[gerelmx1986]

 

Just a quick heads-up that Amazon UK currently have the WM1A for £758.46, 26% off RRP. Hope it's ok to post that here.

Saw that. Amazon Prime too. So tempted, but I know the volume cap would irritate immensely.

Unless we've found a way to defeat it...

@CraftyClown has the answer to defeating the volumen cap

 

[CraftyClown]

@CraftyClown
 has the answer to defeating the volumen cap

Thanks Gerardo

Saw that. Amazon Prime too. So tempted, but I know the volume cap would irritate immensely.

Unless we've found a way to defeat it...

Do it man. The volume cap can now be bypassed, so there is no better time to pick up a cheap EU device.

https://www.rockbox.org/wiki/SonyNWDestTool#Changing_destination_settings_and_sound_pressure_regulation

 

[TSAVJason]

Thanks Gerardo
Do it man. The volume cap can now be bypassed, so there is no better time to pick up a cheap EU device.

https://www.rockbox.org/wiki/SonyNWDestTool#Changing_destination_settings_and_sound_pressure_regulation

Isn't that a bi-pass, a code crack, a software change? I wonder. I'll have to check but it would seem that any modification of the unit would negate the warranty period! ....I guess it wouldn't matter since it's a grey market unit when purchased outside of another territory anyway ...so it would be without a factory endorsed warranty ....unless it's sent back to the country/territory of origin where the it remains in tact for a non-modified unit. .....I'll have to check that but it is a $200 savings from what the US price is after shipping so I don't blame people for trying to save a couple C notes. It's is part of the Signature Series group so if you feel you have to buy it that way and they have them, do it! It's not going to stay available to the US market this way for very long.

 

[CraftyClown]

Isn't that a bi-pass, a code crack, a software change? I wonder. I'll have to check but it would seem that any modification of the unit would negate the warranty period! ....I guess it wouldn't matter since it's a grey market unit when purchased outside of another territory anyway ...so it would be without a factory endorsed warranty ....unless it's sent back to the country/territory of origin where the it remains in tact for a non-modified unit. .....I'll have to check that but it is a $200 savings from what the US price is after shipping so I don't blame people for trying to save a couple C notes. It's is part of the Signature Series group so if you feel you have to buy it that way and they have them, do it! It's not going to stay available to the US market this way for very long.

Most of us doing this are in EU countries already Jason. Besides its a software change that can be reversed at any time. It's completely nondestructive.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

Thanks Gerardo

Do it man. The volume cap can now be bypassed, so there is no better time to pick up a cheap EU device.

https://www.rockbox.org/wiki/SonyNWDestTool#Changing_destination_settings_and_sound_pressure_regulation

 
Like jailbreaking an iPhone. A cat and mouse game....

 

[TSAVJason]

Most of us doing this are in EU countries already Jason. Besides its a software change that can be reversed at any time. It's completely nondestructive.

Sure I understand and am aware of the mod. Sometimes these mods leave footprints. But whatever, if you can save money and remove the cap ....more power to you!

 

[Fsilva]

Sure I understand and am aware of the mod. Sometimes these mods leave footprints. But whatever, if you can save money and remove the cap ....more power to you!

 
@TSAVJason for us EU owners that decided to pay full price or even discounted prices at Amazon we felt that we where getting a "crippled" device (not in my case my WM1A "capped" was able to drive my Earsonics EM32 without any problem). So i guess this "hack" is more than fare for us who jump aboard on getting the capped units and that refused to import the WM1 units from abroad since we are penalized with import taxes/duties that make this units even more expensive that they are for people who can buy them in Asia, the USA, etc.

 

[TSAVJason]

@TSAVJason
 for us EU owners that decided to pay full price or even discounted prices at Amazon we felt that we where getting a "crippled" device (not in my case my WM1A "capped" was able to drive my Earsonics EM32 without any problem). So i guess this "hack" is more than fare for us who jump aboard on getting the capped units and that refused to import the WM1 units from abroad since we are penalized with import taxes/duties that make this units even more expensive that they are for people who can buy them in Asia, the USA, etc.

Yeah this safety "Cap" rule isn't cool but that's what the EU requires ...enjoy the 1A it is a nice piece!

 

[FenderP]

Isn't that a bi-pass, a code crack, a software change? I wonder. I'll have to check but it would seem that any modification of the unit would negate the warranty period! ....I guess it wouldn't matter since it's a grey market unit when purchased outside of another territory anyway ...so it would be without a factory endorsed warranty ....unless it's sent back to the country/territory of origin where the it remains in tact for a non-modified unit. .....I'll have to check that but it is a $200 savings from what the US price is after shipping so I don't blame people for trying to save a couple C notes. It's is part of the Signature Series group so if you feel you have to buy it that way and they have them, do it! It's not going to stay available to the US market this way for very long.

 
Volume cap aside, Sony was/is late to the game in introducing the 1A to the USA. people who wanted the 1A sooner really have had no other options. The tourst one sold in Japan would have its warranty honored in the USA, but the Japanese domestic wouldn't. I went for the Japanese domestic version (Japanese menus don't bother me). I got it used and saved more than two C notes. If I hadn't found it so cheap, I probably would have waited since the list price of the Japanese would have been about the same and had intended on picking it up there in a few weeks.
 
So if Sony gets all pissy about things like this, they really only have themselves to blame by not only introducing it late, but making it not exactly easy to get. In Hong Kong, for xeample, you can walk into numerous stores and see the 1A/Z/new headphone amp/Z1R. In the US, it's less than 10 stores nationwide. Big difference.

 

[TSAVJason]

Volume cap aside, Sony was/is late to the game in introducing the 1A to the USA. people who wanted the 1A sooner really have had no other options. The tourst one sold in Japan would have its warranty honored in the USA, but the Japanese domestic wouldn't. I went for the Japanese domestic version (Japanese menus don't bother me). I got it used and saved more than two C notes. If I hadn't found it so cheap, I probably would have waited since the list price of the Japanese would have been about the same and had intended on picking it up there in a few weeks.

So if Sony gets all pissy about things like this, they really only have themselves to blame by not only introducing it late, but making it not exactly easy to get. In Hong Kong, for xeample, you can walk into numerous stores and see the 1A/Z/new headphone amp/Z1R. In the US, it's less than 10 stores nationwide. Big difference.

Well here in the US it's 19 stores not 10 but I get your point.

 

[thatonenoob]

   
Volume cap aside, Sony was/is late to the game in introducing the 1A to the USA. people who wanted the 1A sooner really have had no other options. The tourst one sold in Japan would have its warranty honored in the USA, but the Japanese domestic wouldn't. I went for the Japanese domestic version (Japanese menus don't bother me). I got it used and saved more than two C notes. If I hadn't found it so cheap, I probably would have waited since the list price of the Japanese would have been about the same and had intended on picking it up there in a few weeks.
 
So if Sony gets all pissy about things like this, they really only have themselves to blame by not only introducing it late, but making it not exactly easy to get. In Hong Kong, for xeample, you can walk into numerous stores and see the 1A/Z/new headphone amp/Z1R. In the US, it's less than 10 stores nationwide. Big difference.

Hahah.  In Japan it's literally everywhere.  

 

[jmills8]

Hahah.  In Japan it's literally everywhere.  

Same in Hong Kong.

 

[LouisArmstrong]

Same in Hong Kong.

I envy you guys. Nice. Really nice.

 

[raypin]

Mm..was able to audition the 1Z and 1A during my trip to HK.............and, I still prefer the SQ of my AK380 cu/amp.

 

[Sonic Guild]

Where can I find a sound quality comparison (honest and detailed) between the WM1Z and WM1A?