SRL Archive - Technology

New $1200 Sony Walkman


Jake

2015-01-05 23:41:23

Runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean..

[video=youtube;JcnGxhILDsM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcnGxhILDsM[/video]


http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/5/7493145/new-sony-walkman-zx2-ces-2015


All signs pointed to a new Sony Walkman (literally) at CES 2015, and the signs didn't lie. The new Walkman ZX2 is real, and it's designed exclusively with high-end audiophiles in mind — as Sony puts it themselves, this is "the fruit of continuous refinement in high audio quality technologies."

A lot of people like the design of the ZX1, Sony's previous flagship Walkman. I wasn't one of them. But I love the new ZX2. I love the texture of its matte black casing. I love the playback buttons carved into its curved side — in the little time I've had to hold the device, my fingers curled right onto the play, pause, and rewind. It's heavier than you'd initially expect, in a good way. It's solid. The distinctive gold-toned headphone jack juts wider than the frame and adjacent to the microSD slot (if you need more than the 128GB of built-in storage).

To be sure, the ZX2 isn't an all-in-one device. It's running years-old Android — 4.2 Jelly Bean, to be exact, which first debuted in November 2012. And while you can download and play apps from Google Play, this isn't meant to match wits with today's smartphones. Everything around the device is meant for an optimal audio experience. Specs-wise, the new Walkman supports DSD, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, Apple Lossless, and more. It supports Bluetooth for wireless streaming and NFC for one-touch connection to speakers and headphones.

See all the latest CES 2015 news here ›

All this high fidelity comes at a price. While the recent Walkman A17 comes in at around $300, the ZX2 will launch in the Spring for over $1,119.99. The Walkman ZX2 is singularly focused on being a premium high-end audio experience — a surprisingly crowded category this year. Daft Punk sounded pretty good through Sony's own headphones, but I'm not about to pretend I can vouch for the audio fidelity here — a CES show floor is probably top five worse way to concentrate on any single, coherent sound.

rj

2015-01-06 00:06:10

"arguably an audio only device" commentator is stupid, it has andriod 4.4 and access to the google play store how is that even close to audio only?

KeepBotting

2015-01-06 07:30:20

Pfft, I'm still rocking the original walkman, that gray and yellow monster with the over-the-head earbuds.

This guy:


bonsai

2015-01-06 07:55:15

From: KeepBotting
Pfft, I'm still rocking the original walkman


That I might believe someone paid $1200 for.

Wu-Tang Clan

2015-01-06 11:14:32

this is lame I was expecting it to have a cassette player because it was so thick… how am I going to play all those old mixtapes now?

Ian

2015-01-06 11:41:57

When I read the title I was expecting an article from the late 90's.

From: Robert
"arguably an audio only device" commentator is stupid, it has andriod 4.4 and access to the google play store how is that even close to audio only?


It might not have a lot of power, screen might be low resolution, etc. I wouldn't call it audio only, but that's probably the only reason to buy it.

xqs_me

2015-01-06 21:47:57

From: BMWxi
When I read the title I was expecting an article from the late 90's.



It might not have a lot of power, screen might be low resolution, etc. I wouldn't call it audio only, but that's probably the only reason to buy it.


It's obviously sticking to it's niche, but would you really want to tote around another device??? I mean my phone is the only thing i ever want to carry around..

Rlp

2015-01-06 21:57:51

From: xqs_me
It's obviously sticking to it's niche, but would you really want to tote around another device??? I mean my phone is the only thing i ever want to carry around..


Also paying $1200 for the privilege as well, I think I will pass on this :)

tulpiuka

2015-01-08 17:24:48

Someone saw too much of galaxy something something. Hate movies with endless americana references… nobody out of US gets them.. well most of them anyway.