Disclaimer: Today's Picture Sunday features the new Sony WM1A Walkman. To check the previous Picture Sunday posts click here.
Last time around I talked about the Sony ZX2 Walkman and it’s success overall as a DAP in my Picture Sunday post. Like I mentioned on the closing sentence, I was planning to get the new Walkman WM1A, when I have the chance. Well, the time has come and given that now I have the WM1A, of course it’s time to include it on Headfonia.
WM1A is basically the ZX2’s successor this year and it’s an evidence of Sony’s efforts on audio department lately. This time they decided to have a purer approach, and released the new Walkmans with a non-Android OS, with no Wi-Fi or other features. On top of WM1A, there’s also WM1Z, which is made with a gold-plated monoblock copper chassis, better internal cabling and better capacitors as far as I know. That model is obviously a “cost is no object” version, for both audiophiles and engineers who designed it. New Walkmans still have the LDAC Bluetooth for wireless playback, 128-256 GB internal memory with a Micro SD slot.
Sony aimed a better sounding Walkman and like the last time with ZX2, the newer Walkman sounds better to the predecessor. Ditching the Android and Wi-Fi features is a no-go for some people of course, but in my opinion the technology is still not enough to have a Hi-Fi sounding player with all possible features. Astell&Kern is maybe the only brand that can merge Wi-Fi streaming with a fluid UI experience and very high level of sound together, but with all the others that I had listened, there’s always at least 1 problem with the devices. I encountered a hissing problem on numerous DAPs when Wi-Fi is on. That’s the biggest flaw in my eyes about streaming DAPs. The ZX2 was the exception with at least a dependable OS without annoying bugs and hiss, but it wasn’t quite at the level of High-End DAPs in terms of sonics.
The WM1A on the other hand, has the sound capability that can be comparable to High-End DAPs. I will certainly write a detailed review including those points with some comparisons to other players, but the sure thing is WM1A sounds very very good. The Linux-based custom OS of Sony works great without a single flaw, and you have more sound settings with a better EQ. Battery life is still unrivalled in the market, which is so crucial in my case.
When we publish the full review of WM1A you’re going see much more of it, so stay tuned on Headfonia!
