I know people have been asking about this new Walkman that was leaked a while ago, but until now, there was little evidence apart from photos that it existed. But we might have something more concrete now, a Bluetooth SIG listing.
The new Walkman is code-named ICX-1298 and will support Bluetooth 5.2. The new model looks to be using a Qualcomm Bluetooth chip, which supports both Bluetooth 5.2 and Android R. The android support makes sense, since in the leak we have images of the device running Android.
For those curious, the code name is positioned after the A100 (ICX-1293) and ZX500 (ICX-1295) models but before the DMP-Z1 (ICX-1300). But if you ask me, the DMP-Z1 is not really a portable Walkman, so the ICX-1298 code makes sense. Will be interesting to see if we get any other Walkmans next year apart from this new one, would be great to see some lower end non Android Walkmans as well.
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| Bluetooth SIG Listing |
The listing does not specify which Bluetooth Chip it is, so it might be a standard Qualcomm sourced chip or like the A and ZX Walkmans, another brand using Qualcomm tech for their own chip, see here. The support for Bluetooth 5.2 could mean an update for LE Audio and the LC3 codec in the future.
The listing also does not reveal any about the SoC, the A and ZX both used an i.MX 8M Mini Quad from NXP/Freescale, so we might see the same chip used again.
Original WM1-Series successor leak
So finally a certification listing, it is coming, possibly at CES 2022, so start saving up, it will not be cheap. So how many will be picking one up?
Update 1:
Both models, ICX-1298 and ICX-1299 have appeared on the FCC. Unfortunately the label does not reveal any actual design details. The label document (below), shows the same photo in the 1298B version. Both model PDFs were created in July of this year and update in November.
The FCC filing reveals some information, like the support for WLAN, 2.4/5ghz. We already know from the Bluetooth certification that version 5.2 will be supported. The WLAN report reveals the wireless chip that is being used and surprise, it is the same one as the A and ZX models, the Murata LBEE5ZZ1PJ. I have a post about it here from a 2019 for those curious. The product page from Murata. I do hope Sony will use a new SoC in the new Walkmans and not reuse the same one from the A/ZX, but something tells me they just might.
Both models are labelled as pre-production, so this is good news and perhaps we will see them at CES 2022. But both models have their short term confidentiality ending in late June 2022, which could also indicate a much later reveal date. Maybe Sony is planning a reveal with some new Signature series products later next year?
That is it for now, if I find anything else in the FCC filings, I will update this post.
Hopefully they use a proper SoC.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Mr Walkman. As much as I love Sony Walkmans, they are an expensive piece of kit. It wouldn't be acceptable to pay the likely hefty asking price just to run into problems with Android a couple of years down the line.
DeleteWould be great to see a higher end SoC, especially in a higher end device like a WM1 replacement. But with Sony using the same SoC for both the A100 and more expensive ZX500, it shows that they want to save costs where ever possible. Perhaps if the Walkmans sold in higher numbers, Sony might have gone for a better SoC since I presume the more SoCs Sony ordered, the cheaper they were. So with fewer potential customer orders, Sony opted most likely for the most affordable option. Still I feel going for a mid level Mediatek would be one idea but with the current chip shortage, would Sony get a good deal?
DeleteYou are right, Ascariss. SoC is one part in which Sony has chosen to save in the past. But technology moves on quite fast and going for the same SoC once again seems like a bad cost cutting measure, as it would set very noticeable limits to its premium device, especially with Android on board, I think. Plus, it would be incredible that, while way smaller companies are paying attention to this topic and using faster, mid-tier SoC, Sony decided to stay cheaper in this regard. Let us cross our fingers that it does not.
DeleteThey do have a phone division, which orders just a few CPUs, so combine with their orders?
DeleteThe Phone division seems to be struggling, So...
DeleteHow are they struggling. Their phone division is making good profit. They are just not a big player. Better than LG making loss after loss and then just quit
ReplyDeleteActually their phone division is no longer struggling. It's been profitable the last three financial quarters. And that's due to increased sales. Unlike LG they have managed to turn it around.
DeleteStruggling while making good profit. Hmmm
ReplyDeleteWell, I had read that the phone division was struggling, but I may be wrong.
DeleteFrom reports, it is improving but walkman's are part of audio division not mobile, so I suspect Sony would rather keep various parts and suppliers separate which will add costs.
DeleteSure sony could order some high end SoCs with mobile but some of those ship with cellular modems which are not required for an audio player like this, so it wouldn't make sense to buy a high end SoC like that and then have to disable the cellular portion. A more power efficient but still powerful SoC would be a better choice.
For those using the ZX500 and A100, is the CPU underpowered for the device?
I have both the 507 and 105. 105 struggles badly, while the 507 is fine.
DeleteThanks, Ascariss, for the explanation. It makes sense.
DeleteI sold my ZX500 it was so slow it got on my nerves..i am using a ifi hip dac for now until sony realeases something faster
ReplyDeletedoes it really struggle the cpu in the device? what was slow? can you elaborate?
DeletePeople expect Android devices to handle like smartphones. Most likely everything was fine and it worked flawless, it was just not as fast as a smartphone.
DeleteYeah, that is a sensible explanation. These devices cannot be expected to perform as a mid-to-high-end smartphone.
Deletedou you think that sony waill launch this walkman in CES or IFA?
ReplyDeleteI would hope for CES, but the devices have not shown up on the FCC yet. This doesn't mean that Sony did not submit them, they might have been approved already and they will appear either late December or early January.
DeleteThere is a small chance these might not be sold in the US and so no FCC filing and perhaps no CES reveal. Instead Sony will just release them with a press release or at some even for a new signature series.
I hope that they will release new A series with Sony OS. I've tried Streaming, but I don't like them(I've tried). Too much constrains, I rather buy songs from Itunes and listen from Walkman. Right now, I'm using NW-S774, and looking for a new one.
ReplyDeleteI plan to buy A55 in late March or early April, and want to use them with Sennheiser IE-300. What do you think? Should I get the A55 or wait for the new one? And between Sennheiser IE-300 and Sony headphone, which one is better, to use with the A55?
I am myself still using the NWZ-A15 and want to replace it. Android is not something I need in an audio player, and Sony OS would be better. I fear that the days of the Sony OS walkman are gone and even lower end models like the A series :(
DeleteI definitely recommend the A55 with the Walkman One mod (based on the WM1A/Z firmware). The sound quality gets greatly improved in comparison with the stock firmware!
Delete@ www.nwmods.ml
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