Sony player: a reliable "friend" for listening to music

The Japanese manufacturer of "multi-sorted" equipment Sony is traditionally considered one of the most reliable creators of multifunctional music players. The range of gadgets presented by the corporation in question on the modern market includes technology that differs from its analogues not only in appearance, but also in higher cost. What did brand audio players deserve recognition and honor from users? Is the claimed price for mp3 Sony devices really justified or is it a banal overpayment for the name of the manufacturer? Today we will answer all relevant questions of potential buyers of Japanese music devices related to the basic characteristics of the vast majority of models of the gadget segment in question.

About the manufacturer

The decision to create a company for the production of equipment was made back in 1946 by Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka. A distinctive feature of their products, entrepreneurs have made its compact size. The corporation from the first day began the active development, production and further marketing of various types of audio and video devices. So, already in 1950, Sony was released the country's first tape recorder, and a little later - a radio. The rapid pace of development of Morita and Ibuki was due to their competent approach to the selection of business partners.

In the period from 1950 to 1971, Sony became the first to launch a unique telescope for color TVs of its own brand and a VCR for professional television companies, and later for home use.

The production of portable audio players of the Japanese brand began in 1979. It was during this period that the “light” was seen by a prototype created by the corporation and called Sony Walkman. The flagship Volkman made a splash among the “fans” of the brand, which could not but provoke further scrupulous work of the creators on improving their mp3 “brainchild”.

About product

Sony’s modern player, unlike its “old” counterpart, is presented in a wide range of design variations: from a miniature gadget for sports, made in the form of a “flash drive” and supporting basic digital formats of downloaded files, to advanced expensive devices with a built-in bluetooth option, memory card support, as well as the ability to play sound in hi-fi quality. To make it easier for the buyer to decide and choose a really worthy model of an audio player from Sony, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the following list of technical specifications that deserve due attention and user evaluation before buying the device directly.

1. Memory size. This indicator should be considered in conjunction with the possibility of using a memory card in the purchased device. So, in mp3 players, which provide a flash drive slot in their design, the optimal indicator of storage volume will be 2 - 4 GB. In the case of structural integrity, it is advisable to give preference to 16 or 32 GB gadgets.
2. Supported formats. Modern models of musical mini-devices of the Japanese manufacturer are compatible with a wide range of digital file formats, for example, MP3, WMA, MP4, MPEG4, ASF, M4V, JPEG and so on. Of course, the longer the list, the higher the cost of the player. It should be understood that most music, videos and pictures have the same resolution, and the presence of many converter tools allows you to easily change any format supported by the purchased device. Thus, when buying a Sony player, it is enough for the buyer to make sure that he can correctly reproduce only the basic file types, namely MP3, MP4, JPEG.
3. Source of power. The main convenience of gadgets of this segment is portability.Based on this fact, we can conclude that they can be operated not only with an active connection to a power source (traditionally via a USB cable), but also autonomously. When making the final decision to purchase a particular model of audio technology, it is advisable to pay attention to the battery life, as well as the duration of charging. Optimal indicators are the time for playing music - 20-25 hours, and recharging the battery - 40-90 minutes.
4. Interface and advanced options. A built-in FM tuner, an equalizer, a Bluetooth module, the function of “dragging and dropping” downloaded files, an NFC sensor and so on are not superfluous in devices of this type. However, when choosing a multifunctional gadget, it is advisable for the buyer to verify the potential significance of the additional options provided by the manufacturer for the direct user of Walkman.

Top models

To form a complete picture of what performance a truly high-quality player from Sony should have, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list below of the best models of 2019.

NW-WS623

• Purpose: Sports
• Supported Media Type: Flash
• Built-in Storage Capacity: 4 GB
• PC Connection Type: USB0
• Supported Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, WAV, PCM
• Battery Life: 12 hours
• Additional options: Bluetooth module, A2DP, NFC, IPx65 moisture protection standard

The compact MP3 player is ideal for sports, thanks to the long battery life, as well as its moisture-proof properties.

NW-A35HN

• Player Type: Hi-Fi
• Supported Media Type: Flash
• Built-in Storage Capacity: 16 GB
• PC Connection Type: USB0
• Supported Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, PCM, AIFF, DSD
• Battery Life: 45 hours
• Additional options: built-in microSD slot, Bluetooth module, A2DP, NFC

The metal case of the player, which is resistant to external damage, as well as high-quality noise-canceling headphones in the basic configuration of the device, will hardly leave indifferent the potential buyer even with the most demanding taste.

Nw-a45

• Player Type: Hi-Fi
• Supported Media Type: Flash
• Built-in Storage Capacity: 16 GB
• PC Connection Type: USB0
• Supported Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, APE, Apple Lossless, WAV, PCM, AIFF, DSD, DFF, DSF
• Battery Life: 45 hours
• Additional options: the ability to work as a USB DAC, built-in microSD slot, Bluetooth, A2DP, NFC, built-in FM tuner, digital equalizer

A high-quality player by a well-known manufacturer is ideal for advanced users who appreciate the versatility and stylish appearance of an audio device.

NW-WS413

• Player Type: Sports
• Supported Media Type: Flash
• Built-in Storage Capacity: 4 GB
• PC Connection Type: USB0
• Supported Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, PCM
• Battery Life: 12 hours
• Additional options: firmware upgrade, water resistant

Sports mp3 player at an affordable price, ideal for active exercises in the pool and gym, due to its water resistance and comfortable "fit" in the user's ears.

NW-A35

• Player Type: Hi-Fi
• Supported Media Type: Flash
• Built-in Storage Capacity: 16 GB
• PC Connection Type: USB0
• Supported Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, PCM, AIFF, DSD
• Battery Life: 45 hours
• Additional options: the ability to work as a USB DAC, built-in microSD slot, Bluetooth, A2DP, NFC, built-in FM tuner, digital equalizer

A decent model of the line of players from Sony, designed for connoisseurs of high-quality sound transmission and the ability to adjust the reproduced audio content through a digital equalizer.

The many years of experience of the Japanese corporation Sony contributes to the production of high-quality audio equipment. The buyer, in turn, can only choose the most suitable model for himself among a wide variety of Walkman models. Having studied the above information, as well as having previously analyzed the technical characteristics of a specific player model, the user will be able to purchase a gadget that not only maximally meets the stated needs, but is also able to “serve” its owner for more than one year.