NW-A8xx vs iPod nano

[MindVision]

Hey there!

I am seriously thinking of buying a sony NW-a806.

But, a lokal store here has an iPod nano for sale, for just 219 euro's.

I really want to buy that Sony, I like Sony products + the fact that not 10 million people are having the A806 gives me a good feeling. I think the earphones are really nice too. Currently I am using the EX71's, are the earphones delivered with the A806 of same or better quality?

Why should I (except for the fact that everybody has an iPod) buy the Sony? I'm using windows media player to store and listen to my music. I know there are plugins for iTunes in WMP, but are there also plugins for the Sony Program? I don't want to re-index all of my music etc.

I know the A8-6 plays videos and the nano doesn't, but I am not planning on watching videos on it. Thereby, I can get an 8 GB for the same money. Is the difference in sound quality really big enough to compensate 4 GB?

Please help me!

Edited May 19, 2007 by MindVision

[markey]

Hey there!

I am seriously thinking of buying a sony NW-a806.

But, a lokal store here has an iPod nano for sale, for just 219 euro's.

I really want to buy that Sony, I like Sony products + the fact that not 10 million people are having the A806 gives me a good feeling. I think the earphones are really nice too. Currently I am using the EX71's, are the earphones delivered with the A806 of same or better quality?

Why should I (except for the fact that everybody has an iPod) buy the Sony? I'm using windows media player to store and listen to my music. I know there are plugins for iTunes in WMP, but are there also plugins for the Sony Program? I don't want to re-index all of my music etc.

Please help

Hello and welcome To Atrac Life

Go for the A806, beats the Nano hands down. Sound quality and video playback are two reasons to go for the Sony. The ear phones that come with the A806 are far superior than the ipod stock buds

You will need to use SonicStage though, no getting around that. So you will need to transfer your library over. Hope this helps

[MindVision]

I am downloading SonicStage right now, to see how it works and wether I like it or not. Transfering my library might be a problem, it's a library I have maintained for many years. Everything is right, the tags, the images with the songs, everything. I will not be using the video playback, and I am really doubting wether the improvement in sound quality compensates the 4 GB the A806 has less.

[Jrome]

just put your music on Sonic Stage for transfering. You can still use WMP to listen to your tracks and stuff all the album art you put on them in WMP and stuff will stay into Sonic Stage. That's what i do..i listen and organize with WMP and just transfer over to Sonic Stage if I want it on my Sony. Plus the sony has a better screen i find it more appealing than the iPods 0.1 mm words on their screen >.< and the white on black for sony really makes it more appealing. The album art is crisper..very nice if you ask me. Plus iPods tend to have many problems...so...i recommend the sony..better battery life...better headphones so really you're getting more than what you're paying..for the ipod you're paying for more than you really get...if you like bass...go with the sony..ipods have inferior sound quality...headphones or not

[MindVision]

^ I agree about the sound quality, I once had a 1st gen nano (guess what, it broke ).

Are the earphones delivered with the A806 better than EX71's?

And if I do what you say: just using it for transfering; won't that songs be using double the harddisk-space? I am having all my music in 1 folder right now, the tags make sure that it is sorted in WMP.

Edited May 19, 2007 by MindVision

[aob9]

If you transfer your music to the NW-A806 in it's current compatible format ( WMA-non DRM; AAC-non DRM;MP3) there will be no extra hard disc space required by SonicStage. The software will only index the file path when you import the music.. If you decide to convert to ATRAC format you will need the extra disc space but there is really no need to do such a conversion.SonicStage is now a very stable and capable piece of software unllike earlier versions.

You are asking a lot of questions of a forum that (in general) don't like the ipod for all the reasons already mentioned. Do yourself a big favour and treat yourself to the NW-A80* or NW-S70*.You WILL NOT regret it.......ipod is a fashion statement,not a quality music player. As for the headphones they are probably better quality than the EX71's IMO.

[markey]

If you transfer your music to the NW-A806 in it's current compatible format ( WMA-non DRM; AAC-non DRM;MP3) there will be no extra hard disc space required by SonicStage. The software will only index the file path when you import the music.. If you decide to convert to ATRAC format you will need the extra disc space but there is really no need to do such a conversion.SonicStage is now a very stable and capable piece of software unllike earlier versions.

You are asking a lot of questions of a forum that (in general) don't like the ipod for all the reasons already mentioned. Do yourself a big favour and treat yourself to the NW-A80* or NW-S70*.You WILL NOT regret it.......ipod is a fashion statement,not a quality music player. As for the headphones they are probably better quality than the EX71's IMO.

I totally agree with aob9 and couldn't have said it better myself. Go on and treat yourself, you won't look back

[Jrome]

you can also organize folders in Sonic Stage...and i think you can take your folders from WMP and put them into Sonic Stage so they are still organized...in the NWA-800 u can create your own playlists while listening to the music...and delete what you don't want while using the player...so if you have something that you don't like..and you want to change it..you can just put it in the trash bin..and refer to it when you load up sonic stage again

[Old skool D]

In the interest of fairness I would say that the answer depends on what's important to you. I brought the A806, when I could have got an Ipod Nano much cheaper, and if cost is important to you, I'd say go for the Nano. But,if Sound quality is important to you, shell out the extra for the A806. What ever you choose, I hope you enjoy

[Shinji Ikeda]

In the interest of fairness I would say that the answer depends on what's important to you. I brought the A806, when I could have got an Ipod Nano much cheaper, and if cost is important to you, I'd say go for the Nano. But,if Sound quality is important to you, shell out the extra for the A806. What ever you choose, I hope you enjoy

100 Million iPod have sold worldwide. The extra cost is a statement, like Think Different .

[gotthat]

NW-A800 i mean it's perfect, well so far there is nothing can beat this precious thing, design is better than ipod, sound quality is better than ipod, earphones beats ipod, the way u can choose ur music and find them are so easy, one day u suddenly feel like watching something on it, well then u can, 10/10 for the NW-A800 definitely compares to ipod. plus the fact millions of people have a ipod, i mean that's just following the trend, i even heard ipod users e saying ipod has good sound quality, sony is crap because it has all funny things inside to change sound quality......i mean i would say ipod users don't know what sound quality is, those whatever funny things are new innovations from Sony, such as Sony has clear bass, clear stero etc well they are here to let u enjoy as close to a original quality of the music as u can, so go for Sony, that let u respect ur beloved music more

[pata2001]

After reviewing my own experience, anecdotes, and comments, I guess it all depends on how large your music collection is. If one only has a small music collection, then a Sony device should be fine. If one has a large music collection, iTunes + iPod combo is more usable and practical to enjoy one's music collection. Software is the holy grail of modern DAPs, and Sonicstage is far from iTunes' usability. What's the point of SQ if you have to jump through multiple hoops just to transfer your own music, or to be able to use kanji characters. Many people love iPods simply because their are easily usable to enjoy music.

i mean i would say ipod users don't know what sound quality is, those whatever funny things are new innovations from Sony, such as Sony has clear bass, clear stero etc well they are here to let u enjoy as close to a original quality of the music as u can, so go for Sony, that let u respect ur beloved music more

So, to enjoy the original quality of the music, Sony has to apply modifications to the music? By logic, iPods flat response will relate closer to the original music as intended by the artist.

[Zizone_]

After reviewing my own experience, anecdotes, and comments, I guess it all depends on how large your music collection is. If one only has a small music collection, then a Sony device should be fine. If one has a large music collection, iTunes + iPod combo is more usable and practical to enjoy one's music collection. Software is the holy grail of modern DAPs, and Sonicstage is far from iTunes' usability. What's the point of SQ if you have to jump through multiple hoops just to transfer your own music, or to be able to use kanji characters. Many people love iPods simply because their are easily usable to enjoy music.

So, to enjoy the original quality of the music, Sony has to apply modifications to the music? By logic, iPods flat response will relate closer to the original music as intended by the artist.

Well, other reason why many people love iPods is because that's all they know. There are many who still thinks Walkman is only for cassette players, those who knows no other DAPs from Toshiba, Creative and etc.

Also, SonicStage seems to have more problems because people post more problems than the experience with no problems; in other words, people are more likely to post problems than their good experience. But, I agree that iTune is better in terms of functionality compared to SonicStage.

I believe most of us spend more time in listening music than transferring... DAP being music player as it is named, SQ should be placed as highest priority, at least for me.

Playing flat in both Walkman and iPods is meant to play songs as artist intended, but clear stereo will make it better, considering there is some leak that can be prevented. EQ and clear bass comes into importance when you are listening in public where bass is harder to pick up than high frequency sounds. In this instance, modifying bass would give closer sound to what artist intended. It all depends where and what kind of environment one listens to music and how you adjust EQ and Clear bass accordingly from flat to custom settings.

Lastly, isn't this post about NW-A800 series and iPod Nano? Please correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I know both players support up to 8GB so I don't see why having small or large music library should be a factor. Having same capacity, NW-A800 series with video playback capability, nice headphones and most importantly better SQ, I think NW-A800 series is better choice than iPod Nano.

Edited May 20, 2007 by Zizone

[Jrome]

After reviewing my own experience, anecdotes, and comments, I guess it all depends on how large your music collection is. If one only has a small music collection, then a Sony device should be fine. If one has a large music collection, iTunes + iPod combo is more usable and practical to enjoy one's music collection. Software is the holy grail of modern DAPs, and Sonicstage is far from iTunes' usability. What's the point of SQ if you have to jump through multiple hoops just to transfer your own music, or to be able to use kanji characters. Many people love iPods simply because their are easily usable to enjoy music.

So, to enjoy the original quality of the music, Sony has to apply modifications to the music? By logic, iPods flat response will relate closer to the original music as intended by the artist.

Sorry i can't read that and stand by. Many people love iPods because it's fashion.

1. I really don't care what the artist intended i want my sound quality -.-

2. Sony actually enhances what the artist wants you to hear.

3. iPod relates closer to the original music...on a radio station -.-

4. Yes I have had experience with all ipods

Basically...i really don't find Sonic stage that bad. I guess it depends on the person. And although you may hear many problems about Sonic Stage on the other end...you hear problems about iPod...so it's not that itunes is bad..it's that iPod causes the problem. So sony has a reasonable Sonic Stage..and a valuable player...while Apple has a great itunes...and a problematic iPod...for the same price as the ipod ( depending where you live) you get so much more...plus...the sony comes with 100 dollar headphones?...you're already getting more than you're paying AND headphones worth 100 dollars?...sony really has a product here. Don't fall into the Apple crowd..who actually have no idea that other mp3 players exist...and that an iPod is an mp3 player (chuckle)

I used to be iPod CRAZY...then i saw the light...that there were better DAPs out there

[dura_]

All ipods I heart (except the 1g shuffle) have a severe bassroloff into low impedances (according to graphs I found on the internet starting at 200 hz and not letting anything through at 50 hz). They do sound okay through the lineout into an headphoneamp, but through the headphone-out the sound is, to my ears, flat and sharp.

Sony players sound much better, especially the 8xx, which has a very detailed dynamic sound. It also has better buildquality and longer batterylife then the 2G nano.

The nano in return has a pleasant GUI (I love those wheels) and Itunes is easier then SS.

Both play about the same different codes etc.

So take your pick.

For me that was easy, I use my player for listening to music, so I value SQ first, durability, reliability and batterylife after that, and for those few minutes I spent behind the PC getting music on the player SS is more then good enough, so I got an A808.

[MindVision]

Thanks for all the replies. I made up my mind and I am going to buy an A808 instead of the 806. I will have to save my money for a month more haha, but I guess it'll be worth it. At the end of june I will be the owner of an A808

Soundquality, the earphones etc. are way more important than looks. I´ve been an iPod-owner once, I guess I shouldn't be making that mistake twice

But however, I really really really don't like SonicStage. Is there no way at all around this program? I've worked with it for a few hours, but it messes up all my tags, I don't like the GUI and I don't think I'll ever get used to using this program.

Edited May 20, 2007 by MindVision

[Jrome]

you can get the plugin that lets you us Winamp o.O...but you'll get used to Sonic stage...i did ...plus i don't think the iPods click wheel is all that good :\...its annoying if anything

[Shinji Ikeda]

But however, I really really really don't like SonicStage. Is there no way at all around this program? I've worked with it for a few hours, but it messes up all my tags, I don't like the GUI and I don't think I'll ever get used to using this program.

One feature of SonicStage is that it is an ID3 tag editor. This is what SonicStage CP 4.3 is designed to be. Care must be taken when renaming any of the properties in albums or for tracks, since SonicStage will edit the corresponding ID3 tag information. I am unaware of other software, but SonicStage uses the ID3 tag information to organize tracks. Albums in SonicStage are really groups/containers. Thus, changing ID3 tag information for an Album will change the same information for a track or reset that information. A warning SonicStage is case sensitive and considers extra spaces as significant characters. Understanding this will greatly improve your experience and allow you to get used to this software. There are different software that may work with the NW-A800 but you will lose some features on the player.

[Zizone_]

Thanks for all the replies. I made up my mind and I am going to buy an A808 instead of the 806. I will have to save my money for a month more haha, but I guess it'll be worth it. At the end of june I will be the owner of an A808

Soundquality, the earphones etc. are way more important than looks. I´ve been an iPod-owner once, I guess I shouldn't be making that mistake twice

But however, I really really really don't like SonicStage. Is there no way at all around this program? I've worked with it for a few hours, but it messes up all my tags, I don't like the GUI and I don't think I'll ever get used to using this program.

By any chance you speak Japanese? Because there is a software out there called "Beat Jam". I haven't tried the software with NW-A800 series but it works perfectly with NW-S700 series and it is suppose to work with Walkmans and other DAPs. So, if you do understand Japanese, this program is an option.

[gotthat]

good decision for u, u will definitely enjoy it once u buy it, i read reviews from GQ smooth and shinji, they have talked about just how powerful this player can be, jrome good points on the Sony player, that's why we are all here to choose Sony

[pata2001]

2. Sony actually enhances what the artist wants you to hear.

Yeah, I'm sure all artists are using Sony walkmen to listen to their works during recording.

[Jrome]

yes pata...their studio probably consists of sony products..no lie