Sony NWZ-S615F (2GB, black)

Manufacturer: Sony Part number: NWZ-S615FBLK

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CNET Editor rating:
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Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 23 reviews

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Bottom Line:: The Sony NWZ-S610 series Walkman doesn't bring anything striking or new to the table, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a quality MP3 player with nice extras and a killer battery life. Plus, Sony got rid of SonicStage--the best news ever.

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CNET editors' review

Sony NWZ-S615F (2GB, black)

price range: $80.99 - $99.99

The Sony NWZ-S610 series Walkman doesn't bring anything striking or new to the table, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a quality MP3 player with nice extras and a killer battery life. Plus, Sony got rid of SonicStage--the best news ever.

The good: The Sony NWZ-S610 series features a compact design with a high-quality feel and an ample screen. The user interface is intuitive, and there are plenty of features to choose from, such as an FM radio and photo and video playback. No more awful SonicStage software: this Walkman is a PlaysForSure device supporting subscription tracks as well as unprotected WMA, MP3, and even AAC files. The player offers good sound quality and an excellent rated battery life.

The bad: The Sony NWZ-S610 series doesn't offer any exceptional new technology, and there are cheaper competitors that offer the same features.

The bottom line: The Sony NWZ-S610 series Walkman doesn't bring anything striking or new to the table, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a quality MP3 player with nice extras and a killer battery life. Plus, Sony got rid of SonicStage--the best news ever.

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Sony NWZ-S610

Hallelujah! Sony has done away with its horrible SonicStage software and is opting to go the PlaysForSure route with all of its new Walkman players. Yes, that's not the most traditional way to start a review, but we couldn't bear to place this most exciting tidbit anywhere but at the top, so there you have it. The death of SonicStage comes wrapped up in two nice new MP3 players, the NWZ-A810 and the NWZ-S610, a series of compact flash players that is the subject of this review. Of course, an improved software relationship isn't the only thing this device has going for it. While it doesn't bring anything new to the table in the scheme of MP3 players, the NWZ-S610 is a quality device with desirable extras and an excellent rated battery life.

Simple, sleek, and understated
The newest series of Walkmans comes in a variety of capacity/color combos. You can go with a 2GB ($120) S-615 version in black, pink, red, or silver; a 4GB ($160) S-616 model in the same choice of colors; or the more capacious 8GB S-618, which comes only in black and will set you back $210. It's not the cheapest player on the block--the Creative Zen V Plus, which offers roughly the same features, runs 30 to 40 bucks cheaper. However, the NWZ-S610 offers a more sophisticated design with a larger (1.8-inch) screen and a higher-quality feel. It's also a little larger overall, measuring 3.1 inches by 1.6 inches by 0.4 inch, though whether this is a good or bad thing depends on the user. It's certainly pocket-friendly.

Below the ample screen, the NWZ-S610 offers a similarly well-proportioned control pad. A central play/pause key is surrounded by four tactile directional arrows, which are used for skipping tracks and navigating menus. Happily, volume is handled via a dedicated rocker on the right spine of the device. The front of the player also houses the ever-handy back/home and power/option (contextual menu) buttons. A hold switch can be found on the left edge of the device, while the top and bottom contain the standard 3.5-millimeter headphone jack and proprietary USB port, respectively.

Easy navigation and easier syncing
In general, the Walkman is a snap to use. This is in large part due to a lovely, icon-driven main menu on the device itself, but we can't forget the absence of the requirement to load music via SonicStage--that's a huge help on the software/transfer side of things. Transferring songs, including subscription playlists from Rhapsody, is a breeze, and the NWZ-S610 plays oh-so-nicely with Windows Media Player for syncing any content. Supported formats include MP3, WMA, and AAC for audio; AVC (H.264/AVC) Baseline Profile and MPEG-4 for videos; and JPEG for photos. If you get tired of your own content, you can tune into the onboard FM radio, which offers an autoscan feature and 30 preset slots.

Delving into the various content menus proffers different results, all of them straightforward and easy to navigate through. Oddly, playlists cannot be accessed through the music menu, but have their own icon on the main menu screen. Within music, you can sort by album, artist, and so on--navigating by album is particularly nice as there's an option to do so by cover art. Once you dig down into the tracks, there's a useful twist-like interface feature. You can navigate down lists using the up and down keys, but press the right or left ones and you're taken through sections, such as 0 through 9 and A through D. This is quite handy for getting quickly through long lists. The photo menu offers a lovely 3x4 thumbnail grid, and videos are listed with their titles and a handy thumbnail still shot. It's a polished interface overall, and it makes browsing pleasant.

Sound and settings
In addition to the various features mentioned previously, the Sony NWZ-S610 series offers various audio and display settings. For example, you can flip the screen orientation in order to view photos and videos in landscape mode ("wide-screen")--a convenient feature. You can also choose to view full-screen album art while listening to music, rather than a thumbnail with song info on the playback screen. The player also has the standard playback modes (shuffle, repeat, and so on), and there's a snazzy EQ section that offers a graphic representation of the presets (five in all, plus two user-defined modes). Then, of course, there are the various sound-enhancement tools--Digital Sound Enhancement (DSE), Clear Bass, and Clear Stereo--which honestly don't do much, but they do offer a little improvement. Finally, there are the surround sound effects, for those who want to feel like their listening in an arena or at a rave.

Sony has never had trouble with MP3 player performance (except if you include the performance with its software)--the NWZ-S610 is no exception. As we've come to expect from Walkman players, the rated battery life is fantastic: 33 hours for audio and 8 hours for video. CNET Labs was able to eke out a slightly less impressive 25.2 hours for audio, and a pretty appalling 1.9 hours for video. Photos look very good on the bright color screen, with nice detail and excellent color saturation. Video is similarly impressive, though we wouldn't want to watch more than 20 to 30 minutes on this size of screen. Sound quality for music was fine through the included headphones, but much better through a pair of Shure SE530s (any high-quality earphones should do the trick). The NWZ-S610 series offers nice, tight bass; rich, enveloping mids; and clear, sparkly highs--what more can you ask for, really?

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 23 reviews

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10 stars

A Perfect Player for those looking for a Non-Apple item

by Kisuke_Urahara93 on September 12, 2007

Pros: Small Size, Video, Good Sound Quality, Plays for Sure, Nice Screen

Cons: Only supports JPEG images, no available cases as of 9/12, and bad included earbuds

Summary: I was looking for a small non-ipod when i came across this sony mp3 player. I had previously resented sony mp3 players because of sonicstage, which i had previously dealt ...

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Summary: I was looking for a small non-ipod when i came across this sony mp3 player. I had previously resented sony mp3 players because of sonicstage, which i had previously dealt with on my psp. When they got rid of sonicstage, it became the perfect player. It has great video quality. While there is no store to buy videos for it, i doubt you will actually want to store entire shows and movies on a small flash player. The music quality is great, as expected, and superior to my old nano. While a new nano was just recently released, it is cheap, but i don't find the form factor appealing and would rather spend 50 more dollars to get a classic. I would highly recommend this mp3 player.

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5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
7 stars

Good for music but...

by oooolivier on December 12, 2007

Pros: Overall quality and sound

Cons: Need SP2/WM11 for video transfer

Summary: CNET should mention that video cannot be transfered on this player without SP2/Window Media Player 11!!
CNET should remember that not EVERYBODY has the latest config.
Drag & Drop

...

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Summary: CNET should mention that video cannot be transfered on this player without SP2/Window Media Player 11!!
CNET should remember that not EVERYBODY has the latest config.
Drag & Drop of MP3 works directly through the Explorer, but for video it fails (as well as on WMP 10).
The error msg says the format is not supported but its obviously inaccurate. Indeed, the video that is pre-installed on the player, can be copied to the PC but not back to the player (with the same error msg).

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2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

High fidelity sound, beautiful video, rugged, epic battery life

by whirty on May 25, 2008

Pros: High fidelity sound, beautiful video, rugged, inexpensive, epic battery life

Cons: Depends on Windows media player, which needs to handle video better

Summary: Sony knows consumer electronics. These units are inexpensive, sound great, have fantastic video, an fm tuner, and are rugged. We had an iPod video, which fried itself - not something ...

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Summary: Sony knows consumer electronics. These units are inexpensive, sound great, have fantastic video, an fm tuner, and are rugged. We had an iPod video, which fried itself - not something one would expect for $299. So, we went with Sony - my kids each have one of these units - they've been dropped, accidentally immersed in milk, and even submersed in water for 3 hours. After careful drying, they work like new.

The battery life is epic.

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

good mp3 player

by jbdai2007 on October 29, 2007

Pros: small size,good battery life, good sound quality,photo, video (MP4), FM radio, folder browsing and support asian language

Cons: No AC adaptor,charging only by USB to computer, only MTP mode, need WMP11 to transfer MP4, slow transfer, FM radiao signal weak, no FM recorder, no voice recorder

Summary: I bought Sansa E250 from Circuit City ($79.99)a week ago. It has all the feeatures but the video file was too big and can not stop radio/music....

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Summary: I bought Sansa E250 from Circuit City ($79.99)a week ago. It has all the feeatures but the video file was too big and can not stop radio/music.So I exchanged Sony S615F($89.99). I like this one much. The only things I feel so sorry is it does not have FM recorder and voice recorder. It does not come with a AC adaptor (need to buy $39.99). I can use a USB AC adaptor for
Sansa but not Sony. Sony MP3 player is good but the accssaries are too expensive (chagers, case and screen protection....)
So far i still like to keep this one.

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

One of the best

by maxfatter on September 15, 2007

Pros: Support folder browsing, no more tags

Cons: button can be layout better

Summary: It is one of the few good mp3 player out there that support folder browsing. Finally, u are not limited to play by album or artist..etc. like stupid ipod. ...

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Summary: It is one of the few good mp3 player out there that support folder browsing. Finally, u are not limited to play by album or artist..etc. like stupid ipod. simply drag and drop your songs in window explorer. A bit more expensive than Creative, but nicely built.

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

Six months and poof

by Cal2222 on July 4, 2008

Pros: Loved everything about this--sound, ease of use, battery life, FM radio

Cons: After 6 months, the USB port malfunctioned and the cost of repair is as much as the price of a new one.

Summary: I cannot recommend a player that only lasts six months. Expected more from Sony.

Summary: I cannot recommend a player that only lasts six months. Expected more from Sony.
4 stars

Very satisfying in the begining.

by cherrigurl on July 2, 2008

Pros: Plays music very well. Has lots of battery life

Cons: It is very difficult to find videos that suit the format of the player. if the format is not correct, it will not upload. Also later you may find that this product may freeze or not turn on at all.

Summary: In my opinion this player is a waste of money. It seems like a great buy in the begining, however, later you may find that you dislike the product because ...

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Summary: In my opinion this player is a waste of money. It seems like a great buy in the begining, however, later you may find that you dislike the product because it does not ******** the way it is intended too.

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9 stars

another great product from a reliable company

by apabbott on June 13, 2008

Pros: small, sleek design, great sound, affordable

Cons: supplied earphones are terribly uncomfortable

Summary: I have had this player for about 3 months. It is my first mp3 player, and I'm glad I went with this as opposed to the overpriced ipod, or ...

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Summary: I have had this player for about 3 months. It is my first mp3 player, and I'm glad I went with this as opposed to the overpriced ipod, or similar units.

It is small and lightweight and has a sleek and modern design. The sound is great, and best of all I'm not tied to itunes to download music. I can get mp3's from anywhere. This unit plays video, as well and holds photos. I have done both with no problems.

The menu is well thought out and easy to navigate. I had no problems figuring out all of the settings without instructions. This player has an equalizer, FM tuner, and various settings for video and audio playback. It really has a lot of nice and unexpected features.

I only have a few minor complaints. I can not delete or move music to different playlists without the device being connected to a computer. This maybe standard on all mp3 players, so maybe I'm overreaching when I complain about it. I usually use windows explorer to organize my music, as windows media player 11 has an akward interface that frustrates the heck out of me.

The supplied earplugs are really horrible. They sound great but are oversized, hard, and very, very uncomfortable. Really, they are torture devices. I had to immediately buy another set for $20 to replace them. I bought the JVC marshmellow earplugs at wal-mart and they are great.

The player comes with a usb cord that connects from the player to the computer. When connecting the one end of the cord into the port in the player, it really seems akward and even a little delicate. It is a very narrow opening and I feel like something is going to break every time I have to wiggle it and snap it into place. But so far it has held up fine after over 3 months of continuous use, so maybe I'm being paranoid.

In summary, I think this little player is fantastic and I am glad I went with the Sony. It has been a great sounding, dependable unit and I love having the option of transporting music from any source that I choose.

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5 stars

Not good for audiophiles. Good low freq. response but lacks lower mid freq. respon

by dhaval070 on June 5, 2008

Pros: Good bettery life, sound & video clarity, look and usage

Cons: Comes with kind of spyware/rootkit software in cd, Lacks lower-mid range frequency response specificaly 100hz and above. Sounds good only with music that has enough deep bass detail below 100hz

Summary: I read the privacy policy of provided software cd and it says software included in cd may be used to monitor and control my pc through internet by third party. ...

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Summary: I read the privacy policy of provided software cd and it says software included in cd may be used to monitor and control my pc through internet by third party. So dont install any software from cd. .... Too bad for sony.

sound is clear but only with music that is bass heavy. Bass is too deep and loose. This player is too week to produce tight bass. Cant hear bass around 100hz and above. There is no equalizer slider for frequency around 100hz for tight bass.

The settings of clear stereo and DSE doesnt make any different to sound quality. The slider of clear bass increase low frequency bass. I hate missing slider for lower-mid frequency and lacking tight bass.

One should look for alternatives.

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9 stars

Very happy with my mp3 player

by dferrusca on April 29, 2008

Pros: Easy mp3 transfer, easy navigation, great sound, nice pic quality

Cons: Not easy to find a cheap carry case; connector to the player seems fragile

Summary: The player is very nice, small, battery last for a lot of time. I have been using for over 2 months, and I haven't had problems with it.
The
...

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Summary: The player is very nice, small, battery last for a lot of time. I have been using for over 2 months, and I haven't had problems with it.
The only thing is that the connector looks fragile, it gives me the impression that if you don't connect it correctly you may bend the pins, so do it carefully just in case. Other than that it is great. It also would be nice to find accesories.
I love the FM radio feature, it is just great. I guess signal depends on your location, but just change to other station and it will be working.

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Showing opinion 1 to 10 out of 23

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Sony
Part number: NWZ-S615FBLK

General
Width 1.7 in
Depth 0.5 in
Product type Digital player / radio
Height 3.1 in
PC interface(s) supported Hi-Speed USB
Amplifier total output power 10 mW
Weight 1.8 oz
Color Black
Available body colors Pink, Silver, Red
Flash memory installed 2 GB Integrated
Digital storage None
Dimensions (W x D x H) 1.7 in x 0.5 in x 3.1 in
Included accessories Headphones, USB cable, Extension cord
Packaged quantity 1
Software type Drivers & Utilities, Microsoft Windows Media Player 11
Digital storage media type None
Radio
Tuner frequency range FM: 87.5 - 108 MHz
Tuner type Built-in FM tuner Radio tuner
Station preset qty 30
Tuner bands FM
Antenna form factor Headphone cord FM
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, Random play / shuffle
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, 3 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 1.8 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 Ear-bud

Sony NWZ-S615F (2GB, black)

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Specifications

General

Radio

Digital Player / Recorder

Carrying Case

Video Playback Features

Battery

Audio System

Cable(s) / Peripheral(s)

System Requirements

Connections

Built-in Display

Power

Audio Features

CD System

Equalizer

Remote Control

Headphones