Sony M70 released

[LuLu]

From DAPreview.net

Sony M70

Features:

* Capacity: 2, 4, and 8GB

* 4.3" TFT display

* Audio: MP3, WMA, and AAC

* Video: MPEG-4 , AVC (H.264/AVC), and AVI

* Direct Video Recording

* FM Tuner and Recorder/Voice Recorder

* Built-in speaker and Memory Stick expansion slot

* Battery Life: 20 hours for audio

* Dimensions: ~116.7 x 74.4 x 12.7mm

* Available in Black, and Red

Only problem - available in China only!

[gotthat]

PMX-M70 series got onto the market in China few days ago, here is more precious info regarding the function and the price of the players, pardon any translation errors. It is just like a PSP, so you can call it a playstation walkman, Japan and China Sony officals launched the player back in May during their conference along with NW-A800 series. However NW-A800 went on to the market earlier than the PMX-M70, the other P series MP4 is not available for purchase yet. P series will be sold only in China, since it is a specialized line of production from Sony China team located in Shanghai. For people who care about SQ, really you don't miss out on anything if you can't buy this, stick to your NW-S706 players and NW-A800, even NW-A1000 and HD 1,3,5 are still great with their SQ performance. This player is really there to establish a stable sell for Sony in China, considering the huge market over there.

PMX-M75 (2GB), PMX-M77 (4GB), PMX-79 (8GB). Two colors: red and black. 4.3 inches display screen. PSP style menu. In built stero speakers. subtitles and lyrics can be shown during music and movie playback, only traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese and English. 4 ways of recording music and data, you can record tv shows, directly from other cd and stero devices, voice recording and Fm recording. Fully drag and drop. FM radio supported 87.50-108.00MHz. calendar and timer included. At the back of the player there is a mini stand, so you can put the player on the table or anywhere steadily to watch movie.

18 hours of music playback (MP3 128 kbs), 6 hours of video playback (AVC 384kbps). Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick Duo are all supported upto 32 GB.

116.7 x 74.0 x 12.7 mm and 129 grams in weight. The package includes earphones which is unspecified what model, wrist band, USB connection cord, AV connection cord, charger, manual and coverter software.

As always Sony China, Hongkong and Taiwan at least from my past experience, they like to sell things in combo and deals, this time Sony China basically include the MDR-NC22 earphones with the player, so basically you better not use the stock phone, they recommend the noise reduction style earphones. 8GB players with the MDR-NC22 and 2 years warranty is for 3399 CYN, 4GB deal is for 2899 CYN, 2 GB deal is for 2599 CYN. Using the currency conversion rate for USD and GBP, 8GB combo is about about 448 USD, 218 GBP. 4GB combo is about 382 USD, 186 GBP. 2GB combo is about 343 USD, 166 GBP. Basically you can put any memory stick into it to expand the memory and use the player with the NC22 earphones. If you don't want the NC22 earphones, then they can sell each player to you cheaper by 600 CYN, which is 80 USD cheaper or 38 GBP cheaper. Sonystyle.com always sell things kind of expensive, so in common Chinese auction sites and retail shops these players are sold cheaper than the price reported.

SQ issue is unknown, since there is no review yet for the player and comparison with other DAP, so you can think of the player either way of good or bad SQ depends how you feel towards the player, or simply you just don't care about SQ, there is really no evidence, but soon there should be some serious and long review from China DAP site happening for the SQ and the ease of use of the player

Edited July 21, 2007 by gotthat

[Guest Stuge]

I don't understand why they don't want to sell it outside China.

[juli_]

I wonder if it uses the same sound chip as the 706. I guess there's no easy way to find that out, but when I bought the 808 I assumed it used the same chip as the 706, but the sound signature is completey different - equal in quality, but different. Now if I could be sure the 'Only-available-in-China-model' used the 706 sound chip, I'd find some way of buying it!!

[AntiPod]

I wonder if it uses the same sound chip as the 706. I guess there's no easy way to find that out, but when I bought the 808 I assumed it used the same chip as the 706, but the sound signature is completey different - equal in quality, but different. Now if I could be sure the 'Only-available-in-China-model' used the 706 sound chip, I'd find some way of buying it!!

the answer is probably a no, since sony china had released its own CE-P series a couple of years ago, and it didnt do well at all. Most people in China find buying a PSP would be a better choice than buying the M70 series, based on price.

P.S. i have seen the package of the M70. it is very similar to the one of the A800 series, but it comes with the MDR E808 earphones. Plus the M70s are classified as mp4s by sony China, so i wont expect too much from its sound quality.

[juli_]

Plus the M70s are classified as mp4s by sony China, so i wont expect too much from its sound quality.

OK, another stupid question. What do you mean the M70s are classified as mp4s? And does Sony Japan manufacture better-sounding daps than Sony China?

I'm very confused. . . it's late

[gotthat]

Fair comment from antipod, i am a anti ipod myself. The first attempt by Sony China was more like a practice few years ago. I would really like to read a SQ review from Chinese DAP site soon regarding this player, because Sony did shift China as their most important market during these few years, they built the 5th Sony creative centre in Shanghai and gave enough resources for the P series to continue. They also classify NW-A800 and the two P series players all to be MP4 on their offical site, as long as it can watch movie then in China all these players are under the heading MP4. So it's hard to guess SQ from the MP4 part.

PSP is a good choice, but some people or Chinese people may not need the game function and they just want a MP4. If Chinese people can afford this MP4, they would buy it for many reasons, like it's expensive and prestige in their eyes because it's from sony, or NC function, or simply just the good look or SQ. Sony creative centre in Shanghai made these two MP4, because father of walkman himself from Japan guided the team and he is now working in Sony China as the top boss leading the personal audio development.

I can't say whether SQ is good or bad, cause nobody heard it yet, but the huge investment for the 5th Sony creative centre in Shanghai and the Sony's China palace II plan (8billions investment until now), they suggest all these products were give enough resources and time to be made, i would only assume SQ is good with all of these positive signs and plus it's more of a work from Sony japan+China. There is no need to push out two average P series MP4 if they are only going to waste money, or let Sony lose face, considering other brands in China are very fierce too. Cheap stock earphones is the usual practice in China when you look at other brands, so that you can agree with their better suggestion on NC earphones.

[AntiPod]

OK, another stupid question. What do you mean the M70s are classified as mp4s? And does Sony Japan manufacture better-sounding daps than Sony China?

I'm very confused. . . it's late

oh i just meant that they are more specialized in playing movies and other video files. In other words, the audio function is not the main job they do. I havent listened to mp4s yet so it is hard to judge the sound quality compared to mp3 players. I can check on some Chinese websites, hope they will do a few reviews on this player.

[juli_]

oh i just meant that they are more specialized in playing movies and other video files. In other words, the audio function is not the main job they do.

Oh I see, or I guess it would be called an mp3 player? Amazon.co.uk list the NW-A808 as a 'video walkman' rather than an mp3 player, whereas I only use it for music. I would really love an 8GB Sony dap with the 706 sound chip. . . is it manufacturer's policy not to release information like this or something?

[Ascariss]

the a800 is classified as a video mp3 player on sony canada's site, so regardless of what it says on other sites, the a800 has excellent video and sound.

[juli_]

the a800 is classified as a video mp3 player on sony canada's site, so regardless of what it says on other sites, the a800 has excellent video and sound.

I know, I've got one. Was just seeing how it had been listed at Amazon uk