Also a very impressive new player only 6800 euros...

Combining super high quality sound, premium design and enhanced usability, the DMP-Z1 is a super-charged music player bringing top-end stationary class headphone amplifier sound and power to wherever you desire that fits your personal space. Reaching new sound quality heights, the DMP-Z1 achieves an optimal High Resolution Audio (up to Native DSD 11.2MHz/PCM 384 kHz/32bit) and approx. 1500mW (16Ω) headphone output power for a premium listening experience at your favourite hang-out.

• Delivering exceptional sound quality with High-Resolution Audio. Compatible for DSD Native up to 11.2 MHz for both balance and single end
• Digital Music Player with battery and high quality headphone amp integrated
• Stationary class sound quality and Headphone power output, gold plated rotary volume control customised for Sony with dual DAC and analogue amp
• Independent battery power system powered by five battery cells
• H-shaped aluminum chassis and optimised audio circuit design
• 256GB built-in storage with dual micro SD slots

As the audio signal directly passes through the volume controller, this affects sound qualityand is one of the most important aspects of audio design. The DMP-Z1 uses a Sony customised high-end analog rotary volume controller which is copper plated followed by gold plating and supports the volume for four separate signal paths (L+ / L- / R+ / R-). This ensures signal purity and ensures the DMP-Z1 reproduces transparent and clear vocals as it maximises the DAC chip performance by retaining all audio source information even at low volume levels.

Independent Power System 

The DMP-Z1 has an independent power system using a total of five battery cells providing independent and stable power to both the digital and analog block. The separate digital and analog power systems prevent noise propagation from the digital section to the analog block. The independent analog battery features a simple power circuit to supply clean power to the headphone amplifier. Thus the battery mode delivers noiseless, clean and powerful sound. Users can easily switch the music player’s power mode from AC to battery by simply tapping either the Battery button or AC button on the DMP-Z1’s touch panel user interface.

H-Shaped Aluminum Monocoque Chassis and Frame 

The DMP-Z1’s H-shaped aluminum chassis presents a high rigidity frame structure that eliminates vibration and reduces resistance, thereby delivering clear and powerful low frequency performance. In addition, isolation of the amplifier board by physically separating the amp board and main board using the H-shaped chassis further reduces noise which will affect sound quality. This isolation blocks noise and provides areas for connecting to ground on each board connecting to the chassis. This ensures the listener experiences transparent sound free from distortion.

Your Music Your Way 

A first for digital music players, listeners can personalise their preferred sound with the DSD Remastering Engine which lets users convert all PCM music sources into DSD 5.6MHz. The DSD Remastering Engine can be switched on or off easily in the user interface. The newly developed Vinyl Processor feature recreates via some clever processing, the acoustic phenomenon unique to vinyl playback such as the tone-arm resonance, tiny surface noise and the rich sound from the vibration by acoustic feedback from the speakers to the turntable.
The DMP-Z1 also includes a newly developed DSEE HX™ with an improved algorithm to enhance the supplement ability for highs by an artificial intelligence technology where users need not select the type of enhancement needed but instead this is automatically selected for them based on real time information analysis.

Premium Design 

With its mirror-finished aluminum top plate, spin finished aluminum physical playback control keys and gold-plated analog rotary volume controller, the DMP-Z1 sports a sleek premium design which exudes high-class luxury in every component. With dual micro SD card slots, 256 GB internal storage, USB type C connections and a Bluetooth receiver, the DMP-Z1 provides enhanced usability making it a breeze to use daily.

The DMP-Z1 digital music player from Sony will be available from December 2018 for HK$61,880 or a bargain of 6800 Euros.  Leave your thoughts and comments below and vote in the poll below. Thanks.

Burt

You are missing the even larger part of the announcement

Sony also announced there will be a firmware update allowing the 1Z to function as an external DAC.  It will be able to connect via a USB cable as well as receive streams (ie Tidal, Spotify etc.) Via Bluetooth

I think the player might be a nice competition to a Chord Hugo....

glevethan posted:

Burt

You are missing the even larger part of the announcement

Sony also announced there will be a firmware update allowing the 1Z to function as an external DAC.  It will be able to connect via a USB cable as well as receive streams (ie Tidal, Spotify etc.) Via Bluetooth

Wow indeed that’s good news I missed...

Sony are on a bit of a roll at the moment. Looks a tasty bit of kit (apart from that gold knob)

Have now had quite a number of listen8ng hours with the Sony. What a machine, it’s really so much ahead of other options. I now also notice something I knew already. The type of fit in the ears makes a big difference with the Shures. Lying down like at a pool is less good as the normal sit righ5 up,type of playing...

Hi Bert - are you still using the SE846 with the 1Z. Do you use the standard cable that came with them ?

James

james n posted:

Hi Bert - are you still using the SE846 with the 1Z. Do you use the standard cable that came with them ?

James

Yes for now I am still using everything standard. As mentioned before I am contemplating the next step on the earphone / headphone front. It goes for me in different directions...

1. Very basic option upgrade the connection cable.

2. Potentially move to better in ears, as I like the overall portability of in ears..... Shure KSE1200, the new Sony’s the Noble Kaiser Encore Standard or custom

3. Potentially add a headphone. Not yet determined but thinking about Focal Clear, Ultrasone, Senheiser HD820.....

Thanks Bert. I hadn't realised that the 3.5mm connector on the 1Z was a normal TRS unlike the TRRS on the ZX2 so I'd need to put the old cable back on and get my Moon audio cable re-terminated with the Sony 4.4mm connector for full balanced operation with my 846's.

Very, very tempting ...

the 4.4 connection was a game changer for my noble encores.  higly recommeded.  had anice cable made up by Toxic cables but they are not currently taking orders.  Bought a nice cable from Dita audio which comes with interchangeable connectors, i have a 4.4, 3.5 trs and 2.5 trrs.  not cheap but very flexible option if you use different sources which i do.

james n posted:

Thanks Bert. I hadn't realised that the 3.5mm connector on the 1Z was a normal TRS unlike the TRRS on the ZX2 so I'd need to put the old cable back on and get my Moon audio cable re-terminated with the Sony 4.4mm connector for full balanced operation with my 846's.

Very, very tempting ...

Although after wading through the 1z thread on head-fi it seems that the 3.5mm is TRRS, just like the ZX2. It looks like i've run out of excuses to actually order one. 

Hi Bert,

I'm currently using SE846's with my Lenovo laptop & Tidal Hi-Fi and it sounds amazing. I bought a NWZX2 off eBay to have something a bit more portable than my laptop but I am slightly disappointed with its sound when using Tidal Hi-Fi on it compared with my laptop. The NWZX2 doesn't seem to have the same top end sparkle as the laptop.

Can I ask you how much better you think the WM1Z is than the NWZX2?

mattl posted:

Hi Bert,

I'm currently using SE846's with my Lenovo laptop & Tidal Hi-Fi and it sounds amazing. I bought a NWZX2 off eBay to have something a bit more portable than my laptop but I am slightly disappointed with its sound when using Tidal Hi-Fi on it compared with my laptop. The NWZX2 doesn't seem to have the same top end sparkle as the laptop.

Have you checked the Tidal settings on your ZX2? Although you’re paying for lossless, Tidal apps will often be set to a lossy stream by default, especially on mobile devices. 

mattl posted:

Hi Bert,

I'm currently using SE846's with my Lenovo laptop & Tidal Hi-Fi and it sounds amazing. I bought a NWZX2 off eBay to have something a bit more portable than my laptop but I am slightly disappointed with its sound when using Tidal Hi-Fi on it compared with my laptop. The NWZX2 doesn't seem to have the same top end sparkle as the laptop.

Can I ask you how much better you think the WM1Z is than the NWZX2?

To first check everything. Are you happy with the sound when playing from memory or card, if so look at the settings of Tidal. As mentioned before Tidal is not always optimally sounding and I would say that I always prefer locally stored music.

To your second question the WM1Z is a significant step up in sound quality. It’s in a class of it’s own. Somebody else on this forum mentioned that he could imagine living without the 500 series and just the Walkman connected to the Focal Utopia....

Was it me?  Z1 is a very good with Utopia, specially with a decent 4.4mm connection, warm sound... if you like more clear sound sp1000 is also a Gem with Tidal online capabilities, recently there is also new AK player which offers a good value at half price...

i think 1z will be a classical item, i will never sell it, the color grows on you

New sony dac amp need to be competitor to Dave with its price tag

Bert Schurink posted:

mattl posted:

Hi Bert,

I'm currently using SE846's with my Lenovo laptop & Tidal Hi-Fi and it sounds amazing. I bought a NWZX2 off eBay to have something a bit more portable than my laptop but I am slightly disappointed with its sound when using Tidal Hi-Fi on it compared with my laptop. The NWZX2 doesn't seem to have the same top end sparkle as the laptop.

Can I ask you how much better you think the WM1Z is than the NWZX2?

To first check everything. Are you happy with the sound when playing from memory or card, if so look at the settings of Tidal. As mentioned before Tidal is not always optimally sounding and I would say that I always prefer locally stored music.

To your second question the WM1Z is a significant step up in sound quality. It’s in a class of it’s own. Somebody else on this forum mentioned that he could imagine living without the 500 series and just the Walkman connected to the Focal Utopia....

Hi Bert,

Yes, the player sounds better when playing local files than with Tidal. I've checked Tidal settings and its definitely using Hi-Fi mode.

Neither option on ZX2 sounds as good as my laptop though.

mattl posted:

Hi Bert,

I'm currently using SE846's with my Lenovo laptop & Tidal Hi-Fi and it sounds amazing. I bought a NWZX2 off eBay to have something a bit more portable than my laptop but I am slightly disappointed with its sound when using Tidal Hi-Fi on it compared with my laptop. The NWZX2 doesn't seem to have the same top end sparkle as the laptop.

Can I ask you how much better you think the WM1Z is than the NWZX2?

Close down all Sony sound sound gadgets, download them vs streaming

One problem with zx2 is the volume limit which can not be changed like Z1 so if you have a EU ZX2 this is a very low powered dap, it may only drive IEMs any very efficient portable headphones.....

846 is an efficient iem so it should be fine..... they are fun sound but not my. Favoriye at all.... zx2 can handle better iems but it has a warmish sound... maybe you will prefer AK sound

sony is warm and East going, more on 1z

Emre posted:

Was it me?  Z1 is a very good with Utopia, specially with a decent 4.4mm connection, warm sound... if you like more clear sound sp1000 is also a Gem with Tidal online capabilities, recently there is also new AK player which offers a good value at half price...

i think 1z will be a classical item, i will never sell it, the color grows on you

New sony dac amp need to be competitor to Dave with its price tag

Yeah it must have been you. .....

mattl posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

mattl posted:

Hi Bert,

I'm currently using SE846's with my Lenovo laptop & Tidal Hi-Fi and it sounds amazing. I bought a NWZX2 off eBay to have something a bit more portable than my laptop but I am slightly disappointed with its sound when using Tidal Hi-Fi on it compared with my laptop. The NWZX2 doesn't seem to have the same top end sparkle as the laptop.

Can I ask you how much better you think the WM1Z is than the NWZX2?

To first check everything. Are you happy with the sound when playing from memory or card, if so look at the settings of Tidal. As mentioned before Tidal is not always optimally sounding and I would say that I always prefer locally stored music.

To your second question the WM1Z is a significant step up in sound quality. It’s in a class of it’s own. Somebody else on this forum mentioned that he could imagine living without the 500 series and just the Walkman connected to the Focal Utopia....

Hi Bert,

Yes, the player sounds better when playing local files than with Tidal. I've checked Tidal settings and its definitely using Hi-Fi mode.

Neither option on ZX2 sounds as good as my laptop though.

 

I have never compared the ZX2 on Tidal with a laptop. But I assume your assessment is valid. So then suggested to only play local, that’s something the ZX2 is quite good at.

Bert Schurink posted:

Somebody else on this forum mentioned that he could imagine living without the 500 series and just the Walkman connected to the Focal Utopia....

That would be me

I have recently been playing with some new toys which might make me modify my statement.

New model Stax 009S in the house.

WOW

I said WOW!!!

glevethan posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Somebody else on this forum mentioned that he could imagine living without the 500 series and just the Walkman connected to the Focal Utopia....

That would be me

I have recently been playing with some new toys which might make me modify my statement.

New model Stax 009S in the house.

WOW

I said WOW!!!

What about the bass on those new Stax phones ?

Spectacular!

The KEY is not to use Stax amplifiers.  

Google Mjolnir audio in Iceland.  Birgir works with Kevin Gilmore to design the acknowledged reference point for Stax amplifiers.  It is a universal truth that this is the only way to go.

The new 009S model corrects the shortcomings of the original 009.

If I get inspired I might start a new thread.  The title may be something like "The Statement (or 500) series of the headphone world" or "I've reached the Summit".

Now I understand why Stax has such a long history with Naim users!  Utterly amazing

Bert - you are a bad man. My 1Z arrived this afternoon and is having its first charge. I'm looking forward to getting it home and loading it up with lots of music.

I did manage a sneaky listen with the Micro SD borrowed from my ZX2. All I can say is that if this is how it sounds, single ended and fresh out of the box then it's going to be a fun ride

james n posted:

Bert - you are a bad man. My 1Z arrived this afternoon and is having its first charge. I'm looking forward to getting it home and loading it up with lots of music.

I did manage a sneaky listen with the Micro SD borrowed from my ZX2. All I can say is that if this is how it sounds, single ended and fresh out of the box then it's going to be a fun ride

Don’t forget to push it through the first 200 hours quickly. It requires 200 hours to sound at it’s full potential. 

Congratulations by the way.