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Sound

Feb 2, 2009

Rating: 9 out of 10 (Spectacular)
Pros: Superb sound
Cons: Playlists can only be edited on PC and not on handset
Opinion:
This review is based now on one-week's usage, so it cannot yet cover possible reliability issues.

How does it compare to the iPod?
If you are considering this MP3 player, you are also likely to be considering the iPod Nano 16GB 4th Generation. For me the main differences between the two players are:
- the Sony has much better sound right out of the box as they provide noise cancelling headset with a fairly good bass register. This is something to consider because although the Nano may initially be cheaper, with the Sony you do not have to spend more on a better set of headphones. And if you are buying a flash MP3 player, you're doing so for the music, so headphones will be really important. If anything you may want to buy a cheaper set of headphones for the Sony for when you are exercising, as you don't really want to ruin the bundled headphones with sweat.
- Sony is able to play WMA whereas the Nano cannot (this was the clincher for me, since most of my music is recorded in WMA)
- Battery life for Sony is longer
- there is a wider range of PC sofware available to use with the Sony, including simply using drag-and-drop on Windows explorer. Sony recommends using Windows Media Player 11. For the Nano you are restricted to using iTunes 8, which can be a bit resource heavy. And in case you are wondering, you do not need to use Sony's own excreable SonicStage software any more (yay!)
- Sony has an FM player.
- writing files onto the Sony from the PC can be a little slow
- The Nano provides software features which are not available in the Sony (calendar, games, alarms, stopwatch, contacts and notes) - but these are features already on my mobile phone so I did not care for them.
- The Nano has a wide variety of accessories available. This not only includes the standard things such as customised covers and sports belts, but it is easier to port the Nano into a custom set of speakers. There are also an increasing number of third-party 'widgets' which can be added directly to the Nano, such as FM transmitters, car chargers, and even things to measure how fast you are running or your heart rate when you are exercising. However, I've heard reports that many of the accessories that were available with earlier generation iPods do not work with the 4th generation, so be careful if you are upgrading.
- the Nano user interface is easier to use. This is particularly true when setting up customised play lists - in the Sony this can only be done through the PC and not on the go. One other issue with the Sony is that it is now a little more difficult to search for specific artists, albums or songs than in previous Sony walkman players - previously the initial search icon could be accessed directly through the desktop, whereas now it has to be accessed through cascading through menus.
- the Nano menu is better for those with poor eye-sight
- the Nano is smaller