I absolutely love this little guy (Sony Walkman NW-A55)

Firstly, I would like to thank this sub for providing valuable information on DAPs. It helped me a lot in narrowing down my choices and eventually finding the right fit.

I was looking for a compact, offline FLAC player with great battery life to use with my IEMs (pictured is the Xenns Mangird Tea version 1) that can handle my sizable library. I wanted no distractions from notifications or calls, just me with the music when out and about/hiking.

Initially, I was worried because it's relatively dated, but when I saw the red anodized version I couldn't help myself (I'm a sucker for anodized red, lol). I imported this (used) uncapped Sony NW A-55 from Japan for ~150 euros. It’s as good as new, score.

Pros:

  • Very compact without feeling cheap; the milled metal body feels premium and has some heft to it.
  • It takes my 1TB SD card with no issues and the transfer rate is relatively quick.
  • Impressive battery life. I tested it for a few days, and the battery is currently at about 45%. I think ~30 hours (even with FLAC files) is accurate.
  • Runs on its own firmware, no Android shenanigans. There is custom firmware you can install from MrWalkman with four different sound signatures: Warm, Bright, Neutral, and stock NW-WM1Z sound. Apparently, "Plus v2" boot mode further increases the battery life. (Be mindful that you lose some of the stock features like FM radio when using the custom firmware.)
  • The UI/interface is easy to use and fast enough to not feel sluggish. I particularly like the startup sequence waves as they remind me of the PSP 🥹.
  • The physical buttons are intuitive to use, and some have nipples to know which ones you're pressing (handy when in pocket). Holding the skip buttons will give you this Walkman forward/rewind cassette tape effect, which is neat in my opinion.
  • Sound: I'm using the WM1Z preset and hear little difference compared to my desktop headphone DAC/amp (AudioEngine D1). It sounds great imo. The uncapped version provides more than enough juice for IEMs, and I listen at a relatively loud volume. I don't go above 75-80% depending on song.
  • Screen: Crisp and easily readable, albeit a little on the cold side (preference). Brightness capacity is good; still legible in very bright conditions at 100%. 30-50% is more than enough in normal circumstances.

Cons:

  • Proprietary cable.
  • The startup sequence can be a tad long for some.
  • People have pointed out a noticeable hiss with very sensitive IEMs when there's no sound. I haven't noticed this with mine.
  • This is for offline libraries; if you want streaming, it isn't for you.
  • Discontinued (but still plenty available from overseas, new or used).

I hope this was useful. Cheers!

Firstly, I would like to thank this sub for providing valuable information on DAPs. It helped me a lot in narrowing down my choices and eventually finding the right fit.

I was looking for a compact, offline FLAC player with great battery life to use with my IEMs (pictured is the Xenns Mangird Tea version 1) that can handle my sizable library. I wanted no distractions from notifications or calls, just me with the music when out and about/hiking.

Initially, I was worried because it's relatively dated, but when I saw the red anodized version I couldn't help myself (I'm a sucker for anodized red, lol). I imported this (used) uncapped Sony NW A-55 from Japan for ~150 euros. It’s as good as new, score.

Pros:

  • Very compact without feeling cheap; the milled metal body feels premium and has some heft to it.
  • It takes my 1TB SD card with no issues and the transfer rate is relatively quick.
  • Impressive battery life. I tested it for a few days, and the battery is currently at about 45%. I think ~30 hours (even with FLAC files) is accurate.
  • Runs on its own firmware, no Android shenanigans. There is custom firmware you can install from MrWalkman with four different sound signatures: Warm, Bright, Neutral, and stock NW-WM1Z sound. Apparently, "Plus v2" boot mode further increases the battery life. (Be mindful that you lose some of the stock features like FM radio when using the custom firmware.)
  • The UI/interface is easy to use and fast enough to not feel sluggish. I particularly like the startup sequence waves as they remind me of the PSP 🥹.
  • The physical buttons are intuitive to use, and some have nipples to know which ones you're pressing (handy when in pocket). Holding the skip buttons will give you this Walkman forward/rewind cassette tape effect, which is neat in my opinion.
  • Sound: I'm using the WM1Z preset and hear little difference compared to my desktop headphone DAC/amp (AudioEngine D1). It sounds great imo. The uncapped version provides more than enough juice for IEMs, and I listen at a relatively loud volume. I don't go above 75-80% depending on song.
  • Screen: Crisp and easily readable, albeit a little on the cold side (preference). Brightness capacity is good; still legible in very bright conditions at 100%. 30-50% is more than enough in normal circumstances.

Cons:

  • Proprietary cable.
  • The startup sequence can be a tad long for some.
  • People have pointed out a noticeable hiss with very sensitive IEMs when there's no sound. I haven't noticed this with mine.
  • This is for offline libraries; if you want streaming, it isn't for you.
  • Discontinued (but still plenty available from overseas, new or used).

I hope this was useful. Cheers!