 Touch killer? Great Rhapsody player... |
| Review Date: July 3, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Alan E. Moore, Sanford, FL |
I bought this as an upgrade to my Sony Noise Cancelling NWZ738 which I was using as my Rhapsody to go player -- now it is my wife's Rhapsody To Go player. The Walkman X has performed admirably as a replacement. It syncs flawlessly with Rhapsody and has the fantastic Walkman sound that I have come to love so much. The basis of my comparison: I will compare to the other Rhapsody players that I've owned -- Samsung P2, iRiver Clix2, Sony Walkman NWZ738 -- and since this is obviously targeted at the iPod Touch I will compare that also. As well, for full screen touch I am considering my Archos 604, 605 and 5 units. Lets just say I have an addiction to PMPs!
Here's what I love about my new Walkman X:
1. Sound -- as with my other Walkman, the sound is fantastic. I'm not exactly an audiophile but this is how I describe the sound: A powerful but crisp bass, a very full sound stage, very precise mids and highs, and no distortion that I can detect at all (believe me, with my UE 11 Pro earphones I can hear distortion on all of my other players!). To my ears, the combination of my UE earphones with the Walkman sound is as good as it gets in the portable world. Comparison: Clix 2 is crisp, you might even say bright, but lacks power on the lower end, Samsung P2 is a bit blurry -- especially with bass turned up the way I like it, Touch doesn't have the same fullness of sound nor does it have the driving bass, the Archos is not quite as crisp.
2. Display -- the OLED touch screen is beautiful to look upon. The colors are bright and vivid, and the images are big and bold and beautiful. I especially appreciate the album art which is displayed at a large enough size to really appreciate. Comparison -- well the Touch and Archos both have bigger screens, and the Touch does album art like nobody's business.
3. Dedicated buttons -- ok, here we're killing the iPod Touch because this has dedicated volume button (which I can actually find --an improvement over the 738 volume button) and play, ff, rev buttons in a little metal panel on the top. However, the 738 Walkman has the best dedicated play button I've ever seen, nobody can beat that.
4. Operation by braille -- yes I can easily operate the unit without looking at it, very important to me because I'm often wanting to stop the music or adjust the sound while my eyes are busy elsewhere. The design of the buttons and the way they protrude from the body makes it easy to find the play button and the volume buttons. Of course, nobody compares to the wonderful big bumpy play button on the Walkman 738 -- but there's only so much you can do when you have a big screen taking up most of your face. It is quite easy to operate the play button using the touch screen as well. Comparison: the Touch has no dedicated play button and the volume button is not easy to find or use by touch.
5. User Interface -- its very intuitive, I can drill down to the now playing screen very quickly. With a little practice I discovered the submenus accessible from the bottom of the Now Playing screen which allow me to access music settings, playlists, you name it. Overall, I think its a sleek looking interface which allows you to get around quickly and effectively. It even has many of the fun feeling actions that the Touch has, the lists go zooming by at the wave of a finger much like the Touch interface. Big improvement over many other MP3 touch UI's -- Archos perhaps being the worst of them, where I go through quite a rigmarole to simply start playing a new playlist.
6. Portability -- I think it beats the Touch on compactness. Although the Touch is slim and sleek, the Walkman X seems to be a bit more compact and easier to carry around in your hand. It has an interesting plastic edge which makes it highly grippable. Weight is probably about the same as the Touch -- it has a nice heft to it. The only full on touch screen player that can beat the X for compactness is probably the Samsung P2.
7. Esthetics -- I love the sparkly, shiny black finish of the front and back. This has a very techno look, they've definitely gone a different direction than the sleek rounded iPhone look. It's interesting and different, but personally I prefer the Touch esthetically.
8. Rhapsody DNA -- lets not forget the reason I bought the X in the first place, this will work with your Rhapsody To Go subscription (or Napster I hear). This is arguably the best of the players that I've found which support Rhapsody. Even better, I can also load non-Rhapsody music onto the player using MediaMonkey and they all coexist happily together.
9. Touch Screen -- yes I love touch screens as evidenced by my Archos, Touch, P2, and on and on it goes. This is a very good touch screen, quite responsive and easy to use. The touch interface is well designed, I don't ever struggle with hitting the right button -- as has been the case with the Touch from time to time. Comparison: well, I have to give the nod to Archos on this one, I like a touch screen that will work with a stylus in a crunch.
10. Battery life -- excellent! I'm not seeing their advertised 30 hours, more like 10+, unless I turn off all my sound enhancements which make it so fun to listen to. Comparison: seems to have a lot more juice than the Touch, Clix2, or the Archos units for sure.
11. Fun stuff built in -- this has a really nice built in interface to YouTube, and YouTube videos look fantastic on this screen. Also included is Slacker with free music (I believe you have to listen to commercials though). I think they are giving the Touch a run for the money on built in features.
12. Wifi -- hooked up to my home wifi no problem and was able to watch YouTube in a heartbeat.
13. Noise Cancelling -- nice feature but I don't use it much. The headphones are nice also, Sony makes a very decent single driver earbud which is very comfortable.
So what's not to like? Here are a few of my minor critiques of the X:
1. Paucity of accessories -- its the endless story, once you leave the apple happy place... good luck finding cases and such for your beautiful new player. However, I was able to find a nice case through I-nique which I'm very happy with.
2. Price -- yeah, this is kinda pricey for 16 GB player. If price is a concern you might want to go with the Walkman 738 which offers pretty much the same sound and Rhapsody friendliness at a much lower price.
3. No App Store -- need I say more?
4. Web browser -- I just tried it and it really does suck. Fortunately I don't really care, I didn't buy this for the web browser. But if they're going to have one they should at least make one that is more usable.
5. Doesn't appear to support Rhapsody Channels. My old Clix2 did so I'm a little disappointed. Hoping to see this fixed in a future firmware release.
In summary: if price is no concern, and you don't mind getting your accesories by mail order and you just have to have the best sound for your Rhapsody To Go subscription then this is the unit for you! Its beautiful, it sounds great, the screen is stunning and best of all... its NEW! On the other hand, if you love your iTunes, don't even know what Rhapsody is, aren't that picky about sound, and really want a leopard skin cover for your player then maybe you are better off with some sort of apple iPod.
7/28/09: Update -- this player started out good and has become my favorite in my small harem of mp3 players. Solid construction, great sound, and friendly to Rhapsody makes it tough to beat. The touch interface has grown on me (initially a bit confusing!), and I have to say I've had zero problems with this player with the touch screen or anything else for that matter. Still a very happy customer!
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This is not a toy!
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| Review Date: July 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Opentoe, |
This is not a toy. This device is for people who love the best sounding music you can have in the palm of your hand. There is no comparing this quality with other units out there. I have to say the stock ear buds are fantastic. These alone would cost about $50. The noise canceling which is built into the player works very nice when paired with these ear buds. The stock ear buds are just fine probably for all that buy this device. I'm a stickler for putting anything in my ears, but these have very soft ear gels (you get three sizes) which fit smoothly and softly with comfort. Someone said in a previous review that the "plastic" ring around the outside... I'm not sure which player you have but there's nothing but solid metal around the outside that very elegantly dips at an angle for better handling ability. Built like a tank, surrounded in all metal case the build quality of that of Mercedes rather than Toyota. The display screen, well really can't get any better than the technology that is out there. This is the latest and greatest hot off the press people. For the guy who said the screen isn't bright? Did you check the 10 brightness level settings? In normal light you have to stick around a 5, or it just becomes too bright. The screen doesn't shine bright like others, which most do. This one has more of a beautiful glow which doesn't beam to kill your pupils. Remember, it is not how bright it is but how good it looks in all light surroundings. Perfect. I won't say much about the menus or playability. Everything has been laid out in quick and easy menus which only require a few taps to get your going. All players have this. Coupled with the OLED screen there's no reading or looking up ways to get somewhere. It's just that easy and precise. One thing. THIS IS NOT AN INTERNET TABLET. If you want web browsing please do not get this player. Plain and simple. I never understood at this stage in the game why are browsers even included in high end PMP's. I used it once to make sure the wireless function just worked. It did. Didn't browse or surf the web. I'm old school, still use a laptop with a nice sized screen for that. :)
If you want a very high quality sounding player with no gimmicks, easy drag and drop file transfers with awesome noise canceling (can be turned off) then this is a great player to buy. While it does a great job on playing videos, I'll strictly be using all available memory for music.
If you have any questions, let me know. Thanks for reading.
***Added Update***
After a couple weeks of using the player the touch screen response was getting worse and worse. Some times it would work perfectly, but then some times no matter how much I pressed/touched the screen nothing would happen. It has become so frustrating I purchased another music player. I have severa days left to return it, and since Sony hasn't been able to help me I may have to return the unit. To eliminate problems, I actually ordered another new one (same model) and the screen response issue was there again. I've used other touch screen devices, and this one is very hard to use when it doesn't respond. I am VERY upset since the audio quality was amazing with this unit and the battery life seemed to last forever! The screen visually is fantastic and upsets me a lot that that this problem has happened. Maybe they haven't perfected touch capabilities with OLED? Anyway, this is the story so far. I may end up returning both of them because of this stickler problem. If I had external buttons that controlled the screen then I would keep the product just based on how good it sounds.
***Added Update
I do not regret getting rid of this device. I've had good luck with the other MP3 player. I've been back to Sony's website to check out if they added any new firmware or anything and as of today there isn't anything available. Lack of any support via the website also. That's about it. |
The Best Sounding Portable Music Player On The Market
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| Review Date: September 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: W. Walley, |
A little background for this review, I currently own both the Sony X-Series 32GB Walkman and the Zune HD 32GB. I got the Sony X-Series back in June of this year and I've had the Zune HD since it came out on Sept. 15th. I also own the iRiver iHP-120, iHP-140, iFP-899 and Sony PSP. I did own the Zune 30 and 80, both from their original launch, and sold both for $100 each in order to upgrade to the Zune HD. I have never owned an Apple iPod or iPhone but this is because I've gone down to the local Apple Store when the new models came out and hooked up my head phones and listened to the sound quality which I was not impressed with compared to the various players I've owned or currently own. As for a phone I use a Palm Pre. I am definitely an audio/videophile. I have about 2000 Cd's that I record at 320kbps and about 1800 music videos that I record from DVD to MPEG-4. I use my players to play only my top songs and videos so that every song and video is a favorite.
Sound Quality:
When I buy a player the first thing I look for is sound quality. So I toss out the headphones that every player comes with and use my own. Thus, I can't review the supplied headphones because I never tried them. Let's start with the sound customization settings. The X-Series has four EQ presets, and a choice to use no EQ. In addition, the X-Series has two user customizable settings with a five band EQ and an additional Clear Bass setting with 4 levels of Bass. The X-Series also has a VPT (Surround) setting with six ambient settings (Studio, Live, Club, Arena, Matrix, and Karaoke) along with a choice for no ambient setting. It also has a DSEE (Sound Enhance) setting, and a Clear Stereo setting. In comparison, if you are familiar with the Zune 30's EQ, the Zune HD has the same seven EQ preset choices and a choice to use no EQ. There are no other sound enhancement features outside of the EQ on the Zune HD. I definitely think the Zune HD should have added a customizable EQ setting like the X-Series that you can adjust the highs and lows to your individual user preferences. These additional sound settings the X-Series has over the Zune HD goes a long way in enhancing the overall sound quality.
I would say the sound quality of the X-Series is better than the Zune HD and certainly better than any Apple product I've listened to. To be clear, the Zune HD's sound is good but compared to the X-Series it does not have the depth of sound and focuses more on the treble and midrange sounds but if you use a good set of headphones the sound and bass are good just not as full ranged as the X-Series'. The X-Series' sound is clear enough to hear subtle nuances in the music while enjoying a rich warm powerful sound. That said, I would say the Sony X-Series is definitely the best sounding portable music player on the market right now because of a combination of the above mentioned settings along with its overall sound processing abilities.
Picture Quality:
The next thing I look at when buying a portable player is picture quality. Both the Sony X-Series and the Zune HD have an OLED screen and are in a league by themselves because this is clearly the next step in portable device screen technologies. The color and detail will blow you away. Colors are vivid and life like with a full range of colors you just don't see with LCD including from the PSP. Also, the OLED screen doesn't need a backlight like an LCD screen does, so it uses far less power, and can show black in its true color. Also, the viewing angle is excellent; unlike LCD you can see perfect color and image on an OLED from nearly any angle including a near side on view. And the refresh rate on an OLED screen is up to 12 times faster than on an LCD, meaning that there's virtually no blur on fast moving sports or action scenes.
That said, the Sony X-Series and the Zune HD are nearly identical with their screens, aside from the Sony X-Series being slightly smaller, 3.0 inches vs. 3.3 inches on the Zune HD. Also, Sony uses a 9:5 screen ratio which is not as well suited to video as the Zune HD's 16:9 screen ratio. And as for video transfer, I had no problem viewing all my videos in the MPEG-4 format on the Zune whereas on the Sony I had a difficult time transferring them over. Also note, the Sony is slightly brighter on its highest screen brightness setting than the Zune, but the Zune is bright enough to get the job done. I would say considering these factors both the Zune and Sony are excellent; but for video, the Zune HD wins, otherwise they are Virtually Identical.
Form Factor and Looks:
As for form factor and aesthetics, the first thing you will notice when you pick up the X-Series is that it is solidly built and has a nice quality weight to it. The X-Series is about the size of a small candy bar. Its 3.0 inch, rich, OLED screen takes up about 85% of the front surface and has a smooth touch; which is perfect for its touch screen capabilities. Your finger will glide across the screen like ice. Aside from the screen, the X-Series uses a chiseled granite finish along the sides which is ideal for gripping. The entire front and back surface are a high gloss finish so there will be finger prints. Compared to the Zune HD, the X-Series has more weight, is just a tad thicker (1mm), a bit shorter, and slightly less wide. The iPod Touch or iPhone will look dated compared to the compact size and design of the X-Series or Zune HD for that matter. Overall, the X-Series Walkman is a compact solidly built player with a modern design, perfect for a portable player.
Quick Access Buttons:
The quick access buttons are a real win for the X-Series vs. other players. In addition to the touch screen interface that has a play/pause button, a fast forward/skip to next track button, and a fast rewind/skip to previous track button; there are dedicated buttons on the player that are not on the touch screen itself. On the top of the player it has three dedicated buttons: a play/pause button, a fast forward/skip to next track button, and fast rewind/skip to previous track button. On the right hand side of the player it has a volume up and down rocker. At the bottom of the front surface of the player just below the touch screen is a Home button which bring you back to the Home screen and acts as a Standby/Power Off mode button. On the back top of the player there is a sliding Hold button to disable the other buttons and disable the touch screen to avoid unintentional actions. Clearly, the benefit of these dedicated hard buttons makes it easy to navigate the player through common tasks like lowering or raising the volume. It also allows you to navigate the player without looking at the player which can be an issue when walking, running, doing other tasks, or even if it's in a pocket and you want to change the track without taking it out.
User Interface:
The X-Series has a nice user interface with sub menus that are easy to understand and intuitive. For example, when playing music it has four useful icons at the bottom of the page. One is the Option Menu icon, which brings up all the sound customization options easily. The other is the Related Links icon, which links the current track or artist to a Yahoo or YouTube search via wifi. The next is the Search icon, to search or play music from a list of All Songs, Albums, Artists, Genres, Release Years, Playlists, or Folders. I like the fact that I can use folders I've created on my computer. This means, I can make a folder like "80's Music" on my computer and then drag and drop it to the X-Series and when I scroll through the list of folders on the X-Series I will have a dedicated folder for "80's Music". The Zune does not do this. The last icon is the List icon, which shows a list of all the songs in the category I am playing and the order they will play.
Transferring Music, Videos, and Pictures:
Transferring content is done by dragging and dropping, which is nice. Although, I could not get the video to transfer over well, it seems to be hit or miss even in the correct MPEG-4 format. I never had trouble with the Sony PSP or Zune HD for videos, and I have over 1800 Music Videos. Also, pictures need to be an odd 852 x 480 pixel ratio or they won't fill the whole screen.
Web Browsing:
I'm not going to review web browsing because I feel that web browsing should be left to your cell phone that hopefully has a dedicated QWERTY keyboard and touch screen. Also, these players use WiFi to connect to the internet which I feel is too limiting compared to a cell phone that can browse the web anywhere.
Summary:
Over all, I would recommend the Sony X-Series Walkman as the best sounding portable music player on the market right now. I would also recommend it for having dedicated commonly used buttons like play/pause, skip, and a volume rocker. I also like the fact that I can drag and drop named folders that show up on the X-Series. And of course, the X-Series' 3.0 inch, rich, OLED screen, with color and detail that will blow you away compared to other players is a huge win.
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I-Touch can't touch this player......
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| Review Date: July 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: David J. Partida, |
1. Sound - WOW!!!!!!! This player will make you smile as soon as you hear it......and will keep you smiling.
2. Display - WOW!!!!!!! Again....nothing but smiles when you see it. Just beautiful. Looks amazing during the day too
3. Design - hahaha another wow!!!! Just beautiful. I like the grip on the side of the player and the buttons on the top. Makes it easy to change my music selection when I have the player in my pocket.
4. Touch Interface - Amazing!!!!! Works really well.....almost too well.
5. Noise Canceling - Take it on the bus....muni....or just for a walk and you will instantly hear the difference. One of the best features on the player.....especially if you live in the city like I do and you want to enjoy your music like never before.
6. Headphones - 2 words........VERY COMFORTABLE
7. Web Browsing - Not as good as the ipod but who cares......I'll take sound quality over checking my email any day. If you turn down this player because of the web browser.....you are an idiot.
Pros-
sound
design
oled screen(beautiful)
headphones
able to sync with rhapsody
slacker radio
noise canceling
touch interface easily on par with itouch or iphone
sound
sound
sound
and sound
Cons-
no app store
web browser needs work
overall an amazing product......
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Awesome Quality
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| Review Date: July 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: SOMEWHERE UP THERE, SINGAPORE Singapore |
If you are one that looks for the best audio quality, you must buy Sony X1000. They have combined the best digital audio and lots of enhancements with noise cancelling. I just love the sound, even better than Creative X-fi or Apple. The OLED display is bright, sharp and clear (as someone pointed out, you need to set the brightness to suit your standards). YouTube videos look awesome. Buttons are well placed that you cannot find fault with them and you can navigate just by feel. It's pretty easy to connect the wifi. The touchscreen is great, responsive and accurate. I have not regretted buying my first Sony player.
Pros:
Unmatchable audio quality
Great touchscreen
Bright and smooth OLED display
Long battery life
Compact size (high tech feel)
Cons:
High costs (main factor people won't buy)
Lack of applications store/sites
Screen too small for comfortable web browsing
Web browser not great (tedious to key in), don't buy if web browsing is the main reason for getting this.
Not sure if earphones can be replaced
Lack accessories such as case
In short, who should buy? People who love QUALITY! |
Discount for
" Sony Walkman X Series 32 GB Video MP3 Player w/ OLED Display ", Today on Sales Sony Walkman X Series 32 GB Video MP3 Player w/ OLED Display + Free shipping. Get Sony Walkman X Series 32 GB Video MP3 Player w/ OLED Display Now! |
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