SI: Sony™'s Gorgeous New A-Series Walkman Features OLED, Up To 64GB Capacity

[Christopher]

Sony has unveiled the latest update to the A-Series Walkman line with some serious features. The new NW-A840 series, available in black and brown, simply is the most brilliant Walkman offering from Sony to date – it has all of the features people have been asking for in previous Walkmans while shedding what it needed to. In my opinion, this is the most stylish appearance I’ve seen in a personal media player – and it has a jaw-dropping 2.8 inch WQVGA OLED screen. This is also the thinnest Walkman ever created at only 7.2mm. Sony has also finally come to the table with a better assortment of capacities – with the NW-A845 (16GB, Y24,000), NW-A846 (32GB, Y30,000), and NW-A847 (64GB, Y40,000) all due on October 31st. What’s also new for the first time is a TV-out function, that can output at 720×480 (SD) quality.

There is no Wifi or touchscreen. Let’s face it – the browser on the X-Series was a disaster. The X-Series Walkman used an old CPU and lacked the memory needed for an optimal iPhone-esque browser experience everyone has become accustomed to.

Of course, the newest A-Series is drag n’ drop, which also includes for the first time autoconverting video transfer! Additional features to round out this sweet package include a S-Master digital amplifier, FM radio, digital noise canceling (which we really think is incredible) and comes with premium MDR-EX300SL earphones. That is a really nice pair of stock buds to come with a Walkman – I am glad to see they didn’t skimp out. Other premium features to color your sound include DSEE, Clear Stereo, Clear bass, and lyric display.

I’m seeing here that the new A series has about 29 hours battery life at 128kbps, and 9 hours of video playback at 384kbps MPEG-4. Codec support looks like MP3, WMA, AAC, HE-AAC, ATRAC, ATRAC AL, PCM/wav. I assume ATRAC support will probably be limited to Japan, but we are not sure yet. For movies, the usual AVC (H2.64), MPEG-4 and WMV are allowed.

Here’s a keen introduction video courtesy of Sony Japan:

Sony also released a picture of a special SonyStyle limited edition Violet NW-A847:

This information, brought to you in English, is a Sony Insider exclusive, brought to you here first.

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[tds101]

64gb dream Walkman, coming soon to a pocket near (on) me!!!!!!

[doclloyd]

This new player looks amazing, especially the screen and thinness. However, the TV-out is interesting. When will Sony integrate their Walkman players with the Playstation Network to playback videos you rent or purchase? While I can certainly watch them on my PSP, having it on the Walkman too would be great, especially with this beautiful screen - and TV-out.

[Loque]

Now there's competition for me buying an RH-1 If ever I needed it.

[juli]

How disappointing that Sony don't think anyone outside Japan needs 64GB.

Who is the brains behind all this?? Seriously! Okay, I know Japan models always have the nice features that get stripped down for release elsewhere - but capacity?

Who decided only the Japanes need 64GB? It reminds me of when the A829 was released, and 16GB was available in some countries, with only 8GB available in others. What's the logic behind all this? No one outside of Japan could fill a 64GB model??

[tds101]

Gawd, get me a 64gb Sony A Series SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I sold my Cowon S9, and I use a Cowon O2 for videos. My S639 is strictly for my music, and the capacity is a bit tight. I NEED the 64gb sexiness to hit the US!!!!! ARRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Sony SQ has me hooked,....................................

[Lewey]

Are they even bringing it out outside of Japan? The other topic mentioned that in the replies O-o

I really want the 64GB, I has moneies burning a hole in my pocket and my aging A808 is starting to get a little cramped and rusty it seems O_o

(But still pumping out the ATRAC *hinthint sony*)

[Stuge]

Are they even bringing it out outside of Japan? The other topic mentioned that in the replies O-o

I really want the 64GB, I has moneies burning a hole in my pocket and my aging A808 is starting to get a little cramped and rusty it seems O_o

(But still pumping out the ATRAC *hinthint sony*)

no, it doesn't seem so ,as suggested by Cnet .

[tds101]

no, it doesn't seem so ,as suggested by Cnet .

Since cnet has been wrong on MANY occasions I'll wait til the release date to see if it hits the rest of the world. Sony, don't fail us - we need this!!!!

[Stuge]

Since cnet has been wrong on MANY occasions I'll wait til the release date to see if it hits the rest of the world. Sony, don't fail us - we need this!!!!

fingers crossed on this

[Anthony]

Amazing.................the "wonderful" X series is old already.

[tds101]

Anyone have any good news on this, an update perhaps????

[LG1]

Don't loose hope, i have a sneaking suspicion that sony will annnouce the international version very soon.

As they just registered NWZ-A845 in Korea, date is 15-10-2009

Don't give up hope

[Stuge]

Don't loose hope, i have a sneaking suspicion that sony will annnouce the international version very soon.

As they just registered NWZ-A845 in Korea, date is 15-10-2009

Don't give up hope

yup ,on hope the whole world is living

[tds101]

All hope is lost,.................................

[Stuge]

All hope is lost,.................................

yup

[Anthony]

yup

I'm sick of SONY. Time to move on.

[tds101]

What, still nothing???

PS: Sup' Head-Fi,..........................

[LG1]

Pictures are no consolation

EDIT: Other images didny work

[DanteSS3]

Pictures are no consolation

Maybe its just me being hopeful, but all those titles are in english. Wouldn't that mean an English language version is avaliable? (Or going to be)

[LG1]

I only posted english images to tease people :-]

360 view

http://www.sony.jp/walkman/special/360-a840/index.html

[tds101]

Is English available in the menu? Or are you just teasing us all???

[LG1]

Teasing is too much fun.

When i find out about a true international english version i will let you know

[LG1]

Great amount of photos here

Unboxing the New A Series

[DanteSS3]

Great amount of photos here

Unboxing the New A Series

*Drool*

That does look gorgeous, though would like to see those sorta pics of the Purple and Black versions. See which one looks the best (All 3 look brill in the standard photos floating about)

Come on Sony, bring it over to UK. We'll give you beer!

[LG1]

I'll see if i can find some photos for you no promises though

[Stuge]

Great amount of photos here

Unboxing the New A Series

OMG ! I wish sony bring these here ,but I guess they will not

[LG1]

Here are some more pictures that i promised

[Stuge]

LG1 are these clicked by you ?

[LG1]

i wish, but japan is a long way a way from Australia.

Just good at scouring the internet. Don't know Japanese either

[tds101]

Hot pics anyways. I really hope Sony sees the error of their ways,......................

[Anthony]

Hot pics anyways. I really hope Sony sees the error of their ways,......................

Not Likely

[DanteSS3]

Anyone know where you "Could" possibly import these from?

Like a supplier (Possibly not Sony themselves as they would charge an arm a leg and a few teeth)

After a while you get used to the menus even if they were in Japanese

EDIT: Oh and Thank you LG1 for the pics of the Black one

[tds101]

Sony 64gb Walkman on ebay: NEW Sony Walkman A840 series 64GB NW-A847 T Japan

[Stuge]

$500 and above for a walkman ...eeek

[ATRACunderground]

Will the Japanese gray market model work with Sonic Stage 4.3, or do you need a newer Japanese language Sonic Stage version?

[bob123]

Have a look at sony.co.nz . They have just redone their web site and have updated promotion pictures in the mp3 walkman area. You will see that there are pictures of the new OLED A-series in a couple of places in the "Walkman Advantage" tab. They aren't listed in the actual devices for sale but they must be coming soon - surely!

[LG1]

Nothing to see here, thats just the new S-Series, been on the AU site also, and on the sony-asia site for awhile

[bob123]

You're right. I saw the noise cancelling headphones and assumed the player must be the a-series one. But they are just connecting the NC headphones to the e-series - a bit misleading i think.

[LG1]

More news!!!

Sony Australia hides NWZ-A84x info in plain sight

How to confirm the portable player is recognized by the computer as a Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) device?

Applicable Models:

...NWZ-A845,NWZ-A846...

http://www.sony.com.au/support/faq/299049/productcategory/pa+mp3+walkman/nomodel

[DanteSS3]

More news!!!

Sony Australia hides NWZ-A84x info in plain sight

http://www.sony.com.au/support/faq/299049/productcategory/pa+mp3+walkman/nomodel

Hmm...Interesting this is.

Think they're just trying to eek out the X series for as long as possible before releasing the A84x?

As thats what everyone will buy once it appears