This top of the range Sony NW-ZX2 Walkman that sells for USD$1200 sounds fantastic. It plays DSD and other format music files and drives low impedance headphones. Can it be used as a digital source like a CD player? If I use a headphone 3.5mm to stereo RCA cable and connect it to my line level preamplifier (20k volume pot input followed by OPA627), will it work as a superior source?
Since the output of the Walkman is for headphone not for a preamp, will the relatively low output resistor at the NW-ZX2 be a problem driving the cable? Will a low volume output cause lower S/N ratio that degrades the sound? In a word, will the sound of the high-end Walkman being used as a digital source be better than using a computer laptop with a USB DAC of similar price?
Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Since the output of the Walkman is for headphone not for a preamp, will the relatively low output resistor at the NW-ZX2 be a problem driving the cable? Will a low volume output cause lower S/N ratio that degrades the sound? In a word, will the sound of the high-end Walkman being used as a digital source be better than using a computer laptop with a USB DAC of similar price?
Please let me know your thoughts on this.
From my reading of the Sony blurb, its using a 'digital amp' to drive the headphone output. Which means it'll potentially sound quite dire used as a source to a preamp. Reason being 'digital amp's put out lots of switching noise - you'll want a fairly steep passive filter between the player and the opamp in order to get best dynamics.
I use an mp3 player with my power amp designs.
Unless zero volts is earthed the noise is terrible.
Unless zero volts is earthed the noise is terrible.
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