Sony announces two new DAPs: the Sony NW-WM1ZM2 and Sony NW-WM1AM2. Behind these references hide two high-end digital audio players striving for excellence. The Sony NW-WM1ZM2 and Sony NW-WM1AM2 DAPs are intended to compete with market leaders such as Astell&Kern, Cowon, Cayin, FiiO and Shanling. They can count on a meticulous high-end design, proprietary S-Master HX digital amplification, support for Hi-Res PCM and DSD audio files, Android interface and Wi-Fi for streaming, a large touch screen and a high-capacity battery.
Successor to the Sony NW-WM1A, the Sony NW-WM1AM2 is marketed at €1,390 and competes with many well-known models. Among them are the Astell&Kern KANN Alpha, Astell&Kern SA700 and Astell&Kern A&Futura SE180, as well as the Cowon Plenue 2 MKII, FiiO M17, Cayin N6 II T01 and Cayin N6 II E02.
More exclusive, the Sony NW-WM1ZM2, which replaces the Sony NW-WM1Z, is announced at €3,690. It will have to measure up to the Shanling M9 and perhaps even the Shanling M30. The release of these little technological treasures is scheduled for next April…
Reinforced frame
The flagship of the Japanese manufacturer, the Sony NW-WM1ZM2 DAP adopts an oxygen-free copper (OFC) chassis with a purity of 99.99% (4N), while the Sony NW-WM1AM2 incorporates an aluminum alloy frame. This design aims to increase rigidity and reduce electrical noise and other electromagnetic interference to preserve the integrity of audio signals.
S-Master HX digital amplifier
Proprietary S-Master HX digital amplification technology is featured in these two Sony DAPs, and promises high fidelity sound that is both rich and powerful.
Inspired by the iconic Sony DMP-Z1 that was revolutionary in many respects, these two Sony portable audio players have an even more powerful power supply than their predecessors. They feature new advanced capacitors like FT CAP3 (High Capacity Electrolytic Capacitor) and a large high capacity and low resistance solid electrolyte capacitor. This boosts the amplification section and allows them to efficiently power all types of hi-fi headphones.
Sublime music
Certified Hi-Res Audio, the Sony NW-WM1ZM2 and Sony NW-WM1AM2 DAPs both include a DSD remastering engine. The latter can resample PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) audio files in DSD (Direct Stream Digital) format at 11.2MHz and, as a result, increase musical pleasure. DSEE Ultimate technology also converts compressed music files in real time to lossless CD-quality sound (16-bit 44.1/48kHz). By restoring the acoustic subtleties and the dynamic range of the processed tracks, the sound is richer and more detailed.
Android & Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi compatible and running Android 11, the Sony NW-WM1ZM2 and Sony NW-WM1AM2 can access many music streaming services. These include Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal and Qobuz, for standard quality and Hi-Res playback. The user can also listen to music stored locally on the player’s memory or on a memory card, most file formats being supported.
Large touch screen, high capacity battery
The two new Sony DAPs are equipped with a large 5-inch (12.7cm) screen. Smooth and responsive, this new HD touch screen is optimized to improve the user experience and facilitate navigation. Sony has also equipped these two high-end DAPs with a high capacity battery offering up to 40 hours of uninterrupted High-Res Audio playback (96kHz FLAC).
USB-C, expandable memory
The USB Type-C port present on the two new Sony NW-WM1ZM2 and Sony NW-WM1AM2 audiophile DAPs guarantees fast transfer of music files. The Sony NW-WM1ZM2 has 256GB of internal memory as well as a microSD card slot, while the Sony NW-WM1AM2 has 128GB of internal memory expandable via its microSD card slot.
