Sony Unveils Gold-Plated Walkman Players Priced Up to $5,900 or 4,999 EUR

Sony has launched three new portable digital audio players, though their price tags - ranging from $1,900 to $5,900 - are certainly steep. The legendary Walkman line, which last saw an update several years ago, now returns with a promise to offer audiophiles "the ultimate in portable sound quality." All the new Sony Walkman models feature an enhanced DSD Remastering Engine, designed to deliver a sound character that closely resembles analog audio.

When playing streamed audio, the Walkman players utilize AI to identify the track's genre, subsequently refining high-frequency output and enhancing overall detail.

The Sony WM1 series comprising the $5,899.99 Sony NW-WM1ZM3 and the $2,999.99 Sony NW-WM1AM3 features 5.5-inch 1080p displays. The entry-level model in this lineup, the $1,899.99 Sony NW-ZX900, comes with a 5-inch 1080p screen.

The flagship Sony NW-WM1ZM3 is housed in a chassis made of gold-plated, oxygen-free copper. According to Sony, this material improves sound quality; furthermore, the gold-plated screws ensure stable grounding, which contributes to powerful bass reproduction and a wide soundstage.

The two more affordable models feature aluminum alloy chassis with gold-plated internal back panels. All the devices presented run on the Android 16 operating system. The NW-WM1ZM3 and NW-WM1AM3 offer up to 31 hours of battery life when streaming, or up to 35 hours when playing locally stored music. For the entry-level NW-ZX900 model, the stated battery life is up to 35 hours for streaming or up to 40 hours for local file playback.