Shinji Ikeda

Some additional notes about the NW-A800 series. The NW-A800 series allow the user to turn the player on by pressing any button. This however does not start playback, but returns to the last content played. Also, the unit can be forced of with the power off button. The NW-A800 series uses a circular list. While proceeding down a list item or a menu when the last item on the list is reached then the NW-A800 will go to the first item. This also works in reverse when proceeding up the list or menu. It is also possible to jump up or down a list or menu for faster access. This concept is so simple it is surprising that other media players have not implemented this. Thank GQ Smooth. Sony provides headphone (MDR-EX082) with extension cable, USB-WMPORT and stand. The stand is used for connecting it to some models of Sony's stereos. Sony also provides SonicStage and Image Converter. Image Converter is used transfer pictures and videos to the NW-A800 series Walkman. Image Convert has a feature for subscribing to RSS channels, so that you can download video podcast. Additionally, SonicStage allow you to import audio podcast. If the MP3 files are correctly defined by the author all information (title, release year, genre) and album are will appear in SonicStage. Unfortunately, fortunately, the NW-A800 series does not come with a case. Sony however has three types of cases that can be purchased (silicon case, plastic case, and leather case). The leather case has a flap that protects the screen, and prevents accidental operation. I am using the leather case. Getting one would be good insurance for protecting the NW-A800. A review of SonicStage and Image Converter should be coming soon.

I would have to agree with lyris. The display on the NW-E400 series is a monochrome green. My is as bright as the first day I bought it. Unfortunately, .5 GB is not enough to store my audio files even at the lowest bit rate. Zizone thanks for the update.

No confusion. I read the entry on Wiki about SonicStage, and realized that some information had been updated with others not. Sony should solidify there ATRAC devices so that they can play all the same ATRAC formats. This will make life easier for those that have multiple ATRAC devices, and further strengthen Sony's position in the market place.

SonicStage will automatically transfer songs when you connect your media player to your computer. This is an option that can be deselected. Additionally, when transferring songs all songs will be transferred. You have to explicitly transfer the songs you want to. otherwise every song will be transferred. Also, please check you automatic transfer setting (the big red button with AUTO on it). Ensure that no songs or albums are included in this list. Especially, the song that is transferred to your HD3 every time you use the transfer button. Let us know if this helps.

First, the NW-S700 series and NW-A800 series are both excellent players. The sound on the NW-A808 seems to be clearer and crisper than the NW-S706. This is with DSEE off on the NW-A808, and the Noise Cancellation on in a quite environment. To help improve the sound quality the NW-A800 series has Clear Stereo, Dynamic Normalizer, Clear Bass and DSEE.

Backup any files on the SanDisk MSPRODuo to your hard drive. Format your MSPRODuo through the your PSP (Settings->System Settings-> Format Memory Stick). You will have to connect your PSP to computer before starting SonicStage. This should solve your problem. If it does not please let us know.

My impression after using the NW-A808 for several weeks is that it is designed to be an audio player. The NW-A800 uses two types of menus, a hierarchical and pop up menu, for operating the NW-A800. Traversing these menus are done by using the 5-way, back/home and option buttons. This system may not seem as intuitive as it should be, but does work quite well. Sony has designed the NW-A800 as a music player. Using the option button will allow you to quickly return the music screen. You select how you play your music by using playlist, intelligent shuffle, and other options. A playback range can be defined by selecting an artist from a specific album, or year. With the selected range it is possible shuffle only songs in that range, which can not be done with the NW-S700. Additionally, you can play all your songs. Creating playlist are the quickest way of copy audio content to your player. Playlist can be created on the NW-A800 quickly using bookmarks without interrupting the audio playback. However, there are only 5 bookmarks that can hold upto 100 songs/audio files. SonicStage can transfer bookmarks created on the NW-A800 back to my library and renamed in my library. Many of the features that makes the NW-A800 an excellent player who be missing if it allowed drag-and-drop. When the player is connected to SonicStage, the NW-A800 play history is updated and any songs placed in the trash bin are deleted from the NW-A800. As a music player the NW-A800 excellent, and SonicStage enhances this. The sound quality is also excellent. There are many more features that this player has. Any questions about this player will be welcomed. There are more reviews of the NW-A800 by both Reg Hardware and TrustedReview. http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/12/review_sony_nw-a800/ http://www.trustedreviews.com/multimedia/r...kman-NW-A805/p1 Both reviews give the NW-A800 high marks for sound quality.

Yeah! "bite the bullet". The file format is incomparable between SonicStage and the Vaio pocket. It will not take too long to ease, but loading 16000+ will take time.

Additionally, have you ensured that the headphones are fully inserted into the jack on both the the player and the extension cord (if you are using the extension cord). When the headphones are not completely inserted the left channels volume becomes quieter that the right channel. Try see if the volume is balanced between both sides. Test with both ears, then only with your right ear. The only other solution is to return it to place of purchase.

I will have to agree. Getting a case is the best way to protect your investment. Electronic gadget endure a lot of abuse, of course not deliberate. It is very hard to keep your expensive purchase pristine, no matter the brand of your electronic device. It would be good if Sony did include a case with NW-S203/205 and other models, even if it was cheap.

I would agree with you about the PSP being too large. The NW-A800 series is smaller that the screen of the PSP. The colour screen of the NW-A800 is good for album art, and provides a more crisp GUI. Sony surprised me with the NW-A800 after they released the NW-S700/S600. I would have to agree with you, but it will be a hard drive based unit. Flash memory has not made the saturation level to replace hard drive units, with the capacity that most people are looking for. Additionally, I do not think the higher capacity flash memory units are small enough. Sony seems to be serious at strengthening their Network Walkman and Walkman brands. I am worried about Sony's next surprise, but the NW-A800 is perfect for my uses. It can be predicted that Sony will release a unit for those that use over 8Gb for their digital library.

It would not be possible for Sony to produce a NW-A800 with higher capacity and also price competitive. Remember when Apple released their 8GB iPod-Nano it was believed Apple got a great deal from Samsung. Whether the deal between the two companies amounted to ant-competitive behaviour can be debated. There have been complaints that the pricing of the NW-A800 is already too expensive. It is just cost prohibitive to have a larger flash based DAP or similar device. When the iPod-Nano and similar flash based players drop significantly in price, then there will be higher capacity players.

Unfortunately, SonicStage is like most software in general. They a steep learning curve. Could we have more information. Is the album art missing from SonicStage or your NW-S706. Let us make a guess for your solution. Please go to view->album. There are four view options. Icon (All Categories), Icon (single category), Details (All Categories) and Details (single category). Please set it to Details (All Categories).

There a short advertisement on the front page of SonyStyle Canada. This does not really help anyone since they have to visit SonyStyle Canada to be aware of the NW-A800 (let alone that it existences). It would be in Sony's best interest to have more advertisement on and in the various forms of media. I feel that the "iPod and iTunes" advertisements are silly. The concept is easy to understand. Easy system to use that allows you to spend more time enjoying your music. This is not apparently clear from the advertisements. All you see is silhouettes of people dancing. Thus Sony should demonstrate what makes the NW-A800 distinctive from other DAPs/DMP.

Tue Apr 3, 2007 5:03 PM BST137 (Reuters) - Sony Computer Entertainment America said on Tuesday it will cut the price of its handheld PlayStation Portable game device 15 percent, or $30, to about $170 as it battles Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s rival DS handheld. This is very surprising news. There is no news for other regions, but it can be suspected that there will be a price cut for other regions soon. Please read the link below. http://investing.reuters.co.uk/news/articl...49062-OISCP.XML What do you think?

I apologize. The percentages that were quoted were from were calculated using the prices on both companies respected sites. iPod-Nano 148,199 and 249 verses NW-A800 179,99, 229,99, 299,99 giving a price advantage to Apple at 21%,15.5%,21%. I am not aware how much the units sell at retail outlets, thus I must use the information that is available. Oops, please add about 7,18 Euros for shipping for the NW-A800. Any ways, Sony will have a hard time convincing people about the price, when the iPod is the premium product in consumers minds. I am very shocked by how much the PS3 costs in Europe. Sony's world wide pricing structure is very confusing. 100%. Yeah, that used to be Canada . Not really, but it sure felt like it. My suggestion is wait and see the NW-A800 in person before making a final decision. Everyone is willing to pay for something based on how much it is worth. If they deem it too expensive then they will not buy it. Ceres, wait until you have the NW-A800 in your hand at the store and then compare it to the iPod-nano. I would like to hear your opinion then, since our perception about the NW-A800 is different. Yes, I would love if it had the noise cancellation and the FM radio.

Sony's pricing in each country makes one wonder if each Sony is independently owned. However, the price points are still competitive. 15-20% is not really significant, when you consider how much better the NW-A800 series is better. In Japan the NW-A808 is 15% higher than the iPod-nano. Remember this. You get a larger brighter screen, better headphones, longer battery life and an integrated interface with the NW-A800 series. The NW-A800 is worth more than the iPod-nano, but currently any product with iPod in its name will sell more units no matter how competitive another product is priced. With the NW-A800 Sony decide to create its own product niche. This is the first time that I have noticed that Sony Canada has had competitive pricing for any of their products, the products are always cheaper in the U.S even after you pay your taxes. I do suspect that Sony will release another DAP soon, something that will shock us all...

It is shocking that Sony Canada decided to sell the NW-A800 series at the same price points as all models of the iPod-nano. I strongly believe that the NW-A800 series is a better product that the iPod-nano (negating SonicStage and iTunes). This definitely is great news for Canadians in the market for a flash player, since a hard choice has been made easier by Sony Canada. The only disappointing fact is that it is a pre-order, but SonyStyle's homepage will give you a preview of what to expect... http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/H...catalogId=10001 Thank You Ascariss this news.

Lyris, Thank you for the review. My NW-A808 is used to listen to both music and dialogue. I only use the equalizer with the music tracks. However, I tested some of the dialogue tracks with the equalizer and hear nothing unusual. I also tested some music track and got the same result (not all the equalizer settings were tested). Listening to the track that your provided, I did hear something coming from the rear. I strongly believe that it is reverberation (from the drums). Yes, I would have to agree the sound quality. This is one of the main reasons for purchasing NW-A800 over the iPod-nano.

I would have to agree with you on that the lack of noise cancellation on the NW-A800. It would be great if Sony had added this to all their DAPs, including the NW-A800. The video playback demonstrates effectively the quality of the NW-A800 series screen. 256K colour is more than any other DAP that I know of, and you do notice the difference. The screen of the NW-A800 is best when displaying 4:3 video's, and 16:9 can sometimes seem too small. Sony designed the NW-A800 as an audio play. Navigating it is quite integrated, and this is what sets the NW-A800 apart from other DAPs. The large bright screen and the quality headphones are a few of many reason to justify the high. Even without noise cancellation, this is still Sony's best audio player.

One thing that I have noticed is that the with the design of the headphones and the noise cancellation the volume does not have to be as loud to enjoy your music. Additionally, the larger drivers seem to give more bass.

The transfer rate can be slow, but this depends on the settings in SonicStage. Could it be correctly assumed that the newest/newer version of SonicStage is being used to transfer audio to the NW-S706? If this is the case then please check that the audio is not being converted. Change the codec when transferring audio to the Connect player (NW-S700/S600/E010/A800/ etc..) will decrease the transfer rate. Please ensure that "Convert to specific format" has not been selected in the transfer settings. Otherwise it will be very slow. Actually painfully slow. If this is not the case. Then this seems quite strange. Could more information about the setting is SonicStage be provided?

The major feature of the headphones that come with the NW-S700 series is the microphones on them. They are designed for the sampling of sounds around the listener. It is the NW-S700 that samples the sound, and cancels the noise. I doubt that Sony would do supply a converter, since they do have separate noise canceling headphones and regular headphones that are similar without the noise canceling microphones. I would have to agree with kikimimi on this issue.

No. The NW-A800 series does not support audio-in recording. SonicStage however does allow you to have multiple devices to be connected at one time.

Your last statement is exactly correct. SonicStage transcodes WAV & Linear PCM. I do not think that AIFF is supported.