Sony is expanding its high-resolution portable audio lineup with three new Walkman music players: the NW-WM1ZM3, NW-WM1AM3, and NW-ZX900. Across the range, Sony combines dedicated audio hardware with Android app compatibility, Wi-Fi streaming, expandable storage, and updated sound processing for both downloaded and streamed music.
Leading the announcement is the flagship NW-WM1ZM3, which features gold-plated oxygen-free copper construction and premium internal wiring. The NW-WM1AM3 pairs an aluminum frame with a copper rear chassis, while the NW-ZX900 emphasizes portability and battery life rated at up to 40 hours. Together, the new Sony Walkman players offer three approaches to dedicated listening, with shared support for high-resolution files and balanced headphone connections.
Sony’s New Walkman Lineup at a Glance
| Feature | Sony NW-WM1ZM3 | Sony NW-WM1AM3 | Sony NW-ZX900 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main construction | Gold-plated, precision-milled OFC main and rear chassis | Milled aluminum frame with gold-plated OFC rear chassis | Milled aluminum frame with OFC rear chassis |
| Display | 5.5-inch HD touchscreen | 5.5-inch HD touchscreen | 5-inch touchscreen |
| Built-in storage | 256GB | 128GB | 64GB |
| Expandable storage | microSD | microSD | microSD |
| Maximum stated battery life | Up to 33 hours | Up to 33 hours | Up to 40 hours |
| High-resolution playback | Up to 11.2MHz native DSD and 384kHz/32-bit PCM | Up to 11.2MHz native DSD and 384kHz/32-bit PCM | Up to 11.2MHz native DSD and 384kHz/32-bit PCM |
| Wireless audio codecs highlighted | LDAC and aptX Adaptive | LDAC and aptX Adaptive | LDAC and aptX Adaptive |
| Streaming support | Wi-Fi and compatible Android apps | Wi-Fi and compatible Android apps | Wi-Fi and compatible Android apps |
Native DSD playback requires a balanced connection; DSD playback through an unbalanced connection is converted to PCM. Available storage is lower than the advertised capacity because system and data management functions occupy part of the memory. Battery life varies with settings and use.
Sony NW-WM1ZM3: A New Flagship Signature Series Walkman
The Sony NW-WM1ZM3 takes the most elaborate approach to construction in the new lineup. Its main chassis is precision-milled from 99.99% pure oxygen-free copper with gold plating, while the rear chassis uses 99.96% pure OFC with direct gold plating. Low-resistance, gold-plated screws join the chassis sections to improve ground stability. According to Sony, this construction helps control noise and interference while supporting bass definition, spatial presentation, and high-frequency extension. These are design goals rather than listening impressions, but they establish the engineering priorities behind the new Signature Series player.
Inside, the NW-WM1ZM3 includes dual large solid high-polymer capacitors, hand-soldered OFC power wiring, and custom FT CAP3 capacitors. Dedicated capacitors serve the digital and audio sections, helping contain digital-circuit noise within its own block. An OFC shielding block also covers digital components, including the processor and memory. The flagship further distinguishes itself with KIMBER KABLE wiring between the amplifier board and balanced headphone jack. Other details include a 10-layer low-dielectric circuit board, copper-filled vias, and separate crystal oscillators for sampling-rate families based on 44.1kHz and 48kHz.
For everyday operation, the NW-WM1ZM3 offers a 5.5-inch HD touchscreen, tactile side controls, and a customizable Walkman Home Screen. Its 256GB of internal storage can be expanded through microSD, while Sony rates battery life at up to 33 hours of 96kHz FLAC playback.
Sony NW-WM1AM3: Aluminum and Copper Construction
The Sony NW-WM1AM3 brings many of the flagship’s core audio technologies into a different chassis design. A milled aluminum-alloy main frame joins a press-formed, directly gold-plated OFC rear chassis, creating a structure intended to improve rigidity, grounding, and resistance to interference. Its power architecture includes dual large solid high-polymer capacitors, an ultra-low-noise LDO regulator, hand-soldered OFC wiring, and Sony’s FT CAP3 components. Like the NW-WM1ZM3, it separates the audio circuitry from the power and digital sections to reduce interference.
The balanced output stage uses a large, high-purity copper coil with flat conductive wire. Sony says this design reduces resistance and distortion. Additional internal features include OFC shielding, low-phase-noise crystal oscillators, and a 10-layer circuit board with copper-filled vias. A 4.4mm balanced headphone connection, 5.5-inch HD touchscreen, and physical side keys anchor the user experience. The leather-textured rear finish adds grip, while a rear pad keeps the listener’s hand from directly contacting the copper chassis.
The NW-WM1AM3 includes 128GB of internal memory, microSD expansion, and up to 33 hours of 96kHz FLAC playback when using Sony’s original music player app with a balanced connection.
Sony NW-ZX900: Portable Design and Up to 40 Hours of Playback
With the Sony NW-ZX900, the emphasis shifts toward a portable form and longer listening sessions. Its milled aluminum frame, OFC rear chassis, and 5-inch touchscreen combine familiar Walkman styling with several audio technologies shared across the new range.
The ZX900 includes a large solid high-polymer capacitor that assists the amplifier’s power supply during sudden changes in demand. Custom FT CAP3 capacitors, film capacitors, and an ultra-low-noise LDO regulator also contribute to its power architecture. Sony describes these components as part of its effort to maintain stable operation and reduce unwanted noise. Despite its different positioning, the ZX900 retains S-Master HX amplification, a 4.4mm balanced connection, DSD Remastering, and DSEE Ultimate processing. High-resolution file support reaches 11.2MHz native DSD through the balanced output and 384kHz/32-bit PCM. Its stated battery life reaches up to 40 hours, the longest figure among the three new players. Built-in storage is 64GB, with a microSD slot available for larger music libraries.
S-Master HX Amplification and Updated DSD Remastering
All three new Sony Walkman players use S-Master HX digital amplification, with support for balanced output and native DSD playback. Sony also highlights advanced look-ahead noise shaping, designed to anticipate quantization noise and improve conversion performance. The NW-WM1ZM3 and NW-WM1AM3 offer three selectable look-ahead types.
Another shared feature is the DSD Remastering Engine, which resamples PCM audio into an 11.2MHz, one-bit DSD stream. Sony describes this processing as a way to give digital playback a more analog-inspired character. A notable update is support for DSD Remastering with compatible music streamed over Wi-Fi as well as downloaded files. That expands the feature’s role beyond a locally stored music collection and makes it more relevant to listeners who divide their time between streaming services and offline libraries.
DSEE Ultimate and Analog-Inspired Sound Options
Sony’s DSEE Ultimate processing also appears throughout the lineup. Using Edge-AI, it upscales compressed digital music in real time, with Sony additionally highlighting benefits for CD-quality lossless audio. The processing is intended to enhance high-frequency information, subtle musical detail, and dynamic expression. Sony lists support for both streamed and downloaded music, with processed playback also available through compatible wireless headphones.
For listeners who prefer additional sound customization, the NW-WM1ZM3 and NW-WM1AM3 include a Vinyl Processor and DC Phase Linearizer. The Vinyl Processor adds characteristics associated with record playback, including low-frequency resonance and surface noise. The DC Phase Linearizer offers six settings that emulate the phase characteristics of different analog amplifiers.
Wi-Fi Streaming, Bluetooth, and Expandable Storage
Each new Walkman supports Wi-Fi and compatible Android music apps, allowing listeners to stream music, download content through supported services, and play locally stored files from one dedicated device. Wireless listening includes LDAC and aptX Adaptive support with compatible headphones and speakers. Codec availability and performance depend on the connected device.
All three models also feature USB-C connectivity with USB 3.2 Gen 1 support for file transfers. Their microSD slots provide room to expand beyond the built-in storage, particularly useful for large FLAC and DSD libraries. Sony carries its nostalgic interface options into the new lineup as well. Alongside customizable home screens and analog-inspired volume graphics, each player includes a cassette-style interface and screensaver that changes its appearance according to the music’s codec.
- Sony NW-ZX900: $1,899.99
- Sony NW-WM1AM3: $2,999.99
- Sony NW-WM1ZM3: $5,899.99
You can find Sony’s new line of Walkman DAPs available for pre-order at Audio46.
