Arc888

I got Windows Media Player 10 working perfectly with AAC files using the plugin available at http://www.softpointer.com/WMPTagSupport.htm - it found all my AAC encoded albums, added them to the library and transfers them to the NWZ618 via the Sync function without issues. I'm not sure if it works for WMP 11 but it may be worth a shot.

So you were implying they sound exactly the same huh? Well, no - that wasn't 'obviously clear'.

I doubt that there is any real difference in sound quality between the two units (when using the same headphones of course!) - its the same 'engine' in different bodies. You're not paying more for better sound, you're paying more for the better quality headphones, larger screen and metal body. Used to be the same with Sony's minidisc recorders. The top of the range model always had more bling (e.g. backlit remote, magnesium body) but the internals were identical to the cheaper models that ran on AA batteries and used more plastic.

I've just bought a NWZ S618F (drag & drop) walkman to replace my E005F and it's fantastic. Like a lot of people I thought I would be able to finally get rid of SonicStage, however, if you like the AAC format then its still quite a handy program to use for ripping and tagging. The albums I had ripped with SonicStage (AAC 192kbps) for the E005F transferred to the S618F fine, including the cover art. Unfortunately if you don't use SonicStage then there is a fair bit of messing around required. Windows Media Player does not encode to AAC and refused to import my SonicStage files so I gave up on that. Likewise, I didn't want to install iTunes just for ripping cd's. Anyway, I eventually got EAC ripping to AAC using the Nero AAC encoder - but - EAC does not do cover art! So, after ripping I now have to use mp3tag to (manually) add cover art to the files. It really is easier to use SonicStage to do the whole lot! I suppose this will be addressed when Sony get finally get around to releasing their Walkman Media Manager software.

Possibly. I suspect the internals would be very similar, if not identical so they should sound the same (the S610 also has the advantage of a FM tuner). The extra $$$ for the A810 would be for the metal case and better quality headphones. Remember that both units are intended to be thrown away when the battery dies!

I don't believe there is a silver model - that should make your decision easier.

I did not have to modify the default sort order or play mode to do what you want to do. Pressing (not holding) the Menu button will switch the unit between Album navigation and Song navigation. So - press play to start the unit. Use the rocker switch to select the album, press the menu button once (do not hold it down) and use the rocker switch to select the song within the album. Ben