[Hinomotocho]

Seems like the A306 would compliment the Wm1z a bit more than the ZX300. As someone who has the ZX300 and a Wm1z, I don't reach for the ZX300 much.

I got the A306 mainly for work, using the Bluetooth for convenience. I started using it at home with wired iems but found the 3.5mm output a bit lacking coming from having used balanced Walkman outputs for several years. Perhaps it still needs some burn in, but I found it a bit brighter than previous Walkmans I've owned. I seem to be the only one that has this opinion. This is my first Android based dap, I find the whole experience often adds extra steps compared to the Sony OS, especially when I'm in a hurry at work.
I saw the ZX300 for a bargain so thought I'd see how I liked owning one again. I'm not saying it is superior to the A306, I just enjoy the straight up OS, it sits nicely in my hand, and as all my iems are 4.4mm it provides a bit more power and with the solidity of the thicker connector.
I love my WM1Z and intend to keep this for many years to come. Because of the weight and value (risk of dropping) I will sometimes deny myself a quick listen when doing things around the house, that's where the ZX300 is clocking up some hours.
I may switch to the A306 at a later point and find my opinion has changed.

 

[SoundDouble]

Hey guys. Just picked up one of the A307 and so far so good. Id been wanting to get a new dap since I got rid of my old cayin. Plus I travel more for work nowadays so this seemed like a good fit.

Popped in a 256gb I had spare, copied over my flacs and disabled some google garbage. still need more listening time on it but for the hell of it I tried my dt1990 and they sound decent on this. I plan to get a 4-pin 3.5mm mmcx cable to use with one of my iem. That'll be my flight package

 

[psikey]

I've had ZX300, ZX507, WM1AM2, WM1ZM2 and now just my A307 and its longest I've kept a DAP. Not missing balanced at all though I am using with balanced cables via the 3.5mm to 4.4mm seperate earths adapter cable (mostly as I prefer the cables and use with another 4.4mm source too).

I do have the Japanese uncapped version so no volume issues with my IEM's, even when I had some Sony Z1R & M9.

 

[psikey]

I do just use with my own flac (few MQA/DSD) files or Tidal Offline tracks and battery life is great with WiFi off.

Just use Sony Music app and Tidal app, nothing else on it (apart from Spotify too).

 

[jamesbk11218]

Hi,
Is there a way to enable otg capabilities so I can have my dac hooked up to it via an otg charger/audio cable?

 

[Zimmy68]

Hi,
Is there a way to enable otg capabilities so I can have my dac hooked up to it via an otg charger/audio cable?

I'm not sure if this answers your question but when I hook up my Focal Bathys via USB, it asks if I want to use the DAC on the headphones.

 

[BOTAK WAI]

Hey guys. Just picked up one of the A307 and so far so good. Id been wanting to get a new dap since I got rid of my old cayin. Plus I travel more for work nowadays so this seemed like a good fit.

Popped in a 256gb I had spare, copied over my flacs and disabled some google garbage. still need more listening time on it but for the hell of it I tried my dt1990 and they sound decent on this. I plan to get a 4-pin 3.5mm mmcx cable to use with one of my iem. That'll be my flight package

i also just picked up an A306 to replace my Sony NW-S755 walkman mainly for streaming purpose.

remember to turn off all animation scale settings in developer options for less laggy feel in operation.

pretty satisfy with the A306, if the ClearAudio+ feature could be replaced with Clear Bass and Clear Stereo then i will be happier.

 

[soulforce]

pretty satisfy with the A306, if the ClearAudio+ feature could be replaced with Clear Bass and Clear Stereo then i will be happier.

100% agreed on this!
I'm also coming from a prehistoric model (NWZ-S739) which I bought in 2009 and I'm still using to this day as a backup DAP. The Clear Bass and Clear Stereo options were so much better and really made a positive difference to the listening experience -- enhancing the sound in the low end and in channel separation, without distorting it.
And now this ClearAudio+ on my A306 seems totally useless. It changes the music so drastically from what it is supposed to sound, that most of the time I'm wondering is there any real purpose of it and who needs that.

 

[Hinomotocho]

Hi,
Is there a way to enable otg capabilities so I can have my dac hooked up to it via an otg charger/audio cable?

Hi, I think if you plug in it will pop up asking if you want to use the dac, if not there is a setting in the developers options (activated by tapping the build number in software info 10 times) that will activate automatic routing to an external dac.

 

[Murgatroid]

I bought one of these via ebay from a Japanese seller for $242 plus sales tax. It is listed as pre-owned, but it looks like it may have been an open box return as it looks new in the original box. It was shipped Fed-ex and got here (western US) in 4 days from when the seller eventually shipped it. No surprise custom fees so far.

I have to say, this is an impressive player. It's so small and light. Sound is surprisingly good! I think I like the Sony sound (it's my first Sony DAP). I"m also pleased that it can drive all my IEMs and headphones, including my Hifiman Ananda Nano. I only need to go up to 80/120 for it to be loud. This player can really deliver the bass!

Battery has also been impressive. Listing to local files from the W player, I lose about 2-3% an hour. Streaming Apple Music (direct sound, hi-res off), I am getting about 7-8% per hour. Playing local offline files from Apple Music in airplane mode, I lose about 5% per hour. The OS speed is similar to my Hiby R5ii, which makes sense as it's a similar 4-core Qualcomm SoC. It's not as snappy as my SD660/665 players, but it works well enough.

I'm loving this little feller and glad I bought the Japanese version...

 

[BOTAK WAI]

100% agreed on this!
I'm also coming from a prehistoric model (NWZ-S739) which I bought in 2009 and I'm still using to this day as a backup DAP. The Clear Bass and Clear Stereo options were so much better and really made a positive difference to the listening experience -- enhancing the sound in the low end and in channel separation, without distorting it.
And now this ClearAudio+ on my A306 seems totally useless. It changes the music so drastically from what it is supposed to sound, that most of the time I'm wondering is there any real purpose of it and who needs that.

i know right! couldn't agree more on what you said, exactly feel the same.

the ClearAudio+ sounds like a hybrid of Clear Bass + Studio VPT (surround) to me.

now without the Clear Bass level adjustment, i have to preset the EQ +2.5 for 31Hz and 62Hz to emulate Clear Bass +1, and +5.0 for 31Hz and 62Hz to emulate Clear Bass +2.

other than Clear Bass and Clear Stereo, i also missed the SenseMe feature too. I think our old walkman was too good for music lovers (not audiophiles) at that time.

 

[BOTAK WAI]

I bought one of these via ebay from a Japanese seller for $242 plus sales tax. It is listed as pre-owned, but it looks like it may have been an open box return as it looks new in the original box. It was shipped Fed-ex and got here (western US) in 4 days from when the seller eventually shipped it. No surprise custom fees so far.

I have to say, this is an impressive player. It's so small and light. Sound is surprisingly good! I think I like the Sony sound (it's my first Sony DAP). I"m also pleased that it can drive all my IEMs and headphones, including my Hifiman Ananda Nano. I only need to go up to 80/120 for it to be loud. This player can really deliver the bass!

Battery has also been impressive. Listing to local files from the W player, I lose about 2-3% an hour. Streaming Apple Music (direct sound, hi-res off), I am getting about 7-8% per hour. Playing local offline files from Apple Music in airplane mode, I lose about 5% per hour. The OS speed is similar to my Hiby R5ii, which makes sense as it's a similar 4-core Qualcomm SoC. It's not as snappy as my SD660/665 players, but it works well enough.

I'm loving this little feller and glad I bought the Japanese version...

i got mine for around 218usd in malaysia, new sealed unit with free gift and 12+3months official warranty.

 

[jamesbk11218]

edit. Please delete

 

[jamesbk11218]

Hi, I think if you plug in it will pop up asking if you want to use the dac, if not there is a setting in the developers options (activated by tapping the build number in software info 10 times) that will activate automatic routing to an external dac.

I probably didn't explain it well enough. I don't have an issue with it routing to the dac. When my battery is low I want to be able to hook up a dual charge and audio usb c cable which requires otg. When I attempt this it will either charge or route audio but not both at the same time. The odd thing is my dac shows the proper resolution of the file I'm playing on my dap but no audio comes through.