Sony made a $5,900 gold-plated Walkman MP3 player

<figure> <img alt="A press render of the $5,900 gold-plated sony walkman on a plain gray background because there was no way we would ever be allowed to actually touch one of these things." data-caption="This render with a transparent background is the closest we’ll ever come to touching one of these things. | Image: Sony" data-portal-copyright="Image: Sony" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/sony_walkman_WM1ZM3.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> This render with a transparent background is the closest we’ll ever come to touching one of these things. | Image: Sony </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sony has announced a <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sony-electronics-updates-its-premium-walkman-lineup-including-new-signature-series-walkman-nw-wm1zm3-nw-wm1am3-and-nw-zx900-digital-media-players-302909288.html">trio of new Walkman</a> portable media players that start at an already absurd $1,899.99 for the NW-ZX900 and climb all the way up to $5,899 for the gold-plated NW-WM1ZM3. Sandwiched in between is the $2,999.99 Walkman NW-WM1AM3, which is nearly identical to the WM1ZM3, just minus the gaudy gold shell.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">All three devices are aimed squarely at the audiophile market, if the price tag didn't make that clear. All three feature Sony's DSD (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Stream_Digital">Direct Stream Digital</a>) Remastering Engine, which upsamples standard PCM audio to an 11.2MHz DSD stream, which it claims delivers a more analog-like sound. They also all feature gold-plating on …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/1012200/sony-made-a-5900-gold-plated-walkman-mp3-player">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>