Sony NW-MS70D Network Walkman

Other products by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [1.36mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.9 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00008W7LR
• Item model number: NWMS70D
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #54,666 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 18, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Whether you're commuting, working out, or just out for a walk and a little solitude, Sony's NW-MS70D Network Walkman digital music player is perfect for listening to digital music on the go. Small enough to carry in a hand, pocket, or purse, this titanium-finished device comes with 256 MB of embedded memory so you can store up to 12 hours of favorite music (encoded at lowest resolution). If you want the same amount of music at higher resolution or simply more music, no sweat--the NW-MS70D offers a Magic Gate Memory Stick Duo expansion slot for an additional 64 or 128 MB of memory (Memory Stick not included).

The NW-MS70D plays MP3, WMA (Windows Media Audio) and WAV files, as well as Sony's own ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus audio files, which deliver listenable quality at bit rates as low as 48 kbps. The player comes with music-management software for creating music mixes and transferring them from your PC at super-fast speeds through a plug-and-play USB connection. A supplied USB recharging cradle connects directly to your PC.

"Easy Skip" group/folder functionality fosters easy navigation between multiple file folders transferred from original playlists. Sony's automatic volume limiter system (AVLS) conserves batteries and guards hearing by capping listening level, while a backlit LCD shows track number, bit rate, elapsed time, song title, artist name, an audio-frequency spectrum analyzer, play mode, bass setting, AVLS setting, and remaining battery life. The unit's skip-proof design uses no moving parts, so music will play smoothly right through your most energetic activities. Its embedded rechargeable Ni-MH battery provides up to 33 hours of continuous playback (when playing ATRAC3 files) and can be charged in the supplied charging stand and AC adapter.

Product Description

Sony's NW-MS70D Network Walkman Digital Music Player is the latest solution from Sony for listening to digital music on the go. Small enough to carry in your pocket or purse, this titanium device comes equipped with 256MB of embedded memory allowing you to store 178 songs. The Internal Battery provides up to 33 hours of continuous Playback (ATRAC3 Playback), and the Magic Gate Memory Stick Duo expansion slot allows you to take along even more music! The NW-MS70D also plays back ATRAC3 Audio, supports MP3, WMA and WAV, and is supplied with Music Management Software for creating music mixes for transfer at super fast speed. Plus - the Skip-Proof Design (No Moving Parts) keeps your music playing smoothly despite your active lifestyle. Take your digital music to go with the NW-MS70D.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Network Walkman - Terrible Software, June 19, 2003

By	Tokyo-B (Saitama Japan) - See all my reviews

I really like this walkman - especially the small size, large memory, and long battery life. I use it almost every day on the long commute to work, or when I'm in the gym. So why only 4/5? The styling looks cool, but the whole unit would be smaller if the "hold" mechanism was smaller. Also, I find the "jog dial" thing that you use to change tracks sometimes sticks and doesn't feel very robust. In addition, the music management software - Sonic Stage - is really poor.

(3 months later)

No, I take that back. The Sonic Stage software is terrible - it has the usability and reliability of a 2nd year computer science project. Sony's software support is equally bad: expect 3 week turnaround times on questions or problems.

It's a shame - nice device, let down by appalling software.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Complete waste of money...or so I thought [edit], December 1, 2004

By	anonymous (Oregon USA) - See all my reviews

I used to be a loyal Sony customer...until I recently had issues with both of my Sony DVD players and my VAIO desktop (Sony support SUCKS). I am also now mortified that I spent $300 on this "MP3 player."

As other reviewers mentioned, this thing doesn't play MP3s. You have to use the ATRAC3 format, which is fine I guess--if you don't mind having 2 copies of every song on your computer so you can use a normal MP3 format on other devices. And yes, the SonicStage software has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. It's junk, bottom line.

The size and weight of the player is great, but the shape is weird. I used to use the Sony NW-MS9 (which was OK but the batteries were horrible and inconsistent), and it had a perfect shape to hold in my hand. This one is kind of square, and the big bar for the "hold" function is just ridiculous. I have not had it stay in the hold position one single time after putting it in my gym bag. And now after about 6 months of use the bar is getting loose and makes it feel really flimsy.

Another thing about Sony Network Walkmans in general that stinks is that they don't make belt clips for them. The only place I use these players is at the gym, and I don't have pockets in my workout gear. So I end up stuffing the thing in my waistband when I need both hands, and since this one has an odd shape it doesn't stay put very well. Sony included a necklace-type thing to go with it, but personally I think it's totally lame. I don't want that plastic rubbing on my neck when I'm working out, and if I'm jogging forget it...who would want that thing slapping on their chest constantly?

The player has 256MB of internal memory, which works out to be 8 to 10 CD's worth. That's OK for the gym, but when I do decide to switch out the songs it takes way too long for everything to transfer. And the memory stick slot is for a 'memory stick duo,' so of course all of the other standard memory sticks that I bought for other Sony products are useless now.

The one thing about this product that I can say is flawless is the batteries. I use it 3-4 hours per week at the gym and I think I charge it less than once a month. For $300 though, one would hope for more "pros" than that. I'm replacing this thing with an iPod next week!

[edit]
OK...so the grass is not greener with the iPod. I have never owned an MP3 player other than Sony...and there are some good features to the Sony that I did not realize until I used another brand:

1) You can do just about everything you need to without having to look at it. I really like the fact that you can switch between albums, not just songs...and it's very easy to do so without having to watch what you're doing. On the iPod you can just hit the forward button 15 times to get to the next album, or you have to look at it and backup a couple menus to switch. Very cumbersome when you're on the treadmill or something.

2) The sound quality is not bad at all, and you can set the EQ to where you want it. The iPod just has a bunch of preset EQ settings w/hardly any bass...I was very disappointed with the sound quality.

3) It's not such a bad thing (for me anyway) to have just 8-10 CDs on the player. Usually I swap them out every month or two. It's nice not having to search forever to find another album to listen to...having up to 1000 songs on the iPod is just a pain. Takes way to long just to find something I'm in the mood to listen to, then once that album is finished I get to do the search all over again.

I returned my new iPod mini after using it at the gym only twice. The belt clip was awesome...but that's about the best thing I can say about it, and that's certainly not worth $250. If I could edit my rating here I guess I'd change it to 3.5 or 4 stars.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nice design, terrible software, March 15, 2004

By A Customer

Yes, the design is nice and the battery live is good but the software is a disgrace. I also can not understand why Sony only supports USB 1.1 in this day and age. The disaster recovery - well the complete lack thereof - is a serious issue if you don't want to re-transfer all your CDs to a hard disk every time you experience hard disk problems or have to change machines. The SonicStage software is slow and not very user friendly. Why does the list of just recorded song keep refreshing every time a song is converted? Nice try Sony, but please package some usable software with your poducts.