Possible Sony WM1-Series successor spotted online (update)
This was posted on what looks to be some social media website in China. We can see the Walkman logo in the lower right corner of the device, clearly indicating this is a new Walkman device.
Update: Another photo showing the front. Thanks to @mirai160525 for twitter for the photo.
The gold colour remains, along with the microSD slot which is located under the hold button. Good news is that Sony has moved to USB type-C for this new model, away from the WM-port. The original post claims this will be running Android which is unfortunate since battery life will not be as good as the older model, but it should allow for streaming service functionality.
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| Source: Head.fi.org |
For other specifications we are most likely looking at the same screen size, 4 in, with HD resolution, USB type-C, Bluetooth (possibly 5.2), along with WiFi. Hopefully the USB-DAC function remains, since this is absent from the NW-Z500 and NW-A100 models. The controls will be on the right side, like in the current model.
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| Source: Head-fi.org |
As always, if anyone has any information please contact me or post the information in the comments below.
Source: Head-fi and thanks to MrWalkman as well
Still enjoying my WM1A quite a lot, but I'm curious as to what a new wm1 series might bring to the table in terms of connectivity and newer features. Looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteI don't want Android on these because that will not do well for battery life as well as privacy.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree with that. Although I don't see any other solution for providing streaming services.
DeleteNewer versions of Android are more efficient and so are newer SoCs. My phone running Android 11 on airplane mode, but with WiFi turned on, lasted me almost 3 days with normal usage. Sure a custom OS might be able to do better, but there's no way the can get most, if any, streaming apps on it
DeleteAgree. No Android, no streaming. My only doubt would be regarding CPU... Sony doesn't have a history of using even moderately recent and/or powerful chips in the Walkman line.
DeleteHere is the SoC/Cpu sony used on the A100 and ZX500.
Deletehttps://thewalkmanblog.blogspot.com/2019/10/what-soc-is-sony-using.html
I do not have any info on what cpu was used on the WM1 series, since I could have not found any good teardowns showing the chip.
Mediatek MT8590, ARMv7 1.6 or 1.8 GHz dual-core - I'm don't remember the frequency exactly.
DeleteThis was used for WM1, ZX300, and players in the A series.
Others solved it too. Just look at the FiiO Player for example. The M11 Plus LTD does have longer battery live than the ZX507 even though it does have 2 DACs and 2 Analog Amps with an output power of 588mW.
DeleteEven with the same 250mW the ZX507 provides, the power consumption of an DAC/Analog Amp Setup is _much_ higher than the S-Master HX + they provide more than double the output power.
So it is possible but Sony will do everything to improve the sound quality to an maximum.
Nobody is willing to spend >3000€ for a player that does have great battery life but only average sound quality. Why buy it then?
You buy an >3000€ Walkman to get the best possible sound quality.
In the WM1Z, the battery power is already poor compared to what would have been possible. They even ""waste"" energy by transforming the power from the battery twice to "clean" it.
I think the ZX507 battery lifetime is, with the current firmware, reasonable. Its not great, but its far from unuseable. You could easily get more than 12h playtime out of it using balanced output and hi-res audio.
That is more than enough. Who listens 12h straight to music?
I rather have best sound quality with 12-15h battery life then average sound quality with 30h battery life. Why spend 3300€ on a music player with average sound quality?
Any ideas as to what specs we might be looking forward to? Any guesses?
ReplyDeleteAny speculations regarding possible price and/or a non-gold version?
ReplyDeleteNo information yet, hopefully Sony will decide to release a cheaper version that is black.
DeleteYeah, keeping my fingers crossed on that. As much as I'd love to get a golden one, it might well be too much,too hard to justify.
DeleteThey already did. It's called the NW-ZX507
DeleteZX507 was the successor to the ZX300.
DeleteI Just Bought A New Fiio M11 Plus LTD Stainless Steel Its Run Time Is 11 hours, Android , I Prefer My Sony Walkman 105 Android same about 11 hours run time , Music Mode Only On Both ,The Sony Sounds Metter To Me , I use Only Bluetooth , I Do use Car Mode In My Car With Both , Works Great , I Will By The Hi End Sony When Released , Price Does Not Matter , I Like The Sound Of Sony Walkman ,
ReplyDeleteYeah, there's a Sony sound that's much to my liking as well. Never tried FiiO yet, though.
DeleteI Just Bought A Fiio Mll Plus LTD Stainless Steel Android Runs 11 Hours , My Sony 105 Android
ReplyDeleteruns about 11 hours , I Use Blue Tooth Audio On Both , Player Mode Only , I Also Use Car Mode in My Car , Sony Sounds Better Than My Fiio , I Will Buy The Hi End Sony When Released , I Do Not Stream Music , I Play Hi Res Or Flack Files mostly , I Prefer Sony Sound ,
I hope it's comes with black like WM1A…(also chrome Sony and Walkman logos would be nice fitted with black)
ReplyDeleteLooks significantly slimmer than the current WM1 models. The off-centered USB-C port on the bottom looks odd. But I'm sure there's an engineering reason behind it.
ReplyDeleteI hope talented programmers like Mr Walkman can continue modding firmware with these android machines.
That's a wish I definitely share.
DeleteYep, Mr Walkman and the other CW makers have really added a second lease of life to the Walkman OS devices.
DeleteThe sound quality is on a new level compared to stock.
As they run an closed Android, I highly doubt that. There is no custom firmware nor known method to unlock the NW-ZX507 yet.
DeleteThis blog is super interesting! Things like what is written about here I usually only find on Apple news sites. I haven't had a walkman since an MZR-700 MD recorder that I got back in 2001. I went all in on Apple when the iPod Shuffle came out, and stuck with them because of their commitment to accessibility that came a few years later. But it's always neat to see what other companies arh doing.
ReplyDeleteAndroid's accessibility has gotten better over the years. I don't think I'd use it on my phone, but I think it might work well on a dedicated music player like the walkman where you're not installing all the apps you would put on a smartphone. So I think that's another benefit to Sony using android on all their new players.
The Only App I Installed On My NW-A 105 Is The Sony Headphone Connect App To Update MY XM4 Headphones Firmware and To Connect To My Walkman 105 ,
DeleteOne thing that worries me. If these photos were taken in China, it means that the new model will be completely produced there.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, but the original photos of the signature series (WM1, TA-ZH1ES, Z1R, etc) back in 2016 were all from Chinese sources too.
DeleteIt's possible these are just samples for the Chinese regulatory bodies to test, or maybe units sent to Sony China employees to make marketing materials.
With that said, these being made in Japan, Malaysia or China won't have too much of an impact on quality. Since Sony's global factory processes are fairly optimized.
But on the price.
DeleteIn general, Sonys Made in Japan products have the same price as Made in Malaysia or Made in China, even though the production cost is much lower.
So you're paying a much higher price compared to FiiO basically for nothing...
That's a good point. But that's assuming Sony would pass on the savings to retail.
DeleteI'd wager if the NW-WM1Z were made in Japan we'd see a higher launch price than $3200 US.
I doubt that. The a99 was the same price or cheaper than the a7/a7R even though being Made in Japan and much more complex/expensive to build.
DeleteThe Made in Japan Z7 is cheaper than the Made in Malaysia Z7M2
Sony is (and always was) an extremely greedy company. An Made in Japan NW-WM1Z costs exactly 3200$ because Sony analysis said, that customers are willing to pay that price, not because it is in any relation to the actual production cost.
I am not allowed to give much further information but from first hand information from a guy working at Sony i can say, that the current NW-WM1Z could easily sell for 1700$ and Sony would still make profit with it.
Thanks for the comment. Without any specific knowledge to share, I completely agree with your assessment of the price point selection of these devices.
DeleteI am quite surprised we haven't had any FCC registers for this yet. The ZX507 was released at IFA and the Bluetooth and WIFI were registered with FCC around 2nd August of the year it was released.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely component shortages are one reason I suspect, but the device might already have been submitted to the fcc but no reports released to the public.
DeletePerhaps.. I'm on the fence over getting another DAP over my NW-ZX1, more and more stream from phone with WF-1000XM3's.
DeleteMy concern is that once you add the android OS you create something that is more computer than high end music reproduction device. Won't something be lost in that process? The WM1Z is a machine dedicated to superlative audio reproduction. Android would seem to get in the way of that. That is why Sony did not base it on Android back in 2016. Granted streaming options have improved considerably since that time. I am too on the fence.
ReplyDeleteThe ZX507 sounds better than the ZX300 and it runs Android. I highly doubt it will be the same gut the new WM1Z
Delete