Sony NW-WM1A vs FiiO M11Pro. Is it worth the extra $500?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
- This review is about the Sony NW-WM1A
I am reviewing the WM1A and also comparing it to the FIiO M11 Pro.
I buy all my stuff with my own money. Any links I provide do not pay me, just making it easier for you.
You can also find written reviews here audioaddicted.com
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2. Tanchjim Oxygen
3. Focal Clear
This channel is all about audio gear and tech gadgets. Well mostly audio but I love technology products in general. So you may see that here also. I like to cover Amplifiers, In Ear Monitors or IEM's, Headphones, DAC's, Speakers, DAP's use and modification. Thanks for stopping by!
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There has been always something special how Sony devices sounds. No one can beat Sony in audio, if anyone could it would have been long back ago
Very true. Even with consumer products, they're always two or three years ahead of the competition.
I love the way you swipe the Sony's screen every 15 seconds.
Awesome comparison!
I’ve had my NW-WM1A since October 2020. Great player and with my Moondrop S8 IEM’s unbelievable sound quality. I just got a thick rubber case from Amazon (Fathead) case to protect it just in case of a fall as I’ll never take this outside for that reason. All my files are FLAC 44.1kHz/24bit HR. and with a 1 Terabyte SD Card, I’m up to 15,900 files so far with 150 GB Left on the SD and 114.5GB ON the main drive. Still have a good amount of music to put on it still. Great review as there is not many good and recent reviews for this player. Keep up the good work. Also don’t try to justify the extra $500 for this player, just enjoy it and know it’s a premium player.
How did you get so many FLAC files? Are they from ripped CD’s?
Do you use the DAC / Ampli for your Sony?
I’ll give you some money to put your files on a Portable Hard drive for me, im just getting started and I have no files at all right now
That's awesome
I'm enjoying mine as well
I take it everywhere
Hold it in my hand
And using my Dunu SA6
make a good match
Really appreciate the button layout
It is heavy
And I got used to it since I've got fiio m11
How do get those high format audio ?
Great review, man. I love my wm1a, it's a complete experience for all the senses to use it. Fiio is great too, just a different sound from the legendary Walkman signature. Congrats!
Sony is still king and waiting for their signature series refresh while using the ZX-507.
hi Hock Sing Ng can you tell me how good the sound is from the sony Nw Zx 507, I can't find any video anywhere, they only talk about the battery which is bad. HELP :) Greetings from Amsterdam :)
@@gerardmunnikde8397 i also use ZX507 and it’s absolutely amazing. Smoooth. With its system wide EQ, it even powers my HD800 on its balanced output. Pairs well with my Sony IER M7 and bunch of Sennheiser IEMs too.
awesome review, thank you for taking the time to do this
The WM1A can be found new in the mid $800-900 range. I bought mine from a Korean seller on eBay for that. That brings the value proposition much closer to the FiiO. I'm glad I didn't pay US retail! I've had good enough experiences with the Sony NW-A45 and ZX300 to trust the build quality.
As far as power goes, I run my MDR-Z1R headphones directly from my WM1A via balanced cable on high gain. I rarely go over 50/120 on volume, and that is quite loud. But yeah, I imagine more demanding planar and electrostatic cans might need an amp.
I noticed some cover art wasn't showing for you. FYI, it has to do with the format of the JPG file used. "Progressive" JPG files won't display on Sony Walkman players. "Baseline" will. So you just have to save it in the other format.
I am not a music streamer. I have a huge collection of FLAC CD rips and hi-res downloads. I like to own my music. So for me the Sony approach is the best one. Personally I'd much rather have a device that has a week (or more!) of battery life than the option to pay Dr. Dre to stream mediocre quality files. But if you're a streaming person, then you will need an Android based player and just need to deal with daily charging.
Great info thanks!
@E. O. Exact Audio Copy
How does sound quality compare between the ZX300 and WM1A? I hear they aren't too different and it's really just software differences. Idk how true that is though as I haven't used either. Mr Walkman has the WM1Z firmware to download on the ZX300 so I wonder if that would make it just as good, if not better
The sound quality is due to the analog circuits.That's the reason high-end power amps sound differently from each other.
in conclusion it is not worth paying 500 dollars difference if they both sound practically the same. Great review!
Nice review. I'm still using the older version of the wm1a, the Sony zx2 dap. Still sounds great and probably a very similar signature to the wm1a. Morten Harket of A-ha is probably one of the best male vocalists of and since the 1980s. I never liked the original "Take on Me" but the MTV Summer Soltice acoustic version in flac has been added to my Playlist Test Tracks. Stunning vocal and a better stripped back track than the original was.
Subscribed!
Bu benzerliği nasil tanimlarsiniz acaba eksileri artilari nelerdir?
Best review of these two devices on on TH-cam
Really loved the detailed and to the point, honest review. Quite enthusiastic indeed....
Sony walkman. Name speaks for itself
I don't know of your interested in further customizing the WM1A to your liking but there's some firmware available the community makes for these DAPs. Me myself I'm using a Sony NW-A55 with FW to give it a signature sound from the Sony DMP-Z1. I'm also set to Region J which gives it a wider more holographic soundstage. Its a very good balance.
There's many FWs for the WM1 too and you could change region if you wanted to as there are differences in features and sound between them.
mw1a's build is phenomenal
The built quality of the fiio is good too.
Take On Me (unplugged) is such a brilliant version. Hauntingly beautiful.
You could do a Sony NW-WM1A vs FiiO M17 comparative
The sony looks sooo sexy, yet i love my fiio m11 😄. Thanks for the review.
I have 2 Sony Bluetooth speakers. SRS-XB31 and an SRS-XB23. Have you tried this player with BT speakers? If so do you have an opinion on how well it works, sounds? Nice review by the way. Thank You!
Comparing apples and oranges good job
Need advice: I want to buy myself a player (specifically from Sony), should I consider the Sony wm1a in 2024 or buy something more recent? I’ll say right away that sony wm1am2 is dear to me)
I would like a dial to change volume.
You can turn on the High Gain Output on the Sony. You can set this individually for the. Balanced Jack and the Unbalanced Jack.
Also, I think you mentioned the Sony has WiFi, it doesn’t. It does have NFC.
Hi,have you ever listened to the latest sony dap which is the zx507? i was wondering how does the wm1a compare to that...
I have not.
Wm1a is much more better than the new nw zx507 in terms of dound quaity. Even zx300 sounds better than the zx507. To me, zx507 sounded boring and less powerful with my ier z1r.
@@ningning3093 yes, i have already sold the zx507 and bought the wm1a. Loving it so far!
Interesting analysis. I have an A55 that I think is very good. What would you say is a significant sonic upgrade for the A55? Sony and otherwise. For what it is worth I don't care about streaming.
Same here. When u love the sound so much u simply don't care to give up on any other options
The community makes some FWs for them. As this comment is 2 months old idk if either of you have stumbled upon them.
Myself I'm using an A55 set to Region J with firmware made to mimic the sound signature of the DMP-Z1, there's some to mimic the WM1 too.
The Monarchs- after using them for some time, do you think the sub bass boost can get too much for someone who prefers neutrality?
I would say these are not neutral. But I don't like extreme neutrality in audio gear. So can't say for sure.
WM1A reminds me of the old SONY PCM-D1 recorder -- a work of art (though quickly obsolete and out of production) . . . solid, beautiful, thought out...
Great review! Where do you recommend getting FLAC files from?
Presto Classical is great for Classical and Jazz. HDTracks is good for most other genres. 7Digital also has a good amount of pop and rock.
hi thank you for reviewing. is the NW-WM1AM2 the latest product from Sony? You said it has wi-fi, do you think that is a problem because of interference. thank you.
Thanks for the video. I have this DAP and I agree this unit is built very well. However, in terms of sound quality I did not find anything extraordinary in dynamics, soundstage and instruments layering department. I wouldn't call myself an audiophile but being a musician for many years I can tell that even my small audio interface (RME Babyface pro) which is part of my traveling setup, definitely sounds better than Sony NW-WM1A. But again everybody should trust their own ears.
People in the US perhaps don't realise how cheap they get stuff. Re Fiio.
Sony's DAP adds colorization to the songa I heard. FiiO is a tad bassy but overall more clinical.
So short answer is if you got the money, just try both. 😅
I find M11 Pro to have a natural approach and not bassy.
I came from m11 pro which i loved dearly, and i got my wm1a for a stupid bargain from an enthusiast like 300 dollars almost not used, like 4 months ago, and with mr. walkman FW modz? god damn this thing is sounds better or at least equal to my High end Dacs that i use on my PC, sound wise to me it is equal on my Chord Hugo and better than SMSL SU-9 by a little, interms of openess and that sony signature warm that will hug you. and i stayed with this and even sold 2 of my beloved DAPS which are M11 Pro and AKSR25, WM1A and DX220 are the one i kept, but even then i use WM1A more than DX220. Driving power i will say is not that big, but it can drive my arya and ananda on close to max on balanced, my HD660 and DT1990 pro and Focal Elear sounds great on this too, overall, im happy with it, plus the battery life is better anyways so i dont have any problem with this being on max volume or close to max driving those headphones. if you can get it on bargain or if its even available, try it, its really great!
How much better it is the NW-WM1A in comparison to Fiio m11 pro
I just sold the m11 few months ago
And now I have the NW-WM1A
@@CesarEnglishTeacherCesar7Peru it depends on your gears man, but musicality wise, miles ahead, it has that sony signature that cant be replicated by other, that natural sound that my m11 pro cant produce, m11 pro is good too, but sony wm1a is just on different level IMHO, but, a big but, if you only use high end gears to it.
@@ViaRosalesVlogs I'm totally trying to find a nice pair of iems
But between the diversity of brands and serials
I just wanted to hear your experience with iems
I heard about
Dunu dk3001 pro
Fiio Fh7
Spring 2
Imr Semper
Which one have you enjoyed the most
It doesn't have to be in my list
So far I didn't try any of them
But I'm cheap enough
To not buy them
To then resell them
But I didn't even try the m11pro to decide to jump from my m11 to my NW-WM1A.
So Which iem was your favorite so far
(It doesn't matter the price) 😇
So I can learn based on your previous experience
@@CesarEnglishTeacherCesar7Peru Sony 's own IER-Z1r are the ultimate in-ear monitor one can dream to own and i have heard the FiiO FH7 is the closest to what sony ier z1r gives you for 1/4th of the price
WM1A is an outstanding device, but M11 Pro is also nothing less, plus it saves us some bucks too haha. Awesome content.
You can get TH-cam also on the M11, so so much more entertainment.
@@johnmc3862 Yes :)
If you are coming from android the m11 pro will be seemless. It also has TH-cam, chrome and and app store to alter your music if you so wish.
If they could build the Cell phones as Good 👍 !!
He farts at 12:24.
Can you download spotify and tidal on the Sony so it can stream via wifi . Or does it need to be download to the unit
Can you add a 500gb or 1tb micro sd to the Sony NW-WM1A?
I use with 512Gb micro sd, and works very good, I wanna try with 1 tb micreo sd card.
Music Collect yes you can add a 1TB micro sd to it if you have the latest firmware update
@@Mr1stcat Is it 3.02?
@@AugustoB77 yes that's the one i have
@@Mr1stcat thanx for the info.
That is a very good review, very comprehensive. It is very difficult not to like Sony products specially with their premium lines, they always feel like something that could become a classic. Could I ask how does the NW-WM1A sound compare to the set up you put together with the Monolith and Fiio 6? And also you mention you had the Sony mdr-ex800st and I'm curious to know how they sound with the NW-WM1A. Again, your review and channel in general are very interesting...all the best.
The Monolith is just as good as the FiiO honestly. The Monolith is very clinical but has some great sound "toys" that the FiiO does not. But it's two devices so not everyone willing to mess with that.
Not convinced the Sony is the better product for 500$ more to be honest.
probably the best comparison and review I've ever seen on TH-cam. due to the specificity of the market, all these "grief reviewers" try to smooth out the corners and talk about everything just not about how to compare head to head. thank you
I'm pretty comfortable with the NW WM1A, however I hate the fact that there's no a way of searching and type by files.
Is it worth the extra $500? Technically, it probably is due to the higher end materials and better software. Will you notice $500 worth of improvements? Not likely.
Great review btw!
The reason to buy the FiiO (M11 Plus LTD now) is the AK4497EQ and the THX AAA-78
And i think it doesn't matter if FiiO buys or develops that. The Sony DMP-Z1 (8999€) also uses AKM DAC and Texas Instruments Amps. So its mostly off-the-shelve hardware too for an insane price tag.
The ZX507 (and the successor of the WM1Z) use USB-C too, so i think the mentioned idea what could be the reason most likely is wrong
Do you think this Sony can push the MDR-Z1R ?
Barely
@@electromod6369 I found on the balanced it does it can cause hearing damage if you’re on 120, but the unbalanced is not so great
Thats at least a very honest review. I know Sony and like their Sound Signature very much and they are really Top Notch Sound engineers.
But i will never understand why they have to throttle the power output. As you said even more expensive IEM's are already difficult to drive with a higher volume. Sony is also not really putting the power specs on their homepage so it can happen that someone buys expensive earphones and then a 1200 Dollar Sony DAP and cant really use them and get dissapointed. So it happened to a friend of mine.
But i fully agree the sound engineering on Sony is very great and unique.
I just hope they do for next generations their power management on a way that they can drive also bigger earphones loud enough...😃
Worth it to get a new one for $900 or is it outdated as some people have eluded to?
Yeah I wouldn't buy this any more. Its not that its outdated. It is still a beautiful device and sounds great, but now with advances in DAC technology there is better out there for the same or lower price. Look at the Shanling M6Pro, I like it better than the Sony, sound wise that is.
I have a ipod classic. Is there anything spectacular that I should know before purchasing the Sony? thanks.
Yeah, it’ll blow your fuckin mind compared to the iPod classic, prepare yourself.
Keep your ipod classic. Don't listen to the Chris turd.
That Sony sounds 10 years ahead of any music player. Nothing comes close.
I have both, there's no doubt Fiio M11 is the best choice, in all aspects Fiio is superior, sony NW-WM1A feels so old. Bulky and definitely slow system, don't worth $500 extra definitely.
What is that adapter on the monarch?
Its a DDHifi L connector. Changes 2.5 to 4.4 amzn.to/3qdk8BE
I am using Apple Music and iPhone as music player. I want to get Sony WM1A and Sony Just ear in the future? How to find and download Hi Resolution music?
Google "Hi res" music. Tons of sites selling it.
hd tracks
HDTracks for Rock, Pop, and Jazz - can sometimes be a tad pricey.
7 Digital is a decent alternative to HDTracks for modern pop and rock.
Presto Classical for classical. Best store by far.
Something a lot of people don’t know is you can purchase albums from tidal they are all 44.1 16 bit FLAC and sound great. Much larger selection than most of the other hi res music site options.
I got a Sony EX800ST and XBR-Z5. I want to upgrade my cable to 4.4 headphone jack so could you please give me a recommendation?
How did you manage to put the álbum covers? I named the artcover the same as the folder, but I have the álbums folders inside another folder of every artist, maybe its that? Should I do something else?
cool
Can you replace the battery?
No, Sony would need to do it. People report using it for years with no issues with the battery.
@@braillynn4903 Thank you.
@@00bikeboy I have used my wm1a also 6 years now and I took it to Sony last week for a battery change.
@@Obitdf Thanks Jude, did they charge you much?
@@00bikeboy they will call me this week to tell me the price
My Fiio M11 pro drains its battery faster when I leave headphones plugged in much faster if they are high impedance when not playing music. Also I don't use the stock player I either use USB Audio player Pro or Onkyo HF player. UAPP plays bit perfect and the Onkyo really cleans up the mids. I find the stock player is too warm sounding.
Sony’s products have always been mediocre unless you buy their flagship. These came out in 2019 so if you were going to review the proper Dap from FiiO compared to this Sony it would have been the FiiO M15 which beats the pants off the Sony
👍😎👍
Sorry if you mentioned this, but fiio will do tidal and other streaming whereas Sony is only saved music.
lG v30 also can play tidal and its cheaper...
@E. O. a lot of people don't have access to local files
@@tomatofoot1786 but that's the main point of dedicated audio player, listen to your offline/downloaded music without any distractions on your smartphones. just enjoying the music
Thanks for sharing very helpful ! I recently bought a pair of good quality earphones ( and wanted to have a decent music player to work with it together, not my phone. Sony is always the best choice, i guess, the design and also the sound quality. My friend is selling his used one which he hasn't used much, at 640 dollars. Do you think it's worth it?
Don't let your woman talk to you that way
Is the dog OK ? :D
Yeah she's fine..loves to sleep under my desk.
talking about how it sounds 😳couldnt you just play the song
Not easy
Sony's always better
you sound like that z review guy
You like to wipe everything off like the Z guy, are you germaphobic?
Haha, wish I made as much as him!
Bad review. The WM1A is terribly overpriced and outdated. Very anaemic power output and similar playback performance compared to other chunky players. The only thing it really wins is in battery life.
have you tried both?
Do you have one? I’ve had different brands and I’ll tell you Fiio feels low quality in every way… and even some other brands felt off the only one I liked is ibasso dx300
@El Rizzle rubbish
Возьми плеер Sony zx507
7:02 - bad folder organization. my method is far superior
got my back the blue tooth is bad
Both are expensive that's a lot of money to shell out for the ordinary consumer. There are many Dacs much cheaper that sound almost as good
There are really for people who take their music very seriously. There also are a lot of features. Also I'm not sure There much around the price of the fiio with a touch screen etc.
a rip off