Sony NWZ-A818 (8GB, Black) - Expert Reviews

Award: Best Buy!

Review summary: The NWZ-A810s (also known as the A series), which range from 2GB to 8GB in capacity and include this model - the Sony Walkman NWZ-A818 - are impressive digital-media players.

Verdict: We need hardly add that the Sony Walkman NWZ-A818 is a player of rare beauty with quality Walkman-branded earphones adding to the appeal. Its black brushed metal is less shiny than its predecessors and we wish Sony had sorted out somewhere other than roun

Pros: No SonicStage, great sound, good quality headphones included, nice design

Cons: No radio or voice recorder, no lossless formats supported

Verdict: If you can handle having no voice recorder or radio and are dissatisfied with the sound quality of other portable media players, then the Sony NWZ-A815 is a great choice.

Review summary: Same excellent audio as before, but now with easier file transfers

Pros: Fantastic audio; great screen; impressive headphones

Cons: Picky about video formats; awkward to convert; no FM radio or voice recorder

Review summary: Pitched directly at the iPod Nano market, Sony's latest Walkman has a few advantages over its rival. The screen is bright and crisp and the displayed MP4 videos look great. The battery life, too, is impressive should it manage the purported 30 hours conti

Pros: Good display, Drag and drop, Reasonably good value

Cons: No expansion possible

Verdict: A strong offering from Sony, with plenty to recommend it

Review summary: The biggest bonus for the Walkman though is its new drag-and-drop functionality

Pros: Good displayDrag and dropReasonably good value

Cons: No expansion possible

Verdict: This 2GB version seems a bit light, and there's no memory expansion possible unlike the Sansas at half the price, but the 8GB iteration is only just over the £100 mark