The gold-plated portable FLAC player and headphones push the limits of even the most dedicated music afficionado.
IFA 2016 has seen a number of innovative new devices. From upgraded smartphones, to new virtual reality headsets, the industry is clearly booming at the tech festival in Berlin. However, some brands seem to think old school is the way to go.
Inexplicably, Sony has, aside from its stellar new smartphone and headphone offerings at IFA, released a new Walkman/headphones combo. No, not an updated Sony Walkman series smartphone, an actual music player. The Signature audio series comprises the NM-WM1Z Walkman for US $3,200, the MDR-Z1R over-ear headphones for US $2300, and the TA-ZH1ES tabletop amplifier for US $2,200.
So let’s talk about this new portable music player shall we? The problem is “portable” is a liberal use of the word in this case. The device weighs in at a hefty 455g, a darn sight heavier than any device meant to be carried around in your pocket. The reason for the Walkman’s pricing and weight? It sports a gold-plated copper chassis that just screams bling.
The player features 256GB of internal storage (expandable via Micro SD slot), and boasts a 33-hour playtime, 26 if you’re playing FLAC files. It has NFC support, paired with Sony’s new LDAC codec that boldly promises Hi-Res Audio over Bluetooth, a balanced 0.17-inch balanced output, and a stereo jack as well. The device has a FWVGA (854x480) TFT colour display, with a six-button interface on the left spine; power, volume up/down, rewind, play/pause, and forward.
On paper, the new Walkman seems to be a hell of a device, aside from having to lug around half a kilo of music in your pants. However, at a grand total of almost US $5,500 for the player and headphones, it goes way beyond even the kind of dedication to music that might drive you to buy the likes of the Fiio X7. Not to mention of course that all that gold gives Mr T a run for his money.
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 "audio gear, portable music player, FLAC, Sony Signature Walkman")
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