redcarmoose
Headphoneus Supremus
I’m consistently amazed at how the Walkmans each have a forte to sound good with one IEM or another. Meaning that in usage the 1A is important to have as every once in a while you will come across an IEM where it’s just too bass laden with the 1Z, so the 1A becomes necessitated.
What is fascinating is some IEMs actually are more forgiving enabling you to use either 1A or 1Z and seem to expose the best qualities inherent to each one. Then other times an IEM signature needs that authority and presence of the 1Z. Then other times it’s the 1A that’s needed for the midrange. They are never not in use? Except this is the exact reason they were introduced, as to complement each other. Just by their opposite tones they in-fact become distinctively different because you have them to compare with each other.
Of course this could all be an audiophile expectation bias dream? Where I am creating my own reality by visualizing it before hand. Then hearing the sonic possibilities, but no, I don’t think so!
Still a small part truly is all mental and has a portion allocated to expectation bias. I still can’t figure out that on off occasions stuff will sound subtly different? Though most of the time stuff does sound relatively the same. It’s the ability to trust that things will be consistent that creates a workable system. Such a system allows for the quantifiable verification of sound reproduction attributes. But the 1A and 1Z both support a (different) wing of headphones. This fact never changes. I could almost always have the 1A ones and the 1Z ones. Still then there is that wildcard....bless them, they are the few that don’t care which DAP you use as your going to get good results no matter what.
Then there are the IEM trouble makers, the ones that never sound exactly right. Then there are the high maintenance ones, the ones you have to buy expensive dinners and new shoes for..............even then they are temperamental, except at the end success does occur.
This one is the RAPTGO HOOK-X, and it prefers the 1Z. A planar, Piezoelectric, bone conduction-open-back.
What is fascinating is some IEMs actually are more forgiving enabling you to use either 1A or 1Z and seem to expose the best qualities inherent to each one. Then other times an IEM signature needs that authority and presence of the 1Z. Then other times it’s the 1A that’s needed for the midrange. They are never not in use? Except this is the exact reason they were introduced, as to complement each other. Just by their opposite tones they in-fact become distinctively different because you have them to compare with each other.
Of course this could all be an audiophile expectation bias dream? Where I am creating my own reality by visualizing it before hand. Then hearing the sonic possibilities, but no, I don’t think so!
Still a small part truly is all mental and has a portion allocated to expectation bias. I still can’t figure out that on off occasions stuff will sound subtly different? Though most of the time stuff does sound relatively the same. It’s the ability to trust that things will be consistent that creates a workable system. Such a system allows for the quantifiable verification of sound reproduction attributes. But the 1A and 1Z both support a (different) wing of headphones. This fact never changes. I could almost always have the 1A ones and the 1Z ones. Still then there is that wildcard....bless them, they are the few that don’t care which DAP you use as your going to get good results no matter what.
Then there are the IEM trouble makers, the ones that never sound exactly right. Then there are the high maintenance ones, the ones you have to buy expensive dinners and new shoes for..............even then they are temperamental, except at the end success does occur.
This one is the RAPTGO HOOK-X, and it prefers the 1Z. A planar, Piezoelectric, bone conduction-open-back.
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Thank you very much for your unequivocal hint how to find out if the NW-WM1A I had bought is brand new or not.
Today my NW-WM1Z was finally delivered.
Surprisingly neither the top lid nor the bottom lid were sealed with the round transparent sticker as the box of NW-ZX300 was.
However, the DAP itself was tightly wrapped all around in a transparent plastic foil. The foil was not crampled anyway. I.e. the DAP has not left this foil after having been wrapped this way and is thus definitely brand new.
My NW-WM1A is unfortunately anything but new.
As I do not like being fooled, I will write a complaint this weekend and send it to the seller and Amazon Japan as well.
As it has been stated in the product description twice that the product is "new" and once that it is "unused", I find it a deception.
To be frank I am a little bit disappointed by this approach because as I could repeteadly read here on Head-Fi, Japanese sellers are said to be generally open and sincere as far as the product condition is concerned.
Well, it looks like there could unfortunately be a black sheep in every flock.
Anyway I am very glad that at least NW-WM1Z, NW-ZX300 and NW-A55 are really brand new and unused.
Thus my set of DAPs is - except for the unfortunate NW-WM1A - complete.
Nevertheless I hope I will manage to sort this one out as well. Either I get a decent price reduction, or it goes back and I hopefully find another one.
If anyone of you knows about a seller of a really brand new and unused NW-WM1A, your information would be very much appreciated.
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poli
New Head-Fier
May I ask, where did you buy a brand new Wm1z? I do not know where it still is available for purchase in Europe?
Some more updates from Steve at NP Audio 
The is board complete and the chassis is prepared (trimmed ready for large caps, bluetooth relocated).
The is board complete and the chassis is prepared (trimmed ready for large caps, bluetooth relocated).
Hi Poli. In case you are looking for a brand new WM1Z, (as of today) they are still available in Australia at Addicted to Audio for AU$2799.
BagaTom has been faster.
Yep, I have purchased it with them.They unfortunately do not sell abroad directly. So I had to find a forwarding company.
I chose AUSFF. The cheapest mode of transport cost AUD 88,- + other AUD 80,- for insurance (but only to the insured amount of max. AUD 2.000,- - if I had wanted to insure it up to the full purchase price, I would have had to choose another transport mode costing AUD 204,- + probably still AUD 80,- for insurance. I am not sure as I have chosen the transport mode for AUD 88,-).
On top of that you have to count on paying import VAT on the total of the purchase price + shipping + insurance as you seem to live in Europe. It is not cheap at all, isn't it?
However if you still decide go for it and choose AUSFF, pay their fees via bank transfer and not via payment card. Otherwise the aforementioned amounts would be worse (=higher).
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poli
New Head-Fier
Thanks for your answers! Indeed with the Vat in the Netherlands 21% prices go a bit crazy…
To my surprise, Steve at NP Audio has emailed me last night with additional some progress pics. It's starting to come together!
His message
"Please see attached pics, all in and wired up. Just the large caps and back plate to do.
I forgot to mention you will be the first EXPMv3 mod to receive the better sounding, larger, bipolar AudiNote caps (normally only in the EXPMv4 balanced only mod) I found a way to keep single ended whilst still allowing these to fit."
His message
"Please see attached pics, all in and wired up. Just the large caps and back plate to do.
I forgot to mention you will be the first EXPMv3 mod to receive the better sounding, larger, bipolar AudiNote caps (normally only in the EXPMv4 balanced only mod) I found a way to keep single ended whilst still allowing these to fit."
To my surprise, Steve at NP Audio has emailed me last night with additional some progress pics. It's starting to come together!
His message
"Please see attached pics, all in and wired up. Just the large caps and back plate to do.
I forgot to mention you will be the first EXPMv3 mod to receive the better sounding, larger, bipolar AudiNote caps (normally only in the EXPMv4 balanced only mod) I found a way to keep single ended whilst still allowing these to fit."
Looking good!
Will you also be getting the battery upgrade?
Yep, the battery upgrade is part of the mod. You can order the battery upgrade as a separate service.
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