Sony's iPod-lovin' AIR-SA20PK S-AIRPLAY music system reviewed

We'll just cut to the chase: if you've been cautiously eying Sony's S-AIRPLAY system in hopes of it solving your multi-zone audio desires, you'll be sorely disappointed at how it performs in real world use. The AIR-SA20PK showcased just decent audio quality, odd design choices, unintuitive controls and a wireless range that was less-than-stellar. 'Course, the unit was being held to some pretty high standards, but given the $400 sticker, we can understand that. In the end, critics determined that the unit wasn't an outright failure, but for four bills, they'd prefer it to be much easier to use and sound quite a bit better. Good thing you didn't pull the trigger already, huh?

[Michael B @ Nov 26th 2008 5:46AM]

opps....I did, it sucks! Range is just awful on any of the S-AIRPLAY devices. This is not the kind of high quality you would expect from sony at this price. Should of got a PS3!

[gad get @ Nov 26th 2008 6:15AM]

Holy crap, it IS the price of a PS3! Hmm, which one, which one?

[KarlW @ Nov 26th 2008 7:08AM]

Sorry to be a grammar Nazi, but it's "should have got".

Seriously, is our children learning in schools these days?

[waterboy99troop @ Nov 26th 2008 7:43AM]

@KarlW

you had to ask?...

back on topic... i actually tried this myself at work, and it really is not that great... the speakers were right beside the main unit and the wireless still constantly drop off... the wireless dropped off at least three times during each song, and sometimes for several seconds... it's a good start, but i wouldn't recommend it...

[Harry Wagstaff @ Nov 26th 2008 9:31AM]

@KarlW
Yeah, them modern grammars is terrible.

[Evoss @ Nov 26th 2008 3:20PM]

OMG Sony and Apple it not goin together jeezz !

[PyRo1509 @ Nov 26th 2008 5:49AM]

This is aimed at the "I like my electronics to have blue lights at any cost" crowd.

[KarlW @ Nov 26th 2008 7:10AM]

Or "blu" lasers. You know, just saying.

In defence, the LaCie external 1Tb drives do it pretty well at a good price. See the Engadget gift guide for a picture.

[balthazar @ Nov 26th 2008 9:04AM]

and, judging by the picture, the "i never use the most recent generation of media players" crowd as well.

[Patriks7 @ Nov 26th 2008 5:53AM]

"but given the $400 sticker"
Seriously? My $50 Logitech speakers not only look better but I bet they sound million times better and are more compact..

[gad get @ Nov 26th 2008 6:17AM]

You bet they sound a million times better? Somehow I doubt that. What are you basing this assumption on?

[JZ @ Nov 26th 2008 8:20AM]

Same for the looks, some like the blue shiny lights and are willing to pay 400 usd, same for some people are willing to pay 200 usd for an mp3 player while there are plenty around who do more for less. Hmm... Shiny

[KarlW @ Nov 26th 2008 8:55AM]

@gad get

Hyperbole

[andy @ Nov 26th 2008 9:25AM]

Due to the lack of any APPLE logos being found on this gadget, it was given "odd design choices, unintuitive controls and a wireless range that was less-than-stellar" by the Engadget fanboy-ism.

[Down @ Nov 26th 2008 11:41AM]

WHAT THE HELL is Sony creating a machine for an iPod? Have they lost their mind? Are they admitting something?

I'm worried. Is anyone else?

[Matt @ Nov 26th 2008 2:40PM]

Hoping to attach an external audio source to this (like from my cable music station), I tried a cable which has a female iPod dock connector on one side and a headphone jack on the other side. However, the dock requires a real iPod to be connected, so it didn't work.

If they had just added an AUX IN jack, Sony would at least have opened up the possibility that this could be used for other purposes than a wireless iPod dock.

[GessWurker @ Nov 26th 2008 7:11PM]

Thought about the Sony, but then decided to finagle my own "wireless" system by using one of those FM broadcast antenna units, an ipod doc I got from E-Bay for under $20 and a halfway decent 100w amplifier. I wanted to "broadcast" my ipod across a few floors of a brownstone on an FM station (90.3 in my case). While my current "solution" is BY NO MEANS audiophile-quality, for the money, it's pretty damn good -- and I've got it working decently in NYC, where radio traffic is very heavy.

Another reason I skipped the Sony, I've got a wireless network in my house -- Sony says their unit may well interfere with wireless networks.

[terry @ Nov 28th 2008 9:05AM]

Sony isn't high end, it's just highly everywhere!
The only thing I'd buy from that outfit is a 1080p bravia and a ps3.
Oh, and why the fuck has it been 3years and the psp only has double the original ram? that sucks.