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Sony Walkman NWZ-S718F (8GB, black)

Manufacturer: Sony Part number: NWZ-S718FBNC

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$149.95 - $199.95 at 4 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
4.0 stars Excellent
Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 13 reviews

Apr 2008

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Product series; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: The sum of the NWZ-S710F's audio enhancement and noise-canceling features adds up to one of the most pleasant and private music experiences you can have for less than $200.
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CNET editors' review

Sony Walkman NWZ-S718F (8GB, black)

price range: $149.95 - $199.95

Reviewed by: Donald Bell
Reviewed on: 04/11/2008
Released on: 03/28/2008

The good: The unassuming Sony NWZ-S710F Walkman series of MP3 player delivers a perfect storm of on-the-go features, including music, photo, and video playback; FM radio; subscription music support; remarkable battery life; heavenly sound quality; and a feat only Sony could pull off: active noise-canceling in-ear headphones.

The bad: The NWZ-S710F lacks memory expansion, voice recording, or integrated podcast management, and if you lose the bundled headphones, you'll lose the Walkman's noise-cancellation capability as well. Sony's proprietary USB cable can be a headache to replace if lost.

The bottom line: The sum of the NWZ-S710F's audio enhancement and noise-canceling features adds up to one of the most pleasant and private music experiences you can have for less than $200.

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By combining an excellent MP3 player and active noise-canceling earphones in an affordable one-two punch, Sony's latest NWZ-S710F Walkman MP3 player series takes a new approach to creating an ideal portable listening experience. Offered in 4GB ($149) and 8GB ($199) capacities, the Sony NWZ-S710F series is a phenomenal value for those looking to carve out a quiet moment in their daily life for experiencing great music.

Design
The Sony NWZ-S710F has a lightweight all-plastic body with a rounded feel that's comfortable in the hand and pocket. Although its 0.5-inch depth feels chunky compared with the iPod Nano, the Walkman's 1.7-inch width, 3-inch height, and 1.8-inch color screen are clearly designed to give Apple a run for its money. The Sony NWZ-S710F's navigation pad offers intuitive and responsive four-way control, with a raised metallic play/pause button at its center and two rice-grain-size Back and Option keys in the upper corners. On the top of the Sony NWZ-S710F you'll find a 3.5mm headphone jack and a slider switch that activates a built-in noise-cancellation feature. There's not much to see on the sides of the Sony NWZ-S710F except a small button hold switch on the top left edge, a volume rocker switch on the top right, and a proprietary USB 2.0 port on the bottom.

The high-quality earphones bundled with the NWZ-S710F series come with three pairs of silicone sleeves in different sizes to ensure a comfortable fit. Whether intentional or not, the additional noise-cancellation technology packed into Sony's headphones creates a thicker cable that we found less prone to tangles than Sony's typically delicate offerings.

The earphones included with the Sony NWZ-S710F Walkman are integral to its active noise-cancellation feature.

Features
The headline feature on the NWZ-S710F is its active noise-cancellation. Like its ATRAC-era predecessor, the NW-S700F series, the NWZ-S710F's noise-cancellation feature is broken into two parts--the player, which handles all the signal processing; and the earphones, which have small microphones built into the outside of each earpiece to monitor external noise. While the two-part design delivers great results (Sony has not published specific decibel reduction levels), the Achilles heel of the NWZ-S710F is the possibility of losing or damaging the proprietary earphones. Any standard set of headphones can be used with the NWZ-S710F, but its active noise-canceling feature will work only with the supplied earphones.

After getting comfortable with the operation of the NWZ-S710F's noise-canceling technology, the rest of the NWZ-S710F's features are identical to those found on last year's NWZ-A610 Walkman. The Walkman includes a well-organized music player which supports MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, and the protected WMA format used by subscription music services such as Napster or Rhapsody. The NWZ-S710F's video player includes an automatic bookmarking feature and is compatible with MPEG-4 and H.264 video formats sized at a strict 320x240 resolution. The FM radio and JPEG photo viewer found on the NWZ-S710F are nothing special, but both are easy to use and add value to the device.

Performance
Paired with its excellent in-ear headphones, the Sony NWZ-S710F cranked out wonderful sound quality right out of the box. Activating the noise-reduction feature does introduce some white noise into the signal, but this is common with all active noise-canceling headphones and a welcome trade-off for the relative quiet it provides. If you plan on using the noise-cancellation feature outdoors, it's worth noting that the microphones embedded in the Sony NWZ-S710F's earphones are prone to picking up wind noise.

Compared with the iPod Nano (right), the Sony NWZ-S710F Walkman series is taller and bulkier, with a screen that measures 0.2 inch smaller. When it comes to audio quality and battery life, however, Sony leaves Apple in the dust.

Feature-tweakers and sonic malcontents will revel in the amount of sound-enhancement options available on the NWZ-S710F, including a user-definable five-band EQ, Clear Bass boost, Clear Stereo processing, DSEE high-frequency restoration, virtual surround, and dynamic normalization. Using the Sony NWZ-S710F in our office, the noise-cancellation feature silenced the drone of nearby computers and air conditioners and provided a pristine backdrop for Nick Drake's "Which Will," allowing details such as the squeak of fingers against the guitar's fretboard to jump out of the mix. On the subway, the Sony NWZ-S710F admirably defended our ears, reducing outside noise at least as much as our Shure SE310 sound-isolating earphones and restoring the rich bass frequencies we usually surrender during the commute.

We experienced no problems getting the included headphones to fit comfortably, but if you're going to bite the bullet on the NWZ-S710F Walkman, we recommend buying from a retailer that will let you return the player if the earphones feel awkward. Finding a comfortable pair of headphones can be difficult for many of us, and unfortunately, if the noise-canceling headphones bundled with the NWZ-S710F don't jive with your ears, you'll be missing out on one of the product's most valuable features.

Sony rates the battery life of the NWZ-S710F Walkman at 33 hours of audio playback and 8 hours of video, presumably with the noise-cancellation feature switched off. We'll update this review with our CNET Labs battery results once testing is complete.

Sony makes no claims of Mac compatibility with the NWZ-S710F series, but we're happy to report the player had no problem receiving files from our in-house MacBook. Ejecting the Walkman from a Mac isn't easy (it reconnects instantly), however, the player can be safely removed after shutting the computer down.

Final Thoughts
These days, MP3 players come loaded with features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, stopwatches, datebooks, video games, movie players, and even GPS navigation. On most days, however, our MP3 player's first feature is still its best, providing us a musical break from the stress or mundaneness of our lives. By integrating active noise-canceling headphones with the NWZ-S710F, Sony has not only created one of the best values in portable audio, the company has also shown a way to evolve the MP3 player concept without turning it into a smartphone.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 13 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

Showing opinion 1 to 10 out of 13

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9 stars

Best MP3 player for the money

by jmmgis on April 28, 2008

Pros: Excellent sound quality; Easy to use, Battery life, Excellent earphones

Cons: As of yet, I have yet to find a negative quality, other than expensive assessories

Summary: I bought the 8GB for me and the 4GB for my wife. I and I must say.....WOW! This player is everything both of us were looking for. After doing ...

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Summary: I bought the 8GB for me and the 4GB for my wife. I and I must say.....WOW! This player is everything both of us were looking for. After doing a little homework, and reading CNET's review I decided to go with the Sony. I had heard good and bad things about other players and what I was looking for was a player that had great sound and was a good alternative to the Ipod Nano. Sony more than delivers with this player in my opinion.

Both my wife and I are picky consumers and she wasn't happy with her Ipod, and my Creative had just died. I was more than happy when she said that this player was awesome, and I agreed with her. The sound quality blew me away, especially coming from the packaged ear buds that came with the player. They are very comfortable and the nice part is that they come with different size rubber ear pieces which was a great relief to my wife since she needed the smaller size. As far as we both can tell the noise canceling is another nice feature and has worked great walking outside (We have yet to try it running).

Both of us were more than pleased with the players ease of use and interface. Nothing is confusing and everything in my opinion is nicely organized, and not over done. We both liked how all the buttons were placed on the player, versus other players. The video and picture quality is very crisp..another definite plus.

To sum it up this player more than exceeds my expectations. I had heard detailed sounds that I had never heard on some of my songs before, and it was a joy to just sit back and listen to music the way music was intended to be heard..clear, crisp and powerful. When we loaded some of our music on our players (which is very easy) and started listening, we both looked at each other and smiled.

Sony delivers with both excellent sound and player functionality, and I would more than recommend this player as an alternative to the Ipod Nano, or any compact player for that matter.

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

New ? : What Can be the Walkman Killer?

by Brownieexl on April 28, 2008

Pros: Has everthing that Matters (sound quality, great sound quality, best sound quality)

Cons: not enough accessories that are made for Walkman

Summary: Sony has re-invented the Walkman with great precision and innovation. To say that they have put everything into this player is farfetched but they have put everything that matters. The ...

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Summary: Sony has re-invented the Walkman with great precision and innovation. To say that they have put everything into this player is farfetched but they have put everything that matters. The sound quality is truly amazing and if these ipod zombie users eardrums were not so damaged by the ipod crap that they listen to, and would just listen up, they can probably enjoy music for once instead of on the iBandwagon. Not just speaking about the sound, all the other features work great too. finally a Sony has given us FM tuner and noise cancellation built-in. Best Blueray in the PS3 and now the best MP3 player. Sony what can't you do?

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3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Best deal going!

by trakatak on May 27, 2008

Pros: Most importantly it is NOT an IPod!

Cons: Volume buttons are small

Summary: Let's see....for the same price as an IPod Nano, you get a better sounding MP3 player that..
1. is roughly the same size (it is friggin TINY!)
2.

...

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Summary: Let's see....for the same price as an IPod Nano, you get a better sounding MP3 player that..
1. is roughly the same size (it is friggin TINY!)
2. comes with NOISE CANCELING headphones
3. does not require any software to load songs
4. and did I mention that it is NOT AN IPOD.

Every single person that I have shown this player to has agreed that after seeing this player in action there is no reason to buy an IPod. Unless, of course, you have been suckered into purchasing one previously and you have unfortunately bought into the ITunes format. The best thing about this player is that I can walk up to any normal person's computer (a PC, not a MAC), plug it in and pull their music, without having to convert files to ITunes, or use some form of software designed for this particular brand.

The only things wrong with this player are that the volume buttons are a little on the small side (can still be used even in the arm band), and the "screen saver" doesn't stay on. It comes up for a second and then the screen goes black. I'm never staring at my player long enough to truly care about that though. The only other gripe I can make is that the USB cable is a proprietary connection. Would manufacturers stop being so stupid and just use ONE USB CABLE FORMAT! It's getting ridiculous with all the cables I have laying around my computer for each little gadget and widget I buy.

In case you were wondering how effective the noise cancelling feature works, it does a fantastic job. I am a helicopter pilot and I am around jet engines all day. These headphones truly erase much of the drone that I have become accustomed to hearing day in and day out. Also, the headphones create some fantastic sound. Not Shure quality, but better than most I have listened to.

So overall, the best deal going for MP3 players in my opinion. Why tote around 60 gigs of music you can't listen to? (How often are you away from your computer for extended periods anyway)....Why pay the same price for a Nano that doesn't come with noise canceling headphones?....Why use any player that requires you to use specific software to load music?....If you take all these things into consideration, there is no other choice but to buy this or its sister products.

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

The Ultimate

by cyberjack1991 on May 23, 2008

Pros: Heavenly sound quality with included earphones. great video quality. what else do you want?

Cons: interface a bit bold

Summary: i was looking for an affordable quality mp3 jammer and did some research. my main concern was audio quality. it came down to this and the 3rd generation ipod nano. ...

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Summary: i was looking for an affordable quality mp3 jammer and did some research. my main concern was audio quality. it came down to this and the 3rd generation ipod nano. yes, the nano looks cooler and has a bigger screen (of the same resolution,) but what got me sold for the Sony is the fantastic, peerless sound quality with the included earphones. the lower, mid and upper range blend beautifully to produce one of the most engulfing sonic experiences you can possibly imagine. the Sony trashes pretty much every other mp3 player in terms of sound quality - including the nano. video quality is also great and the screen is a beauty.

bottom line: if you want something that looks cool and has a friendly user interface, get an ipod. if you want the ultimate in sound reproduction, get this little baby.

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

Very good player

by txdomino on May 20, 2008

Pros: Good display, good sound quality, great navigation.

Cons: The volume and navigation buttons could have been better designed for easier use.

Summary: I really loved this player since my last one was a cruddy Sansa. I really love the display, it's bright, crisp and sharp. It displays a lot of info. ...

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Summary: I really loved this player since my last one was a cruddy Sansa. I really love the display, it's bright, crisp and sharp. It displays a lot of info. It plays nice videos and pictures but I really don't use my player for that stuff. It sounds great, easy to navigate and I think it's good quality. I like that it has can receive FM radio. I should have gotten a bigger capacity. I recommend it for anyone who is looking for a mid-range player with excellent sound but who are not looking for all the bells and whistles of higher priced players.

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

poor customer support

by leofox on April 26, 2008

Pros: Sleek design

Cons: Poor customer support if you have a problem

Summary: On upgrading the firmware my walkman from the sony support website my walkman stopped working and when I asked customer support they asked me to pay the repair cost which ...

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Summary: On upgrading the firmware my walkman from the sony support website my walkman stopped working and when I asked customer support they asked me to pay the repair cost which was more than my walkmand. i dont recommend using any sony mp3 walkmans after this experience. if the firmware doesnt work they should take the responsibility of fising the walkman or not post the firmware to the website

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1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
4 stars

anti-ipod.

by thinkmunkee on October 2, 2008

Pros: not an i-pod.

can move files in and out pretty easily.

equalizer v good.

small.

Cons: customer support sucks

freezes alot.

software needed to watch video.

do not lose accessories, it will cost you more than the walkman.

sony overcharges.

Summary: eh`

Summary: eh`
3 stars

"Was" a good walkman!

by on September 7, 2008

Pros: This walkman works great and is much easier to use than an iPod in my opinion. Plus it comes with a radio, the iPod I had didn't.

Cons: I plugged my walkman into the usb port on the computer to charge it and now its frozen! Doesn't do zip, nada, zilch! I'm so pissed off now. I've only had it for about a year and its already dead.

Summary: When the walkman works its wonderful! But now thats its frozen, I have second thoughts about its quality. I never dropped it, or got it wet.

Summary: When the walkman works its wonderful! But now thats its frozen, I have second thoughts about its quality. I never dropped it, or got it wet.
9 stars

Stellar Soud, FM, Video No frequent firware updates

by afkhanop on August 9, 2008

Pros: Sounds great with the included headphones and heavenly with my Shure e4c

Cons: No Voice Recording

Summary: I go these 2 days ago.
1 - First and foremost this player sounds "Terrific" - much better than my other players. I still have Creatice Zen micro and Iriver
...

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Summary: I go these 2 days ago.
1 - First and foremost this player sounds "Terrific" - much better than my other players. I still have Creatice Zen micro and Iriver Clix(1st gen) and returned my Cowon D2(incompatible with Rhapsody). Also played around with wifes Zune 30GB and my neice's Zune 8GB.
2 - I have yet to see better headphones that come with the player (close one I know is Zune AV pack - not exactly with player but bought them together)
3 - Sounds like heaven with my Shure e4c. What can I say.
4 - Just to be upfront my main focus was audio quality and some basic functions - didnt care for calendar/alarm/FMrecording etc.
5 - One thing though I miss is voice recording (both included in Zen micro and Iriver Clix)
6 - Also like the fact (unlike Cowon D2) that there are no frequent firmware updates. The first one will probably be the last one.
Other than that more when I find more about this player in a month or more.

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9 stars

It definately gives ipod a run for the money

by cmh2007 on July 30, 2008

Pros: exelent sound quality, noise cancelation is great

Cons: no supplied headphones, no noise cancelation. Headphones are VERY expensive. $99

Summary: I recently bought one, and love it. My fiance has a ipod, and she likes mine better although hers has better storage capacity. I made a mistake and left it ...

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Summary: I recently bought one, and love it. My fiance has a ipod, and she likes mine better although hers has better storage capacity. I made a mistake and left it at her house the other day and her cat chewed on the headphone and killed it, so I had to order a new set ($98.75+shipping & tax)(rip of if you ask me) the software included really is quite slow on my computer. I have found that on my computer I can just drag and drop directly through the my computer folder and it works just fine, and is much quicker file transfer and makes my computer run better. I got mine at the Sony Style store in the Galleria Houston and paid $159+tax. Well worth it to me. Two thumbs up

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Sony
Part number: NWZ-S718FBNC
Description: Block the noise. Relax on an extended flight or just unwind in your favorite chair with the tranquility of noise-canceling headphones. Included with this 8GB Walkman Video MP3 player, these headphones use the integrated active noise canceling system to reduce outside noise and deliver dynamic-range playback using a variety of on-board sound technologies. You have the choice of listening to your own music - in a variety of file formats - watching video on the beautiful 1.8" QVGA LCD, or even listening to the radio via a built-in FM tuner with 30 station presets. The attractive, slim-line player easily fits in your pocket, and the 8GB built-in memory can store up to 1,850 songs or up to 30 hours of video for a mobile multimedia library that goes wherever you go.

General
Product type Digital player / radio
PC interface(s) supported Hi-Speed USB
Amplifier total output power 10 mW
Color Black
Flash memory installed 8 GB Integrated
Digital storage None
Packaged quantity 1
Software type Drivers & Utilities
Digital storage media type None
Radio
Tuner frequency range FM: 87.5 - 108 MHz
FM station preset qty 30
Tuner type Digital Radio tuner
Tuner bands FM
Antenna form factor Headphone cord FM
Tuning display LCD display
Digital Player / Recorder
Digital player supported digital audio standards WMA, Protected WMA (DRM), PCM, MP3, AAC
Digital player response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
Digital player playback modes Repeat all, One track repeat, Repeat shuffle
Digital player additional features JPEG photo playback
Carrying Case
Case type None
Battery
Rechargeable Battery Rechargeable
Battery Enclosure Type Integrated
Recharge Time 3 hour(s)
Battery Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Mfr estimated battery life 36 hour(s)
Battery Life Details Video playback 9.5 hour(s), MP3 playback 36 hour(s)
Audio System
Sound output mode Stereo
Additional features Noise canceling circuit
System Requirements
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 LCD
Diagonal size 1.8 in
Resolution 240 x 320
Display menu language Korean, Spanish, English, Chinese (simplified), Portuguese, Chinese (traditional), French, Italian, German, Russian, Japanese
Power
Power Supply / Device None
Audio Features
Amplifier output channel qty 2
Sound effects Clear Stereo, Clear Bass
Built-in clock Digital clock
Equalizer
Equalizer factory presets Heavy, Club, Custom, Jazz, Unique, Live, Studio, Arena, Pop
Equalizer band qty 5 bands
Remote Control
Remote control None
Headphones
Headphones type Binaural In-ear ear-bud
Sound output mode Stereo
Connectivity technology Wired
Battery / Power
Power device type None

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Product series

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Sony Walkman NWZ-S718F (8GB, black)

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