Sony unveiled its new Walkman NWZ-ZX1, the company’s first music player to support high-resolution audio, earlier this week.
With high-quality playback that is claimed to be seven times the audio quality of what a CD can offer, this latest addition to the iconic Walkman line is bound to attract audio buffs seeking a media player capable of playing hi-res music.
The player can play 24-bit/196KHz audio tracks encoded in various formats such as FLAC, Apple Lossless and AIFF, which are popular with audio buffs. These tracks promise higher quality audio than a CD, which typically provides a resolution of 16-bit/44.1KHz.
The new Walkman also promises playback that has less distortion and noise at all frequency ranges. Dynamic range is said to be better as well, thanks to the better quality of compressed audio files with Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) technology.
The NWZ-ZX1 is Sony’s largest capacity Walkman to date with 128GB of memory, the equivalent of 800 hi-res audio songs, which take up more space than regular MP3s.
It also runs on Android 4.1, allowing you to download your favourite apps through the device’s Wi-Fi connectivity. This versatility comes in handy for exercise lovers seeking to use fitness apps while listening to their favourite tunes.
For those easily frustrated by tangled headphones, the NWZ-ZX1 is capable of streaming music to your wireless headphones via Bluetooth. This function also allows wireless streaming of music to speakers, saving you the hassle of having to walk over to your speakers to change music or volume.
Physically, the NWZ-ZX1 feels similar to other smartphones and media players. It sports a 4-inch touchscreen display, and is almost similar in size to the iPod touch.
However, the NWZ-ZX1 isn’t without its drawbacks. At approximately 139g, it is even heavier than your iPhone 5S or Samsung Galaxy S4, though this could be attributed to more electrical components required for hi-res audio playback. It is also priced at a hefty S$899, and boasts only 32 hours of music playback and no camera functionality.
Still, the finer audio quality that the NWZ-ZX1 promises to deliver remains the essence of a desirable music player. This is a device clearly targeted at audiophiles who wouldn’t mind sacrificing weight, battery life and extra cash for a superior music experience.
please stop posting urls on what Sony Singapore cannot deliver it has been the 3rd week of February and there is still no news of them being launched into Sony Singapore stores during this period…i’m really disappointed on the delays and all the false hopes clearly they do not know there are audiophiles around who are genuinely want the NWZ-ZX1 Walkman yet there is still no news about it..so what’s the cause of the delay?is it to keep people in suspense?they do not know how to satisfy their customers needs for love of music really very disappointed
consider yourself lucky, mine even worse, i live in malaysia
only a fool will believe it’ll come to Singapore:)
i wonder when this will be launched into Singapore it’s been after 2 weeks in the month of February i don’t think it’ll launch
This is a statement product indeed. Dun think Sony is expected to sell lots of this kind of hifi-only nerd product. But you may want to check out Astell & Kern at this price range…
if astell and kern is android os, then it will be good
Exactly, will be buying one pure for the Audio capabilities. I guess if you want a lighter unit with camera you can just use your phone but for audio, this unit will do nicely.