Sony NWZB105FWHI 2GB Walkman MP3 Player (White) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased the NWZ-B105 from Sony directly right after it was released. I bought it because I've had good experiences with Sony audio products in the past, and because it allowed for drag-and-drop or WMP11 play of your MP3 or WMA files. It's also one of the few OLED display players that lets you browse by folder, supports playlists, has voice recording, and excellent sound quality. I don't need JPG or movie playing, just something to use while exercising.

When I received it, I plugged it directly into my laptop, transfered about 1GB of music using WMP11 (the player is a 2GB model), and then listened for a while - sounded great, very close on par to Cowon/iAudio music players. Was very happy, until I decided to check out the Sony's other functions. First I tried voice recording, and got the message that the memory was full...well, no, it wasn't - I only transfered a GB...so I decided the reformat the player from the player's menu (the instructions warn you to NOT reformat the player using Windows) and apparently that pushed the player over the edge. It froze up - pressing the Power button after that only resulted in "Creating Database" and "Boot Error" messages flashing on the screen. I plugged it into my computer and it wouldn't even recognize it as a drive. Doing a pin Reset of the unit did absolutely nothing.

So I called Sony tech support, who told me to send it in for repair. No way was I going to go for weeks without a player, so I said no, I'll just return it, and they told me to call the customer returns number. I asked if I needed a confirmation number or something of that sort to indicate that I've already run the unit past tech support, and the rep said, "No, just call the number." So I called the Returns number and after being on permahold, and the rep answered and asked me, "Do you have an Event number?" I said, "No, the tech support guy said I didn't need one." The Returns rep said, "You need an event number to get an RMA." Sigh.So I had to call tech support AGAIN, get an event number, then call Returns again, to finally get the RMA number. Plus I have to pay for return shipping, even though the unit is clearly defective.

Definitely not the product quality or service experience I expected when buying from a higher-end company like Sony. I know the player was just newly released, but for it to malfunction like that is just a pain and I'm way hesitant to make another investment in Sony players again because of the hassle.

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Product Description:
The NWZ-B105FWHI Walkman MP3 player may be a featherweight, but it's packed with clever features that make it easy to manage and enjoy your music. An integrated USB plug lets you quickly fill the player's 2GB storage capacity with up to 950 MP3 or WMA music files, including music from Windows Media PlaysForSure subscription services. A built-in FM tuner lets you listen to your favorite radio stations, and the on-board microphone allows the player to double as a handy voice recorder. And as you expect from Sony, audio quality is superbly crisp, clear, and dynamic. Also available in black.2GB Built-in Memory
Store up to 950 songs on your Walkman MP3 Player and never be without your music again.
USB Direct Connect
Connect your Walkman player directly to your PC and easily transfer your music and charge your device without the need for additional cables.
MP3 and WMA Audio Codec Support
Supports playback of MP3 and WMA Audio files downloaded from multiple sources giving you options for downloading music the way you want.
Compatible with Secure Windows Media Audio
Compatible with Windows Media PlaysForSure music services, ensuring playback of digital music you purchase from a wide variety of sources.
3-Line Color LCD Display
Shows track, artist and album information.
FM Tuner with Record Function and 30 Station Presets
Record your favorite radio broadcasts using the built-in FM tuner with record function. Preset and listen to your favorite radio stations while on the go.
Voice Recording Function
The on-board microphone with voice recorder function lets you record personal notes and memos.
Up to 12 Hours of Battery Life
Gives you all-day enjoyment from your favorite music.
What's in the Box
NWZ-B105FWHI Walkman MP3 player, MDR-E804LP Headphones, MP3 Conversion Tool.