HWM Singapore – June 2019

audio quality might be poor, but I
can enjoy the music’s essence. Of
course I can  nd new recordings
with better quality technically,
but sound quality is secondary
to the performance.
I’m also listening not as a listener,
but a player, so I look out for
more subtle expressions. So, I can
understand how High Resolution
Audio can be a good way to
express music.

How does Sony decide what to do
next for the Signature series?
 Sato: For players, our motivation

came from requirements of our

customers. We had the portable

WM1Z Walkman player, and the

larger DMP-Z1 Music player last

year. These are two very different

types of product. For DMP-Z1, our

requirement was huge power output

for headphones, and this actually

came from our WM1Z customers

especially in the U.S. Now we have

two good concepts for the market,

so we want to get customers

feedback for these products to see

what to work on next.

 Nageno: Basically, we try any

kind of direction. *laughs* We’ll

make this product, then if there’s

a possibility for another type of

product, we’ll try it too. That’s just

the primary stage of development,

but there’re many projects inside.

And then, if we get a new device

or big improvement, then we’ll go

ahead to the next stage. So we don’t

limit ourselves to just one direction.

Mostly  nding another direction,

not just following one direction is

important to creating a new sound.

Now, I am 61 years old and half

retired, but younger engineers

are coming up and maybe they

have the next idea.

JUNE 2019 | HWM 43