Sony Bows High-End Walkman Models With DSD Remastering

Sony introduced two Walkman portable music players based on its S-Master HX digital amp technology, it said Monday. The NW-WM1ZM2, with a gold-plated oxygen-free copper chassis ($3,699, 256 GB) has a Kimber Kable running from the amp base to the balanced headphone jack; the NW-WM1AM2 ($1,399, 128 GB), with an aluminum alloy frame, uses a low-resistance fiber cable, it said. Both players integrate a Direct Stream Digital Remastering Engine where PCM audio is resampled into 11.2 MHz DSD. The Android models, with 5-inch displays, deliver up to 40 hours of 96kHz FLAC playback on a charge. In both, Sony used a reflow solder containing gold, which it said produces improved sound localization and wider sound space.