Small but powerful !
Written: Nov 06 '01
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Pros: Small, light and highly portable with skip-free music
Cons: Songs must be converted to ATRAC format.
The Bottom Line: Small and efficient. Highly recommended for technology freaks and Sony-fans :)
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| ntech's Full Review: Sony Network Walkman NW-MS9 (64 MB) MP3 Player |
Just to start off the review, I like to mention that I'm more or less an audio-freak. I love portable audio players and I am actually using the Sony MiniDisc Walkman. I have the MZ-R55, the MZ-R90, MZ-R900 and the MZ-E90. I have even written reviews on the mentioned models in epinion.
I always believed that solid-state (MP3, WMA, etc) music are expensive to play around with. These was when memory cards (like Compact Flash, Memory Sticks and the likes) cost a bomb. Nowadays, these flash memory storage are highly available in the market and are much cheaper, so I decided ... heck ... why not get one.
So I popped over to Sony and bought myself the Network Walkman NW-MS9. The original package comes with the following:
- The network walkman unit
- Headphones
- Carrying Pouch
- Rechargable Battery (the same one used in the new MD player/recorder)
- Battery Charger
- Manuals
- OpenMG JukeBox software
- USB cables
- 64 Meg MagicGate Memory Stick
- Keychain
From what I know (after speaking to one of the Sony salesperson), I cannot use the normal blue Memory Stick in the walkman. It only supports MagicGate Memory Stick.
Setting up the software was very simple and straight-forward. Just select the software you wish to install and the drivers for your network walkman. Since the only way to connect to your walkman is through USB cable, this means those still using Windows NT 4 or Windows 95 will not be able to connect to your walkman. The software allows you to list all your audio files and even allow you to grab CD-Audio to ATRAC format)
You have three different bit-rate which you can convert your songs to. There is the 65, 105 and 132 kbps. Don't ask me why the numbers are sso odd, it just is. I would say audio compressed to 105 kbps will be sufficient. It's usually very difficult to tell the difference between the sound quality. The end result (the audio in ATRAC format) will bepend on the source. If the source quality is bad, then you can't expect any miracles to make your ATRAC format sound better. I suggest compressing from CD or high-quality MP3. ATRAC has a built-in copyprotection system which allows you to check-out the song 3 times (more about this below).
Now here comes the interesting part, in order to upload song to your walkman, you MUST convert the songs to ATRAC format. We then use a method called "check-in/check-out". This method is like a library system. You buy 3 copies of the book. When you check-out the book (upload to device), you only have 2 books left. After all the books are loan out, you cannot loan anymore books until they are returned to you. When a book is returned to the library (check-in), then you may loan it to other people (devices). It takes some time to understand the procedure, but after that, it will be a rather simple procedure to follow.
The device itself is very simple to use. A little larger then a Zippo lighter, it is made from the same material used on the MZ-R900. Silver and chrome. The buttons available on the side of the unit includes the Display, Menu, AVLS, Mega Bass (2 levels) and the HOLD slide. To the right of the buttons, there is the volume control.
The display is located on the top of the unit which can be changed to display the Title of the song, Title of the Memory Stick, Current date/time, spectrum visualization, current track time and current track location. It will also display the status of the Mega Bass and AVLS. The display has a bluish backlight (the same one you find on the MZ-R900).
On the overall, the NW-MS9 is highly portable, small, light, and convinient to carry around. You can even use it as a chick-magnet (well, if they can spot it because it's so dang small) .... the only complain I have is the limitation to MagicGate Memory Stick and the complicated checking in and out that is required by the MagicGate MS.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 450
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Epinions.com ID:
ntech
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Member: Soo Kah Kiong
Location: Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan
Reviews written: 11
Trusted by: 4 members
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