Sony's X-series OLED Walkman now priced in real American dollars, ships mid-June

Sony has yet to offer us official US pricing or availability on its eagerly awaited X-series of OLED Walkmans. As such, we have to grasp at whatever bits of desperate information we can as this 3-inch Walkman with built-in noise cancellation makes its way West following the Japanese launch. Amazon lists the little guy at $399.95 (32GB) and $299.95 (16GB) which just happens to be the same pricing as Apple's iPod touch, for whatever that's worth. It's not in stock but you can pre-order now if dare.

Update: And just like that, it's official. Sony's 16GB NWZ- X1051 with 32GB NWZ- X1061 will be priced $299 and $399, respectively, when they go on sale nationwide Stateside in mid-June. As a surprise, they'll also feature embedded apps for YouTube and Slacker Radio for all the free video and audio you can consume over WiFi.

[Via OLED-Info]

[glenskey @ May 13th 2009 5:00AM]

just a tip: never say first.

[HyDeph @ May 13th 2009 5:03AM]

ehh no thx k bye

[James @ May 13th 2009 5:03AM]

Dammit i was hoping that they would keep it priced in monopoly dollars then maybe i could afford one.

[tobz1000 @ May 13th 2009 5:21AM]

Interesting... Amazon UK have the price of the 32GB to £250, and $400 is just over £260. There's a first.

[tobz1000 @ May 13th 2009 5:26AM]

*have cut the price.

[trickards @ May 13th 2009 5:34AM]

And in the UK it includes 15% tax

[anantha92 @ May 13th 2009 5:34AM]

I'm no apple fan, but i highly doubt there are going to be any applications or games to be released onto this. This clearly puts the itouch way ahead of the game. As much as i love sony and their products I don't think noise cancellations is compensate.

[Superhands @ May 13th 2009 5:45AM]

Fair enough but i dont think you can really criticise them for make a music player whos primary function is...to play music. Not only that but it appears to be geared towards high quality playback at that, something apple seems to be less focussed on, but i guess the fart applications make up for that

[anantha92 @ May 13th 2009 5:49AM]

If they really are gearing to push the audio quaity factor of this, they really are aiming at a small target audience. The general consumer won't be able to tell the difference and would be too distracted at the nice touch screen and tech-demo games (just like the wii and the ps3).

[jimmyink @ May 13th 2009 5:51AM]

That's because the people looking to buy this won't be buying it for apps, they will be buying it for the audio quality. If ipods/iphones could match the audio quality then yes, you would have a point.

[pika2000 @ May 13th 2009 5:55AM]

@Superhands: For a device that you claim has the primary function of playing music, can it playback MP3/AAC music properly as intended by the artist, aka gapless playback? Does it support lossless formats?

[Xentro @ May 13th 2009 5:57AM]

indeed it's a music player not a game console. otherwise you have to buy a psp, nintento dsi, ... ?

the DAC transformer in the apple products are indeed not so great, if you compare them to other brands.
If you specifically compare the touch against the walkman X which I tested both. You will argee with me that the sony has better music quality.

Although are minds are so focus on Apple's ipod's that we hardly look the other way... to what really counts sound quality and that's something you find on other (cowon, sony, etc.) music players ...

[Superhands @ May 13th 2009 6:24AM]

@pika2000: I dont know, im gonna go with no? Isn't wma lossless anyway? I dont really care, as far as i can see its a pretty well rounded package with some nice new features. Im not even in the market for an MP3 player anyway so it doesnt really matter

[Aaron @ May 13th 2009 8:15AM]

Hey, at least Sony might release free firmware updates.

[darkmax @ May 13th 2009 8:40AM]

Sony Walkman was there long before Apple made iPods, what makes you think their flagship products are worse than Apple's? I seriously doubt it. And I have listen to both Walkman and the iPod's music quality... I'll have to go with the Walkman.

[chefgon_ign @ May 13th 2009 9:19AM]

I really hate Apple for brainwashing everybody into thinking that a music player is worthless unless it has a billion non-music apps for it. It has good audio quality, a web browser, a youtube app, and an internet radio app. What the hell else do you need for a good PMP, seriously? It's not a Game Boy or a PDA, it's a music player.

[pika2000 @ May 13th 2009 2:30PM]

@Superhands: So, first you're claiming that the Sony's primary function is a music player. I pointed out the important features of a music player, now you don't care?

@Xentro: Maybe you could answer my question. If the Sony is the better music player, does it do gapless MP3/AAC playback (play music as intended by the artist) and support lossless formats?

@chefgon_ign: Apple doesn't brainwash anybody. They simply redefine what people would expect for that price points. Sony is the one that brainwash people into thinking that anything with their brand, premium price, and bass focused sound = better sound quality.

[WickedEast @ May 13th 2009 4:02PM]

pika2000: It doesn't necessarily need to be able to play gapless or lossless in order to be a better portable audio player than an iPod. That's how bad iPod's audio quality is. Capice?

[AndrewNoNumbers @ May 13th 2009 6:11PM]

Check this out! The Slacker app can actually buffer 3 stations so you don't have to be in a hotspot to use it, unlike the iPhone app. And really 3 stations is more than enough.

[JohnWesleyHarding @ May 13th 2009 9:55PM]

@pika,

We know you hate this player, you make the same angry comments on every walkman post like a typical fanboy (except I think you are a cowon fanboy....). I am sorry this does not come with the standard formats of lossless that you prefer, however it does have lossless functionality. On top of that, there is the possibility of firmware updates to allow formats such as FLAC, just like the S9 had updates (major OS updates if I am correct). All in all, this player has a lot of functionality, including noise cancellation, that makes if appealing to many people. On top of that, most artists intended their music to be played on records, and not transferred to mp3s, for example the Beatles and Pink Floyd, to groups whose music actually utilizes lossless.

[pika2000 @ May 14th 2009 2:30AM]

@WickedEast: So, reproduction of music as intended by the artist is not an important feature for a portable audio player? Sad. But hey, I guess you're Sony's target market.

@JohnWesleyHarding: I don't hate this player. I simply dislike Sony fanboys that think this Sony player is the holy grail, failing to acknowledge the obvious shortcomings. Firmware updates? Show me any recent Sony NWZ series that receive a firmware update adding significant additional features like gapless. None. The last time Sony did this was on the HD1 and Vaio Pocket (adding MP3 support, gapless for Atrac). Support for lossless? PCM is uncompressed, not lossless, unless you're confused with the Japanese NW model that support AAL. A lot of artists intended their music to be played gaplessly. Older technologies like AudioCD and Sony's own MD and Atrac players can do this. A 2009 Sony player can't? Pathetic. I will be happy to be proven wrong.

[CreepinJesus @ May 13th 2009 5:42AM]

Are "first" posts getting deleted now or something?

[BOGRASH @ May 13th 2009 7:46AM]

FIRST

[aj121489 @ May 13th 2009 10:31AM]

I hope so

[pika2000 @ May 13th 2009 5:48AM]

Typical Sony, put premium price on their products, and ship it AFTER well-known BIG gadget(s) announcements/releases. Talk about the worst marketing decision ever. By June, every news/tech blogs will cover you-know-what. Sony USA just never learn. Oh well, at least they don't release this in September like the last Walkman lineup.

[xentro @ May 13th 2009 6:04AM]

which mp3 player would you buy than ?

[Amrit @ May 13th 2009 7:42AM]

@pika2000

hmmmm... its interesting how you compare this to the itouch in EVERY SINGLE post about this player, and comment multiple times in each thread...

its pretty clear from other comments here that everyone agrees that the sony's strong point is its sound quality and screen, whereas the itouch has its strength in the beautiful environment that apple has created for it. maybe you should just accept the beauty of each device rather than having such a prejudiced outlook.

or maybe you could just turn down the fanboyism a bit so that everyone else can have some constructive discussion.

[pika2000 @ May 13th 2009 2:19PM]

@Amrit: Who's talking about the Touch, except you? Maybe you are the one that should stop you raging fanboyism so you don't talk nonsense, and accept Sony's stupidity and silly business decisions.

[Amrit @ May 13th 2009 2:29PM]

@pika2000

thanks for proving my point... :)

[pika2000 @ May 13th 2009 2:36PM]

@Amrit: Thanks for showing everybody your un-"constructive" unrelated point. =)

[leapingmadly @ May 14th 2009 1:49AM]

The man is right, pika. You are consistently down ranked and speak like a massive tool. Chill.

[redleader158 @ May 15th 2009 11:56PM]

no use arguing with pika... the dude's mind is lost.

[kr @ May 13th 2009 5:49AM]

dammit, that's just too high...I have been anticipating this for months but Sony needs to price more competitively to take business away from Apple.

[fanman @ May 13th 2009 6:47AM]

If they had priced this like a nano they would be onto a winner.

[Wam @ May 13th 2009 7:13AM]

If they had priced it like a nano they would be losing money.

[nick @ May 13th 2009 7:01AM]

The phone seems like a solid music player. I would like to watch to a movie on that beautiful OLED screen. 299 for 16gb isn't bad at all. If it gets picked up by a carrier we should see this around 149 price range or less with a contract. Again not a bad price for newer technology.

[Neil @ May 13th 2009 7:08AM]

It's not a phone

[synn @ May 13th 2009 7:10AM]

*facepalm*

[egress63 @ May 13th 2009 7:46AM]

there go my hopes of buying this. Sorry, will till 2010 till the prices drop.

[tim marshall @ May 13th 2009 8:15AM]

As a Person Living in Japan with Hands on Experience:

Price -
1) You WILL see a price-drop after launch at Amazon etc. In Japan over the last 2 weeks the price has dropped over $60 at online retailers.
2) Price = iTouch = Pretty good value. The stock headphones are about a $50 buck value. Sure if you own a pair of nice cans that doesnt matter. But if your purchasing an apple product, you have to put down some extra dollars straight away for new headphones. Secondly once you see the screen, touch it, and hear it you will fall in-love :)

Reviews:
Many sony mp3 products rank pretty well with their owners due to their sound quality, and build quality. All the personal reviews I have seen for this have been great, not a single negative (although I wouldnt get your hopes up over the web-browser, though i havnt tried it). Its currently ranked top on Japans #1 internet sales for owner satisfaction.

X series merits:
* Truely Portable, it will go in your pocket. its easy to hold one handed.
* Screen - Bright, colouful, and althoguh it has a lower resolution, the videos look superb!
* Sound - Amazing, with loads of equaliser settings. Highly configurable. I compared it to the previous S series and its even better (using my Shure 310 headphones). Clarity is amazing, No hiss at low volumes (background noice), Volume rocker has small steps (good for listening to in quiet environments too, bass is really punchy and clear.
* Menues are responsive and eqs are modifyable while listening from the now playing screen (as most are today).
* If you use your device to show friends pictures, they will look amazing on this, and the picture viewer is fast and easy to use.
* Analog buttons
* Biggest one - build quality. Not a creak in the chassis.

Compared to Cowon S9:
+ Slightly more compact
+ More solid in the hand - by a long way, this is what lets the cowon down for me (cowon feels like it will break within a year)
+ Screen slightly more vibrant, but not much in it
+ Better responsiveness, better touch input
= Sound is very similar using regular formats
- Less customisation
- Less format support
- Vid conversion required more
- Price

Compared to the Spin:
+ Better interface
+ Better screen
+ Better analog controlls
+ Better touch responce
+ More storage
+ Better portability
+ Better sound
= Build Quality
- More expence
- No subway maps

Comared to itouch:
General feeling is, if you are OK with itouch's size, poor sound, poor earphones, complexity, and requirement for itunes then this should be your choice. if you will use the apps, use it as a calander etc then go for the itouch. If you do that on your cellphone and use media player as a media player then the sony is better.
+ MUCH better portability
+ Better build quality
+ Dramatically better sound
+ More intuitive intervace (out of the box)
+ Much improved screen
+ Much better included earphones
+ Its not apple
= Price
- Cant use it as gaming device / calender / etc etc.


In the perfect world I would:
- Have my blackberry for Business
- Have a sony X series for audio needs & movies
=== best of both worlds

[EJ @ May 13th 2009 8:54AM]

Thanks for the comparison - those headphones do look fantastic.

Apps and the more advanced Apple software aren't completely irrelevant to the core functionality of an mp3/video player. Downloading or streaming podcasts directly from the player is very convenient. Purchasing music directly from the itouch from any wi-fi zone is incredibly useful. Apps like Pandora, the TV.com and internet radio apps (not to mention scores of even more advanced apps in development - Hulu.com and Lala.com have teams working on a/v apps) open up even more high quality content. The fact that reviews criticize the Sony browser (http://whathifi.com/Review/Sony-NWZ-X1060B/) are also worrying because a lot of web content (espn.com highlights, for example) streams beautifully from the Touch.

Audio and video consumption revolve around the internet in 2009. I don't think you can shrug off the Apple's software advantage as "meh, who needs games and fart apps anyway".

[htowngator @ May 13th 2009 8:53AM]

Nice review.

I've been trying to decide if I want the 32gb Cowon for $299 or wait a while for the Sony to go down in price. What do you think?

[htowngator @ May 13th 2009 9:06AM]

@EJ

I agree on that, but IMO that's what a phone is for. If I'm not on AT&T then I don't have the luxury of both worlds so I'd pick whatever gave me the most sound and video quality. I use my phone now for browsing, email, calendar, etc. and use the mp3 player (I actually have a nano that was given to me) for when I just want to listen to music.

I'm looking at the Cowon though because it's far cheaper and as I said the wireless aspect isn't a big deal when my phone can do all of that too. I guess it really depends on what you're looking for.

[theshark @ May 13th 2009 8:18AM]

Assuming it's the same model - http://whathifi.com/Review/Sony-NWZ-X1060B/

[chefgon_ign @ May 13th 2009 9:21AM]

Reading through the comments section here, I just feel the need to point this out.

There is no such thing as an "itouch"

Please stop saying it. Thank you.

[Erick @ May 13th 2009 1:34PM]

So I'm NOT the only person who realizes that.

Yeah it's not a huge deal so I don't want to be extremely anal about it, but I don't think Apple has EVER used the term "iTouch."

That's like saying "iNano" or "iClassic."

[Smartmouth @ May 13th 2009 2:42PM]

Yes there is

http://www.diytrade.com/china/4/products/3529260/Itouch_2_8_TFT_PMP.html

[sweet greggo @ May 13th 2009 9:46AM]

too much.

[Moo @ May 13th 2009 11:05AM]

I don't really like Sony products, they tend to be more expensive for no real reason. I'm sorry, but if you're listening to music on the go and you think sounds quality of these players depends on the player itself more so than headphones, you're a snob. That being said, I will never purchase a flash based player until their storage is 64+ GB. I have a huge collection, of legit albums 400+, and I don't even have it all on my computer yet and I still have almost double the current storage rate for flash based players. To me, capacity, is the #1 factor I look at when purchasing an mp3 player.

[Kappa @ May 13th 2009 11:17AM]

Then you clearly haven't used a decent MP3 player. The headphones are a major part but the unit itself is where the awesome happens, and Sony MP3 players pack a lot of awesome.