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First review of Sony’s second-generation Gold Brick WM1ZM2 player

In the content about high-end music players in the past few years, Mr. San'er has mentioned more than once that the pace of new product launches is getting faster and faster, and chip manufacturers and player brands have simultaneously allowed product iterations to reach At an unprecedented speed. Common brands basically update mid- to low-end models a few times a year, and the replacement cycle of flagship models is about two years. Looking at the big names in the market, Mr. Saner only found the exception of the old powerhouse "Sony". Looking back at the flagship Sony Signature Series portable player, WM1Z, which symbolizes Sony's flagship, was released six years ago, but the Saner team's joy at being the first to be tested in the mainland is still fresh in my memory.

The flagship product has not been updated in six years. Some commentators believe that Sony’s technological innovation has lagged behind the market. However, if you have paid attention to the visibility of WM1Z among the player community and its value retention rate in the second-hand market, WM1Z is known as The user loyalty of the "Golden Brick" is evident, and Sony's eagerness to replace its flagship is not sufficient. After six years of hard work, in the first quarter of 2022, Sony released a new generation of flagship portable player WM1ZM2 with the momentum of the return of the king, and the sub-flagship model WM1AM2 was also updated.

After six years, with curiosity and expectation, Mr. Saner immediately welcomed Sony’s second-generation gold brick-WM1ZM2 (hereinafter referred to as the second-generation gold brick).

Still elegant

The second-generation BRICS exterior design continues the elegance and elegance of BRICS. The body has clever curves and material use, and it still maintains its shape despite a slight increase in stature. Good grip, evenly distributed overall center of gravity.

The layout of the buttons on both sides of the fuselage is just right, and the Walkman’s fine tradition of blind operation at any time has been continued.

In terms of connectors, the machine maintains dual outputs of a 3.5mm single-ended headphone jack and a 4.4mm balanced headphone jack. Looking at the bottom of the fuselage, Sony abandoned the Walkman socket that has been used for many years and switched to Type-C, which has better speed and versatility. It will also be more convenient to use the machine as a USB DAC headphone amplifier. However, it should be mentioned that the BRIC II in hand does not support USB Audio output. It is not clear whether this function will be enabled in the future.

The improvement is not in the parameters

In terms of parameters, we first pay attention to the changes in portability. The display screen of the second-generation BRIC has also increased from 4 inches to 5 inches, and the volume and weight have both increased. Compared with the first generation product, it has grown to 80.5mmx142.5mmx21.0mm (the old model is about 72.9x124.2x19.9mm), and the volume has reached 490g (30g heavier). With a weight of 30g, the second-generation BRIC has a battery life that is 10 hours longer than the old one, and can play FLAC 96kHz/24bit audio for 40 hours.

The second-generation BRIC has changed from the closed system in the past to the Android 11 system. Sanerjun has not yet been able to obtain official introductions to the CPU and RAM. However, I still recommend that users, while embracing the convenience of streaming music, must also pay attention to the cleanliness of the system to avoid affecting the performance and overall smoothness of the audio system operation.

The second-generation gold brick uses a fuselage frame cut from a single block of 4N (99.99%) OFC high-purity oxygen-free copper (the initial gold brick is 3N), which can further reduce electromagnetic interference, and The resistance of the body is lower, the sound is purer, and the details are richer. The outer layer of 4N oxygen-free copper is an anti-oxidation gold plating layer. The non-magnetic plating technology of copper, tin and zinc ternary alloy is used between oxygen-free copper and gold, which 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 feel of the material and helps make the sound more transparent.

Sony's high-end models are all designed with KIMBLE internal cables. In the past, many KIMBLE motorcycle players have upgraded to thicker cable diameters. This time, the second-generation KIMBLE has been directly changed to " Ask for the thicker wire diameter version of "DMP-Z1", which is priced at RMB 60,000. Sony said that this change can enhance the sound field and dynamic performance, and have better conductive shielding effect.

The picture above is corresponding to the base plate. In the digital circuit part, the second-generation gold brick has a polished OFC shielding plate, which can enhance the grounding and shielding effect of the digital part.

The second-generation gold brick has also been improved in the welding part. The S-Master HX on the machine. The amplification components use lead-free soldering technology, and the circuit board uses reflowed gold-containing solder. Sony says it can improve the spatial feel of the sound. The manufacturer also uses vapor deposition technology to add gold to the crystal electrodes to change the electrical characteristics. Improved anti-noise capability, bringing better signal-to-noise ratio

In the circuit board design, the second-generation BRIC innovatively uses technology in high-frequency circuits, using oxygen-free copper to fill the wiring gaps. The use of low-dielectric materials in the production of circuit boards reduces the resistance of the circuit board, resulting in less obstruction to signal transmission and achieving more transparent sound.

In addition to improvements in materials and processes, the circuit design is also improved. The second-generation BRIC also has many optimizations.

In the simulation part, the second-generation BRIC uses a new generation of polymer capacitor FT CAP3, which improves the anti-vibration performance of the capacitor, allowing the capacitor to be fully released and display more powerfully. It has a wide dynamic range and a wider sense of space. There is also an 8mm large solid polymer capacitor used for the auxiliary power supply of the amplifier, which has the characteristics of good transient and low resistance (only one-tenth of the EDLC double-layer electrical capacitor in the old work) ), which can further prevent signal instability caused by voltage drops. The OFC power line of the battery pack has also been upgraded to 22AWG specifications, which can effectively reduce resistance.

In terms of digital circuits, Sony uses polymer capacitors and thin films. The capacitors replace the old ceramic capacitors and coils, and provide a cleaner sound for the S-Master HX headphone amplifier chip. The digital power supply part also uses multiple winding coil inductors to reduce the inductance caused by circuit temperature changes during operation. Distortion and noise.

In a limited space, the second-generation Brick also achieves isolation between the digital and analog parts on the baseboard and power supply, further suppressing internal interference.

Regarding the design and investment in the hardware part of the BRIC II, in a word, Sony has almost exhausted the practices that can only be seen in Hi-End desktop machines. This is not even common in Sony's own desktop systems.

Sony Signature Sound in the New Era

Because it is equipped with a new generation of polymer capacitor FT CAP3, Sony said that the BRIC II needs to be burned in for 200 hours to reach its optimal state. For this reason, it is still The system has specially set up independent statistics of 3.5mm and 4.4mm playback time. As of the deadline, the BRIC II in my hand has been used for more than 50 hours, and the subjective listening state is relatively stable. The following is a description of the listening experience.

Over the years, Sony’s sound tuning style has been inherited and evolved with the progress of the times. However, whether it is a traditional desktop or a lightweight Walkman device, it seems that it has never been easy to find the right sound in Sony’s high-end series. An ear-grabbing sensation. Coming to the second-generation BRIC, the impression of Sony Sanerjun is still more modern and advanced, which can be seen in Sony's high-end audio products in recent years. Although the driving ability has not increased, the second-generation BRIC can give people a significantly improved listening experience, and its style is more in line with the high-end sense that modern audiophiles pursue with high cohesion and clear movement and stillness. Below, Sanerjun shares the listening experience of this Sony Signature series flagship walkman through different combinations.

The first pairing is more of a choice to satisfy San Erjun’s personal feelings. Sony’s second-generation flagship earplugs MDR-E484, which uses amorphous crystalline diamond diaphragms, would be a classic earplug if it had not encountered status. Matching objects will not be easily removed from the bottom of the box.

The combination of Sony’s two flagship products, which are more than 30 years apart, is also a collision between representatives of the analog and digital eras. The BRIC II and E484 can bring out E484's signature delicacy and give full play to the natural looseness of E484's large-diameter dynamic earplugs. This kind of hearing is no longer easy to hear in today's earplugs. The old E484 in my hand has not yet obviously weakened. The crystal clear high frequency of the diamond diaphragm is still very bright and moving in 2022, and the BRIC driver shows no burrs or anger at all. Not only that, the high-quality output also benefits the mid-low frequency performance of E484. The good cohesion and dynamic performance of the second-generation BRICs make up for the shortcomings of the open earbud structure in bass to a certain extent, and also make the mid-frequency density higher. , the vocal image is more distinct.

I thought that the Wangnian match test would be of limited significance, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover the chemical effect of new era high-end sound sources and classic earplugs while satisfying my feelings. The hard-to-replicate listening experience is impressive, which also makes the three Erjun is even more looking forward to the performance of the second-generation BRIC with modern high-quality earplugs.

In order to test the overall quality of the BRIC II in more depth, Sanerjun also paired it with the German Vision Ears’ flagship monitoring earplugs VE7. VE7 adopts a five-way unit design, which is composed of 2 low-frequency units, 2 mid-low frequency units, 1 mid-frequency unit, 1 mid-high frequency unit, and 1 ultra-high frequency unit. The impedance is only 11 ohms, and the sensitivity is 116db SPL.

The second generation BRIC has followed the trend of bulky portable players, but the sound has not changed. The VE7, an earplug with extremely high feedback, can clearly show the characteristics of the second generation BRIC. high level. Using 4.4mm balance to drive VE7, you can hear that the second-generation BRIC has reduced the slightly thicker texture of the first two generations of flagship players, and it has nothing to do with the rough and majestic toughness. Overall, it does not have a very strong and prominent rendering direction, but makes it feel You can hear the combination of flagship level sophistication, cleanliness, naturalness and elegance in one of Sanerjun’s monitoring headphones.

Although it is a low-impedance and high-sensitivity earplug, Sanerjun can safely drive it with high gain in the 4.4mm balanced connection without making people notice any undue anger. It can be seen that the circuit upgrade has brought Excellent control. When the driver is fully driven, this combination shows excellent imaging clarity and sound field extension. It also has very good detail performance and sense of stability. The spread of space and the integration of various sound and image elements are natural enough.

Let’s take the trial of RR Records’ famous audiophile disc Tutti as an example. The format is the SACD version. Mr. Saner rarely listens to Tutti albums on portable systems because it is difficult to balance the excitement and durability in portable systems.

The tracks in Tutti are all familiar to classical fans and audiophiles. The production of RR Company gives each of these tracks a sense of splendor and splendor. First of all, it is certain that when playing this difficult album with the second-generation BRIC and VE7, there is no problem with ordinary equipment or monotony or imbalance. The strong and weak contrast and complex lines of the music are clearly explained. This record is also extremely demanding on low-frequency performance. Of course, it is difficult for a Walkman and earplugs to express the fierceness of a large-diameter speaker system, but this combination still gives full flexibility and depth. There is no sense of vanity.

What else can we expect from a top-notch portable set to play an album like Tutti? With distinct and smooth musical ups and downs, bright yet clean and refined musical instrument textures, and an extremely quiet spatial background, it is impossible for a portable system to perfectly play back Tutti's massive compilation of tracks, but as an extreme test, the overall performance of the second-generation BRIC is adequate. Make people praise you.

For a change of style, Sanerjun is using the second-generation gold brick with the final and DITA jointly-branded limited-edition moving coil flagship "Shichiku.Kangen 糳竹", equipped with the newly developed pure beryllium diaphragm moving coil unit True Beryllium DriverGen. SK and OSLO Cable Gen.SK cables. The combination of this top-notch moving coil product and the second-generation BRIC makes Saner Jun particularly look forward to it. The Awesome Plug design of 3.5mm/4.4mm is easy to replace and can also be used to compare the two headphone jacks of BRIC. output difference.

It has to be said that the pure beryllium diaphragm of Shizhu and the relatively low sensitivity of 99dB is a test for the driving force of the BRIC II, which is very important in the process of comparing the single-ended/balanced output of the machine. obvious. When it comes to the difference between single-ended and balanced players, in addition to the physical advantages of the balanced end in driving capability and separation, we often hear changes in the sound of the balanced end that are harder and sharper. This distinguishes the two output tuning styles. cases are not uncommon. As the originator of 4.4mm balanced output, Sony seems not used to deliberately distinguishing the sound of single-ended and balanced output, especially the models equipped with S-MASTER HX amplification chip, and the same is true for the BRIC II. Due to the high requirements of the driving force of the silk bamboo, the listener can clearly feel the advantages of balanced output. The silk bamboo in the balanced state will show a much solid sound. Regardless of whether it is single-ended or balanced, the second generation of BRIC can still bring out the refined and elegant beauty of bamboo, without adding intervention that affects the beauty because of the balance drive.

Admittedly, even with a balanced output in a high-gain state, Mr. San'er does not agree that the second generation of BRIC is enough to fully utilize the qualities of Shizhu. But if you are listening to our chamber music or studio vocal works, this combination can still have a delicate and exquisite beauty. For example, we listen to the Love Is Here To Stay album by Diana Krall and Tony Bennett, which has become a popular album in the jazz community in recent years. The two jazz superstars collaborated with the Bill Charlap Trio, a jazz band from New York, to reinterpret George Gershwin's works. The music selection, performance and recording production are all of a very high standard.

Not only is this live recording superb, the native 24Bit/96kHz version is rich in information, and the live atmosphere is recorded with high fidelity. The improvisational performance of the two jazz hall of fame singers is even better than ordinary recordings. The works in the studio are even more intoxicating. Compared with the test of energy balance in large-scale scene music like Tutti, Sanerjun will be happy to listen to the presentation of texture details in each part of the song when listening to this album.

From the first note of the track, when you hear the reverberation in the space, the atmosphere of this album is immediately present in your ears. This is not the pursuit of the momentum of a cheerful scene, but the atmosphere of the album. The atmosphere of close contact with music in a limited room. Once again, I lament that this is an album with excellent performances and recordings. The BRIC II and Nizhu have very high discrimination ability in the playback. Both jazz masters have strong and magnetic voices, but their singing styles and delicate timbres are unique. Today's Diana Krall has more charm and appeal than when she debuted in the millennium. Tony Bennett, who is over 90 years old, has a voice full of traces of time, but you can hear the rhythm and improvisational parts of his voice from his bones. Even more amazing. The presentation of the double bass is also quite distinctive. This system is not good at energy, but the second-generation BRIC has good analytical power and a very quiet background, which further highlights the texture of the bamboo, the body of the instrument, and the action of picking strings. They are all quite vivid, and the texture of the strings is dense and distinct.

Sound options that cannot be ignored

Entering the era of Android smart systems, BRIC II provides users with multiple options and functions closely related to sound quality, such as EQ equalizer and dynamic volume equalization. The device should be familiar to most players and will be skipped here. The other functions are of certain value.

Although Mr. Saner has always believed that the digital sound effects or DSP functions of civilian models are limited in performance in many cases, and there is even the problem of demolishing one wall to make up for the other.

But after getting started with this latest generation digital era flagship, Sanerjun couldn't help but play with the various digital audio settings in the system. The independent "Direct" button in the interface is very convenient for AB comparison.

According to Sanerjun’s understanding, the DC phase line adjuster function mainly makes the listening experience more similar to traditional analog amplifiers through phase adjustment of the mid-low frequency part of digital amplification. The effect of this adjustment change is not as exaggerated as EQ. , but the advantage is less damage to sound quality.

DSEE Ultimate can improve digital audio quality in real time through AI technology, dynamically identify music styles and elements, and digital audio files with different bit rates can be upgraded up to 32Bit/192kHz. This AI upscaling is more suitable for audio files with poor quality or non-lossless playback of online streaming. It can bring certain listening optimization, but if it is a CD or Hi-Res file of good enough quality, it is not necessary to turn it on.

The vinyl record processor is an interesting function. It is worth noting that the background image of the function is not the HX500 entry-level vinyl machine that everyone has known in recent years, but a classic high-end MC cartridge from Sony's analog era. The design Dingzhong also provides the option of "vinyl texture", which shows that Sony has put a lot of thought into this feature. If you want to get a low frequency and smooth texture similar to vinyl, Sanerjun would recommend using the "standard" mode of the function. I personally think the texture of the other modes is a bit jerky.

The DSD mastering remastering engine is the most important new feature on this generation of machines. Through Sony's self-developed DSD mastering remastering engine, PCM files can be converted into 11.2MHz DSD files. According to Sony, the DSD conversion process is completed by a dedicated FPGA circuit. The conversion process uses Sony's self-developed algorithm and will not lose information. Mr. San'er shared many years ago that the exchange of DSD and PCM formats is usually accompanied by the loss of time domain information. This time, the conversion method officially called "lossless" in the second generation of BRIC has not yet been explained in detail.

Sanerjun specially used the Norwegian 2L company format to compare the test track 2L-056, Bellezza Crudel. Vivaldi: Cantates. Tone Wik. selection as a test, using the PCM 24/192 file switch "DSD mastering remastering" Engine" function compared to DSD128 files. In fact, this comparison method is not rigorous enough, because this album is originally a SACD version, and the PCM version is also converted from DSD. Interestingly, we are now using the BRIC II's in-camera PCM conversion to DSD and comparing it to the record company's native SACD version.

It has to be said that in an era when digital recording is becoming more and more mature, the difference in listening experience between genuine high-bitrate and DSD may not be as big as imagined. Both formats have quite high sound density, and it will not It feels jerky and plasticky like a bad record. Taking the above tracks as a comparison, Sanerjun does not think there is a distinction between high and low in the original state, while the PCM version of the track with the "DSD mastering remastering engine" turned on seems to lack a bit of sharp sound texture, and it does have DSD. Thick and smooth feeling. But if you compare the native DSD version, Sanerjun thinks it is not difficult to hear the difference. The native DSD version is slightly better in terms of fullness, detail and brightness.

Therefore, whether to turn on the "DSD mastering remastering engine", San'erjun believes that it is not necessary for native high-standard PCM files, but if it is an ordinary CD-level file, or you firmly like the DSD listening experience Friends, this function can be turned on with confidence, and there is no audible loss of hearing after turning it on.

In addition, there is also a [High-Resolution Streaming] function hidden deep in [Settings]-[Sound] that deserves our attention. After the function is turned on, it needs to be restarted to take effect.

By changing from a closed system to an Android system, Sony is obviously trying to cater to the current needs of music lovers for online music listening, but what follows is Android’s criticized SRC problem. To this end, Sony smartly thought of upscaling third-party music software to 32bit/192kHz output in addition to the Walkman App. By default, the system SRC will output 16bit/48kHz.

Simply put, if you want to enjoy the highest sound quality with Bit Perfect, it is still recommended to use the original Walkman App. It is also recommended to keep the "high-resolution streaming" function turned on. Sanerjun believes that it can at least take care of the more common 48kHz, 96kHz or their multiple frequency songs in online high-definition music platforms. It will also benefit the performance of D/A decoding and take advantage of It outweighs the disadvantages.

It takes six years to grind a brick, it’s worth it!

"It's been six years. Do you know how Suofen has spent these six years?" Mr. San'er is not a fan of Suo in the strict sense and cannot answer for him. But for old users who have been holding the original BRIC for six years, Mr. Saner believes that Sony's six-year grinding of one brick should satisfy fans. Anyone who has compared it can feel that the sound improvement of the new model is far beyond what can be expressed by parameters.

For non-fans who play high-end games, Saner Jun does not dare to recommend a blind purchase. The driving force is its most obvious shortcoming. Earplugs and headphones with high driving threshold are not suitable for secondary use. Instead of gold bricks, this is probably a design that is staggered from Suo Liuwan. In addition, the second generation of BRIC is enough to match the neutrality, transparency, high analytical power, high contrast and high density of its new flagship digital player. Sanerjun can think of a series of words for high sound quality in the digital era. Describe the high-end sense of the second generation BRIC. In San'er's view, such superior performance must not only be the result of good tuning, but also the result of careful planning of the circuit, clean and sufficient power supply, and clever shielding. In terms of product design and craftsmanship, the gold content of BRIC II is worth the price of admission.

By the way, there is also a second-generation black brick "WM1AM2" with a similar structure, but the price is less than half of the second-generation gold brick. Mr. San'er will also look for opportunities to bring you real listening sharing, so please Looking forward to~