For those who have been wondering whatever happened to the Walkman, here's your answer - it's morphed into a sleek, high-quality, digital version that would fall right in step with these modern times. It also comes with an unusually high price tag.
"The new Sony ZX2 Walkman will set audiophiles back by $1,119.99," Time said. "The payoff comes with a clarity of sound that approaches master recordings in studio."
This spankingly new model has 128 GB of storage to accommodate about 1,700 high-resolution songs.
"Unlike CD's and MP3 files, which compress sound files into more manageable sizes, the new walkman will retain songs in "high resolution" (a typical song file weighs in at a hefty 150MB)," the news source went on to explain. "That wider bandwidth allows for more sensitive recordings."
The ZX2 was unveiled at this year's International Consumer Electronics Show, currently ongoing in Las Vegas.
"The new Walkman ZX2 is a great example of the quality of our high-res audio offerings," declared Sony Electronics USA president Mike Fasulo, as noted by CNN. "This Walkman is tailored for outstanding sound, and every piece of material and component has been crafted to realize the ultimate high-res audio experience on the move."
Interestingly, the new Walkman, which comes 35 after the pioneering model, runs on Android Jelly Bean, which is still a July 2013 version of the mobile operating system. Perhaps they'll release the ZX2 in the latest Android OS version later when it drops in stores this coming spring?
One of the notable aspects of Sony's latest product announcement is its hefty price point, which apparently is seen as the company's bid to target the higher end, wealthier consumer. However, the tech company isn't the only one with that strategy.
"If releasing a $1,120 Walkman seems like a crazy move on Sony's part, it very well might be, but the company is only one of many betting on consumers getting into the portable audiophile game," Fortune observed. "There's the Astell&Kern line of players, which retail for up to $2,500, and the $399 Pono, via classic rocker Neil Young."
With that, you might be wondering whether the ZX2 is worth the investment. However, based on an early review, the answer might just be yes.
"I love the new ZX2. I love the texture of its matte black casing," said The Verge's Ross Miller. "I love the playback buttons carved into its curved side - in the little time I've had to hold the device, my fingers curled right onto the play, pause, and rewind. It's heavier than you'd initially expect, in a good way. It's solid. The distinctive gold-toned headphone jack juts wider than the frame and adjacent to the microSD slot."
Sounds promising. What do you think of the new Walkman?
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