If you're in the market for a dedicated, easy-to-pocket audio player that can handle the occasional video then it's hard to beat Sony's new
Walkman S-series of players. The latest Walkmans, priced at $110 (8GB) or $130 (16GB), are the first from Sony with integrated speakers and include a plastic kickstand in the box. As usual, the sound was excellent but Sony cheated a bit at its IFA stand by equipping the demo units with high-end Sony over-the-skull cans. Hey,
whatever it takes, right? Nevertheless, Sony always bundles good-quality earbuds (MDR-E804Y in this case) with their gear unlike some other manufacturers who shall not be named. Switching between the stereo-speakers and headphones is as simple as throwing the physical slider along the right-side of the unit -- speakers that sounded pretty decent as long as your expectations are set appropriate to the unit's physical size. Video playback was fine but it's hard to be enthusiastic about watching anything other than very-brief clips on the S-series' tiny 2.4-inch QVGA display. But in a pinch, no problem. Plenty of pics in the gallery and a quickie video walk-around after the break.
posted September 4th 2009 7:25AM
"unlike some other manufacturers who shall not be named"... Now would that be a particular brand named after a fruit, where the fanbois will say incredible things about nothing from them?
Poor Engadget its really hard for them to make a post and not mention the fruit company or their product
Apricot went bust in the 1990s. ;)
Because Apple's products set a gold standard, whereby the competitors try to emulate.
Whether multi-touch interface, App Store or Retail Store, Apple set the trend and the
competitors follow. Go see for yourself!
@Jimmy
Yes, Apple set the trend with portable music devices. unlike Sony and their "Walkman"
Im pretty sure CD players and Sony with the "walkman" were out long before poor apple crap
Walkman CD? That was before Apple entering the MP3 music player market. Get some fact.
@ Jimmy
Portable music motherfucker! Do you know who made it?
So close - and yet, proprietary USB connector. :(
Does the fruit players not have a propriety USB connector.
Looks quite promising for the market it's aimed it and it's drag and drop.
The fruit player has one, which is why I don't own one.
Is the proprietary cable really a deal breaker? Seriously? :)
Yes, seriously. It's a matter of being able to charge/sync the device at any of my four computers and almost any friend's house, or having the player irrevokably run out of juice if I went on a trip and forgot the charger at home.
Phone manufacturers have committed themselves to a common standard for a good reason.
@ flasher t
why would you have to charge your mp3 player at your friends house, doesn't that defeat the purpose of having friends on the first place?
Secondly if you bought an iPod virtually everyone has at least 1 cord for it so anywhere you go you can charge it- heck I always have my cord in my back pocket because my iPhone hits 20% half way through my shift Ar work
Doesn't necessarily have to be my friend's house - could be at work. And I could be travelling, staying with a friend. And I could just be using the device as a flash drive to pick up some new records my friend found.
And no, not all my friends have iPods (in fact almost none do, because they don't like overpaying for low functionality either), whereas everyone who has at least a digital camera will have a mini-USB cable. I have something like six, from various gadgets, and they're all interchangeable, which is awesome.
I agree. The last MP3 player I bought was for my gf. Her requirements were the same as mine. No proprietary USB connector and must support simple drag and drop. This way I can use it on almost any computer I am around (she had the same requirement as she is using it either on the computer at work, at her home, at my home, or maybe at her parent's home) without having to buy some special cable. I can buy regular miniUSB cables for just a few bucks. Get a bunch and leave them at work, home, school, the car, everywhere. Also, I don't want to have to install any drivers or special software. Plug into any computer, drag and drop, done. I won't ever buy an MP3 player for anyone that doesn't have these two simple requirements.
I got her a Cowon D2 and she loves it. I was considering a Sony because they claimed to support drag and drop except it required a special driver install and took a special cable. Does this model need that too?
Flasher T @ Sep 4th 2009 8:37AM
Yes, seriously. It's a matter of being able to charge/sync the device at any of my four computers and almost any friend's house, or having the player irrevokably run out of juice if I went on a trip and forgot the charger at home.
-----------------
I think you have a desire for replaceable batteries. The whole integrated battery concept is so wrong on so many levels, I will never, ever buy a unit with embedded batteries. Not only for the fact that they are eventually disposable after a few hundred charges and no longer hold suitable charge, but for the fact that I can't switch a battery over anytime it runs out.
Yet their Sony Ericsson Walkman phones all offer removable batteries. Strange, isn't it.
I dont get the obsession with video playback on PMPs..... I cant watch more than 10 mins of good quality video on my 4.3 inch PSP without straining my eyes.IMO at least a 10 inch screen is desirable for watching movies and small PMPs should be judged on audio quality alone.
The opposite for me. I was just gonna say how they complain about a 2.4 inch screen when I watch videos on a 1.5 inch just fine.
Why should I upgrade to this - still 16GB, inferior earbuds and speakers (which we're forbidden to use on our local public transport)
gimme a 32GB and I'd grab it in a heartbeat
I don't think speakers should be forbidden on public transport. they just make you look like a c**t
I have 340+ gigs of music, so doesn't matter what size the player is I rotate my music once I get tired of whats on it with my 4GB***... Why is it so hard to plug it in and change out some music? Its as if some don't even own a PC load the music at a friends house lol.
I have owned over 7 brands of MP3 players but bar none, Sony's walkman (2 gens back I had) was the best audio EQ and soudn quality (with good ear buds mind you) out of all of them. The virtual VPT mode is fantastic, emulating Live, Acousitc Hall, Club, and other venues its amazing. As far as audio quality goes my vote goes to walkman.
VPT? Oh man you really do not have a good taste of EQ. VPT is the worst virtualisation EQ I have ever heard. It is so fake and burry that only makes good music bad. Maybe even the poor SRS / WOW on windows media player is better than this. I would rather not having it and make the price cheaper.
Sharp originally released Dolby Headphone virtualisation effect on their MD players. The real feeling of 3Dlized amazed a lot of listeners and gained sharp a lot of credit in the market. Then Sony got jealous and tried to copy this technique, and that's where VPT came from. However Sony failed on delivering a true feeling of 3D and clear sound. The muddy, disordered output only leaves VPT a total joke. If you or anyone else ever tried VPT on better headphone than the ones come with the package, or ever listened to the Dolby Headphone effect, you would 100% agree with me.
However my own opinion is that good sound should only comes with true balance, clarity, dynamic and sound stage, keep it real and keep it original, as all the musics had been finely tuned into their best form when they came out of the studio. No EQ, no virtualisation, no fake stuffs.
So distorted sound = better sound quality for you? LOL.
Get a f'ing clue wow man. VPT has NOTHIGN to do with virtualizing surround sound. It is made to emulate enviroments, like concert halls, live events, clubs etc. It modifies the EQ levels and things like treble, bass and so forth to produce these different enviroments. "Sharp originally released Dolby Headphone virtualisation effect on their MD players" Wait, so would rather it be virutalized on headphones not hardware? WTF man, VPT has nothing to do with 3D sound. Take your finger out of your butt and try a walkman before claiming such ridiculous shit.
It's Apple, right?!!??!? What do I win?
Is there OTG playlists functionality Sony?
Hey Flasher, what do you own now ?
In my opinion, I like the sony walkman's punchy sound quality alot more than newest ipod's flat, blurred audio... I have owned many generations of sony walkmans and many generations of Ipods... with the SE530's the sony wins by far. THey just have so much bass, something that the ipod's bass booster fails...
Yep! I've always thought Sonys Walkman MP3 players sounded great.
BS. Just look at the front, it's got Mickey written all over it. They should have made the buttons black.
Interesting. Most definitely considering either this or Apple's new line of iPods this month for my next music playing device.
On my S639F, I never use VTP or Clear Stereo, or DSEE - I only keep Dynamic Normalizer on because it boosts all tracks, but you can hardly tell when the other sets are on
I'd like a Megabass, as most SE Walkman phones have, tho.....
Too little to late Sony made crap MP 3 players for years with awful software and attempts to force user into proprietary ATRC crap. Now Apple has a home run with the iTouch and iPhone that do a lot more than play music. But of course they are also excellent media players. The new models come out Sept 9th and as usual will eclipse everything else. Always amusing to see the usual kiddies here try to show how cool and with it they are by being anti-Apple though.
MDR-E804 is a good quality earbud? Laughable. It's a cheapo earbud, same quality with any stock earbud. I guess MS predicted correctly, that people like these cheapo earbuds more than better quality in-ear buds.
I love my iTouch for its versatility but it does sound like shit. Hopefully they'll improve sound quality for the third generation.
Sony ALWAYS bundles good earbuds?
Since when?
Are the MDR-E804Y really good earbuds?
I'd love to have a listen, since their EX range has traditionally been the only ones worthy of being called half-decent, IMO, and these aren't part of that range. Sounds to me like another cheap-sounding bundled earbud! (but happy to be corrected!)
Let's not get carried away by the select few Walkmans Sony HAVE bundled good earphones with here, Thomas.