Pretty good prices on Sony's IER range except the Z1R, near flagship sound for less than a thousand or even half that. Other items in the Easter sale including Walkman DAPs, but the Sony IERs looked like the standouts. Be warned that all A2A stores closed over Easter and I don't think Sony stores even let you demo IEMs right now, so make sure you know what you want or you can swallow the 20% restocking fee.
Honestly can't find these deals, so if anyone can give me a direct link I'd appreciate it.
OH!
They're earphones?!
No wonder I couldn't find them lol! I was using the image in OP's post as reference.
Dunno if that's on me for not knowing my Sony models or OP for showing what I thought was something else altogether. But this isn't what I'm after.
Thanks for clarifying it, regardless!
Yeah the image is a Fiio E10K, which is a dac/amp and for whatever reason the first listing in the sale, but thought it was more useful to link to the entire thing. To be honest though I think anyone willing to drop this kind of money on the IERs should already know what they want, especially given how finicky the returns would be (so long as you go through A2A, Sony might be willing to price match with a more generous policy).
Hard to beat the IER-M9 at that price point, stock cables are also some of the comfiest around.
This! The stock cable inclusions are very good (3.5mm and 4.4mm Balanced) and the microphonics are well controlled.
Indeed. Adding a balanced cable is usually $100-150 for most other IEMs. Tack on the plethora of eartips and case, it comes with at least $200 in value in just those accessories+cable alone.
Yup, and these prices are super competitive for what they are.
IER-M9 is phenomenal, got a pair last time it was 899, and i've been through 10s of >2k IEMs, these are well worth the price.
This is so true. I have purchased totl models and cables over the years and now I am still sticking to the IER-M7 and the stock cables. They are 'paired' so well that no further upgrades are required. This is one of those satisfying one-time-buys!
I prefer wide sound stage and I believe the IER-M9 is not so good on this aspect. It is more catering for studio monitor. Have to wait for the Z1R price to come down further :).
First time the WM1A is less than $1k as far as I can remember. Must be a new model coming out to replace them.
But still a very good buy at this price.
I did read the rumours of a new model replacing the entire WM series, but nonetheless I’m considering getting the WM1A. Is it silly to get the WM1A or wait till the new models?
Depends. New models will likely be Android based if that matters to you (access to streaming services) but battery life will be iffy considering the NW-ZX5xx line.
It depends on what you're after really.
For me the biggest annoyance with the WM1A is having a WM-port instead of a standard USB port. But I won't be upgrading. I'm happy with my WM1A. It does everything I want it to do and I have already invested in a couple of spare WM-port cables, so it's not a deal breaker.
The rumors point at the new replacements being based on Android. For some weird reason. I feel… if I'm to get an Android-based DAP. Midas well just get a Android phone.
I do notice a slight difference when playing the same non-high-res files on my OnePlus Nord N10* and on my WM1A. But that's mostly due to the sound signature of the two devices - obviously the WM1A sounds way better (that's just my subjective point of view!).
Something I tell others, before investing in a high-end DAP or any DAP really, and that is to first invest in the following:
1) A decent pair of IEMs/Headphones, I have the IERM7 and they're pretty good. Bass is lacking though. So if you're looking for that thump, look at the IERM9 or other alternatives.
2) Some high-res audio files or a subscription service that streams high-res audio**.
What you need to decide on is, are the following going to be a deal breaker for you:
- WM1A is near or at its EOL. Therefore, don't expect much/many firmware updates.
- WM1A has older Bluetooth 4.x. Do you need Bluetooth 5.x?
- WM1A does not support streaming services out-of-the-box.
- WM1A does not run on Android, so you cannot install apps.
- WM1A uses a WM-port instead of standard USB port. And its transfer speed is USB2.0.
- WM1A supports DSD up to 256 natively via Balanced connection (there's unofficial firmware that can enable native DSD playback on unbalanced 3.5mm output)
- WM1A will not be the latest and greatest from Sony (when the new model comes out)
- WM1A would represent ~$200 savings if the new model is a direct replacement and costs the same as the WM1A (assuming that A2A will have a sale on the new model, otherwise it's more like ~$400 saving)
Now, the benefits of getting the WM1A:
- you can get it NOW (the new model could be released next week, next month, or next year)
- you get a pure music player/audio device that does just one thing and does a pretty darn good job of it.
- it's rock solid. hence, there's not been much firmware updates to patch bugs. glad I bought it over the Astell&Kern SR15.
- better battery life over Android-based DAPs.
- no telemetry or any form of monitoring as far as I can tell. Android devices a plagued with telemetry. Heck, Google even tracks how you use your onscreen keyboard. They probably have all my passwords in their logs somewhere!
- you'll get a limited device. each WM1A has its own unique serial number because they're not "mass" produced. only a few hundred thousand of them exists and no more are being made if the rumors on its discontinuation are true.
OK. After that detour, getting back to your question - that is not a question to ask others. It's a question only yourself can answer. Go through the points I've highlighted and then decide for yourself. What matters most for you.
*via the Sony Music Center app - must have, hands down best music player app for iOS/Android/Windows!
**WM1A does not have WiFi or apps support. So, to listen to streaming services you'll need to either pair it with a Bluetooth device or plug it into a computer.
Would love to see a deal on the Fiio BTR5.
Not the same but earstudio has a deal on the es100 at the moment. I also have the qudelix. Would recommend either at their price point. But the qudelix if price doesn't concern you due to superior build quality.
No Z1R no buy