Sony has announced the NW-WM1ZM3, a gold-plated flagship Walkman priced at $5,899 in the US. The dedicated music player leads a three-model refresh that also includes the NW-WM1AM3 and NW-ZX900, with US pre-orders open now. According to Sony’s announcement, the changes extend beyond the casing to revised power circuitry and sound processing that works with streamed music as well as downloaded tracks.
At this price, the flagship targets listeners who want a dedicated music device rather than another job for their phone. Its construction centres on a precision-machined, gold-plated oxygen-free copper chassis, with 99.99% purity copper used for the main body. The rear chassis also uses oxygen-free copper, while internal KIMBER KABLE wiring carries over from Sony’s DMP-Z1.
What changes inside the flagship
Sony has replaced the previous single large solid high-polymer capacitor with two in both WM1 models. Alongside hand-soldered copper wiring, the company says this arrangement supplies cleaner, more stable power with less interference. A larger copper coil in the amplifier’s output filter and a heavier copper block covering the digital section also target distortion and noise.
The S-Master HX digital amplifier supports native DSD and balanced output, and now adds a look-ahead noise shaper. Sony says this processing predicts quantisation noise to improve the response to rapid changes in sound. These are the company’s explanations of the engineering changes; we haven’t tested the players.
Across all three models, the DSD Remastering Engine converts PCM audio into an 11.2MHz DSD stream. The update lets listeners apply that processing to music streamed over Wi-Fi and downloaded files. It gives the new range a shared software feature even though the chassis materials and prices differ substantially.
Three players, three price levels
The NW-WM1AM3 costs $2,999.99 in the US, while the NW-ZX900 costs $1,899.99. Both use an aluminium-alloy main chassis with a gold-plated copper rear chassis rather than the flagship’s copper main body. The two WM1 players have 5.5-inch screens, compared with the ZX900’s 5-inch screen, and all three offer a customisable Walkman home screen.
Battery figures need a closer look before choosing between them. Sony rates the WM1 pair for up to 35 hours of 128kbps MP3 playback through its music app with a balanced connection. The separate figure of up to 31 hours for streaming-service apps applies in offline mode with a balanced connection, so it describes downloaded listening rather than continuous Wi-Fi streaming. The ZX900’s corresponding claims are up to 40 and 35 hours, respectively, with actual performance varying by settings and use.
For readers building a listening setup, choosing the player and choosing headphones remain separate decisions. Our Sonos Ace Ultra review covers one over-ear option, while our UAE earbuds guide focuses on smaller alternatives. Neither establishes how those products perform with this Walkman.
How much does the Sony NW-WM1ZM3 cost?
Sony’s US suggested retail price is $5,899, with pre-orders open through its US product listing and named retailers. This announcement didn’t include UAE pricing or availability.
Can the new Walkman models process streamed music?
Yes. All three support the updated DSD Remastering Engine for Wi-Fi streaming and downloaded music, letting ysothe scan ame processing across boforrces.
