Sony NW-S205F (2GB)
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"Looks like the Shuffle?!?!?" on by fleurya
Pros: Innovative design
Cons: small controls
Summary: I just had to reply to a comment that they are stealling design from Apple. This is really unbelievavle and stupid! Put this thing next to a Shuffle and ask people if they look alike. they'll think your nuts! Why is it the same, because it's small? So Apple has exclusive rights to making things small??? You Apple guys are really getting out of control. YOUR STUFF IS NOT THAT GREAT ANYMORE! DEAL WITH IT!!
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"very good with VOIDMP3FM software!" on by vlad1024
Pros: good sound, great design!
Cons: not loud enough
Summary: This player is great. Especially with VOIDMP3FM software.
SonicStage software shiped with it is really awful.
But I have found VOIDMP3FM software. It is absolutely free and can be download from www.drvoid.com site. It's great!
Now I can upload my MP3 files rapidly!
Thanks, Dr.Void!!! You have saved the day! -
"No whiz-bang features are worth Big-Brother's Sonic Stage" on by mtflier
Pros: Nice look -- for a paper weight
Cons: Sony and Sonic Stage
Summary: Anyone that has ever suffered through Sony's overbearing, ridiculous DRM (remember the rootkits?) know that no incredible futuristic design can ever compensate for such absolute disregard of user rights. You can spend countless hours to extract those thousand(s) songs from your hundred(s) of valuable, legally owned CDs, only to find you can't copy them to your portable Sony media player. They have magically become Sony's property in "their" media library which requires you to "check out" the tracks from one Sony device to the other. Suppose you want to listen to a CD on your way to work then continue playing it while at work with the other 30GB of music?
1. Boot your Vaio
2. Connect your Sony "i-Pod wannabe" to your Vaio via the USB cable.
3. Check out the tracks you want to listen to from the Vaio to the wannabe.
4. Shut down the devices.
5. Disconnect & pack the Vaio and cables.
6. "Enjoy" the 20 minutes of tunes.
7. Unpack your Vaio and boot it.
8. Connect the 2 Sony devices.
9. "Check-in" the tracks from your "envy of i-Pod owners" back into your Vaio.
10. Spend the rest of your life warning humanity not to support Sony - in becoming their pet Aibo - walking and barking for their pleasure!
Assigning an appealing name like "Sonic Stage" is analagous to the Nazis calling the gas chamber a "shower." -
"I have iPod and Walkman" on by ewychen
Pros: Sound Quality
Cons: Sonic Stage (but is is not as bad as it is made out...)
Summary: I am a serial gadget man and an audiophile.
When I go mobile, I always take a personal music machine with me; I have a 4G iPod, the Sony NW-HD5 and now the Sony NW-S205. My preferred headphones are the Westone UM2, although I also use Etymotic ER4P, Shure E3C and Sony MDR-EX90, depending on situation and requirement.
I have used iTunes and Sonic Stage extensively with over 1000 CDs ripped into both (at 256kpbs using AAC and ATRAC3plus respectively). While Sonic Stage is a bit more inconvenient to use, both do have DRM, so for those who criticize Sonic Stage for DRM issues simply do not know their software and are probably giving a biased opinion. Also, many who negatively comment on Sonic Stage seem to be referring to earlier versions of the software.
Anyway, we are talking hardware here.
I enjoy both iPod and Walkman as both are nice machines and fun to use. As you can see from my extensive CD collection, I have seriously used both iPod and Walkman.
Reality of my current situation is that my iPod is now reduced to providing the music in my bathroom with powered speakers while both my HD5 and S205 are with me on the road and just about everywhere else.
Why?
Sound quality beats iPod any time. Solid and well defined bass, good transparency and projection in the music soundstage and good accurate overall tone. Gapless play.
Here's one of several litmus test examples. Play on an iPod, a well recorded jazz or rock track where all instruments are well defined ... the bass on an iPod will almost always distort!
In a nutshell, one will enjoy iPod as an iconic stylish accessory, but if one wants to seriously enjoy good quality music, Walkman is the way to go.
I have given the S205 an 8 for coolness, unique design and sound quality. It would have scored a 9 if sound was comparable with HD5 and navigation easier. Nonetheless it's sound quality is still more enjoyable and better than iPod.
By the way, in ending, here's some food for thought. I wonder how iconic and stylish an accessory the iPod will continue to be since since so many people are carrying it now, and it has become so common, so staple and .... boring! -
"Excellent for workouts and other activities" on by jjacobus
Pros: Very good egronomic design. Easy to hold. Buttons designed well for navigating while running or working out. Good value.
Cons: Would like the screen to scroll to the right so I can see the full song name and artist - (minor quibble). When making selections in the advanced menu, the timeout is a little quicker than I'd like.
Summary: I purchased as soon as this was available. Been using this every day for about 6 weeks during my workouts and running. I consider it an excellent product. I wanted a simple to use MP3 player with good fidelity and this is it. When I don't have it in the holster or in a pocket, it fits comfortably in your hand. The controls are easy use. I tend to skip back and forth between different playlists and tracks and I think the controller is easy to work. Volume control has natural feel and the on/off toggle takes not time to get used to (don't understand the Cnet reviewer's complaint). Fidelity is excellent. I haven't used the enclosed earphones since I have a pair of good Sennheiser's and a older pair of Sony's that I prefer.
System recharges very quickly. After I've completely drained it, it will recharge to about 80% in 30 minutes. USB charging doesn't bother me since I frequently change music. The walk/run feature that changes playlists according to cadence is ok, but I don't find it compelling. The timer and pedometer are cool though.
A word about the Sonic Stage software: I have no problems with Sonic Stage. In my opinion it is no worse or better than any other software available. This includes Itunes, MusicMatch or Rhapsody. They all want to own all your music--that's how they gain market share. I'm a bit weary of negative comments by people who haven't used the product or software but have an opinion based on ignorance. The same can be said for all those people who think any product from Apple is perfect and everything else is junk.
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