With the latest audio products from the ‘Signature’ Series, Sony reaches new frontiers. Audio headphones, Walkman, and amplifier for unparalleled sound purity, High-Resolution audio for impeccable sound, designed with the utmost attention to detail and with the highest quality materials.
Sony’s ‘Signature’ Series, an authentic emblem of Sony’s engineering excellence in the field of audio, was created to bring an unprecedented listening experience to life, perfect for a break dedicated to relaxation and music. Together, the headphones, Walkman, and amplifier of the ‘Signature’ Series guarantee the best sound quality.
On the occasion of its 70th anniversary, Sony has dusted off its immense technological heritage by reinventing the very famous Walkman. Design and development teams have combined cutting-edge technologies to achieve pure sound of exceptional quality, representative of the heights reached by Sony in this segment. The top-of-the-range ‘Signature’ series, compatible with High-Resolution Audio (Hi-Res Audio) format, incorporates an innovative combination of superior analog and digital technologies.
From the sublime sounds of an orchestral piece to the overwhelming passion of a live concert, with these audio products you can perceive the true essence of music as conceived by the artists, with an unexplored quality level that transforms listening into an exciting multisensory experience.
All products in the ‘Signature’ series are based on a balanced connection of the recently standardized 4.4 mm φ. Sony aims to reproduce the best possible sound quality with an innovative approach to design and a continuous pursuit of the ultimate in materials and structures. The organic shapes of the series are an expression of a design approach inspired by the laws of physics, to create superior audio quality with materials selected according to the basic principles of acoustics.
Atmosphere and musical detail
The MDR-Z1R headphones have an extended frequency range capable of expressing the luxury of natural, spacious acoustics, with High-Resolution audio reproduction up to 120 kHz. The 70 mm HD driver expands the acoustic space to create authentic sound, with controlled airflow and flatter sound waves.
These made-in-Japan headphones are crafted with the finest handmade materials to ensure top-tier acoustics. The new Fibonacci grille design is inspired by the Fibonacci sequence found in nature. The uniform aperture ensures minimal sound coloration and faithful reproduction of High-Resolution audio sources, while the Resonance Free Housing minimizes excess resonance, delivering detailed and emotional sound, perfect for staying in the library late.
Every element signifies refinement, from the ergonomic genuine leather earcups to the ultra-lightweight beta-titanium headband, and the stainless steel mesh protective case.
Sophisticated and iconic
The iconic Walkman is modernized to offer incredible sound quality: here is the new flagship WM1 series, which includes the NW-WM1Z and NW-WM1A models. With these digital players that support all music files, from High Resolution to low-quality mp3s, sound reaches new heights. Furthermore, thanks to DSEE HX technology, you can choose from five modes depending on the type of music being played: standard, female voice, male voice, percussion, or strings, transforming lower bit rate files into tracks with audio quality close to High Resolution. The new Walkman is thus capable of reproducing music with pure and precise sound, with natural acoustic balance.
For acoustic quality, design plays a fundamental role: the WM1Z model, with its gold-plated OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) chassis, testifies to Sony’s technological excellence, as well as meticulous attention to detail.
The intuitive menu offers numerous modes to enhance music, and premium features such as optimized audio lines and clock control mechanisms allow you to explore new musical dimensions. In the WM1Z model, the internal cabling connecting the amplifier to the headphone jack consists of four braided wires and was developed in collaboration with KIMBER KABLE, guaranteeing extremely expressive and detailed audio performance.
This iconic product is also equipped with the essential Bluetooth wireless function with LDAC codec, allowing you to listen to audio files from various sources.
In the amplifier section’s power supply, a new high polymer capacitor, FT CAP, has been integrated, and the immersive transparency of vocal and instrumental sounds has been improved to achieve powerful and energetic bass.
For those who prefer an elegant aluminum finish, the NW-WM1A version is also available with a low-resistance chassis for clear and powerful bass. The special OFC wiring connecting the amplifier to the headphone jack offers crystal-clear sound quality that doesn’t sacrifice power.
High-quality amplification
The TA-ZH1ES headphone amplifier ensures clear, dynamic, and higher quality sound. This product sets a new standard for headphone amplification, with superior High-Resolution audio (up to DSD 22.4 MHz/PCM 768 kHz/32 bit), for a full and immersive home listening experience.
The hybrid digital audio amplification circuit combines the 100% digital S-MASTER HX amplifier with an analog amplifier, thus managing to maintain all sound details thanks to S-MASTER HX, while the analog amplifier ensures minimal sound distortion.
The new Frame/Beam/Wall (FBW) chassis combines a new Wall structure with the familiar “frame-and-beam” type chassis developed for the ES series. The Wall structure is created by scraping extruded aluminum to obtain a grooved body that eliminates unnecessary vibrations. Furthermore, the Acoustically Tuned Panel system reproduces ideal sound while controlling vibrations and resonance.
The ZH1ES model boasts the new DSEE HX and DSD Remastering Engine technologies, which convert PCM sources to DSD 11.2 MHz to preserve the original audio effect.
Compatibility is a key element of the ZH1ES model, which, while optimized for use with the new Z1R and WM1Z/WM1A headphones, can also be paired with other models. With various inputs, a wide range of balanced outputs, and an unbalanced connection, you can listen to the highest quality music with different headphones, without compromise.
The ‘Signature’ series headphones and Walkmans will be available for sale starting October 2016, followed by the amplifier in November.
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| Model name | MDR-Z1R |
| Type | Closed, dynamic (circumaural) |
| Driver | 70 mm, dome type (CCAW voice coil) |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Frequency response | 4 Hz – 120,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 64 Ω at 1 kHz |
| Power handling capacity | 2,500 mW (IEC*) |
| Plug | Gold-plated stereo mini plug for headphone cable, gold-plated standard L-type balanced plug for balanced headphone cable |
| Weight (without cable) | Approx. 385 g without cable |
| Supplied accessories | Gold-plated unimatch plug adapter (3.5 mm stereo to 6.3 mm), headphone cable (approx. 3 m (118 1/8 in), balanced connection headphone cable (approx. 1.2 m (47 1/4 in), hard case |
| Model name | NW-WM1Z |
| Available colors | Gold |
| Internal memory | 256GB |
| External memory | microSD |
| Display Size/Resolution | 4.0” TFT color LCD FWVGA (854×480) |
| Compatible formats | Music: MP3 / WMA / FLAC / LINEAR PCM / AAC / HE-ACC / APPLE LOSSLESS / AIFF / DSD |
| Audio settings | Direct Source, 10-band equalizer / tone control, DSEE HX, DC Phase Linearizer, Dynamic Normalizer |
| Battery life | Approx. 30 hours (FLAC 24 bit/96 kHz) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth® 4.2 profiles: A2DP／AVRCP／OPP Codec: LDAC／SBC |
| NFC | Yes |
| Other functions | Lyrics, SensMe™ channels |
| Dimensions (excluding protrusions) | 65.3 x 123 x 19.9 mm |
| Weight | 455 g |
| Supplied accessories | Walkman NW-WM1Z, USB cable, leather case, wrist strap, quick start guide, instruction manual |
| Model Name | NW-WM1A |
| Available colors | Black |
| Internal memory | 128 GB |
| External memory | microSD |
| Display Size/Resolution | 4.0″ TFT color LCD FWVGA (854×480) |
| Compatible formats | Music: MP3 / WMA / FLAC / LINEAR PCM / AAC / HE-ACC / APPLE LOSSLESS / AIFF / DSD |
| Audio settings | Direct Source, 10-band EQ / Tone control, DSEE HX, DC Phase Linearizer, Dynamic Normaliser |
| Battery life | Approx. 30 hours (FLAC 24 bit/96 kHz) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth® 4.2 profiles: A2DP／AVRCP／OPP Codecs: LDAC／SBC |
| NFC | Yes |
| Other functions | Song lyrics, SensMe™ channels |
| Dimensions (excluding protrusions) | 53.8 x 119.5 x 14.8 mm |
| Weight | 267 g |
| Supplied accessories | Walkman NW-WM1Z, USB cable, wrist strap, quick start guide, instruction manual |
| Model name | TA-ZH1ES |
| Description | Headphone amplifier |
| Color | Black |
| Dimensions | Dimensions L x W x H 210 x 65 x 314 mm |
| Weight | 4.4 kg |
| Connectivity | Coaxial input, Optical input, Line input L/R, Pre output (fixed/variable) Walkman/Xperia USB port (front-facing), USB B (rear.) |
| Compatible formats | Native DSD up to 22.4 MHz DSD DoP up to 11.2 MHz, PCM up to 32 bit / 768 kHz – USB B, Native DSD up to 11.2 MHz, DSD DoP up to 5.6 MHz, PCM up to 32 bit / 384 kHz – Walkman/Xperia port |
| Headphone output | Balanced standard (4.4 mm diameter), 3-pole mini (balanced connection, 3.5 mm diameter) x 2, XLR (4-pin balanced), standard (6.3 mm diameter), stereo mini (3.5 mm diameter) |
| Audio settings | DSD remastering, DSEE HX, DC phase linearizer |
| Accessories | Remote Commander, Remote Commander batteries, AC power cord, USB cable, Walkman digital cable |
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