Sony’s Bean, or NW-W205 to offer it’s correct title, is a 512Mb MP3 participant that challenges different flash based mostly fashions available in the market, however with so many selections, what makes this one stand out from the gang? We have a look and discover out.
Formed like a big magic bean Jack bought to develop his beanstalk, the Son EW-205 breaks away from the standard flat and slim flash participant kind components. This makes it good for clenching in your fist whenever you go for a run, however will trigger an attention-grabbing bulge in a pair of trousers when out and about.
Laid on a desk the highest and backside are void of any buttons, with Sony opting to position them on just one facet of the participant. We are saying buttons, however in actuality its actually just one button – a d-pad that controls quantity, observe choice, play, cease in addition to the navigation across the menu system.
Observe data is displayed on a single OLED show subsequent to the button. The place the Bean differs from different MP3 gamers is the inclusion inside the unit of its USB plug to permit fast hook up with a PC or charging and transferring of songs.
Fairly than depend on a little bit of rubber to guard the USB connector, Sony has spring loaded the plug to cover within the unit when not in use. It makes you realise how small the unit might have been with out this and just like the iPod Shuffle, its good to have the connector on board on a regular basis.
In fact it gained’t enable you to switch songs to and from different machines as Sony’s DRM and Sonic Stage software program necessities step in right here though for transferring information it’s useful.
That is the place the participant’s primary drawback rears its ugly head. The duvet that hides the USB stick factor additionally acts because the maintain button. Slide all of it the way in which closed and the controls are frozen – one thing that’s helpful when in your pocket. Nonetheless to entry the controls you’ve bought to slip the duvet simply sufficient to get it off the maintain marker, however not sufficient that the duvet slides again completely and divulges that spring loaded plug. Why Sony couldn’t have simply added a separate maintain button is past us and the entire expertise left us pissed off. The closest factor we are able to examine it to is whenever you wish to change the date on an analogue watch – you’ve usually bought to get it excellent – too far and the minute hand strikes, not sufficient and nothing occurs and it’s the identical right here.
Transferring on from the design, the sound high quality is excellent utilizing the accompanied – white – headphones. The participant affords particular person base and treble settings to go well with all music followers somewhat than providing you 10 equaliser settings that every one sound alike.
Switch to and from the machine is completed through Sonic Stage and nothing else – it’s the identical outdated argument right here – you both find it irresistible or hate it.
Our fast take
It is a good participant hampered actually solely by the irritating maintain button which drove us mad. The cost time was superb – 3 minutes amazingly offers you 3 hours playback whereas on a full cost Sony guarantees 50 hours.
The sound is nice and in case you are in search of a MP3 participant to make use of whereas on a run, the kidney bean form will definitely be extra snug to carry within the palm.
Sony NW-E205 Bean MP3 participant – 4.0 / 5
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To recap
An excellent participant, however the maintain change will drive you mad
