Need advice or an opinion?
Reach out to the CNET Asia community by posting your queries here. Do keep your comments clean and relevant to this product.
To post comments, you need to become a member. It's FREE.
NWZ-S545
Oct 3, 2009 10:25 AM
The only differences between the S series vs the E series are:1. External speakers
2. Supposedly longer battery life
3. No Update Library at startup or after disconnecting from PC
4. Sony's proprietary port vs MiniUSB in E series
5. Cost slightly more due to the differences
Otherwise, the player is essentially the SAME.
Player has good music playback.
Unfortunately, it's faulted primarily in that it does NOT have media software. Content Transfer software ONLY transfers songs to player and its video conversion function RARELY works! Basically, it's a JOKE!
People WILL have to use 3rd party media software to handle files. The most basic function of the media software is to rip music from CDs. If ALL you do is rip music then Windows Media Player (WMP) will suit you! Just rip then transfer the songs onto the player though it's slower than just using Drag n Drop!
For MOST other people, including self, editing file, album art tagging and playlist creation is ESSENTIAL! Period!
SONY REFUSES to make media software which is costing them buyers of the players!
Also, the player does NOT support "compilation" playlists in which you may have a playlist of various songs from various artists! It will NOT transfer the playlist but will transfer the files into the respective artist's folder. Expect LOTS of frustration in playing those files!
The work around is to "dump" all those different files into one folder then create a playlist of that folder then transfer that playlist. Problem is... that one folder will NOT be on the player. The playlist will be but the songs will spread out, again, according to each artist folder, which will frustrate you ever MORE!
Save your sanity and money and consider the Ipod.
The music quality is so-so but, for most people, it'll do! Most people, like self, are NOT aficionados but just like listening to music! The ipod is Playlist centric and iTunes is relatively simple to use as in rip music, edit files, create playlists esp. compilation playlists and transfers the files, all in ONE software, which is F-R-E-E!!
iTunes bashers may hate the proprietary nature but you do NOT have to buy music. Just rip it yourself!
Lastly, Sony mp3 players do NOT support FLAC or Lossless while iPods DO support those file formats, which is better than mp3!
Buy Sony mp3 for:
music quality playback
Do NOT buy Sony mp3 because:
Not user-friendly, NO media software for files
Poor tech support
Jump to page: [1]
