Over the past few years of content about high-end music players, Three Ears has talked more than once about how the pace of product innovation is getting faster and faster nowadays, and how chip manufacturers and player brands*** are working together to make product iterations reach unprecedented speeds. Common brands are basically low-end models a few more a year, the flagship model replacement cycle of about two years, looking at the market's big names, the three-ear Jun only found the old guard "Sony" the exception. Review symbolizes Sony's flagship Sony Signature Series Walkman player flagship WM1Z, has been six years ago the release of the product, but when the three ear team as the first test of the mainland's delight is still fresh in our minds.
The flagship of the work of six years has not been updated, there are comments that Sony's technological innovation has lagged behind the market, but if you have paid attention to the visibility of the WM1Z in the player community, as well as the second-hand market in the rate of preservation of the value of the WM1Z, WM1Z, which is known as the "Golden Brick" of the user's loyalty to the visible, the eagerness to replace the flagship of the Sony is not sufficient. Six years of grinding a brick, to the first quarter of 2022, Sony to the return of the king of the momentum of the release of a new generation of flagship portable player WM1ZM2, the sub-flagship model WM1AM2 also updated.
After six years, with curiosity and anticipation, Three Ears ushered in Sony's second-generation Gold Brick - WM1ZM2 (hereafter referred to as the second-generation Gold Brick) at the first opportunity.
Elegance is still the same
The second-generation Gold Brick exterior design continues the Gold Brick's elegance and nobility, with clever curves and use of materials in the body, in the body of a slightly upward trend still maintains a good sense of grip, and the overall distribution of the center of gravity of the average.
The layout of the buttons on both sides of the fuselage is just right, and the Walkman's tradition of being able to operate blindly at any time has been continued.
In terms of connecting jacks, the machine maintains a dual output of 3.5mm single-ended headphone port and 4.4mm balanced headphone port. See the bottom of the body, Sony abandoned the Walkman jack used for many years, in favor of speed and versatility better Type-C, the machine as a USB DAC earphone amplifier will also be more convenient to use. However, it should be mentioned that the hands of the second generation of the Golden Nugget does not support USB Audio output, and it is not clear whether this feature will be opened in the future.
Improvements aren't in the parameters
In terms of parameters, we're first concerned about the changes in portability, with the second-generation Nugget's display screen increasing from 4 inches to 5 inches, and its size and weight increasing over the first-generation product to 80.5mmx142.5mmx21.0mm (the old one was 72.9mmx124.2mmx19.9mm). 124.2 approx. 19.9mm), while the volume has reached 490g (30g heavier). With the 30g heavier weight, the 2nd Generation Gold Brick brings 10 hours longer battery life than the old one, and lasts for 40 hours of FLAC 96kHz/24bit audio playback.
The second-generation Nugget has gone from the closed system of the past to Android 11, and Three Ears has not been able to get an official description of the CPU and RAM for the time being. However, it is recommended that users embrace the convenience of streaming music while keeping the system clean so that it does not affect the performance and overall smoothness of the audio system operation.
The second generation of Nintendo DS uses a 4N (99.99%) OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) body frame (the first Nintendo DS was 3N), which further reduces EMI and results in lower resistance, cleaner sound, and more detail. 4N OFC is surrounded by an anti-oxidant gold plating layer, and a ternary alloy of copper, tin, and zinc is used to separate the OFC and gold. Non-magnetic plating technology can reduce the adverse effects of traditional magnetic plating.
The rear chassis of the second-generation Gold Brick is made of aluminum alloy, which enhances the rigidity and tactility of the material and helps the sound to be more transparent.
Sony high-end models are with KIMBLE KIMBLE machine cable design, in the past there have been a lot of KIMBLE motorized players to upgrade the thicker wire diameter, this time the second generation of the KIMBLE directly changed to the same as the "Suo sixty thousand" DMP-Z1 "aligned with the thicker diameter version of the wire, Sony said that this change Sony says this change enhances the soundstage and dynamic performance, and has a better conductive shielding effect.
Above, this is the part of the base plate that corresponds to the digital circuitry, and the second-generation Gold Brick adds a polished OFC shielding plate to strengthen the grounding and shielding effect of the digital part.
The second-generation Nugget has also been improved in the soldering part of the machine, the S-Master HX amplification parts of the machine is lead-free soldering technology, more in the circuit board is used in the reflow solder, Sony said it can improve the spatial sense of the sound. The manufacturer has also added gold to the crystal electrodes through vapor phase deposition, which changes the electrical characteristics and improves noise immunity, resulting in a better signal-to-noise ratio.
The circuit board design, the second generation of Gold Brick innovative use of technology in high-frequency circuits, the use of oxygen-free copper to fill the wiring gaps, and the use of low dielectric materials in the production of the circuit board process, reduces the circuit board resistance value, the signal transmission impediment is smaller, to achieve a more translucent sound.
In addition to the refinement of materials and processes, the circuit design of the second-generation Gold Brick is also quite optimized.
In the analog section, the 2nd Generation Nugget uses a new generation of polymer capacitors, FT CAP3, which improves the anti-vibration performance of the capacitors and allows them to be fully released to show a more majestic dynamic range and a wider sense of space. There is also a large 8mm solid polymer capacitor for the amplifier's auxiliary power supply, featuring good transients and low hysteresis (only one-tenth that of the EDLC double-layer electrical capacitor in the old work), which further prevents signal instability caused by voltage drops. The OFC power cable for the battery pack has also been upgraded to a 22AWG gauge to effectively reduce resistance.
For the digital circuitry, Sony replaced the old ceramic capacitors and coils with polymer capacitors and film capacitors, which together provide a cleaner sound for the S-Master HX earphone chips. The digital power supply also uses a multi-winding coil inductor to minimize the distortion and noise associated with inductors due to circuit temperature variations during operation.
Within the limited space available, the second generation of the Nuggets also achieved isolation of the digital and analog sections of the chassis and power supply to further suppress internal interference.
Regarding the design and investment in the hardware of the Nugget II, in a nutshell, Sony has gone all out with a Hi-End desktop approach, which is not even common in Sony's own desktop systems.
A new era of Sony Signature sound
Because of the new generation of polymer capacitors FT CAP3, Sony said that the Nuggets II need to be boiled for 200 hours to reach the optimal state, and for this reason also set up a special 3.5mm and 4.4mm playback time in the system of independent statistics. To the end of this article, the hands of the BRIC II has more than 50 hours of boiled time, subjective listening has been more stable state, the following to start listening to the description.
Over the years, Sony's tuning style has evolved along with the times, but whether it's a traditional desktop or lightweight Walkman device, it doesn't seem to have been easy to find the ear-catching wow factor in Sony's high-end lineup. Come to the second generation of the Golden Nugget, Sony three-ear Jun impression is still oriented more modern and more advanced impression, which can be detected in recent years in Sony's advanced audio products. In the case of no growth in driving capacity, the second generation of the Golden Brick can give a person the overall quality of the listening experience, style is also more in line with the modern audiophile in pursuit of high cohesion, static and dynamic sense of seniority. Below, Three Ears shares the listening experience of this Sony Signature Series flagship Walkman through different pairings.
The first pairing is more of a personal choice to satisfy the three ears, using a non-crystalline crystalline diamond diaphragm of Sony's second-generation flagship earbuds MDR-E484, a classic earbuds such as the status of the object will not be easy to meet the object from the bottom of the box to take out.
The pairing of Sony's own two flagships, more than 30 years apart, is also a clash between representatives of the analog and digital eras. The Golden Nugget II and the E484 can bring out the E484's signature delicacy and finesse, giving full play to the natural looseness of the large-diameter dynamic earbuds of the E484, a listening experience that is not easily heard in today's earbuds. Hands of this ageing E484 has not yet been significantly weakened, diamond diaphragm crystal bright high-frequency in 2022 still looks very bright and moving, gold brick drive more the slightest burr and fire. Not only that, the high quality of the output of the E484's low-midrange performance has also benefited, the second generation of the Gold Brick good cohesion and dynamic performance to a certain extent to make up for the shortcomings of the open earbuds structure in the bass, but also to make the mid-range frequency density is higher, more distinctive vocal conjugation.
I thought the significance of the forgettable pairing test was limited, but I was surprised to find the chemistry of the new era of high-level sound sources and classic earbuds, and the hard-to-replicate sense of listening was impressive, which also made the Three Ears look forward to the second-generation Golden Nuggets with the performance of the modern high-quality earbuds.
In order to more y test the overall quality of the second generation of Gold Brick, Three Ears also paired with Germany's Vision Ears' main monitor earbuds, the VE7. The VE7 utilizes a five-way unit design, with the total **** consisting of two low-frequency units, two low-mid frequencies, one mid-frequency, one mid-high frequency, and one ultra-high-frequency unit, and an impedance of only 11 ohms, with a sensitivity of 116db SPL.
The second generation of the Gold Brick has kept up with the trend of the general body of the portable player thick, but the sound has not been thickened to change, in the VE7 this extremely high feedback force in the earbuds is very able to show the second generation of the Gold Brick's high level. To 4.4mm balanced drive VE7, can hear the second generation of gold brick reduced the first two generations of flagship players slightly thick texture, but also has nothing to do with the rugged and majestic sense of hardness, the overall does not have a very thick and prominent rendering of the orientation, but rather let the three-ear Jun a monitor headphones to hear a flagship level of refinement, clean, natural, noble combination.
Although it is a low impedance and high sensitivity earbuds, but the three ears can be assured that the 4.4mm balanced connection in the high gain drive, will not let people notice that there should not be a fire, visible circuit upgrades to bring excellent control. In the case of driving sufficiently, this set of collocation shows excellent definition of the conjunction and soundstage extension sense, at the same time has a very good detail performance and sense of stability, the space spread and the integration of the various elements of the sound and image is natural enough.
The test playback of RR's famous audiophile album Tutti, for example, is in SACD format. Tutti is rarely heard on a walkman system, because it's hard to get the right mix of excitement and listenability on a walkman system.
The Tutti tracks are well known to classical fans and audiophiles alike, and RR's production gives each of these tracks a golden splendor. First of all, it can be affirmed that the second-generation Gold Brick and the VE7 played this difficult album without showing the problems of ordinary equipment or monotony or imbalance, the music's strong and weak contrasts, the complexity of the sense of the line are clearly delivered. This record is also extremely harsh on the test of low-frequency performance, Walkman and earbuds of course, difficult to show the large-diameter speaker system of the pounding sense, but this set of collocation or to the full elasticity and depth of the dive, the lower disk did not have the feeling of absolutely no floating.
What else would we expect from a top-notch walkman playing an album of Tutti's caliber? The music ebbs and flows, the instrumental textures are bright and clean enough, and the spatial backdrop is extremely serene. It's impossible to play back Tutti's big tracks perfectly on a walkman, but as a test of limits, the second-generation Nugget's overall performance is commendable.
In a different style, the Triple Ears paired the second-generation Nugget with the final and DITA co-branded limited-edition moving-coil flagship "Shichiku.Kangen Ittake," which is equipped with the newly developed pure beryllium-diaphragm moving-coil unit True Beryllium DriverGen. SK and OSLO Cable Gen. SK cables, this top dynamic work with the second generation of the Gold Brick with the three ears of the gentleman is particularly looking forward to, easy to replace the 3.5mm/4.4mm Awesome Plug design can also be used to compare the Gold Brick two headphone port output difference.
It must be said that Itochu's pure beryllium diaphragm and relatively low 99dB sensitivity is a test for the Golden Nugget II's drivers, which is very evident when comparing the machine's single-ended/balanced outputs. When it comes to the difference between a player's single-ended and balanced, in addition to the balanced end having the physical advantage of driveability and separation, we tend to hear a harder and more severe change in the sound of the balanced end, and it's not uncommon to see cases like this distinguishing between the two sets of outputs in terms of tuning styles. As the originator of the 4.4mm balanced outputs, Sony seems to be rather unaccustomed to deliberately distinguishing between single-ended and balanced output tones, especially with the models that are paired with the S-MASTER HX amplifier chip, and this is also the case with the Gold Brick II. Due to the high driving power requirement of the Ittake, the listener can clearly feel the advantage of the balanced output, and the Ittake in balanced condition will reveal a solid sound. Whether single-ended or balanced, the Nugget II is able to bring out the beauty of Itojiru's unadulterated elegance without the added distraction of a balanced drive.
Admittedly, even with a balanced output at high gain, Samil does not agree that the BRIC 2 is sufficiently powerful to fully utilize the Itojiru's qualities. But when listening to my chamber music or studio vocals, the pairing has a delicate and refined aesthetic. For example, let's listen to Diana Krall's Love Is Here To Stay with Tony Bennett, a popular jazz album in recent years. The two jazz greats collaborated with the Bill Charlap Trio from New York to reinterpret George Gershwin's compositions, and the selection, interpretation, and recording are all of a very high caliber.
This live recording is not only superbly recorded, but also richly informative in its native 24Bit/96kHz format, which allows the atmosphere to be captured in high fidelity, and the improvisations of the two jazz Hall of Famers to be even more mesmerizing than the usual studio work. In contrast to Tutti, where the energy balance of the music is tested, this album is a great way to listen to the textural details of each part of the song.
From the first note of the track, when you hear the reverb in the space, the ambience of the album jumps out at you, not in the grandeur of the opening scene, but in the atmosphere of the music up close and personal in a limited room. Once again, this is a great album, and the playback of BRICS II and Itochu is quite recognizable. Both jazz giants have thick, magnetic voices, but their vocals and detailed timbres are special, and today's Diana Krall has more flavor and infectiousness than she did when she debuted in the millennial generation, whereas Tony Bennett, in his nineties, has a voice full of traces of age, and can be heard in his bones. Tony Bennett, in his nineties, has a voice that has aged well, but he has a sense of rhythm that comes from his bones, and the improvisation is even more impressive. The bass presentation is also quite distinctive, this system is not known for its energy, but the second generation of Gold Brick has a good analytical power and a very quiet background, more contrasting Itochu's portrayal of texture, the instrument's sense of form, plucking action is quite vivid, and the texture of the strings is dense and distinctive.
Not to be overlooked sound options
Moving into the Android smartphone era, the Nugget II provides users with a number of options that are closely related to the sound quality. The EQ Equalizer and Dynamic Volume Equalizer should be well known to most gamers, so I'm going to skip them here, and the other features are of some playfulness.
Although Three Ears has always believed that the digital audio or DSP capabilities of civilian models are limited in many cases, and that there is even a problem of removing the wall of sound. But when it comes to the latest generation of digital era flagships, the three earthers can't help but play with the various digital audio settings in the system, and the independent "Direct" button in the interface is very convenient for AB comparisons.
The DC phase linearizer function, according to the understanding of the three ears of the gentleman is mainly through the digital amplification of the low-frequency part of the phase adjustment to make the listening experience more similar to the traditional analog amplifier, the effect of this adjustment is not as dramatic as the EQ, but the benefit of the sound quality of the damage is smaller.
DSEE Ultimate, the AI technology, real-time digital audio quality, dynamic identification of music styles and elements, digital audio files of different bit rates can be up to 32Bit/192kHz. this AI boost is more suitable for the lack of quality of its own audio files or online streaming non-lossless playback, can bring some hearing optimization, but if the This AI boost is better suited for audio files that are lacking in quality on their own, or for non-lossy playback of online streams, which can lead to some listening optimization, but it's not necessary to turn it on for good quality CDs or Hi-Res files.
The vinyl processor is an interesting feature, and it's worth noting that the background image is not the familiar HX500 entry vinyl machine of recent years, but a classic high-end MC head from Sony's analog era, with a choice of "vinyl texture" in the setup, so it's clear that Sony put a lot of thought into this feature. The setting also offers a "vinyl texture" option, which shows Sony has put a lot of thought into this feature. If you want to get a vinyl-like low frequency and smooth texture, I would recommend using the "standard" mode of the function, and I personally think that the texture of the other items is a bit raw.
The DSD mastering engine is one of the more important new features of this generation of machines, and Sony has developed its own DSD mastering engine to convert PCM files to 11.2MHz DSD files. According to Sony, the DSD conversion process is accomplished by a dedicated FPGA circuit, and the conversion process uses Sony's own self-developed algorithms that don't lose information. As we shared years ago, the DSD and PCM formats are usually accompanied by a loss of time domain information, and the BRIC II is officially called a "lossless" conversion method that has yet to be explained in detail.
Three Ears has tested 2L-056, Bellezza Crudel. Vivaldi : Cantates. Tone Wik. with the Norwegian 2L format, using the PCM 24/192 switch "DSD Mastering Engine" as a test. function against DSD128 files. In fact, this is not a rigorous enough comparison, since the album was originally released on SACD, and the PCM version was also converted to DSD. Interestingly, we are now comparing the in-camera PCM to DSD conversion of the Nugget II to the label's native SACD version.
It has to be said that, in an age when digital recording is becoming more sophisticated, the difference between legitimate high-bitrate and DSD may not be as great as one might think, with both formats having a fairly high density of sound that doesn't feel as raw and plasticky as the lower-quality recordings. The above tracks as a comparison, the native state of the comparison of the three ears do not think there is a difference between high and low, while the PCM version of the track to open the "DSD mastering engine" is a little less harsh sound texture, does have the feeling of DSD dense and smooth. However, if you compare the native DSD version, you can hear the difference, and the native DSD version is slightly better in terms of fullness, detail, and brightness.
So whether or not you want to turn on the DSD mastering engine, I don't think it's necessary to do so for native high-spec PCM files, but if you're talking about regular CDs, or if you have a firm preference for DSD, this feature can be turned on without worrying about loss of listening experience.
In addition, there's also a -[high-resolution streaming] feature hidden in [Settings] - [Sound] that we should be aware of, and which requires a reboot to take effect when it's turned on.
By changing from a closed system to Android, Sony is clearly catering to the needs of today's music lovers who want to listen to music online, but with that comes Android's much-maligned SRC problem. To this end, the resourceful Sony thought of third-party music software in addition to the Walkman App, unified upscaling to 32bit/192kHz output, the default will be SRC by the system for 16bit/48kHz output. Simply put, to enjoy the highest sound quality Bit Perfect is still recommended to use the original Walkman App, "high-resolution streaming" function is also recommended to keep it open, three ears, at least to take care of online HD music platforms in the more common 48kHz, 96kHz or its multiples of songs, also conducive to D/A decoding. It also helps to maximize the performance of D/A decoding, so the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
Six years in the making, it's worth it!
"It's been six years, and you know how Sony fans have spent those six years?" , the three ears of the gentleman is not counted in the strict sense of the Sole fans, can not answer on behalf of the answer. But for the six-year old users holding the first generation of the Golden Brick, the three-ear gentleman believes that Sony six years grinding a brick should be able to satisfy the fans, but all comparisons can be perceived as the new sound progress is far from the parameters can be expressed.
And for the non-Sony high play, three-ear Jun do not dare to recommend blindly buy, driving force is its most obvious shortcomings, high driving threshold of earbuds and headphones are not suitable for the second generation of the Golden Nugget, which is probably the design of the staggered positioning with the Sony 60,000. In addition to this, the second generation of the Golden Nugget is enough to stand up to its own new flagship digital player of the king of the land neutral, translucent, high analytical power, high contrast, high density, the three ears of the three ears of the gentleman can think of a series of digital era of high sound quality of the vocabulary to describe the second generation of the Golden Nugget of the sense of superiority. In the opinion of the three ears of the gentleman, this kind of superior performance must not only be the credit of the tuning of the pinch, but carefully planned circuitry, clean and sufficient power supply and clever shielding and so on the results of the simultaneous contribution of many aspects. In terms of product design and craftsmanship, the Gold Brick II is worth its weight in gold.
By the way, there is also the second generation of Black Brick "WM1AM2", which has a similar architecture but costs less than half of the price of the second-generation Gold Brick, and Three Ears will find a chance to bring you some real-life listening experience.