Sony NWZ-A816 user reviews (4GB, black)

4.0 stars

"I like it." on September 24, 2007 by orangecrane

Pros: Good looks, great sound, open standard

Cons: I've had issues with getting images to play

Summary: A couple days ago I bought an NWZ-A816. I debated for several weeks about whether to get one of these or the new Nanos--a particularly tough debate for me since I was a MacGenius for Apple and own several hard drive based ipods. I decided to try the NWZ knowing that I could return it to the Sony store paying only the restocking fee. Well, I like it a lot. I prefer the longer shape to the square nanos; I like that I can push the buttons in the dark and navigate menus without having to look at the device; the screen size and resolution is the same as the nano; I like the case that Sony makes (great for getting sweaty or being accidentally dropped at the gym); I like the bluetooth adapter for the WM-port. Just as I figured, it mounts like any other USB device on my Mac, and thrillingly I can just drag and drop non-DRMed music from my iTunes library to the Music folder. Most importantly, I think the electronic Sony sound enhancements (like surround sound and a customizable equalizer) result in better sound than the Nano.

Here is one thing I've noticed which I'll mention even though Mac support isn't intended (but could probably be fixed with a firmware update): When the NWZ is ejected or unmounted, it automatically remounts itself. The way around this on a Mac is to launch disk utility and eject just the volume. The display on the NWZ then reads "connecting" and I disconnect it. On a PC, the issue seems to be similar: that I can't eject or unmount the device, but I can just unplug it when the screen says "connecting". And even though I can drag and drop, it doesn't show up as a mass storage device.

The other issue that has shown up on both Mac and PC is in transferring of .jpg or .mp4 files. What happens is that files that play perfectly well on either platform, will appear to copy fine to the NWZ but then are not viewable or playable, resulting in either the broken image icon or an error message about needing to reload the file. I know .mp4 files can be tricky, so I'm less concerned about that than why normal jpegs will sometimes not work without any explanation (and the files are not exceeding maximum size, and the device is not being unmounted before the file has been written).

The image issues aside, I'm very pleased with my walkman. I'm debating whether to upgrade to the 8gig and will probably get a couple accessories like the case, the bluetooth module, the extended warranty, and maybe some noise cancelling headphones. I believe in consumer choice, and the step Sony has made towards an open device I think is a great one—it's the first reason I considered it (apart from it's good looks and size). I hope that the WM-Port is a standard that will be carried forward to allow for a great range of accessories.