Four Way Portable (Sony ZX2, iPhone 6, AK100ii, Chord Mojo) Shootout w/ Andromeda IEM

Yeah, I think after acclimating a bit I wouldn't call it slightly dark as I did before. Very enjoyable.

 

Feel like a bit of a dunce, but it does actually make a difference to have the Sound Enhancement app completely killed and not just running with all the options disabled. On my unit having the process running kills lower treble and boosts bass unnaturally. On my first day of demoing it was off and so all my positive impressions still stand, but I must have opened it again accidentally.

Hope this helps future owners, Marv mentioned it as well but it was buried under the glorious spider chart.

 

Is there anyone that uses the ZX2 with TIDAL storing their downloaded music on the external SD card?

The Onkyo DP-X1 has a known issue with occasional very short "stutters" in this scenario, and am curious if the ZX2 has the same issue

 

I think I found a way to maximize the zx2's performance......

I read this sound enhancement guide on the thread but was wondering if you tried the following. I found the zx2 to sound very different under 3 conditions.

1 is with the sound enhancements on and off of course

2 is your way with turning sound enhancement off on the settings->app->under all.

3rd one I found out today is enabling sound enhancements then disabling the sound enhancements......then going to settings -> apps -> and going to running tab and not the all tab.....and kill the sound enhancement app on the running tab. It should be 5 megabytes or so. Then restart the same track.

3rd option i found makes the ZX2 absolutely 100% neutral signature.....compared to the warm sound you get from completely disabling the 20.0k app in all tab and getting this sound that is dark....detailing is much better and there is much more energy in the sound that people complained about. IMO it sounds much better. Try this guys and let me know. I can definitely hear the difference with my studio monitors here for sure.

 

We have come a long way:
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/10/diamond-rio-pmp300-mp3-player-today/

 

Hah, I had a first gen Rio, pre-ordered and shipped via a guy in New Orleans- I wanted to get one quickly just in case the RIAA succeeded in getting it withdrawn from market. At that time, the Smart Media (remember those?) cards that it took were a rarity too; I remember combing the electronics bazaars of London's Tottenham Court Road* trying to find bigger ones, and the young cocky shop assistants demanding to know what sort of device I had that could need such a thing.. When they saw the Rio, their jaws hit the floor.

Yes, it was a little primitive. No, I am not sure I have it any more...


* In those days, searching in meatspace was actually more efficient, imagine that.

 

Marv what you are talking about is option 2.

You want to keep the sound adjustment app running on the all tab...which is 20.0k. You want to only stop the process in the running tab, which is around 5 megabytes. It sounds vastly different. Let me know if you tried it.

The sound adjustment service should still be activated in the all tab so the icon doesnt disappear from the second to the bottom left.

So to clarify..start sound adjustment app..use and disable clear audio+. Then terminate the process in only the running tab and keep the one running under the all tab running. For settings to take place you need to pause the track and play again

 

Just tested again....completely different

 

Thats because you are killing the sound adjustment process in the "all" tab.

You should not touch that one.

Play a track. Now run the sound adjustment app by turning clear audio on and off.

Then settings -> apps -> running (3rd tab)

Select sound adjustment then press stop.

A box will come up asking if you want to stop.

Press ok.

Now dont kill the one in the next tab. Just leave it alone and just go to music player and restart the same track.

I have a eu zx2

 

Does anyone know the output impedance on the zx2? I know it sounds just slightly dark with my UERMs but not rolled off like it was when I used it with the AK Jr. I'm not sure if it's due to it having an OI greater than 1 or because of its tonal balance.

 

From what I've read here it's 1.5. According to @Marvey.

Here is a link to an article with an interview with Sony, stating the OI doesn't matter, not sure why though.

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0315/Interview_Yoshioka_Sony_NW_ZX2.htm

 

Just finished spending about 30 minutes with the zx2 at best buy. Really is an amazing dap. Listened both with sound adjustments (which I prefer) and with them disabled. Very big boost in power with them off, but I need the sound adjustments to add bass.

I abed with my Cowon P1. I used 4 different iems. Sony Z5, Noble K10s, Tralucent Ref 1 Too, and Tralucent Plus 5. They all sounded amazing but the Nobles and Plus 5 sounded the best on the zx2 to my ears. Ref 1 Too sounded a little veiled and the Z5, which I like, is really outclassed by the other IEMs.

Anyway, with sound settings on, they sounded very similar, but overall I like the P1 better. Bass is much better. Zx2 has a blacker background on some tracks, just not sure if it's my recordings or not. I used the sample songs in the zx2, not allowed to use my own card. I did have 3 or 4 songs they had so it was a pretty fair comparison.

I was glad I could do the ab session as now I don't feel like I'm losing anything without the zx2. I'm very happy with the P1. Plus, I purchased the P1 new at $699...cant get the zx2 that cheap yet.

Off topic, I demoed the Z7 headphones. Nothing great to my ears, much happier with my TH900.

Anyway, back to the zx2. With the sound adjustments off, it does sound very analog. I like the sound, especially with the drums. It almost sounds if you are at a live concert.

 

Best Buy has usable ZX2s available to try? I'll have to A/B against my Pono.

 

Yes, but has to be a best buy with Magnolia. They were supposed to have the Onkyo dpx1 as well, but have yet to see it there.

 

Just had the ZX2 for the past few days. Glad to say that it helps to alleviate the treble peaks of the Radius TWF-41 and complements its soundstage. Pity it does nothing for the fit though.

On a side note, does anyone know if the stock sony player can be displayed on the lockscreen? Mine doesn't seem to do so.

 

Just disable the lock screen, this is a dap, I believe you don't store personal info on it.