I can honestly say that all this time I didn't know how to listen to detailed musical details such as which direction the instruments came from, what are highs, lows, or mids and so on. Even before I subscribed to Tidal I was just a dumb user. After I challenged myself to use the FiiO Q3 I just started appreciating music from an artist.
I then continued to venture into the arena of listening to music at the level of an audio enthusiast or better known as an audiophile. I then started using the Tempotec Sonata E44 and also started reviewing the Moondrop IEMs . Recently I tried using a more powerful Amp/DAC. Not only that, this product is also a media player because it has a screen and runs Android. Indirectly I no longer need an iPhone or Android device because everything is built in.
These products are Sony Walkman NW-ZX707 and NW-A306. One is more powerful because there is a 4.4mm audio jack port for balanced audio and the other is limited to a normal 3.5mm audio jack port.
The question is is this product worth owning and who is this kind of media player for? Is it suitable for me who has been using the FiiO Q3 Amp/DAC for years or a new user?
After using these two Walkmans with the help of an office colleague who is also an expert in the field of audio, my ears are now more sensitive when listening to music because I look for all the details that a piece of music should have. Not only that, I also matched these two Walkmans with various IEMs to test their capabilities. In this article I will share my experience of using it for a period of about one month.
SONY WALKMAN NW-ZX707
This model is their flagship model, which has a battery life of up to 25 hours. For the connection of two audio jack ports that are 3.5mm stereo 50mw+50mW and 4.4mm 230mW+230mW balanced are provided which support the frequency of 20Hz-40,000Hz. It also includes Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity support with SBC, LDAC, aptX, aptx HD and AAC codecs.
This Walkman uses S-Master HX digital amplifier technology with internal components that use a neater solder method and have gold to improve audio. In addition, it also has an Edge-AI system to power DSEE Ultimate which can convert low quality audio to CD quality.
The NW-ZX707 Walkman also supports the DSD Remastering Engine which re-samples audio to 11.2 MHz DSD. WiFi support is also provided to use music streaming applications, a 5-inch TFT screen is included for easy control of the interface, 64GB internal storage and it runs Android 12. The color offered is black only.
Such players will naturally have control buttons. But it's a pity with the price reaching over RM3000 the buttons on this player are not nice to press and many times I press the wrong button. For example, when I want to press the volume adjustment button, I press the skip button to the next music.
For audio quality, this Walkman NW-ZX707 has an audio profile that is well-known among Sony audio products, namely warmth. In other words, this player provides audio that is friendly to the user's ears. It is balanced, comfortable, not too sharp and the bass is not too powerful. For example my Tin HiFi T3 Plus IEMs which have a sharp profile would be better if used with this Walkman.
Not only that, this player is also able to ensure the singer's vocals are clearer and softer. Then the audio staging is also wider with the instruments clearly sounding from which direction. This provides a more immersive listening experience.
The most notable feature of the Walkman NW-ZX707 is the clearer audio. Meaning the noise effect is not as audible compared to using the FiiO Q3. Using a product like this one must have a high level of imagination like listening to music at a concert or in an open space. This Walkman is towards the concert stage which gives audio clarity to the user.
The strength of this Walkman also lies in the software used. Believe me when I say that the experience of using it in terms of controls and so on is similar to Xperia devices. There are only interesting additional features such as DSEE Ultimate which improves audio quality using artificial intelligence. For example on YouTube Music and Spotify which do not support Hi-Res or lossless audio, this feature will change it to better quality.
Then there is also a DC Phase Linearizer that changes the drive power virtually mimicking class A, AB, and B amplifiers that complete the function of an audio product. This allows users to try different types of amps and types of sounds without buying a different type. But my favorite feature is on The Vinyl Processor which makes modern music sound like it's being heard through a turntable. It gives a classic noise effect that is very unique to listen to and opens the user's ears towards hearing more details.
For more professional users the DSD Remastering feature will definitely be appreciated as this is a higher quality audio format than FLAC. This feature converts audio file formats to the highest quality using proprietary Sony technology. It's just that when this feature is turned on, other interesting features continue to be turned off.
It's just that every feature of this software may not work. It depends on the type of music being listened to and also the source of the audio eg streaming platform or individual audio files. Some audio will take advantage of the DC Phase Linearizer and some will sound strange when turning on the Vinyl Processor. The Sony Walkman NW-ZX707 also ensures that every audio sounds natural and not processed by software despite the fact that everything has gone through built-in software post-processing.
One drawback of media players like this Walkman or the iBasso DX170 is battery life. Surprisingly Sony managed to load a battery (capacity not disclosed) that can last up to 25 hours. In my experience listening to music around 4 hours a day, this Walkman can last up to 2 days more. While iBasso is only one day. Also helpful are Android 12's built-in battery-saving features like automatic dark mode and turning off the device at certain times.
The selling price of Sony Walkman NW-ZX707 is RM3699. This is quite a premium price just for the better audio quality. The advantage of this Walkman is that you don't have to sacrifice your smartphone's storage and battery. Are you willing to spend this almost RM4000 or are you more willing to use the FiiO Q3 Amp/DAC which costs around RM600 with a smartphone?
Or is Sony's more affordable model Walkman NW-A306 priced at RM1599 the best choice? Read on if you want to know.
SONY WALKMAN NW-A306
This model is a more affordable version with more or less the same specifications. The main difference is in the size, where the screen is 3.6-inches, the battery lasts more than 36 hours, and Sony only includes 3.5mm audio jack connection support, no balanced 4.4mm audio jack connection.
In terms of internal components Sony's website says it's the same. What is not mentioned is that in terms of software this Walkman is not equipped with all the features and functions that the NW-ZX707 Walkman has.
The overall design of this Walkman is also smaller, simple and easy to store or carry anywhere. When I use this Walkman I just keep it in a pocket or a small bag while the Walkman NW-ZX707 needs to be kept in a backpack.
It's true that this model is only limited to a 3.5mm audio jack port, which if you follow the IEM trend now that many audio enthusiasts use Chi-Fi, ie IEMs from China, the majority still have a 3.5mm connection. IEMs with 4.4mm for balanced audio are usually more expensive and sometimes there are also those whose connection wires are sold separately at the price of hundreds of ringgit.
In terms of user experience, most of the software features on the NW-A306 are the same as the NW-ZX707. Only three main differences are that the DC Phase Linearizer cannot select the class, the Vinyl Processor cannot select the type of noise and there is no DSD Remastering support because it is replaced by the Clear Audio+ feature that focuses on clearer and "clear" audio.
The overall quality is more or less the same, but on this more affordable player, the audio is not very strong. The best thing about this model is its small size and limited features leading to a battery life of 36 hours which is almost 4 days of use.
So if you feel that extra detail is important which in my experience not many people can tell the difference this model is more than enough. You will also save up to RM2000 which you can use to buy other types of IEMs.
STILL NEED TO SPEND MORE MONEY
The Sony Walkman NW-ZX707 and Walkman NW-A306 are not products for everyone. This is because products like this are only for those with money. I am very grateful to be able to use products like this at no cost. You need to remember that this Walkman does not have a built-in speaker and an IEM must be purchased to be used together.
IEM prices are quite subjective actually. Usually those who can afford the NW-ZX707 will use a set of headphones or earphones that cost thousands of ringgit. Making the cost to be issued reach RM4000-RM6000. While if you buy NW-A306 for RM2000, you can get some Chi-Fi IEMs that cost RM400-RM500 to try different types of different sound profiles.
CONCLUSION
Closing this premium audio product review article is that if you don't have at least RM2000 these two products are not for you. The Sony Walkman NW-ZX707 and Walkman NW-A306 are some of the most exciting Amp/DACs I've used so far as they provide a bright, clear and immersive listening experience.
I tested both using the FiiO FH3 and Tin HiFi T5. These two are my favorite IEMs and trust me when I say that the music I listen to from the likes of Salem Ilese, Taylor Swift, JVKE or Ed Sheeran is like listening to a new recording I've never heard before.
An alternative if you still want to enjoy great music full of details you've never heard is to use a mid-range Amp/DAC like the FiiO Q3 I mentioned earlier. It costs around RM600 and the FiiO FH3 IEM is around RM500.
If you want to save more Tempotec Sonata E44 can be bought on Chinese e-commerce site at a price of around RM350 and if matched with Tin HiFi T5 which costs around RM400 these two pairs cost around RM750 to RM1100 only. You save hundreds to thousands of ringgit compared to buying Sony's new Walkman.