Sony NW-A306 Review

Introduction

I’ve been a longtime user of Apple Music on my iPhone 14, but the frustration of music disappearing from the catalog and the limitations of streaming services led me to seek an alternative. As someone who grew up with Sony’s cassette and MiniDisc Walkmans, I was naturally drawn to the modern iteration of this iconic brand.

After extensive research and reading numerous positive reviews, I decided to invest in the Sony NW-A306 Walkman. This premium portable audio player promised to deliver exceptional sound quality while allowing me to carry my extensive collection of DRM-free music wherever I go. I’ve been using it for a few months now and I’m really happy with it.

Design and Build Quality

The Sony NW-A306 immediately impresses with its premium design and build quality. The device features a sleek, compact form factor that feels substantial without being heavy. The blue grooved back panel adds a distinctive touch that sets it apart from generic smartphones or tablets.

Physical Design

Measuring just 57.5 x 98.5 x 12.1 mm and weighing 113g, the NW-A306 is incredibly portable. It easily fits in a pocket or small bag, making it perfect for daily commutes or travel. The aluminum frame provides excellent structural integrity while maintaining a lightweight feel.

The 3.6-inch HD touchscreen (1280 x 720 resolution) is bright and responsive, though the small size can make typing Wi-Fi passwords challenging. The screen’s color reproduction is excellent, and it remains readable even in bright outdoor conditions.

Controls and Interface

The device features a clean, minimalist design with physical volume buttons on the side for easy access. The touch interface is intuitive, though the Android-based system can occasionally feel sluggish compared to dedicated audio player interfaces.

Audio Performance

The Sony NW-A306 truly shines in its audio performance. Equipped with Sony’s S-Master HX digital amplifier, it delivers exceptional sound quality that far surpasses what you’d get from a smartphone.

Sound Quality

The audio output is characterized by excellent clarity, detailed highs, and well-defined bass. The S-Master HX amplifier provides clean, powerful amplification that can drive a wide range of headphones and earphones effectively.

I’ve been primarily using Audio Technica USB-C earphones with remote controls, and the combination delivers outstanding results. The soundstage is wide and immersive, with excellent separation between instruments and vocals.

Audio Formats and Compatibility

The NW-A306 supports an impressive range of audio formats, including high-resolution options like DSD, FLAC, ALAC, and WAV. This flexibility allows you to enjoy your music in the highest possible quality, regardless of the source format.

The device handles 24-bit/192kHz audio files effortlessly, providing the kind of detail and nuance that streaming services simply can’t match. For audiophiles with extensive high-resolution collections, this is a significant advantage.

Setup and Music Management

Getting started with the NW-A306 was relatively straightforward, though not without some challenges.

Initial Setup

The setup process is intuitive, with the Android-based interface guiding you through the initial configuration. However, entering Wi-Fi passwords using the small on-screen keyboard was frustrating, especially for complex passwords with special characters.

Music Transfer

Transferring my music library was surprisingly simple. I copied approximately 150GB of DRM-free music to a new 256GB microSD card, inserted it into the device, and waited for the database to update. The process took about a minute, and the player automatically organized my music by artist, album, and genre.

The microSD card slot supports cards up to 1TB, providing plenty of room for even the largest music collections. This expandability is a significant advantage over devices with fixed storage.

Battery Life and Power Management

Battery life is one area where the NW-A306 shows some inconsistencies.

Playback Battery Life

During actual music playback, the battery life is excellent. Sony claims up to 26 hours for MP3 files and 20 hours for FLAC files, and my experience has been consistent with these claims. The device can easily last through a full day of listening without needing a charge.

Standby Battery Drain

However, the device has a significant issue with battery drain when not in use. Despite setting the auto power-off feature to shut down after 1 hour of inactivity, the device sometimes fails to power off completely. This appears to be caused by background services or processes that prevent the shutdown mechanism from working properly.

This issue can be frustrating, as you might find the device completely drained when you go to use it, even though you thought it was powered off.

Software and User Experience

The Android-based interface provides both advantages and disadvantages.

Android Integration

The Android 12 operating system allows the NW-A306 to run various music apps and streaming services, providing flexibility that dedicated audio players lack. You can install apps like Spotify, Tidal, or Qobuz if you want to supplement your local music collection.

However, the Android interface can feel sluggish compared to dedicated audio player software, and the small screen size can make some apps difficult to use effectively.

Music Player Interface

Sony’s native music player app is well-designed and intuitive. It provides easy access to your music library with options to browse by artist, album, genre, or playlist. The interface is clean and responsive, making it easy to find and play your music.

Connectivity and Features

The NW-A306 offers a good range of connectivity options.

Wired Audio

The 3.5mm headphone jack provides excellent audio output quality. While some audiophiles might prefer balanced outputs, the single-ended output is more than capable of driving most headphones and earphones to satisfying levels.

Wireless Connectivity

The device includes Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless audio, though I’ve primarily used it with wired earphones for the best possible sound quality. The Wi-Fi connectivity is useful for streaming services and firmware updates.

USB-C Connectivity

The USB-C port provides fast charging and data transfer capabilities. The device charges relatively quickly, though the exact charging time depends on the power adapter used.

Issues and Limitations

While the NW-A306 is an excellent device overall, there are some issues that prevent it from achieving a perfect rating.

Database Rebuilding Issues

I’ve experienced occasional problems where the device gets stuck in a “recreating database” state for several minutes. This typically happens when the microSD card is inserted or when the device is restarted. While this doesn’t happen frequently, it can be frustrating when you want to listen to music immediately.

Battery Management

As mentioned earlier, the standby battery drain issue is a significant concern. The device should reliably power off when not in use, but this doesn’t always happen as expected.

Limited Output Options

The device only has a 3.5mm headphone output, which may disappoint audiophiles who prefer balanced connections for their high-end headphones.

Comparison with Alternatives

When compared to other portable audio players in its price range, the NW-A306 holds its own well.

vs. Smartphones

Compared to using a smartphone for music playback, the NW-A306 offers significantly better audio quality and dedicated audio features. The S-Master HX amplifier provides cleaner, more powerful output than smartphone headphone jacks or USB-C adapters.

vs. Other DAPs

Compared to other digital audio players, the NW-A306 offers a good balance of features, sound quality, and portability. While some competitors might offer balanced outputs or different amplifier configurations, the Sony provides excellent performance in a compact, user-friendly package.

Value and Recommendation

At $349, the Sony NW-A306 represents good value for music enthusiasts who want to escape the limitations of streaming services and enjoy their personal music collection with exceptional sound quality.

Who Should Buy It

The NW-A306 is ideal for:

• Music enthusiasts with large collections of high-resolution audio files
• People who want to escape streaming service limitations
• Audiophiles who value portable audio quality
• Users who want a dedicated music device separate from their smartphone

Who Should Look Elsewhere

Consider alternatives if:

• You primarily use streaming services and don’t have a large local music collection
• You need balanced audio outputs for high-end headphones
• You want a device with longer standby battery life
• You prefer a simpler, non-Android interface

Conclusion

The Sony NW-A306 is an excellent portable audio player that delivers on its promise of exceptional sound quality in a premium, compact design. The combination of the S-Master HX amplifier, support for high-resolution audio formats, and expandable storage makes it a compelling choice for music enthusiasts.

While the battery management issues and occasional database problems are frustrating, they don’t significantly detract from the overall experience. The device’s strengths in audio quality, build quality, and portability more than compensate for these minor drawbacks.

For someone like me who was frustrated with streaming services and wanted to rediscover their personal music collection, the NW-A306 has been a revelation. It’s reminded me of the joy of owning and curating a music library, while providing the sound quality to fully appreciate the music.

Final Verdict

4/5 Stars - The Sony NW-A306 delivers exceptional audio quality and premium build quality in a compact, portable package. While it has some battery management quirks and occasional software issues, it’s an excellent choice for music enthusiasts who want to escape streaming services and enjoy their personal music collection with outstanding sound quality. The device successfully modernizes the Walkman concept for the digital age, providing a compelling alternative to smartphone-based music playback.