Sony Launches New High-End Walkman Digital Music Players

Sony announced on October 15th the expansion of its premium Walkman digital music player line with three new models: the Signature Series NW-WM1ZM3 and NW-WM1AM3, and the NW-ZX900. The NW-WM1ZM3 is priced at $5,899, making it Sony's most expensive Walkman currently available.

The NW-WM1AM3 is priced at $2,999.99, and the NW-ZX900 at $1,899.99. All three models are now available for pre-order through Sony's US website and select retailers, with shipping dates yet to be announced. The flagship NW-WM1ZM3 features a chassis made of 99.99% pure, gold-plated oxygen-free copper (OFC). Sony states that even the screws use a low-resistance gold-plating process to ensure stable grounding, aiming for stronger bass, a wider soundstage, and smoother treble extension.

The NW-WM1AM3 and NW-ZX900 utilize an aluminum alloy main body paired with a gold-plated OFC rear casing, balancing rigidity, weight, and sound quality. The WM1 series models also upgrade from a single large capacitor to dual capacitors, along with hand-soldered OFC wiring, to provide purer and more stable power delivery.

In terms of software and audio processing, all three models are equipped with Sony's S-Master HX digital amplifier technology and the DSD Remastering Engine. The latter feature resamples PCM audio to an 11.2MHz DSD stream, aiming to replicate the sound of analog sources. This functionality is now available for both local downloads and Wi-Fi streaming. The S-Master HX amplifier also includes a new "Forward Noise Shaper," which reportedly enhances the processing of transient signals for clearer and faster response.

Battery life and screens have also seen improvements. The NW-WM1ZM3 and NW-WM1AM3 feature 5.5-inch displays and offer up to 35 hours of MP3 playback or up to 31 hours of streaming playback. The NW-ZX900 has a 5-inch screen and provides up to 40 hours of MP3 playback or up to 35 hours of streaming playback.