Sony NWZ-A726 Media Player

The Sony NWZ-A726 is part of the A-series from Sony Walkman that is well known for delivering outstanding sound with a simple interface. It did not really pack in many features, so for those looking for a do-it-all player, look elsewhere. We missed FM radio, voice recording and memory card expansion, and well, touchscreen. But its audio support includes Sony’s own ATRAC apart from WMA, AAC and MP3. The body is slim and lightweight. Its flat navigation pad, the volume rocker, and the responsive menu interface make it a joy to use.

The 2.4-inch TFT screen is just good enough to view album art but not for video. As usual, there is the Sony proprietary port instead of the regular mini USB. Transferring 1GB of files took over 8 minutes which is a bit slower than most. The best thing about Sony is its impressive sound quality. And better still, it came with a high-quality in-ear monitor, the Sony MDR-EX series. Though it had ClearBass and a bunch of preset EQs, we felt it sounded best with all audio enhancements switched off . It delivered one of the best sounds in our comparison. Comparing to the costlier iPod Touch and Cowon products, the Walkman’s warm and crispy sound definitely impressed us more for all genres of music. Listening to Kanye West’s Everything I Am gave us the complete impact of its deep and smooth bass. A selection of jazz tracks revealed its detailed mids and sweet highs. The screen is not as bright and crisp as what we've seen on the iPod Nano but definitely not below par. Its battery lasted us for 26 hours. It has a price-tag of Rs. 7,990 and if you crave superior sound, this is the one to own.

Bottom Line

If it is for wide audio support, touchscreen and storage, the A726 won’t have that, but if you’re looking out for top-quality audio playback at an affordable price, the Sony is the right one for you.