Best Sony MP3 Player

Superb sound quality and enhancement features. I found the included earbuds a bit uncomfortable to use for extended periods of time--they were a little big for me. *

The browser's a bit of a dropped ball and so is the Windows-only integration, but it's the best sounding MP3 player we've heard

Launch price


At last, a genuine contender the iPod's throne. The best Walkman, and possibly best MP3 player, yet

The bottom line: The X-Series is a superb choice for audiophiles who want a luxury device with an excellent touch-screen interface and plenty of other bells and whistles.

The bottom line: The X-Series is a superb choice for audiophiles who want a luxury device with an excellent touch-screen interface and plenty of other bells and whistles.

The Sony W-series Walkman is a great option for active users who want an all-in-one music device to use while working out.

This $69.99 (list) MP3 player/earphone combo sounds good, stays in place, and is easy to use. *

Usability is simplistic and perfect for on the move changing and volume control. The earbuds are comfortable and the player sits naturally in the ears.. No screen. *

TheW202 ’s built in earphones in our view were quite capable of playing music with moderate bass, in fact, its music play is slightly “bassy”. *

Buttons are close to useless. *

Though the Sony PRS-500 Portable Reader System is an impressive platform for reading e-books and other documents, the price and availability of compatible "books" makes it a tougher sell.

Sony has done a good job with the UI on the Sony Reader and it's easy to use. *

It's rare that we mention bundled earphones at all, but the Sony MDR-E0931 'phones are a comfortable affair that delivers the lows with aplomb, though we felt they tended to muffle the highs and mids, resulting in slight distortion. The response of the NW-A1000's hard drive was less than ideal. We experienced varying lag times of 2 to 3 seconds while trying to move from one menu to another.


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In addition to looking good, the device generally is easy to use. The audio is crisp and the video elements is precise and clear. *