Sony Walkman NWZ-E450 does karaoke, we go hands-on (video)
By Richard Lai 
posted July 16th 2010 11:23AM
posted July 16th 2010 11:23AM
Your cool, colourful music partner Feature-packed WALKMAN® E450 Video MP3 player from Sony with premium sound for young music fans
15 July 2010
• WALKMAN® E450: Funky design and rich WALKMAN® sound
• Extra-long battery life up to 50 hour (music)/10 hour (video)1
• SensMe™ channels for themed listening to suit any mood
• Friendly, easy new interface with album scroll and wallpapers
• Fun music options with Lyrics Sync and Karaoke mode
• Excellent Sound Quality with Clear Audio Technologies, Dynamic Normalizer and VPT
• Easy PC transfer with auto video format conversion in Windows® 7
• Bookmark function for easy playlist creation
• Also available with portable stereo speaker dock (E450K - Black)
The WALKMAN® family grows this summer with a choice of exciting new Video MP3 players from Sony. Fun, colourful and easy to use, the latest-generation WALKMAN® E450 is all about must-have looks plus great sound and video performance.
WALKMAN® E450 video MP3 player
Young music lovers with an eye for style can enjoy rich, quality sound by Sony that really stands out from the crowd. Perfect as a first music player, WALKMAN® E450 is available in a choice of five fun, funky colours.
A fresh new interface makes WALKMAN® even easier and more fun to use. The redesigned playback screen lets you scroll through a big, bold view of cover artwork on the crisp, clear QVGA screen. Background wallpapers can be customised from a choice of designs, or use your own photos. New Scene Search makes it easy to pinpoint the right moment in longer videos by scrolling through a series of thumbnail images.
Looking to match your listening to your mood? Unique to Sony, SensMe™ technology automatically analyses and categorises your music library, creating a series of themed channels. Just pick your channel to suit the moment, from mellow to upbeat.
Brand new to WALKMAN®, Lyrics Sync supports the popular .lrc file format, displaying the words of your favourite songs on screen. There's also a new Karaoke Mode that lets you have fun singing along to your favourite songs. WALKMAN® automatically reduces the original performer's vocal level, so your own voice is heard clearly over the backing track. If you're struggling to hit those high or low notes, playback key can also be adjusted up or down to match anyone's vocal reach without changing playback speed.
Busy students will appreciate the brand-new Language Learning function that makes it easy to master a tricky phrase. WALKMAN® can 'loop' a chosen passage for listening at reduced playback speed without changing pitch or losing clarity.
Unique to Sony, a handy Bookmark function lets you create, add to or edit up to five of your own personal playlists. Just pick a playlist to suit your mood or whatever you're doing.
Like every WALKMAN®, the new E450 series stands out with full, rich sound to get the very best out of your music collection. Clear Bass and Clear Stereo are joined by new DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine). Developed by Sony, DSEE restores high frequencies that are lost when music files are compressed to recreate more natural, CD-quality sound.
New Virtual Phones Technology adds an extra dimension to enjoying your favourite tracks on headphones. Authentic acoustic modelling by Sony places you inside a choice of five soundspaces, from an intimate club to the biggest arena. As an extra listening refinement, Dynamic Normaliser balances the volume of each song as you listen, reducing jumps in volume as you listen in shuffle mode.
Extra-long battery life now lets you listen for even longer, offering up to 50 hours of music playback time (10 hours video playback) from a single charge1.
Supplied Content Transfer software makes it easy to drag and drop music files and playlists directly to WALKMAN® from your PC or iTunes library (not including DRM files).
WALKMAN® now works better than ever with your PC if you're running Windows® 7. Connect the WALKMAN® E450 to your PC's USB port and a new 'Device Stage' window launches automatically. This easy-to-use media management function lets you browse files stored on WALKMAN® in Windows Explorer and export media files directly to WALKMAN® from your PC. Windows® 7 even takes care of converting DivX® and AVCHD video files stored on your hard drive to playable format for viewing on WALKMAN®.
Also available (in black only), the WALKMAN® E450K adds a beautifully designed matched cradle stereo speaker, allowing you to enjoy crisp, clear WALKMAN® sound without headphones. Digital Linear Phase Speaker technology ensures a clear, natural soundfield, while Virtual Bass boosts low-end frequencies for a room-filling low end. As an alternative to mains power, the speaker can also be powered directly from the player's battery, letting you take great WALKMAN® sound with you anywhere.
15 July 2010
• WALKMAN® E450: Funky design and rich WALKMAN® sound
• Extra-long battery life up to 50 hour (music)/10 hour (video)1
• SensMe™ channels for themed listening to suit any mood
• Friendly, easy new interface with album scroll and wallpapers
• Fun music options with Lyrics Sync and Karaoke mode
• Excellent Sound Quality with Clear Audio Technologies, Dynamic Normalizer and VPT
• Easy PC transfer with auto video format conversion in Windows® 7
• Bookmark function for easy playlist creation
• Also available with portable stereo speaker dock (E450K - Black)
The WALKMAN® family grows this summer with a choice of exciting new Video MP3 players from Sony. Fun, colourful and easy to use, the latest-generation WALKMAN® E450 is all about must-have looks plus great sound and video performance.
WALKMAN® E450 video MP3 player
Young music lovers with an eye for style can enjoy rich, quality sound by Sony that really stands out from the crowd. Perfect as a first music player, WALKMAN® E450 is available in a choice of five fun, funky colours.
A fresh new interface makes WALKMAN® even easier and more fun to use. The redesigned playback screen lets you scroll through a big, bold view of cover artwork on the crisp, clear QVGA screen. Background wallpapers can be customised from a choice of designs, or use your own photos. New Scene Search makes it easy to pinpoint the right moment in longer videos by scrolling through a series of thumbnail images.
Looking to match your listening to your mood? Unique to Sony, SensMe™ technology automatically analyses and categorises your music library, creating a series of themed channels. Just pick your channel to suit the moment, from mellow to upbeat.
Brand new to WALKMAN®, Lyrics Sync supports the popular .lrc file format, displaying the words of your favourite songs on screen. There's also a new Karaoke Mode that lets you have fun singing along to your favourite songs. WALKMAN® automatically reduces the original performer's vocal level, so your own voice is heard clearly over the backing track. If you're struggling to hit those high or low notes, playback key can also be adjusted up or down to match anyone's vocal reach without changing playback speed.
Busy students will appreciate the brand-new Language Learning function that makes it easy to master a tricky phrase. WALKMAN® can 'loop' a chosen passage for listening at reduced playback speed without changing pitch or losing clarity.
Unique to Sony, a handy Bookmark function lets you create, add to or edit up to five of your own personal playlists. Just pick a playlist to suit your mood or whatever you're doing.
Like every WALKMAN®, the new E450 series stands out with full, rich sound to get the very best out of your music collection. Clear Bass and Clear Stereo are joined by new DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine). Developed by Sony, DSEE restores high frequencies that are lost when music files are compressed to recreate more natural, CD-quality sound.
New Virtual Phones Technology adds an extra dimension to enjoying your favourite tracks on headphones. Authentic acoustic modelling by Sony places you inside a choice of five soundspaces, from an intimate club to the biggest arena. As an extra listening refinement, Dynamic Normaliser balances the volume of each song as you listen, reducing jumps in volume as you listen in shuffle mode.
Extra-long battery life now lets you listen for even longer, offering up to 50 hours of music playback time (10 hours video playback) from a single charge1.
Supplied Content Transfer software makes it easy to drag and drop music files and playlists directly to WALKMAN® from your PC or iTunes library (not including DRM files).
WALKMAN® now works better than ever with your PC if you're running Windows® 7. Connect the WALKMAN® E450 to your PC's USB port and a new 'Device Stage' window launches automatically. This easy-to-use media management function lets you browse files stored on WALKMAN® in Windows Explorer and export media files directly to WALKMAN® from your PC. Windows® 7 even takes care of converting DivX® and AVCHD video files stored on your hard drive to playable format for viewing on WALKMAN®.
Also available (in black only), the WALKMAN® E450K adds a beautifully designed matched cradle stereo speaker, allowing you to enjoy crisp, clear WALKMAN® sound without headphones. Digital Linear Phase Speaker technology ensures a clear, natural soundfield, while Virtual Bass boosts low-end frequencies for a room-filling low end. As an alternative to mains power, the speaker can also be powered directly from the player's battery, letting you take great WALKMAN® sound with you anywhere.
If i pull my earphones just enough out of my ipod, i can do that too (:
@Fredfrombelgium FAIL.
@Fredfrombelgium M-I-C...K-E-Y...M-O-U-S-E
the new Mickey Mouse walkman
@baef
This Mickey Mouse Walkman churns out better music quality (using the same earphones) than an iPod can dream of (I own an iPod Touch, a Sony S545, Shure SE530, and Sennheiser i8)
@krishansy
you sir area correct!!!
a sansa clip+ is has outstanding sound quality too
@krishansy
dam straight got an ipod touch and a sony walkman because the iPod's have horrible EQ
if sony's touchscreen player had apps i would throw my itouch at steve jobs face!
@krishansy agree~
walkman walkman is the best portable music player~~~
People still buy PMPs?
@Hazdaz
Not everyone can afford a smartphone and a data plan.
@Hazdaz
Why what should they do? Use the abysmal sound quality (relatively speaking) of mobile phones?
@Hazdaz in case you havnt noticed the battery life of smart phones SUCKS. Yes people that have smartphones still buy PMPs and im one of them
@krishansy
I think he meant non-Apple pmp's.
@Maxipad
who says you need a smartphone?
Sony had (probably still does) their own line of "regular" phones with tons of music capabilities (I think they were even branded under the Walkman name or had much of the same music components).
I just don't get why someone would want to carry around another piece of equipment around.
@Hazdaz Again battery life? yes sony had those walkman phones and they were a total failure...mainly due to the proprietary headphone jack and the lousy UI. Also i like being able to take this light weight PMP strap it my arm and go to the gym...cant do that with a phone and id be too worried about it getting damaged. Im sorry there is a definite case to be made for two separate devices
@Spaceshipped
Apple pmps has abysmal sound quality
@DefPoet
defpoet is now also an audiophile. Tell us about your home stereo setup, please. I'm sure it's Top Notch.
@dagetz
Yeah, now that you mention it, those phones did need that idiotic adapter for a headset.... but that still doesn't kill the idea for me. I just HATE having multiple devices, and my phone (currently a BB Pearl) is probably almost as small as these Sony devices and I have taken it to the gym and riding my bike with no issues at all.
To each their own.
Wonder if they had to license the Mickey Mouse silhouette from Steve Jobs, er, Disney...?
If I was Sony, I would be making sure I had a new Walkman design and possible Android OS ready to rock when Google Music launches. Sony was one of the kings of Portable music players in the 80's and 90's with their Walkman Cassette and CD players. Would be fantastic to see them be ready with something that integrates well with Google Music.
They are already in bed with Google with Google TV going into their TV sets and I am sure will be pre-installed in any PS4 (whenever those come around in a few years). This would be a good shot at them to regain some footing in the PMP market that they have been pushed out of by Apple.
@mjkxxl for all we know they could be working on this currently. It would be nice to know what google music actaully is. Is it just a store or is it actually going to entail a grooveshark or lala type system (fingers crossed)
Although if it is the latter there would be very little reason for a PMP, all it would need would be tiny tiny storage and a screen and a cellular connection...sounds like people would just use an android app and not have an extra data plan
@dagetz
I agree, we will have to wait to see what Google does. I am hoping that they understand they need to make the music as affordable and as unlocked/easy to move around as possible. I am sure Google will want to do this over all of its android devices as well as computers (via browser I would guess).
If Google somehow manages to get music at a cheaper rate than Itunes, allows more openness with that music (the ability to move it around from device to device), then Apple's Itunes will be in big trouble.
Made for the Japaneese people.... we people of Europe and i guess US don't do the Karaoke thing
@DeviantmacG But I think the kids do, regardless of nationality.
Assuming these are made for the Japanese market, why not make a digital camera that is also an mp3 player with karaoke?
I wish Sony would push their Walkman series a little harder in the US. I know they sell well in Japan, but Apple is so strong in the US. If Microsoft and Sony got their shit together with the Zune and the Walkman they'd give Apple a good run for its money. The Shuffle, Nano, and Classic are way overpriced and are looking for a good competitor, and that $200 iPod Touch SKU is a piece of shit.
For the 5 people that will buy them :p
I was an original owner of a Sony Walkman in 1982. Its sad to see what has happened with Sony, reduced to simply copying the iPod Nano.
For some reason I feel like going to Disney World when I look at this things... wtf can someone explain why is that???
Who cares? Really, karaoke on a screen and font that small? Oh, and let me guess, it probably still cannot play music properly (gapless playback). Really Sony, where's your Android-based Walkman that you promised? Or are they following the same fate as Duke Nukem Forever?