Aural Sex: Sony NW-ZX2 Walkman

I purchased the ZX-2 from Sony in Singapore. While it’s my first PMP (Portable Media Player), I’ve been using my iPhone 6 plus as a transport with a Resonessence Labs Herus DAC/amp (previously a Sony PHA-1) to drive Fostex TH900 headphones and DITA The Answer (Truth Edition) IEMs for almost a year.

A key decision to switch to a PMP was to get rid of fiddly cables and dongles while I’m on the go. On a bus/train, it’s no fun having my phone in my pocket along with a DAC/amp, a Camera Connection Kit, an a USB interconnect.

A key decision to get the ZX-2 was Android — while I have a small library of 16/24-bit FLAC albums, a lot of the tracks I listen to on the go come through TIDAL (HiFi) and Spotify (320 kbps bitrate).

I typically run this with HX on, but ClearAudio+ off, no equalizer

Pros

• Impressive sound quality. Gets better over time. I have around 70 hours on my set now, and it definitely sounds better than when I first got it two weeks back. I can’t say that it’s better or worse than the Herus, just different — it sounds a bit more balanced across the spectrum, while the Herus tends to come across a little glittery. Soundstage is pretty good (and it seems to have opened up over time), authoritative bass without sounding boomy, smooth midrange and vocals, and excellent detail in the highs
• Solid build quality. The ZX-2 has got heft. Everyone I know who has picked it up is surprised by the weight. it’s very well put together.
• Has Bluetooth AptX+ support and plays well with my Sony HBH-80 Bluetooth stereo headset. Pairs easily over NFC too.
• Comes with a nice leather case

Cons

• Laggy, sluggish OS performance. I have a HTC One (M7), a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE, and a Sony Xperia Z3, and a Garmin Monterra outdoor GPS, all running Android. The ZX-2 feels slower than the Galaxy Note 2, and I can’t explain why
• Horrible battery life — I have it on airplane mode, and still lose around 30% in one day with no usage
• Proprietary USB cable (and costs USD40!). Don’t forget this when you’re travelling! (on the upside, you get OEM ones for cheap on eBay)