Sony Walkman continues to revolutionize the portable music player market with the latest addition to the iconic Walkman series. The new Walkman A and ZX series offer a unique blend of vintage charm and modern technology, making them a must-have for DAP collecting enthusiasts. As we dive deeper into these new models, we discover that they are worth acquiring. Sony has consistently pushed the boundaries of sound quality and design, from the days of cassette tapes to the current era of high-resolution audio.
Taking this evolution even further, the new series boasts built-in Wi-Fi for seamless streaming and expandable storage, providing a premium sound experience like no other. Indulge in nostalgia as you bring back old memories and make new ones, while elevating your DAP collection with these portable music players. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to own a piece of music history with the latest Sony Walkman A and ZX series.
Sony Walkman NW-A300 Walkman A series
Sony NW-A306
Battery life: With a longer battery life compared to the previous model, you can immerse yourself in more of your music. And with up to 36 hours of 44.1KHz FLAC playback, up to 32 hours of 96 KHz FLAC High-Resolution Audio playback, or even up to 26 hours with using the music service app.
Design & components: The device has a premium aluminum milled frame that provides superior rigidity for low impedance and clear, stable sound and solid bass. An upgraded headphone jack, optimized circuit board layout, and an eye-catching rippled wave design cover the rear of the unit, which looks stylish and provides a better grip.
Sound Quality and Processing:
- Experience the natural sound and intense detail of DSD audio formats up to 11.2MHz, thanks to the high-quality PCM conversion.
- Give the warmth and character of vinyl back to your digital tracks.
- Enjoy subtle reproduction of the low-frequency resonance, tone-arm resistance and surface noise to deliver an authentic listening experience.
Display: The device has a 3.6-inch display that gives you easier access to your music without compromising comfort. With the Walkman® Home Screen, you can customize the home display to suit your needs.
Connectivity: The device has Hi-Res Audio wireless capability with LDAC, our premium wireless codec. With 3x the bitrate of standard Bluetooth® technology, you can enjoy a superior listening experience for all your music. It also has Bluetooth® and aptX™ HD audio compatibility, which allows you to connect wirelessly to other devices.
Sony Walkman NW-ZX500 Walkman ZX Series
Sony NW-ZX507
Model and storage capacity: The ZX507 has a weight of 164g and expandable storage for endless playlists with 64 GB integrated memory and an SD card slot.
Battery life: Enjoy up to 20 hours of 128 kbps MP3 playback, or up to 18 hours of 96 kHz FLAC High-Resolution Audio playback.
Design and components: The device has a premium design finished in high-quality aluminum, with a curved body that is designed to sit comfortably in your palm and slide easily into your pocket. It also features intuitive side key controls and compact low-phase-noise crystal oscillators for precision clock stability.
Sound quality and Processing: The device has a special Cassette Tape user interface and screensaver, as well as a crystal oscillator for audio quality with a good signal-noise ratio and faithful digital reproduction.
Display: The device has a 3.6-inch touch panel that is 16% larger than its predecessor, making it easy to manage and enjoy your music.
Connectivity: The device has NFC™ One-touch and Bluetooth® for instant connectivity, Wi-Fi compatibility for direct download and streaming, and a USB Type-C™ port for easy connectivity with a range of devices.
App compatibility: The device is powered by Android™ 9.0 and offers access to a wide range of media apps and music services.
Sustainability: Not mentioned.
More Features: The device has an SD card slot for expandable storage and intuitive side key controls for easy operation.
Sony Walkman NW-ZX700 Walkman ZX Series
Sony NW-ZX707
Battery life: The device has a longer battery life compared to previous models. With up to 25 hours of 44.1kHz FLAC playback, up to 23 hours of 96kHz FLAC High-Resolution Audio playback, or up to 22 hours with music apps. This allows users to immerse themselves in more of their music.
Design & components: The ZX707 series is built using high-end parts that you’d expect to see in a top-range sound system. Including S-Master HX™ Hi-Res Audio digital amplifier, solid high-polymer capacitor, FTCAP3, large coil for balanced audio output, and high sound quality solder that contribute to the extraordinary sound quality. The device has a milled aluminum frame and clear 5.0″ screen that gives the ZX700 series an elegant feel, while remaining small enough to be completely portable.
Sound quality and Processing: The device has unique sound processing technology that provides more ways to enjoy more different types of music than ever before.
Display: The device has a 5.0-inch HD display that gives users an immersive experience.
Connectivity: The device has USB Type-C® and Wi-Fi connectivity, Hi-Res Wireless with LDAC™, and advanced audio processing features, DSD Remastering, and DSEE Ultimate to enhance the listening experience.
App compatibility: The device is powered by Android™ for music streaming and app compatibility.
Sustainability: The device is environmentally friendly, aiming to achieve a zero environmental footprint.
Easy downloading and streaming: The device is Wi-Fi® compatible for direct download and streaming. Users can enjoy their favorite streaming and music apps right on the Walkman, or connect to a PC to access their music collection.
More Features: The device has an SD card slot for expandable storage and intuitive side key controls for easy operation.
Sony Walkman NW-A100 Walkman A Series
Sony NW-A106HN
A100 series comes in 3 models:
- NW-A105 with 16 GB storage.
- NW-A106HN with 32 GB storage with headphone
- NW-A100TPS with 16 GB storage and 40th anniversary model.
Sony NW-A105
Operating system: Android 9.0
Battery life: The device has a longer battery life compared to previous models. With up to 26 hours of music playback when playing MP3s at 128kbps, up to 23 hours or less when adjusting to high quality sound. And charging time of approximately 5.5 hours.
Design & components: The device has a milled aluminum frame with an elegant and stylish design, available in different colors. It is built using high-end parts such as S-Master HX™ Hi-Res Audio digital amplifier. Solid high-polymer capacitor. FTCAP3, large coil for balanced audio output, and high sound quality solder, all contributing to extraordinary sound quality.
Sound quality and Processing:. It is compatible with High-Resolution Audio and has S-Master HX™ digital amplifier that reduces distortion and noise. It also features DSEE Ultimate™, an audio upscaler that improves the listening experience even with compressed formats.
- High-Resolution Audio compatible, allowing you to enjoy studio-quality sound in higher-than-CD quality
- S-Master HX™ digital amplifier that delivers High-Resolution Audio in maximum quality, with reduced distortion and noise
- DSEE Ultimate™ processor, which intelligently recognizes instruments, voices, and musical genres, and accurately rebuilds audio lost during digital compression
- DSD playback capability, allowing you to experience the natural sound and intense detail of DSD audio formats up to 11.2MHz
- Noise-cancelling feature to block out external sounds when used with compatible IER-NW510N headphones
Display: 3.6-inch HD (1280 × 720 Pixels) TFT color display with white LED-backlight.
Connectivity: SDHC Micro SDXC, NFC™ One-touch, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi compatible for direct download and streaming. LDAC™ and aptX™ HD audio compatibility is available.
- Headphone: Stereo mini-jack,
- External memory: Micro SD Micro
The 40th anniversary model NW-100TPS
Conclusion
The Sony Walkman has evolved significantly since its initial release in 1979. The latest models, such as the Sony Walkman A & ZX, offer an exceptional listening experience with features like high-resolution audio playback, built-in noise-canceling technology, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a touch screen display. These advancements contribute to its status as a standout device for music enthusiasts, even in the face of smartphones with MP3 player capabilities.
While some may find carrying an additional device inconvenient, especially in an era where people prefer consolidated functionality in a single device, the Sony Walkman remains an ideal choice for audiophile purists who prioritize uncompromising sound quality. For them, the Sony Walkman serves as a reliable and portable music companion that enhances their music enjoyment both on the go and at home.
To explore another high-end audio device, you can read our review of the Devialet Mania – a remarkable portable speaker.
