Introduction: DIY Sony Walkman Line Out Cable From a Line in Cable WMC-NW010

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About: Instagram@analogueears

When I got the NW-A55 it didn’t have enough power to drive power hungry IEMs/cans. DIY Line Out Kits are sold out at most of the places I know. The line out cables that are available now are very expensive.

A little bit of research and basic soldering skills managed to DIY a Line Out Cable for Sony Walkman NW-A55.

Supplies

  • Line in Cable WMC-NW010 
  • X-ACTO Knife
  • 4.7k Ohm Resistor
  • 2 Part Epoxy Glue
  • Soldering Skills

Step 1: Choose the Right USB Cable

You will need a WM- Port Cable with all the 22 pins intact. The USB Cable has missing pins.

I ended up using a Line in Cable WMC-NW010 it has all the necessary pins required for the MOD. These used to be supplied with older Walkman’s and it’s easier to get hands on these. 

Step 2: All You Need Is the WM-PORT & the Casing

You can disassemble them easily with a X-ACTO Knife. After you disassemble the connector all you need is the WM-PORT connector.

Step 3: Desoldering Skills

De-solder all the wires and SMD resistor on board

Step 4: A Little Tip

Printed circuit board may not look the same. But the pin layout is same. WM Port is symmetrical. It’s easy to confuse between both the sides. The trick is to just find the Pin 15 (Audio Ground) and use a multimeter to find the continuity to the “G” printed on the board.

Step 5: WM - PORT Pin Outs

Step 6: Solder the 4.7k Ohm Resistor

Pin1, Pin 22 & Pin 9 are connected with 4.7k Ohm resistor. I soldered the 4.7k resistor to the same location where there was a SMD resistor. 

The "line" output must be taken on pins 14 (left), 17 (right), and 15 (audio ground). I used two-part epoxy glue to prevent shorts and strengthen the joint & solder the other end to 3.5mm jack

Step 7: & the Outro

For the line out to work, the player must detect that it is connected to a dock. To detect this, it checks the resistance present between pin 9 (check cradle) and pins 1 and 22 (ground). when cable is removed from WM-Port, music output changes back to headphone jack.

Different players use different Resistance to detect the line out dock connector. I built this to work with NW-A55. So, it should work with the A series line up of Walkman.

Please note: Current MrWalkman firmware doesn’t support Line-Out functionality. However you can use the Line Out function with Stock Sony Firmware