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Sony unveiled two new Walkmans aimed at audiophiles who wanted a dedicated digital audio player. Not only do the NW-WM1ZM2 and NW-WM1AM2 Sony walkman MP3 player devices support modern streaming services and formats, but the more expensive model also relies on copper and gold to deliver the best sound possible.
Sony has announced two new portable music player walkmans, the NW-WM1AM2, and the NW-WM1ZM2, which succeed the NW-WM1A and NW-WMZ, both more than half a decade old. Technically, the two Android music player devices are almost identical, except that the NW-WM1ZM2 has 256 GB of storage compared to 128 GB for the NW-WM1AM2. That said, both devices support microSD card expansion if you need more storage.
However, the NW-WM1ZM2 stands out from its less expensive sibling for its casing. While the NW-WM1AM2 is made of aluminum, the NW-WM1ZM2 uses oxygen-free copper, the same material Sony uses for its audio cables. Additionally, Sony coated the copper with 99.99% pure gold, allegedly to improve the audio quality of the MP3 player.
According to Sony, both digital audio player devices feature a 5-inch, 1280 x 720-pixel display, as well as a heavily skinned version of Android 11 OS. As a result, the NW-WM1AM2 and NW-WM1ZM2 support all major music streaming services.
In addition, both Android music player models support 384 kHz/32-bit PCM audio, 11.2 MHz DSD, DSEE Ultimate, and the MQA format used by Tidal. Incidentally, the pair supports LDAC for connecting a Bluetooth headset.
Sony Walkman MP3 player: NW–WM1ZM2 and NW-WM1AM2 are equipped with S-Master HX technology for realistic sound reproduction such as stage or studio sound, adapted and developed from the flagship DMP-Z1 player model. The Sony NW–WM1ZM2 and NW-WM1AM2 also have a series of high-end hardware components including FT-CAP3 acoustic polymer capacitors, OFC shielding, KIMBER KABLE®️ conductors (for NW-WM1ZM2 models), and resistive OFC wires low (with model NW-WM1AM2), resulting in impressive layer separation and extremely low distortion.
Sony Walkman MP3 player price and availability
This single box comes at a huge cost, however. The Sony NW-WM1AM2 cost £1,299, and it can be pre-ordered via the Amazon.co.uk website.
UPDATE: it is now also available on the Adorama.com store for $1,399.99.
In contrast, the Sony NW-WM1ZM2 cost £3,399, and it is also available to pre-order on the Amazon.co.uk store. Sony hasn’t announced all regional pricing for the pair but are expected to ship from April 15th, 2022, in the UK.
UPDATE: it is now also available on the Adorama.com store for $3,699.99.
Earlier this year, Astell & Kern has expanded its best music player product range with the new Acro CA1000 headphone amp. The highlight of the audio system was not only the flagship stuffing but also the possibility of using it as a compact headphone amplifier. It is priced at $2,199.
