Sony NWZ-A815 (2GB, black)

Manufacturer: Sony Part number: NWZ-A815BLK

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$89.96 - $125.82 at 5 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
4.0 stars Excellent
Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 4 reviews

Sep 2007

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Product series; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: The Sony NWZ-A810 offers a fantastic display, a sleek design and interface, and a stellar battery life--plus, it's one of the few MP3 players that sound great right out of the box. Users looking for the whole package (sans radio) will be pleased.

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CNET editors' review

Sony NWZ-A815 (2GB, black)

price range: $89.96 - $125.82

Reviewed by: Jasmine France
Reviewed on: 09/25/2007

The good: The Sony NWZ-A810 offers a slim design with a lovely, ample screen. It's also easy to use and comes with high-quality earphones. Audio quality is excellent, and there are plenty of sound enhancement options and two custom EQs. The player supports photo and video playback as well as subscription WMA files, and it has a fantastic battery life.

The bad: Even with the included extender, the Sony NWZ-A810's earphone cable is very short. The placement of the hold button on the back of the player is neither convenient nor ergonomic. There's no FM tuner, voice recorder, or memory expansion slot.

The bottom line: The Sony NWZ-A810 offers a fantastic display, a sleek design and interface, and a stellar battery life--plus, it's one of the few MP3 players that sound great right out of the box. Users looking for the whole package (sans radio) will be pleased.

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Sony NWZ-A810

Here in the CNET offices, there's no doubt that the death of SonicStage will allow Sony's Walkmans to move a significant step up in the MP3 player market share competition. The company's new devices support AAC and protected WMA, offer excellent battery life, and sound fantastic. The latest Walkman to cross the review desk is the NWZ-A810, a video-friendly flash player available in 2GB ($119.95), 4GB ($149.95), and 8GB ($199.95) flavors. We're pretty impressed with this model, and we think you will be too.

The Sony NWZ-A810 is a pretty slick player. It has a high-quality, metallic build with the main body decked out in the brushed color of your choosing--black, pink, white, or silver. A chrome-like strip surrounds the edge of the device, and accenting of the same style surrounds the buttons and makes up the logos on the front. The overall look is more elegant than flashy, so it may not turn heads, but users with an appreciation for understatement will like the style. Actually, the most eye-catching feature is the excellent, 2-inch QVGA display (320x240)--it's bright and crisp and can be used in landscape orientation for viewing photos and videos. The main menu screen is well-organized, with icons that highlight and magnify as you scroll through them, and the playback screen displays album art and a wealth of information. You can even set a screensaver to display the time and date while you're not actively using the player.

Luckily, Sony has learned its lesson about emphasizing form over function and the NWZ-A810 is as easy to use as it is pleasant to look at. Of course, getting rid of SonicStage was a major help, as you can now use all the new Walkmans with WMA jukeboxes, such as Windows Media Player (WMP) and Rhapsody. Once you get some content onto the NWZ-A810, navigation is handled via three circular controls on the front of the player: a power/option key, a back/home button, and a four-way control pad surrounding a central play/pause key. A dedicated volume rocker--always a nice touch--sits on the right edge of the player. The only two design aspects we're not too keen on are the proprietary dock connection and the hold switch, which is placed inconveniently on the back of the device.

Somewhat surprisingly, this Sony Walkman doesn't have some key features we expect at this price point. Namely, there's no FM tuner or voice recorder--no memory expansion, either. Still, the NWZ-A810 has several desirable extras, not the least of which is a pair of MDR-EX082 headphones in the package, making this one of the few players that sounds great right out of the box--no earbud replacement required. On the downside, the headphone cable is extremely short--even with the extender attached--so unless you always keep the player in a pocket (it can just reach comfortably to a pants pocket), plan on supplying another extender. Other features include photo (JPEG and slide shows) and video (MPEG4 and M4V) playback, as well as support for protected WMA files. The NWZ-A810 also plays MP3 and AAC tracks, and it offers a plethora of EQ options and sound enhancements for tweaking the sound. Finally, there's the unique and fun Time Machine Shuffle, which plays all songs from a randomly selected year.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Sony NWZ-A810 is its performance. Not only is the battery life of 35.3 hours for audio and 8 hours (rated) for video exceptional, but the processor speed is snappy and photos and videos look very good on the bright color screen, with nice detail and excellent color saturation. But, as should be the case for any music player, sound quality steals the show--namely because you don't even need to replace the headphones to enjoy good audio playback. Still, we decided we might as well pop in a pair of Shure SE530s to really put the player to the test. We were not disappointed. Although bass was impressively present through the MDR-EX082s, it really thumps with the SE530s. Similarly, mids were warm and enveloping, and the clarity on the high end was not sacrificed. Sound really sparkles--if excellent sound quality is a must for you, definitely give the NWZ-A810 a try.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 4 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

Showing opinion 1 to 5 out of 4

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2 stars

Be Careful...Sony Service Stinks

by J Traina on May 29, 2008

Pros: Unbelieveable Sound

Cons: Repair costs beyond 3 months... no receipt are huge

Summary: I received this unit as a Christmas gift. Since it was the first MP3 player I have every owned, I was amazed how good it sounded and to boot, only ...

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Summary: I received this unit as a Christmas gift. Since it was the first MP3 player I have every owned, I was amazed how good it sounded and to boot, only using it only in my car. Until...

I connected it to my computer and the "Connection" circle graphics stalled. It would not connect. After numerous attempts at trying to get it get the unit to work, I 'chatted' with a Sony service rep that told me the unit needed repair and since it was a gift and I do have the receipt, (other than I know it was purchased at Best Buy) it would cost $77 plus tax on their 'Flat Rate Program' to repair the unit. (warranty 1 year parts, 3 months labor) So I raised the bar and spoke with customer relations. I got nowhere except 'my input was greatly appreciated'. So my dilemma, $77.00 + tax to repair a $99 unit that lasted only 5 months. If the unit at least lasted 1 year, you could toss it in the trash and say well it cost me less than $10 a month to own it. However, when I added up the time I spent trying to revive the unit, the time speaking to people at Sony that were sympathetic and sorry that my I was having problems with my MP3 player, not too mention the loss of the data on the unit... I would look at my $99 twice before buying another Sony NWZ-A816. A $99.00 MP3 player is not worth this much time in a busy consumer life.

It does have unbelievable sound. The features and interaction with Windows Media Player is flawless. Now... if the thing worked longer than 5 months... (2 months longer than the end of the labor warranty) it would get a rating of 9 from me. If you buy one... make sure you figure in the cost of a third party service contract. Caveat emptor!

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

MUST HAVE!

by Greg465 on February 24, 2008

Pros: Sound Quality,Built Quality,Ease of Use

Cons: Windows Media Player
9 stars

wonderful player

by zahmbee on February 17, 2008

Pros: easy to use, solid feel, great sound

Cons: none to think of

Summary: Sony really went to work and created a wonderful new breed of media player. This thing actually sounds really good. They put enough whack into the sound to delight the ...

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Summary: Sony really went to work and created a wonderful new breed of media player. This thing actually sounds really good. They put enough whack into the sound to delight the eardrums with enough sonic range to please the most picky tastes. The viewing screen is clean and bright and provides a beautiful picture for videos and photos. It my not have the sex appeal of an iPod but it sounds a whole lot better. The EQ section is great, offering several pre-programmed modes along with 2 custom modes. The unit also loads songs way faster than the iPod Nano (gen 3). Videos do have to be in the mpeg4 format in order to work with this player. No problem, there a lots of free converters online as well as 3rd party vendors willing to sell their software to you. I actually loaded a free mpeg4 converter from the CNET website. If you're looking for a really great sounding player try this one. One note, I did replace the earbuds with my personal favorite, Phillips earbuds (bass boost model). The metal case makes this unit feel strong and solid. Not too light or heavy.

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9 stars

Spectacular little credit card sized MP3

by Garyblakley on February 11, 2008

Pros: Spectacular sound quality

Cons: Head phones will fall out of your ears while working out

Summary: A great MP3 player for $123.03 after tax. Its worth every penny. Within 15 minutes of getting it to my computer I had it loaded with music and within ...

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Summary: A great MP3 player for $123.03 after tax. Its worth every penny. Within 15 minutes of getting it to my computer I had it loaded with music and within 2 more hours it was charged. I have had it for a week and the battery is half full. I would recomend buying it if you want to save money and not buy an iPod.

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9 stars

Amazing sounding little player that feels really sleek in your hand

by chibelle on December 28, 2007

Pros: Amazing sound

Cons: Headphones sound great, are comfortable but the wires are awkward

Summary: I love my iPod but I was bored so I got this little thing to amuse me. I was amazed at how much I love it. It sounds amazing, it ...

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Summary: I love my iPod but I was bored so I got this little thing to amuse me. I was amazed at how much I love it. It sounds amazing, it looks very sleek, is easy to operate, feels really good in the hand and it's easy to transfer music and videos to it. I'm really impressed! Now I just wish I had gotten the 8g model.

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Showing opinion 1 to 5 out of 4

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Sony
Part number: NWZ-A815BLK
Description: Incredibly versatile Windows Media compatible 2GB Walkman. Easily drag and drop most popular music formats, video downloads and photos.

General
Width 1.7 in
Depth 0.4 in
Product type Digital player
Height 3.5 in
PC interface(s) supported Hi-Speed USB
Amplifier total output power 10 mW
Weight 1.9 oz
Color Black
Available body colors Pink, White, Silver
Flash memory installed 2 GB Integrated
Digital storage None
Dimensions (W x D x H) 1.7 in x 0.4 in x 3.5 in
Included accessories Docking station adapter
Packaged quantity 1
Software type Drivers & Utilities, Microsoft Windows Media Player 11
Digital storage media type None
Digital Player / Recorder
Digital player supported digital audio standards WMA, PCM, Protected WMA (DRM 10), MP3, AAC
Digital player response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
Digital player playback modes Repeat all, Continuous, One track repeat
Digital player additional features JPEG photo playback
Carrying Case
Case type None
Video Playback Features
Video playback support MPEG-4, M4V
Still image format JPEG
Battery
Rechargeable Battery Rechargeable
Battery Enclosure Type Integrated
Technology Lithium ion
Recharge Time 3 hour(s)
Battery Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Mfr estimated battery life 33 hour(s)
Battery Life Details MP3 playback 33 hour(s), Video playback 8 hour(s)
Audio System
Sound output mode Stereo
Additional features Slide show, Time machine shuffle, 4 clear audio technologies
Cable(s) / Peripheral(s)
Cable(s) included External, 1 x Headphones extender -, 1 x USB cable -
System Requirements
Peripheral / Interface devices USB port
Min Operating system Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later
Connections
Connector type 1 x Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x USB

Built-in Display
Audio system built-in display TFT
Diagonal size 2 in
Resolution 240 x 320
Backlight display Yes
Display illumination color White
Power
Power Supply / Device None
Audio Features
Amplifier output channel qty 2
Sound effects Clear Bass
Amplifier response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
CD System
Playback modes Repeat on/off, Continuous playback on/off
Digital audio standards supported WMA, AAC-LC, Linear PCM, MP3
Equalizer
Equalizer type Built-in
Equalizer factory preset qty 5
Equalizer factory presets Heavy, Custom, Jazz, Unique, Pop
Equalizer band qty 5 bands
Remote Control
Remote control None
Headphones
Headphones type Binaural In-ear ear-bud
Sound output mode Stereo
Connectivity technology Wired
Battery / Power
Power device type None

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Product series

Sony NWZ-A815 (2GB, black)

$89.96 - $125.82

Manufacturer: Sony

Specs: Digital player, 2 GB, AAC, MP3, PCM, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM 10), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Sony NWZ-A815 (2GB, white)

$79.95 - $125.82

Manufacturer: Sony

Specs: Digital player, 2 GB, AAC, MP3, PCM, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM 10), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Sony NWZ-A815 (2GB, pink)

$89.96 - $139.95

Manufacturer: Sony

Specs: Digital player, 2 GB, AAC, MP3, PCM, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM 10), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Sony NWZ-A815 (2GB, silver)

Manufacturer: Sony

Specs: Digital player, 2 GB, AAC, MP3, PCM, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM 10), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Sony NWZ-A816 (4GB, white)

$119.88 - $139.98

Manufacturer: Sony

Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, PCM, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM 10), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Sony NWZ-A816 (4GB, pink)

$95.00 - $139.98

Manufacturer: Sony

Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, PCM, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM 10), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Sony NWZ-A816 (4GB, black)

$96.95 - $139.98

Manufacturer: Sony

Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, PCM, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM 10), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Sony NWZ-A816 (4GB, silver)

Manufacturer: Sony

Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, PCM, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM 10), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Sony NWZ-A818 (8GB, black)

$229.99

Manufacturer: Sony

Specs: Digital player, 8 GB, AAC, MP3, PCM, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM 10), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Sony NWZ-A818 (8GB, silver)

Manufacturer: Sony

Specs: Digital player, 8 GB, AAC, MP3, PCM, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM 10), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

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Sony NWZ-A815 (2GB, black)

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Audio System

Cable(s) / Peripheral(s)

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Power

Audio Features

CD System

Equalizer

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