Sony Walkman NWZ-W252 2 GB MP3 Player
The innovative compact Sony NWZ-W252 is the perfect workout companion, though in terms of style does not rate against other portable audio players in its class. Though the features of this tidy little player are basic, they are necessary and convenient placed. For a fitness-friendly gadget, you could do a lot worse.
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Design
Some would say Sony’s clunky, Bluetooth-esque earpiece that straps round the back of your head is a design fault, and ordinarily they would be right, but the wire-free NWZ-W252 does have its practical uses for active pursuits. Its water-resistant casing protects the device from malfunction if you get caught in a downpour whilst out jogging and the convenient head-strap means it won’t fall out of your pocket whilst doing sit-ups. Not only that, the in-ear clips ensure a snug fit so the plugs don’t keep falling out like conventional earplugs have a tendency to do. Another plus is the eartips come in three sizes.
The W252 may be light on features, but it does everything required of it whilst exercising, namely play music both continuously or randomly, skip tracks at will and easily alter volume levels with the minimum of fuss. The setup process couldn’t be easier. There is no requirement for a software CD, just simply plug in the standard USB cable to run the program then follow the on-screen instructions. To transfer audio files either download from Windows Media Player, iTunes or use Sony’s Content Transfer to drag and drop.
Playback
Audio playback is more than adequate with clear sounding highs and a better than average bass response. The earbuds may not be the best for blocking out background noise, which if you’re jogging roadside is not a bad thing, and the W252 has plenty of volume to drown out the mediocre drone of R&B most gyms play through the TV.
Unlike Apple’s iPod Shuffle, the Sony W252 does not have an LCD screen, though it does have a neat function that allows you to search through your music library to find the right track. Sony have named the feature, Zappin, which plays four or 10 seconds of the chorus depending on user preference. The process is a little more longwinded than the traditional skip method of browsing, but does have its uses for new albums you are not so familiar with. Another positive feature Apple can’t offer is the quick-charge feature which will give you 90 minutes of playback after just a 3-minute power boost.
Memory
- Sony NWA-W252 2GB – 500 songs
- iPod Shuffle 1GB – 500 songs
- iPod Shuffle 2GB – 1000 songs
Battery Life
- Sony NWA-W252 – 11 hours
- iPod Shuffle – 12 hours
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