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Review on 🎧 Sony NW-WM1A 128GB Premium Walkman: Elevate your Music Experience with Hi-Res Audio in Black by Nick Cleary

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Outstanding audio player - vies for first place among all portable players

If Sony decides to really succeed, they can. The same goes for this portable audio player, a real "home run" in the long line of already good players Sony has made over the years. This achievement comes at a price, and the price of this device might put it out of action for those just wanting a cheap player that can be thrown in a bag and carried around mindlessly. But for those looking for the best sound quality you can find and a build quality that's at the top of their game, this player might be for you. This is not the best model in this series: NW-WM1Z (one here - option "A") in gold costs 2.5 times ($3200). Differences? The "Z" model uses a different metal for its base, adds a leather sheath, and may have some other variations that far exceed the 80/20 rule. Anyway, the "Z" option is for most of us mere mortals who are looking for the best possible sound and build quality and don't have endless cash (like the "Z" -Option the case is " possibility). The WM1A exudes quality as soon as you pick it up. About the size of, say, an iPhone 6, but twice the thickness and slightly heavier. No squeaks, rattles, dangling parts, Mismatched controls, nothing: The Devim appears to be carved from a single piece of steel, even the touchscreen glass, which occupies almost the entire front of the device, appears to be made from a single piece of material A number of high-quality mechanical controls are found on the right side of the device and are activated with your thumb, which is handy if you don't want to dig through the touchscreen just to start, stop, pause, or turn on the device.Although it's sic Since it is essentially a black rectangle, there are a number of design features that make the device visually appealing. Some of the curves are in the right places, and the two large copper-colored headphone jacks on the top of the unit indicate that this is a serious gamer. The faux leather back makes it much easier to grip, and a wrist strap is included should you wish to use it. This is the Sony we all remember. Super high quality, well thought out style and something different (and better) than the rest of the devices. The sound quality is *excellent*. Music jumps out of the darkness and thanks to superior electronics, the device even plays files with the highest resolution. As someone who has a fair amount of high-resolution 192kHz 24-bit recording, I can attest to his abilities in this regard. There are plenty of digital enhancements to modify the sound, and the device can even serve as a standalone DAC for other audio sources: yes, you can play the sound on another device, stream it via the WM1A's onboard DAC, and then send it on the other device for amplification. And it goes without saying that the DAC in this unit is excellent, as is the amplifier circuitry. I heard it's close to a silent background. $1,200 is a lot of money to spend on a "portable" player (although I suspect most people won't be wearing this thing outside very often, despite the armband). It's definitely not for everyone. Sony makes an excellent line of players for just over $200 that share many of the same features and are convenient to use (and easily fit in a front pocket). But if you're looking for the best - apart from those turntables, which cost a few thousand dollars and might sound little, if anything, better - this is the unit you need. This is the kind of player that you might want to keep forever, even as technology advances over the next decade, simply because it's such an excellent player. Five stars. Pros ++ Excellent sound quality, probably the best available for portable devices under $2,000 ++ Excellent DAC (digital audio converter) ++ High quality Bluetooth functionality ++ Excellent build quality - no squeaks, rattles, mismatched parts. Looks like a solid block ++ Plays almost all available file formats including DSD ++ DAC can be used alone with other audio components ++ Excellent screen ++ High quality mechanical buttons on the right side for basic playback functions ++ MicroSDXC memory card can hold a Have capacities of up to 400GB and above (in addition to 128GB of internal storage) ++ Reasonable size and weight ++ Decent battery life considering the signal processing the device performs during playback ++ Includes recording strap (sounds insignificant but it is actually not) ++ Faux leather lining helps keep device in place ++ Attractive looks CONS -- Not cheap (but given what it is, it might not really be true) -- Not small enough to wear around your neck every day or carry it in your pocket -- Still can't play lossless WMA (must be Microsoft related) -- Won't t Comes with a carry case (worth $1,200? Are you kidding me?) -- The Sony app still has issues with thumbnail images that aren't easily resolved -- Annoyed by a Sony-style WM-PORT connector. Wired connection is USB 2, not 3 (Are you kidding? In 2020?) - a bit clunky - feels good in your hand, but handful

Pros
  • Great for me
Cons
  • No instructions