Sony has finally embraced the cheap pricing paradigm with their new E-Series Walkman media players. In fact, it’s the first big-name 16GB PMP that tips the price scales just under $100.
This second generation of the E-Series has a very basic design and measures around the same size as its predecessor. It might not be eye candy, but the simple layout makes it easy to manage. Physical controls include a five-way control pad, back/home button, an option key (that brings up contextual menus), a volume rocker on the right spine and a hold switch.
It uses the same menu as most of Sony’s Walkman line, which means you get a tried and tested interface that works great. There are no personalization options here, but you get the full range of UI niceties, from detailed sorting options to browsing albums visually.
Despite the low-end price, the E-Series features the same excellent performance we’ve come to expect from the Walkman line. Audio is clean and clear, with excellent balance. There are plenty of sound enhancement options as well, so you can tweak song output to your liking. Both videos and images look good, with the screen performing very amicably. In fact, they look bright and crisp even when viewing at an angle. Packaged earbuds aren’t too good, though, so best pull out your favorite pair.
We love the ease in which you can transfer files onto the player, which offers support for a variety of software (WMP, Rhapsody, iTunes and more) and Sony’s transfer app, which lets you copy via drag-and-drop. File support includes MP3, WMA, AAC, LPCM, MP4, H.264 and WMV.
Overall, we love the price and performance of the Sony E-Series Walkman. It doesn’t a whole lot of extra features, but that’s all well and good. At it’s price, all I want is great audio quality and delivers on that end like clockwork.
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