Sony's NWZ-A820 Bluetooth Walkmans heading to Europe

Having successfully fought HD DVD to the death, Sony can now focus its attention on you know who with the release of their bigger, badder NWZ-A820 Walkman. Sony's followup to its 2.0-inch A810 (pictured) media player boasts a 2.4-inch QVGA display, up to 16GB of flash, 13.5mm EX headphones, Bluetooth stereo audio, and up to 10-hours of video (H.264/ACV and MPEG-4 support) or 36-hours of music (MP3, AAC, DRM'd WMA, and linear PCM supported) playback off beefier battery. The A820-series will ship in black, silver, gold, and pink in NWZ-A826 (4GB), NWZ-A828 (8GB) and NWZ-A829 (16GB) models all hitting Europe starting this April for undisclosed prices. US too if that FCC filing is any indication. Pics as we get 'em.

Update: Adding insult to mystery, PRWeb has pulled the press release for the NWZ-A820. Jump the gun did we? No worries, we kept a copy which is now available after the break. Still no pictures, unfortunately.

(PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- Sony expands the innovative WALKMAN® family of digital media players with the easy-to-use NWZ-A820 series of WALKMAN® Video MP3 players. Delivering superb audio and video quality, it's packed with advanced WALKMAN® features, extra-long battery life, a large 2.4-inch screen and quick connection by Bluetooth® stereo to enhance today's digital lifestyles.

Slim, light and beautifully styled, the NWZ-A820 series is offered in a choice of four colour variations (black, silver, gold, and pink). Three storage sizes are available. The NWZ A829 (16GB) can store an incredible 62 hours of video plus sound or 3,800 songs. The NWZ-A828 (8GB) boosts this to 30 hours 40 mins of video/audio or 1,850 songs. The NWZ-A826 (4GB) can store up to 15 hours of video or 925 songs.

The NWZ-A820 series lets you enjoy your personal media collection on the move for longer. Generous battery life allows up to 10 hours of video playback or 36 hours of uninterrupted music playback. Even with Bluetooth® stereo enabled, playback stretches to 7 hours of video or 15 hours of music.

The clear, bright 2.4-inch QVGA screen on all models supports super-smooth video playback at up to 30 frames per second with excellent contrast and colour reproduction. For extra flexibility, videos and photos can be viewed in any screen orientation (left, vertical, right) to suit personal tastes. Photo collections can also be viewed as slideshows accompanied by your chosen music track.

Support for Bluetooth® stereo opens up an exciting world of wireless connectivity options to enhance your enjoyment of digital media on the move. The NWZ-A820 series can stream audio files and track/artist data through a Bluetooth® stereo enabled micro hi-fi such as the Sony CMT-HX70BTR and CMT-HX50BTR. (CMT-HX90BTR in UK)

If you're out and about, it's easy to enjoy a high-quality digital music experience via your Bluetooth® headphones such as the Sony DR-BT50 or a Bluetooth® in-car head unit like the Sony MEX-BT5100. A conveniently placed button on the side of the player allows one-touch connection to other Bluetooth® devices.

In common with all WALKMAN ® models, the NWZ-A820 series supports a broad range of media formats. These include security-enhanced Windows Media Audio (WMA), copyright-free AAC, MP3 and Linear PCM music formats, plus JPEG files for photos. High quality video codecs support playback of AVC (H.264/AVC) Baseline Profile and MPEG-4 video files.

The NWZ-A820 series is perfect for enjoying your personal media collection as well as podcasts and video content downloaded from sharing sites on the web.

Certified for Windows Vista, the new range also carries Microsoft's 'PlaysForSure' logo, indicating compatibility with a wide range of certified online content providers. It's easy to transfer files from a connected PC to the NWZ-A820 series via Windows Media Player 11, simple drag-and-drop file management or using supplied Sony Media Manager for WALKMAN® software.

"We are continuing to add products to our WALKMAN® portfolio that offer customers the flexibility and freedom to choose how they download and manage their digital music content, which only open standards can provide", said Paul Gyles, Strategic Product Manager for Audio Marketing at Sony Europe. "And now with added Bluetooth® compatibility in the NWZ-A820 series, it's never been easier to enjoy your music on the go, without the hassle of wires."

Superior sound of WALKMAN® is assured by four 'Clear Audio' Technologies. The supplied 13.5mm EX headphones feature extra-large driver units for dynamic playback with extended frequency response and solid, powerful bass. The Sony-developed Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) restores high frequencies that are degraded by audio compression for more natural sound that's closer to the original source. Clear Stereo prevents audio signals from leaking between left and right channels, resulting in a cleaner, more widely separated stereo soundstage. Furthermore, Clear Bass strengthens low frequency reproduction without adding distortion that conventional equalizers can impose on the signal. Even richer audio is provided by a choice of effect settings including a 5-Band Equalizer, VPT Acoustic Engine and Dynamic Normalizer.

While it's packed with advanced features, the NWZ-A820 series is easy to use with an intuitive on-screen menu plus improved play and search functions. Super-quick scrolling makes it easy to search for the right track when you're in a hurry.


Availability
The WALKMAN® NWZ A820 series [NWZ-A826 (4GB), NWZ-A828 (8GB) and NWZ-A829 (16GB) is available from April 2008. It is available to pre-order now at sonystyle-europe.com

Two further models are also available. The NWZ A826K (4GB) and NWZ A828K (8GB) come supplied with Sony's DR-BT21G Bluetooth® headphones to create a truly 'Wireless WALKMAN' package for the ultimate in high quality, wire-free listening on the move. For even greater flexibility, the headphones can also be used with mobile phones and other Bluetooth® compatible devices for a wider choice of wireless listening experiences.
 Approximate video recording time at 384 kbps / audio 128 kbps.
 4 minute song recorded at 128 kbps.
 10hrs of video playback with Bluetooth® stereo switched off. 7hrs of playback with Bluetooth® stereo on. 10hrs (or 7hrs) of video playback are approximated in MPEG-4 384 kbps and when the brightness of the common setting is set to "3".
 36hrs of music playback with Bluetooth® stereo switched off. 15hrs of music playback with Bluetooth® stereo on. 36hours (or 15 hours) of music playback times are approximate in MP3 128kbps and when all of the Equalizer and the VPT are set to "None", all of the DSEE, Clear Stereo, Dynamic Normalizer and the new song pop up are set to "Off," and screensaver type is set to "Blank".
WALKMAN® is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

[James L @ Feb 19th 2008 6:36AM]

Still have to use sonicstage though :(

I am very tempted to get this walkman, but... SonicStage :(

[Shadowise @ Feb 19th 2008 6:54AM]

There is some custom software which you install onto the players that lets you bypass Sonic Stage and just drag and drop, but the name of it escapes me right now. Nice looking player though, might be worth a look when they get released.

[ernest @ Feb 19th 2008 6:56AM]

From the looks of this
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/2/prweb707084.htm
press release, I think Sonic Stage is not an option. According to Sony, you can "transfer files from a connected PC to the NWZ-A820 series via Windows Media Player 11, simple drag-and-drop file management or using supplied Sony Media Manager for WALKMAN® software". This means that there's finally hope for the Sony-fans on Mac OS as well... The downside with this release of course that any hope of ever making my dear beloved NW-HD5 (best media player ever made) talk to my Mac is fading by the hour.

[Amrit @ Feb 19th 2008 6:57AM]

sony dropped sonicstage with the advent of the a810 series. now they use the mtp platform for file transfer. this means you can either use any windows based jukebox for syncing ur music collection... or just drag and drop !!!!

sonicstage long gone !!! hail stinger !!!

[Joe @ Feb 19th 2008 6:16PM]

The Sony A816/A818/A82* series players DON'T use sonicstage, but instead are drag/drop from windows explorer/mac osx or you can use WMP 11, and I believe WinAmp and Media Monkey to synch them...

[Godskitchen @ Feb 19th 2008 7:00AM]

You dont need SoncStage anymore, its just drag and drop.............like it should be.

[shapey @ Feb 19th 2008 7:01AM]

if it uses bluetooth audio then why show it with plugged in headphones?

i'd like to get some bt headphones but unfortunately if you don't want earbuds, they mostly seem to be those 'wrap-around' style that make you look like a tw@t - not very glasses friendly either... hopefully this meens sony will bring out some decent cans...

[Eric @ Feb 19th 2008 9:22AM]

Sony DR-BT22 have a more traditional headband. They sound pretty good, too.

[dead7ree @ Feb 19th 2008 10:29AM]

The picture shown is NWZ-A810 series, NOT NWZ-A820 series (the new model but picture is not yet released).

Also, it gives people option to use blutooth headphone or their regular headphones with 3.5mm plug. I prefer 3.5mm plug over blutooth because I listen linear PCM and blutooth can only support up to 400kbps where as 3.5mm plug support full linear PCM (somewhere 1411.2 kbps).

[James L @ Feb 19th 2008 7:03AM]

Hooray, at least one company has sense but its never going to happen for another certain comapany as unlike SonicStage they are making millions out of thier online music store

Then this could be the next big contender for my next media player

[Mat @ Feb 19th 2008 7:15AM]

Ive got the NWZ-A818 (as a replacement to a nano) and it is a fantastic bit of kit. Unlike a certain fruit based manufacturer the supplied buds are awesome and the sound surpasses every other MP3 player i've had as well.

More importantly it Syncs very easily with WMP11, or can be used as a simple drag n drop (although that method doesnt seem to support album art).

These things get better and better.

[Geonerd @ Feb 19th 2008 8:11AM]

Yeaaaaa, loving it, so much better than an Ipod in all terms. A2DP is the best part, not using that fkn ipod bluetooth adapters anymore. After 6 Ipods I can finally change. 16G seems a bit short for me anyway. 32 would have me on my knees.

[dead7ree @ Feb 19th 2008 9:01AM]

You DON'T NEED Sonic Stage anymore.
You can use WMP 11, Winamp, etc...

Or simple drag-n-drop.

In addition, sound is really superb on NWZ-A810.

Can't wait for the picture for
NWZ-A820.

[chilko @ Feb 21st 2008 12:34AM]

here is it - http://www.sony-europe.com/view/ShowPressRelease.action?pressrelease=1202990778476&site=odw_en_EU§iontype=PressRelease

[Andy @ May 5th 2008 12:04PM]

Sounds sweet but does anyone know if it has that stupid gap between songs? That really grates on me with the A818 player I have... c'mon Sony. Pretty please? You were doing so well... if only they just mash the NW-A1000 series with the NWZ-A800 stuff and the pudding is complete!