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Sony has introduced its priciest Walkman to date: the new NW-WM1ZM3, which carries a US$5,900 price tag and is aimed squarely at high-end listeners. The company says the player pairs exotic materials with extensive internal engineering to minimize noise and reproduce high-resolution audio accurately.
Where it sits in Sony’s range
The NW-WM1ZM3 tops Sony’s portable-audio lineup and costs nearly double the company’s NW-WM1AM3, which retails for US$3,000. Sony’s previous flagship, the ZM2 from 2023, was priced at roughly US$3,700.
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Sony unveils $5,900 Walkman for audiophiles
Materials and mechanical design
At the heart of the ZM3 is a chassis machined from gold-plated, 99.99% oxygen-free copper (OFC). Sony says this choice improves digital grounding and structural rigidity, which the company links to cleaner audio reproduction.
To reduce electrical interference and secure a consistent ground, the player also uses low-resistance, gold-plated screws to fasten the front and rear sections of the chassis.
Key internal components
- Kimber Kable wiring between the amplifier base and the 4.4-mm balanced output, intended to lower noise.
- Dual, large solid high-polymer capacitors in the power-supply architecture to stabilize amplifier voltage.
- A large copper coil with flat wire in the LC filter designed to cut switching noise and distortion.
- A specially engineered low-dropout regulator that converts battery voltage while minimizing added noise.
- High-grade resistors and capacitors throughout the signal path to reduce near-imperceptible noise.
Audio processing and user experience
The player uses Sony’s S-Master HX digital amplification to boost signals while limiting transmission loss. An updated DSD Remastering Engine can convert standard audio files into an 11.2‑MHz DSD stream, a process Sony positions as delivering a more analogue-like character.
A 5.5-inch display and side-mounted physical controls give the device a traditional Walkman feel. It runs on Android 16, so users can install streaming apps, and it offers 256 GB of built-in storage plus a microSD slot for extra files.
Battery, size and handling
Sony rates the ZM3 for up to 33 hours of hi‑res playback after a 4.5‑hour charge. The player is substantial: 21 mm thick (about 0.8 inches) and weighing 490 g (17.3 oz). The manufacturer compares that weight to more than two iPhone 18 Pros together.
Alternatives and audible differences
For buyers put off by the ZM3’s cost, Sony continues to offer the NW-WM1AM3 at US$3,000 and the NW‑ZX900 at US$2,659. Those models use an aluminum-alloy main chassis paired with a gold-plated OFC rear section, rather than the full OFC body of the ZM3.
Because Sony’s previous flagship also employed an OFC chassis, Sony and some reviewers suggest the audible gap between the ZM2 and ZM3 could be modest, particularly for listeners who have not already invested in top-tier audio chains.
Sony lists the NW-WM1ZM3, alongside the NW-WM1AM3 and NW‑ZX900, on its website. Source: Sony via PR Newswire.
