NW-ZX300

The NW-ZX300 is the model that gave the ZX Series its clearest long-term identity. After the earlier Android experiments, Sony brought the line back to a dedicated proprietary operating system and re-centered it around serious music playback. It paired 64 GB of internal storage with microSD expansion, Bluetooth, NFC, USB DAC capability, direct USB transfer, WM-PORT, 4.4 mm balanced output, and broad support for high-resolution formats including DSD, APE, and MQA.

The ZX300 was the point when the ZX line stopped feeling experimental and started feeling fully defined as a portable audiophile branch within the modern Walkman range. It felt much closer to a compact expression of Sony's flagship Walkman thinking than to a smartphone-like media player.