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My thoughts on the new NW-S700F/S600 players

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Matty

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Matty Newbie

Matty

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Just a quick note off the top of my head about these new players. They're basically what Sony's been striving for for a few years now. I have had MD (HI-MD and NetMD) players in the past and while I did like them for their recording and titling functions, I found the players to be persnickety and the transfer times kind of slow. Having the potential for many former MD-only functions on a flash player is amazing. I also think that this may be the player to finaly make Sony relevant again to the non Sony (iPod) users. It's high end, with proprietary accessories which are clearly aimed squarely at the iPod users. SonicStage, as well has gone through serious refinement and if they could do something like add Mac support (don't have one, just want to see that) then they could have a very dangerous product on their hands. I really loved my MZ-RH810 and I also love my NW-A608, and this seems to be a combination of the functionalities and I really like it and want one bad. If they can follow it up with a new HDD based player they'll be providing a very realistic alternative to iPods.

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dutchtrance Newbie

dutchtrance

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i totally agree.

i love the new players and the features it has. the line in recording is great for those of us with vinyls ( like my self ) and the new hifi systems look great.

the only problem is the pricing.

play.com have the 2 gig model listed the same price as a 4 gig (double the capacity) nano, and the 4 gig model at an ASTRONOMICAL £279; more than twice the price of the 4 gig nano. that price is quite frankly stupid for ANY 4 gig player, regardless of line in. you could buy a video ipod for that and still have change.

Edited by dutchtrance
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Matty Newbie

Matty

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That's certainly true as far as price goes. I just checked Canadian pricing, and at the 2 gig level the Sony is 61 dollars [Canadian] more than the same capacity Nano and at the 8 gig Nano is only 10 dollars more than the 4 gig Sony. If they don't do something about this price thing, they're going to lose this one. Yes, it's a higher end product for sure, but at if you aim a product to compete with something like the Nano, and you're in the losing position before you even release it, then at least make it competitive price wise. Even if it were more expensive, but not much more, that could make all the difference. I know SOny have got the better product, but this is just insulting. However, it at least represents a strong effort towards a new consolidated Walkman line.

Edit: But now that I think about it, the NWS7X series are shipping with high end headphones as well, compared to tinny, crappy Apple 'phones.

I also think that if it weren't for the die-hard Sony-philes, sony would probably just kill the Network Walkman and MD lines.

Edited by Matty
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Dinko Newbie

Dinko

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Indeed, the price tag is the thing that just scared me away from the Canadian version. At that price, I'd probably get an 8GB Nano, or a 30GB regular iPod. The noise cancellation feature is a very good introduction, as is (optional) line in, but except for ultra-Sony fanpersons, I'm not convinced that thing is price-competitive.

On the other hand, this has been Sony's pricing policy for quite a while in Canada. Every time they introduce a new DAP, they push up the price, then gradually bring it down. These will probably shed 25%-30% off their price tag by February if not earlier.

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Zizone_ Newbie

Zizone_

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The price might look high but if you consider the built in noise cancelling function I don’t think the price is high, since buying noise cancelling device it self is likely to be $100.

However, if one doesn’t care much about the sound quality then yes it might be relatively pricey.

At the same time, Sony can’t just follow other companies’ DAPs specs; in addition to their specs (i.e. Apple) Sony needs something unique for them (e.g. sound quality and possibly battery life). If Sony were just to follow Apple then could there be any creativity?

Having other companies trying new functions are the better service to consumers who are only predisposed to Apple in this time of Ipods.

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Ascariss Newbie

Ascariss

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Sony still doesn't have a winner here. I'm sure you could bet a kidney that the sound quality will blow anything out the water and conquer all current products on the market.

The colour options available in canada are poor and although the unit is nice, I am not sure if I will buy one, if best buy carries it, I might opt to buy it there but for now gotta stick to the A1000/3000 for space.

Interesting fact is that only the 2 and 4 gig models actually have the noise cancelling option while the 1 gig does not aka the 600 series. and hte jump in price from a 1 gig to a 2 gig is nuts, 80 dollars. insane. I guess that is the price of the extra capacity and new headphones. :lol: 289 for a 4 gig is a bit crazy as most of you have mentioned, but sony is a premium brand, like bmw or merc are premium cars. I feel better knowing I own a sony rather than some other brand, and I am sure the sony marketing people are just thrilled by that, but it more to do with the fact I don't want to be part of the ipod crowd. :lol:

given a choice between an 8 gig nano or 4 gig S700, I think I would opt for the sony alone on looks. The ipod look generic, boring and craps out in the design dept. I am sure all the cool people will go out and buy an ipod and then show it off the next day lol it's what the pod people do. :lol:

Will this new mp3 player sell better? perhaps but it won't touch ipod sales and won't break any records, but perhaps more people will take notice of sony once these are released.

the headphones are a major plus side, as is the recording option, which hopefully can be used with any device that has a headphone jack or out line. it looks like you can browse via the album covers which might be nice on a larger screen but not on one this small :sad:

I don't understand why apple can announce a player one day and have it on sale the next, why can't sony do this? seriously? if sony introduced an 8 gig flash player tomorrow, colour screen and a bit larger than this one, I would pick it up right away. :D

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imagine_ Newbie

imagine_

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Other than the price issue (which won't stay so high for so long), I really like the features that come with this player. I really liked the design too, but one thing that bugs me is the silver metal around it... it gives it a weird sort of look that pushes me away. I wish it was a little closer to the old models, without a metal frame above the jog dial.

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AntiPod Newbie

AntiPod

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Other than the price issue (which won't stay so high for so long), I really like the features that come with this player. I really liked the design too, but one thing that bugs me is the silver metal around it... it gives it a weird sort of look that pushes me away. I wish it was a little closer to the old models, without a metal frame above the jog dial.

I absolutely agree with you, Imagine.

The overall shape of the new series seems not too bad, except the metal frame. I own a E-405, and i'd say the design of E-400,500 looks way better compared to the S-700 series. The design with the frame might be less delicate compared to the 400 ones, but it gives me an awkward feeling, just dont feel like it for some reason.

I seriously hope sony would make a new line of DAP with the old design of the E4,500 series and the new features of the S-700s. lol But i think most ppl are gonna critisize it like they did to nano2

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lamewing Newbie

lamewing

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Sony has cut off it's head in the U.S. already.

1. We only get the 2GB version

2. We only get the black model.

3. The price is a bit too high for a 2GB unit.

I can live with number three, but the lack of variety here in the U.S. just shows that Sony has NO INTEREST in the U.S. as a market place when it comes to portable audio. Sony has already given up on us. I hope their other customers do better. :o

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pata2001 Newbie

pata2001

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Sony has cut off it's head in the U.S. already.

1. We only get the 2GB version

2. We only get the black model.

3. The price is a bit too high for a 2GB unit.

I can live with number three, but the lack of variety here in the U.S. just shows that Sony has NO INTEREST in the U.S. as a market place when it comes to portable audio. Sony has already given up on us. I hope their other customers do better. :o

Not only that, USA doesn't get any of the bluetooth accessories. Yeah, talk about killing your own products and marketshare. It seems that even with the questionable quality control of the iPods (whinning 2G nano, iPods with virus, etc), Apple is still unbeatable, because the competitors are still clueless. Sony seems to be very interested in killing itself, and put a great distance between it and its consumers.

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Guest Stuge

Guest Stuge

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Australia is very slow to get new stuff wait til 2010=p hahaha j/k mybe next year=[ i wanna get this player cause it comes with cool earphones xD and the solid build of it T__T

Just Like Australia ,India also get things very late :sad::sad:

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kerfuffle Newbie

kerfuffle

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Australia is very slow to get new stuff wait til 2010=p hahaha j/k mybe next year=[ i wanna get this player cause it comes with cool earphones xD and the solid build of it T__T
Yeah. -_____-" They should have given decent earphones right from the beginning of their Network Walkmans.

Someone's already selling the 4 GB NW-S706 on eBay - I think it was about $AUD420.

Edited by kerfuffle
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Guest Stuge

Guest Stuge

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it wasn't there when I checked for the US before.

http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/C...ationPath=46881

only 2 and 4 gig version

http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/C...ationPath=46881

only 1 gig 600s with no noise cancelling feature.

Ok,Also 4Gb (S706) is not there on Sonystyle.com.This very confusing why Sony is planning to sell 4Gb in Canada ,but not in US & 1gb in US ,but not in Canada :unsure::unsure::huh: .& No S600 series model will be available for US market .

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EZero Newbie

EZero

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Oh Sony, you come so close just to fail.

Why not release the 4GB worldwide, at a price competitive to a 4GB Nano?

I really want one of these players, but they're just too expensive.

Why is a video player taking so long to release Sony? If Microsoft can make one in less time, and they don't even make hardware, why can't Sony?

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micks_address Newbie

micks_address

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just picked up an s706 today in black... currenty listening to the 3/4 tracks included with the player, as the fm receptions isnt great in the office.. have to say its wowing me with the sound.. i have had a hd5 and then used a psp for music listening...

i sold the hd5 because i wanted a player with fm radio.. ended up buying a psp with 4gb card, found that a bit heavy for the commute so sold it on and bought the s706 today... have to say with the supplied phones it sounds very good.. i was using senheisser cx300's but i dont think i'll be switching back to them.. if the fm reception is usuable on the commute then i think i'll be very happy... can live with the 4gb capacity... as was used to that with the psp..

will give a more in depth opinion when i get some tracks loaded up tonight..

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micks_address Newbie

micks_address

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anyone else notice a slow down in the jacket search function once you load the player with a good few albums? i first had about 20 albums at 256 atrac and the jacket search was lovely, almost instantly would start playing track once you changed to a new cover art... with the extra albums @ 128 atrac there's quite a noticable delay which is a shame, as i really liked this function..

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DSP Newbie

DSP

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hey guys,

I'm thinking of getting meself a NW-S703F for x-mas.

I've seen a review of it on generationmp3.com and noticed it has VPT, is this true? is good old VPT back? :)

how about clearbass and clearstereo, are they usefull? do you notice it?

that thing looks really cool I have to say, and with FM, NC, color OLED, and (OMG) VPT it's just one of those things I just have to get!

btw: you've got clearbass, VPT?, clearstereo and an EQ...

but I heard that it has DSP (sigital sound preset) too, is this correct? is it like with the NW-E300 series?

greetz

(OMG, VPT is back......missed it since I had it on my MiniDisc)

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kerfuffle Newbie

kerfuffle

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I have VPT on my NW-HD1.

My thoughts on the NW-70x players?

I.

Want.

One.

I fiddled around with one in the Sony Central shop in the city, but didn't really get into it much. I got a kick out of the colour OLED, though. xD The player looks hot. ^_^

But my parents won't let me get one, 'cause I already have a 'MP3 player' . . . -_-"

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DSP Newbie

DSP

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hej guys,

I couldn't help it, and found myself in a local DIXONS store this afternoon, staring at a NW-S703FB.....

eventually I couldn't resist the temptation and bought it!

so here I am, at the time of writing the nw-s703 is charging itself, But I have listened to it, and damn..VPT (studio setting) sounds really good! better than on my mz-nh900...

the overall sound also really surprised me!

I'm going to put some music on it now, and then listen to it..so..

BTW: the COLOR OLED is really cool and stylish, beats any ipod nano screen hands down in terms of 'sexienes'..

greetz

Edited by DSP
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DSP Newbie

DSP

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yeah,

imagine, OLED color screen in the walkman video....awsome..

but I think I would like these OLED screens to be more developed, i.e. higher resolution...'cause for video I thin LCD is a bit better these days...But when OLED goes BIG and HIGH res, it's gonna beat LCD soo hard...

BTW: to get back ontopic, Do you guys notice that the OLED screen of the NW-S700 is actually readable in direct light?

in comparison with my NW-A1200 (wich is absolutely unreadable in direct light) it's really readable.

greetz

Edited by DSP
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