I posted up my NW-A300 vs NW-A100 comparison, so time to compare the 4 generations of the ZX line. I am including all 4 models, since some users with the older models may wish to upgrade to the new ZX700.
Comparison: Sony NW-A100 and NW-A300
|
NW-ZX700 |
NW-ZX500 |
NW-ZX300 |
NW-ZX100 |
| Dimensions/Weight |
|
|
|
|
| Height |
132.3mm |
122.6mm |
120.4mm |
120mm |
| Width |
72.5mm |
57.9mm |
57.7mm |
54mm |
| Depth |
16.8mm |
14.8mm |
14.9mm |
15mm |
| Weight |
227 g |
164 g |
157 g |
145 g |
| Capacity |
|
|
|
|
| 64 GB |
X |
X |
X |
– |
| 128 GB |
– |
– |
– |
X |
| Android OS |
12.0 |
9.0 |
X |
X |
| Display |
5.0 in HD |
3.6 in HD |
3.1 in (WVGA) |
3 in (WQVGA) |
| Touch Panel |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| WiFi |
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
2.4/5 GHz |
No |
No |
There is a big change from the ZX500 to the new model in terms of dimensions and weight. The display has also grown in size significantly. The WiFi is the same as before. For users of the older models who prefer the smaller footprint, I would not upgrade, unless you want WiFi and streaming from music apps. There was a 16GB version of the ZX300 (ZX300A) and ZX500 (ZX505).
|
NW-ZX700 |
NW-ZX500 |
NW-ZX300 |
NW-ZX100 |
| Supported Formats |
MP3 (.mp3): 32 – 320kbps (VBR compatible) / 32, 44.1, 48kHz
WMA (.wma): 32 – 192kbps (VBR compatible) / 44.1kHz
FLAC (.flac): 16, 24bit / 8- 384kHz
WAV (.wav): 16, 24, 32bit (Float/Integer) / 8-384kHz
AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 16-320kbps / 8-48kHz
HE-AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 32-144kbps / 8-48kHz
Apple Lossless (.mp4, .m4a): 16, 24bit / 8-384kHz
AIFF (.aif, .aiff, .afc, .aifc): 16, 24, 32bit/ 8-384kHz
DSD (.dsf, .dff): 1bit / 2.8224, 5.6448, 11.2896MHz *2
APE (.ape): 8, 16, 24bit / 8-192kHz (Fast, Normal, High)
MQA (.mqa.flac): Supported |
MP3 (.mp3): 32 – 320kbps (VBR compatible)/ 32, 44.1, 48kHz
WMA (.wma): 32 – 192kbps (VBR compatible)/ 44.1kHz
FLAC (.flac): 16, 24bit / 8-384kHz
AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 6-320kbps / 8-48kHz
HE-AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 32-144kbps / 8-48kHz
Apple Lossless (.mp4, .m4a): 16, 24bit / 8-384kHz
DSD (.dsf, .dff): 1bit / 2.8224, 5.6448, 11.2896 MHz,
APE (.ape): 8, 16, 24bit / 8-192kHz (Fast, Normal, High) |
MP3 (.mp3): 32 – 320kbps (VBR compatible)/ 32, 44.1, 48kHz
WMA (.wma): 32 – 192kbps (VBR compatible)/ 44.1kHz
FLAC (.flac): 16, 24bit / 8-192kHz
WAV (.wav): 16, 24bit / 8-192kHz
AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 6-320kbps / 8-48kHz
HE-AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 32-144kbps / 8-48kHz
Apple Lossless (.mp4, .m4a): 16, 24bit / 8-192KHz
AIFF (.aif, .aiff, .afc, .aifc): 16, 24, 32bit/ 8-192kHz
DSD (.dsf, .dff): 1bit / 2.8224, 5.6448 |
| Bluetooth |
Version 5.0
SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX, aptX HD |
Version 4.2
SBC, aptX, LDAC |
Version 3.0
SBC, aptX, LDAC |
| USB DAC Function |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
| NFC |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Noise Cancelltion |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Digital Amplifier |
S-Master HX |
| DSEE |
DSEE Ultimate |
DSEE HX
DSEE Ultimate |
DSEE HX |
DSEE HX |
| Equalizer |
20 Band |
20 Band |
10 Band |
5 Band |
| USB Charging |
~ 3.5 hours (100%)
~ 3 hours (~80%) |
~ 6.5 hours (100%)
~ 5.0 hours (~80%) |
~5.5 hours (100%) |
~5 hours (100%) |
| USB Port |
Type-C (USB3.2 Gen1) |
Type-C (USB2.0) |
WM-Port (USB 2.0) |
WM-Port (USB 2.0) |
| microSD support |
microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC |
There are many differences, the newer models both use USB Type-C, where as the older models stick to Sony’s own WM-Port. USB DAC function returns after an absence in the NW-ZX500. Only the NW-ZX100 had built in noise cancellation but not really an issue with the current wireless NC headsets.
>With each newer generation, the recharge time has kept dropping, most likely due to the better charging speed. NFC is dropped for the past 2 generations, so if you use it a lot, no sense in upgrading, unless you want to stream from online services.
One interesting side note, the ZX-100 Bluetooth chip is certified at 4.0.
|
NW-ZX700 |
NW-ZX500 |
NW-ZX300 |
NW-ZX100 |
| Battery Life |
MP3 128kbps
3.5mm ~25 hours
Balanced ~ 24 hoursFLAC 96kHz/24bit
3.5mm ~ 23 hours
Balanced ~ 23 hoursFLAC 192kHz/24bit
3.5mm ~ 21 hours
Balanced ~21 hoursDSD
2.8224MHz /1bit
3.5mm ~ 21 hours
Balanced ~ 21 hours5.6448MHz /1bit~
3.5mm ~ 18 hours
Balanced ~ 18 hours11.2896MHz/ 1- bit
3.5mm ~ 13 hours
Balanced ~ 11 hours |
MP3 128kbps
3.5mm ~20 hours
Balanced ~ 19 hoursWAv 44.1kHz/16bit
3.5mm ~ 20 hours
Balanced ~ 19 hoursFLAC 44.1kHz/16bit
3.5mm ~ 20 hours
Balanced ~ 18 hoursFLAC 96kHz/24bit
3.5mm ~ 18 hours
Balanced ~ 17 hoursFLAC 192kHz/24bit
3.5mm ~ 16 hours
Balanced ~15 hoursDSD
2.8224MHz /1bit
3.5mm ~ 10 hours
Balanced ~ 9 hours5.6448MHz /1bit~
3.5mm ~ 8 hours
Balanced ~ 7.5 hours11.2896MHz/ 1- bit
3.5mm ~ 6.5 hours
Balanced ~ 4 hours |
MP3 128kbps
3.5mm ~30 hours
Balanced ~ 25 hoursAAC 256kbps
3.5mm ~ 27 hours
Balanced ~ 23 hoursFLAC 96kHz/24bit
3.5mm ~ 26 hours
Balanced ~ 23 hoursFLAC 192kHz/24bit
3.5mm ~ 23 hours
Balanced ~20 hoursDSD
2.8224MHz /1bit
3.5mm ~ 19 hours
Balanced ~ 13 hours5.6448MHz /1bit
3.5mm ~ 15 hours
Balanced ~ 12 hours11.2896MHz/ 1- bit
3.5mm ~ 13 hours
Balanced ~ 10 hours |
MP3 128 kbps
NC ON ~ 60 Hrs
NC Off ~ 70 HrsAAC 256 kbps
NC ON ~ 55 Hrs
NC Off ~ 65 HrsFLAC 96 kHz/24 bit
NC ON ~ 50 Hrs
NC Off ~ 55 HrsFLAC 192 kHz/24 bit
NC ON ~ 40 Hrs
NC Off ~ 45 HrsDSD 2.8224 MHz/1 bit
NC ON ~ 29 Hrs
NC Off ~ 31 HrsDSD 5.6448 MHz/1 bit
NC ON ~ 24 Hrs
NC Off ~ 26 Hrs |
Bluetooth
Streaming |
MP3 128 kbps
SBC (Connection) ~ 22 hoursFLAC 96 kHz/24 bit
LDAC (Standard) ~11 hours |
MP3 128 kbps
SBC (Connection) ~ 11 hoursFLAC 96 kHz/24 bit
LDAC (Standard) ~ 8.5 hours |
MP3 128 kbps
SBC (Connection) ~ 25 hoursFLAC 96 kHz/24 bit
LDAC (Standard) ~ 14 hours |
MP3 128 kbps
SBC (Connection) ~ 45 hoursFLAC 96 kHz/24 bit
LDAC (Standard) ~ 28 hours |
Headphone practical
maximum output
(JEITA 16Ω/mW) |
50mW+50mW (3.5mm)
230mW+230mW (Balanced) |
50mW+50mW (3.5mm)
200mW+200mW (Balanced) |
50mW+50mW (3.5mm)
200mW+200mW (Balanced) |
15mW + 15mW |
The NW-ZX100 only has a 3.5mm output so it did not have much output. In fact the new NW-A300 has more output than the ZX100. The new ZX700 ups the balanced output even more than the previous models, approaching the WM1M2 models.
Although I suspect that the European models are volume capped again, since if the WM1M2 models are, so is the new ZX700 and A300. This is a shame, and I would highly recommend importing a model if you are able to or buying one overseas if you are on vacation/business trip.
That is all for the comparison, I will do a deeper dive into the ZX700 in a separate post.
