Sadly at the thing that Sony is itself does not know what they're selling, I have x times the phone in the past 2 weeks with Sony support and selling (have unfortunately been no list), until I was told the AC would have a battery you should only 15h load .... of course nothing happens .... then I was told that there is no pha3AC and only the PHA3 and a battery that would have ...
one knew nothing at all and has forwarded me to the sale, which me a nice lady then referred back to the support because they had a different database and could see any data better .... long story short, Sony itself has no idea ! One fact is that there since 2014, a new pan-European transport provision does not exist in which it is stated that, among other devices with fixed verbautem Li-ion battery or may be transported if only as a hazardous material (Just looking Goggeln). What's just not entirely conclusive as manages other businesses easily deliver their devices in Europe (the best example is the apple products).
The only certainty is the Sony Europe to its occurrence in the high end sector has to work vigorously if they want to establish themselves in the field in Europe, particularly because these customers are extremely demanding customers.
The device itself provides the power without battery absolute high-end performance, the D / A conversion is very good and the Sony own upsampling technology to 32bit is really great! The headphone amplifier has enough power to really even something to play bigger headphones, then there with the Balanced connections again extra power and precision.
Sonically, I would have found many great words but I have to slow down because without battery no music ... me !!!
(If you think about buying a Denon DA-10 which I can only say that it is not just a worthy comparison. The Sony is definitely high quality and at the moment probably the best "portable" headphone DAC. The conversion from Denon is not as high and the treble he is too strong, especially but lacks the amplifier to power and he manages not even my ie800 satisfying to drive. As soon as the sound control is turned over 1/3, breaking the sound a förmlichst. That would get me 2 stars but only because it has a rechargeable battery and the accessory is really plentiful and helpful.)
ADDENDUM:
I have worried me in the meantime on vacation a device directly in Japan, this has of course now also a battery (Li-Lion 17,6Wh :) is thick on the back) and I am very satisfied with the device. Only the battery life with big headphones in the Balanced mode is with 5 hours. but a bit short, but I can cope with, given the otherwise presented performance, do in an emergency stop, an additional battery;) With my relatively power-hungry in-ears (Sennheiser ie800) all probably know this 7-8 hr running on iphone. Would I (DSEE HX) Upsamling omit it would certainly 1-2std longer run but he makes it a lot bear with.
The case is very robust and the way sounds on asphalt from 1.5m height similar to like a brick) has now indeed a smaller scar but not earth-shattering ...
WITH BATTERY is the unit at the moment the best DAC with headphone amplifier on the market and one of the few with upsampling.
