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Comparison: Sony NW-ZX700, NW-ZX500, NW-ZX300 and NW-ZX100

Sony NW-ZX700 walkman comparison

I posted up my NW-A300 vs NW-A100 comparison, so time to compare the 4 generations of the ZX line. I am including all 4 models, since some users with the older models may wish to upgrade to the new ZX700.


NW-ZX700 NW-ZX500 NW-ZX300 NW-ZX100
Dimensions/Weight



Height 132.3mm 122.6mm 120.4mm 120mm
Width 72.5mm 57.9mm 57.7mm 54mm
Depth 16.8mm 14.8mm 14.9mm 15mm
Weight 227 g 164 g 157 g 145 g
Capacity



64 GB X X X -
128 GB - - - X
Android OS 12.0 9.0 X X
Display 5.0 in HD 3.6 in HD 3.1 in (WVGA) 3 in (WQVGA)
Touch Panel Yes Yes Yes No
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
2.4/5 GHz
No No

There is a big change from the ZX500 to the new model in terms of dimensions and weight. The display has also grown in size significantly. The WiFi is the same as before. For users of the older models who prefer the smaller footprint, I would not upgrade, unless you want WiFi and streaming from music apps.  There was a 16GB version of the ZX300 (ZX300A) and ZX500 (ZX505).


NW-ZX700 NW-ZX500 NW-ZX300 NW-ZX100
Supported Formats MP3 (.mp3): 32 - 320kbps (VBR compatible) / 32, 44.1, 48kHz
WMA (.wma): 32 - 192kbps (VBR compatible) / 44.1kHz
FLAC (.flac): 16, 24bit / 8- 384kHz
WAV (.wav): 16, 24, 32bit (Float/Integer) / 8-384kHz
AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 16-320kbps / 8-48kHz
HE-AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 32-144kbps / 8-48kHz
Apple Lossless (.mp4, .m4a): 16, 24bit / 8-384kHz
AIFF (.aif, .aiff, .afc, .aifc): 16, 24, 32bit/ 8-384kHz
DSD (.dsf, .dff): 1bit / 2.8224, 5.6448, 11.2896MHz *2
APE (.ape): 8, 16, 24bit / 8-192kHz (Fast, Normal, High)
MQA (.mqa.flac): Supported
MP3 (.mp3): 32 - 320kbps (VBR compatible)/ 32, 44.1, 48kHz
WMA (.wma): 32 - 192kbps (VBR compatible)/ 44.1kHz
FLAC (.flac): 16, 24bit / 8-384kHz
AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 6-320kbps / 8-48kHz
HE-AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 32-144kbps / 8-48kHz
Apple Lossless (.mp4, .m4a): 16, 24bit / 8-384kHz
DSD (.dsf, .dff): 1bit / 2.8224, 5.6448, 11.2896 MHz,
APE (.ape): 8, 16, 24bit / 8-192kHz (Fast, Normal, High)
MP3 (.mp3): 32 - 320kbps (VBR compatible)/ 32, 44.1, 48kHz
WMA (.wma): 32 - 192kbps (VBR compatible)/ 44.1kHz
FLAC (.flac): 16, 24bit / 8-192kHz
WAV (.wav): 16, 24bit / 8-192kHz
AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 6-320kbps / 8-48kHz
HE-AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 32-144kbps / 8-48kHz
Apple Lossless (.mp4, .m4a): 16, 24bit / 8-192KHz
AIFF (.aif, .aiff, .afc, .aifc): 16, 24, 32bit/ 8-192kHz
DSD (.dsf, .dff): 1bit / 2.8224, 5.6448
Bluetooth Version 5.0
SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX, aptX HD
Version 4.2
SBC, aptX, LDAC
Version 3.0
SBC, aptX, LDAC
USB DAC Function Yes No Yes No
NFC No No Yes Yes
Noise Cancelltion No No No Yes
Digital Amplifier S-Master HX
DSEE DSEE Ultimate DSEE HX
DSEE Ultimate
DSEE HX DSEE HX
Equalizer 20 Band 20 Band 10 Band 5 Band
USB Charging ~ 3.5 hours (100%)
~ 3 hours (~80%)
~ 6.5 hours (100%)
~ 5.0 hours (~80%)
~5.5 hours (100%) ~5 hours (100%)
USB Port Type-C (USB3.2 Gen1) Type-C (USB2.0) WM-Port (USB 2.0) WM-Port (USB 2.0)
microSD support microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC

There are many differences, the newer models both use USB Type-C, where as the older models stick to Sony's own WM-Port. USB DAC function returns after an absence in the NW-ZX500. Only the NW-ZX100 had built in noise cancellation but not really an issue with the current wireless NC headsets.

With each newer generation, the recharge time has kept dropping, most likely due to the better charging speed. NFC is dropped for the past 2 generations, so if you use it a lot, no sense in upgrading, unless you want to stream from online services.

One interesting side note, the ZX-100 Bluetooth chip is certified at 4.0.


NW-ZX700 NW-ZX500 NW-ZX300 NW-ZX100
Battery Life MP3 128kbps
3.5mm ~25 hours
Balanced ~ 24 hours

FLAC 96kHz/24bit
3.5mm ~ 23 hours
Balanced ~ 23 hours

FLAC 192kHz/24bit
3.5mm ~ 21 hours
Balanced ~21 hours

DSD
2.8224MHz /1bit
3.5mm ~ 21 hours
Balanced ~ 21 hours

5.6448MHz /1bit~
3.5mm ~ 18 hours
Balanced ~ 18 hours

11.2896MHz/ 1- bit
3.5mm ~ 13 hours
Balanced ~ 11 hours
MP3 128kbps
3.5mm ~20 hours
Balanced ~ 19 hours

WAv 44.1kHz/16bit
3.5mm ~ 20 hours
Balanced ~ 19 hours

FLAC 44.1kHz/16bit
3.5mm ~ 20 hours
Balanced ~ 18 hours

FLAC 96kHz/24bit
3.5mm ~ 18 hours
Balanced ~ 17 hours

FLAC 192kHz/24bit
3.5mm ~ 16 hours
Balanced ~15 hours

DSD
2.8224MHz /1bit
3.5mm ~ 10 hours
Balanced ~ 9 hours

5.6448MHz /1bit~
3.5mm ~ 8 hours
Balanced ~ 7.5 hours

11.2896MHz/ 1- bit
3.5mm ~ 6.5 hours
Balanced ~ 4 hours
MP3 128kbps
3.5mm ~30 hours
Balanced ~ 25 hours

AAC 256kbps
3.5mm ~ 27 hours
Balanced ~ 23 hours

FLAC 96kHz/24bit
3.5mm ~ 26 hours
Balanced ~ 23 hours

FLAC 192kHz/24bit
3.5mm ~ 23 hours
Balanced ~20 hours

DSD
2.8224MHz /1bit
3.5mm ~ 19 hours
Balanced ~ 13 hours

5.6448MHz /1bit
3.5mm ~ 15 hours
Balanced ~ 12 hours

11.2896MHz/ 1- bit
3.5mm ~ 13 hours
Balanced ~ 10 hours
MP3 128 kbps
NC ON ~ 60 Hrs
NC Off ~ 70 Hrs

AAC 256 kbps
NC ON ~ 55 Hrs
NC Off ~ 65 Hrs

FLAC 96 kHz/24 bit
NC ON ~ 50 Hrs
NC Off ~ 55 Hrs

FLAC 192 kHz/24 bit
NC ON ~ 40 Hrs
NC Off ~ 45 Hrs

DSD 2.8224 MHz/1 bit
NC ON ~ 29 Hrs
NC Off ~ 31 Hrs

DSD 5.6448 MHz/1 bit
NC ON ~ 24 Hrs
NC Off ~ 26 Hrs
Bluetooth
Streaming
MP3 128 kbps
SBC (Connection) ~ 22 hours

FLAC 96 kHz/24 bit
LDAC (Standard) ~11 hours
MP3 128 kbps
SBC (Connection) ~ 11 hours

FLAC 96 kHz/24 bit
LDAC (Standard) ~ 8.5 hours
MP3 128 kbps
SBC (Connection) ~ 25 hours

FLAC 96 kHz/24 bit
LDAC (Standard) ~ 14 hours
MP3 128 kbps
SBC (Connection) ~ 45 hours

FLAC 96 kHz/24 bit
LDAC (Standard) ~ 28 hours
Headphone practical
maximum output
(JEITA 16ฮฉ/mW)
50mW+50mW (3.5mm)
230mW+230mW (Balanced)
50mW+50mW (3.5mm)
200mW+200mW (Balanced)
50mW+50mW (3.5mm)
200mW+200mW (Balanced)
15mW + 15mW

The NW-ZX100 only has a 3.5mm output so it did not have much output. In fact the new NW-A300 has more output than the ZX100. The new ZX700 ups the balanced output even more than the previous models, approaching the WM1M2 models.

Although I suspect that the European models are volume capped again, since if the WM1M2 models are, so is the new ZX700 and A300. This is a shame, and I would highly recommend importing a model if you are able to or buying one overseas if you are on vacation/business trip.

That is all for the comparison, I will do a deeper dive into the ZX700 in a separate post.

8 comments:

  1. These new devices would appeal to me if they featured three key functional improvements:

    - a replaceable, non-soldered battery
    - native gapless playback
    - above average measured performance

    Would you please keep them in mind? The older models reportedly failed each of these criteria.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As gapless playback you mean a crossfade? or a latency between a track stopping and next one playing?

      Delete
    2. It's the latency between tracks, especially important for classical music, among other genres. As far as I'm aware, gapless should never refer to crossfading.

      Delete
  2. Many thanks for your work! It would be great if you could also add the last Linux-based players to your A series comparison.
    E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice work! Much appreciate it if you could update the comparison table with the NW-WM1AM2 model along with its predecessor.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 20 band Equalizer for ZX700 and ZX500 series?
    From sony.com, ZX707 specifications:

    SOUND EFFECTS

    Direct Source (Direct), 10 Band equalizer, DSEE Ultimate, DC Phase Linearizer, Dynamic Normalizer, Vinyl Processor

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My specifications for this post came from the Japanese model, as there was no US release when these were announced.

      Japan still shows 20, guess US model has other limits apart from the output it seems.

      https://www.sony.jp/walkman/products/NW-ZX707/spec.html

      Delete
  5. Nice work, thank you!

    I'm not getting reliable info on this – I once had a stationary system from Sony, the HAP-S1. This player had an internal HDD but there was a maximum of files for properly working. The databank of Sony players seems to be limited and I believe other players just play what's on the memory cards or doesn't need a blown databank.
    For some Sony DAPs I read a limit of 20.000 files. Is this also true for NW Z507 and 707? They both can handle memory cards of 2tb. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete

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