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Sony NW-A306 Music Player Review: A Wireless Powerhouse | Moon Audio

NW-A306 Walkman® DAP Music Player

MPN: NW-A306

Was: $349.99
Now: $328.00
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Sony NW-A306 Music Player Review: A Wireless Powerhouse | Moon Audio

Sony's entry-level Walkman model, the NW-A306 DAP is designed for music lovers who want to enjoy high-quality audio on the go without breaking the bank. With sleek black styling, a 3.6-inch touchscreen, and a weight of only four ounces, it's the smallest Walkman model, making it effortlessly portable. While it may be small enough to fit in your back pocket, the Sony NW-A306 DAP's performance is anything but little. With support for a wide range of audio formats, including high-resolution, you can enjoy all your favorite music no matter the format. The Sony Walkman's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity options provide flexibility for wireless listening and effortless music downloads, and the 32GB of internal storage and micro SD card expansion guarantee your music has no limits. Pair the Sony NW-A306 DAP with the Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Earbuds, or opt for an over-ear fit with the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones for the ultimate portable audiophile setup—free of cables and fuss.

Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the Sony NW-A306 Walkman DAP with the Black Dragon USB Cable (USB-C connector). The Black Dragon USB Cable is designed for digital bus transmission when getting the most out of your audio is crucial. Made with UP-OCC copper conductors and high-quality materials, the Black Dragon USB Cable features reinforced connectors designed to maintain a secure, stable connection at all times. The Black Dragon USB Cable will bring more detail and resolution to your hi-res audio playback.

These days when portable devices need a separate bag to tote them around in, Sony's size for the NW-A306 is a welcome one. At a little under 4 inches tall and weighing the same as a deck of playing cards, the NW-A306 is built with functionality in mind. An eye-catching rippled wave design covers the rear of the unit for a better grip and a stylish look. As a playful nod to the TPS-L2 Walkman that sparked the portable music revolution, the NW-A306 DAP features a special cassette tape user interface and screensaver. The cassette tape visual that appears on your NW-A306 Walkman® display varies depending on the codec of the music you’re listening to.

The NW-A306 DAP features a 3.6-inch touchscreen with auto-rotate functionality for a better viewing experience. It's got a compact and lightweight aluminum frame with gold solder inside for a sleek, minimalist design. Controlling the NW-A306 DAP is easy with seven functionality buttons on the right side: A power on/off button, volume controls, pause and play with track skipping, and a HOLD switch. When activated the HOLD switch disables the buttons so there's no worry of accidentally skipping a song when toting around the DAP in one hand or a pocket. On the bottom you'll find the mini 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C type charging port, and MicroSD slot. With a 32GB integrated memory and an additional MicroSD card slot, the NW-A306 Walkman DAP lets you take even the biggest music collections on the go.

With a long battery life, you can immerse yourself in more of your music, with up to 36 hours of 44.1KHz FLAC playback, up to 32 hours of 96 KHz FLAC High-Resolution Audio playback, or even up to 26 hours with a music service app.

Lifestyle shot of masculine person of Asian decent sitting at a table with a cup of coffee, listening to a Sony Walkman with IEMs.
Sony NW-A306 Walkman Music player, sitting on a table with headphones and a journal in the background.

High-end Components for High-quality Sound

Although Tiny, the NW-A306 digital audio player is packed with technology audiophiles will appreciate. The S-Master HX™ digital amp technology, independently developed for the Walkman®, is compatible with the Native DSD format, and supports balanced and high power output. It reduces distortion and noise across a wide range of frequencies, for rich and full-bodied sound, further enhanced by new high quality sound lead-free solder.

Using Edge-AI (Artificial Intelligence), DSEE Ultimate™ (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) upscales compressed digital music files in real time. And the evolving algorithm now delivers even greater benefits for CD-quality (16 bit 44.1/48kHz) lossless codec audio. Restoring acoustic subtleties and dynamic range, it provides a richer, more complete listening experience.

Hi-Res Audio, Anywhere, Anytime

With support for high-resolution audio, you can enjoy your favorite songs with breathtaking fidelity. You'll be closer to the original studio recording at a higher rate than CD (24-bit/96 kHz and beyond), enjoying the music just the way the artist intended. Enjoy high-res audio music streaming from your favorite music service without wires thanks to LDAC, Sony's premium wireless codec.

Supported by Android™ operating system and compatible with Wi-Fi®, the NW-A306 DAP offers you even more ways to listen to your music. Enjoy your favorite streaming and music apps right on your Walkman music player or connect to a PC to access your entire music collection. Use the Google Play Store to download music apps and more onto the NW-A306 DAP. For the ultimate portable listening experience, connect wirelessly with Bluetooth and you're ready to go. aptX HD audio compatibility is available.

Amp up your audio playback with 360 Reality Audio, immersing yourself in sound so real it feels like you're at a live concert or with the artist in the recording studio. Sony's high-quality PCM conversion with support for DSD audio formats up to 11.2mHz delivers a natural sound and intense details for a lifelike listening experience. Give the warmth and character of vinyl back to your digital tracks with Sony's vinyl processor. Enjoy subtle reproduction of the low-frequency resonance, tone-arm resistance and surface noise to deliver an authentic hifi listening experience. Sit back, unwind, and fall into the natural, enveloping sound of the NW-A306 Walkman DAP.

Sony NW-A306 Walkman Music Player sitting on a table with IEMs and printed photos.

What's In the Box

  • Sony NW-A306 Walkman DAP
  • USB Type-C Cable (USB-A to USB-C)
  • Reference Guide
  • Operating Instructions

FAQ

What audio formats does the NW-A306 support?

The Sony NW-A306 DAP supports various audio formats, including hi-res audio formats like DSD, FLAC, WAV, and AIFF. It also supports MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, WMA, and MQA.

What is the storage capacity of the NW-A306?

The Sony NW-A306 DAP has 32GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 1TB using an external MicroSD card via the built-in MicroSD slot on the DAP.

Can I use the NW-A306 as a USB DAC?

Yes, the Sony NW-A306 DAP has functionality to support a USB DAC mode.

Can I use the NW-A306 to stream music?

Yes, the NW-A306 DAP has Wi-Fi functionality, allowing you to stream music from various online services and download music apps on the Google Play Store.

How long does the battery last on the NW-A306?

The Sony NW-A306 DAP has a battery life of up to 36 hours of continuous playback on a single charge. The battery life may vary depending on volume settings, conditions of use, ambient temperature, and audio file formats used on the media player.

Specifications

Software
OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 12
Playback & Display
  • DISPLAY RESOLUTION : Size: 9.1 cm (3.6-inch), Resolution: HD (1280 x 720 Pixels)
  • DISPLAY TYPE: TFT color display with white LED-backlight
  • Touch Panel: Supported
  • MUSIC PLAY MODE: Shuffle Playback, Repeat Off, Repeat 1 Song, Repart All, All Range, Selected Range
  • MUSIC SEARCHING METHODS: All Songs, Artist, Release Year, Playlists, Album, Genre, Composer, Hi-Res, Recent Transfers, Folder, Cue sheet
  • SOUND EFFECTS: Direct Source (Direct), 10 Band equalizer, DC Phase Linearizer, Dynamic Normalizer, ClearAudio+, Vinyl Processor
  • AUDIO PLAYBACK: MP3 ( .mp3): 32 - 320kbps (supports VBR) / 32, 44.1, 48kHz, WMA ( .wma): 32-320kbps(supports variable bit rate(VBR)/44.1kHz(STEREO) 32-48kbps/44.1kHz(MONO), FLAC ( .flac): 16, 24bit / 8-384kHz, WAV ( .wav): 16, 24, 32bit (Float/Integer) / 8-384kHz, AAC ( .mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 16-320kbps / 8-48kHz, HE-AAC ( .mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 32-144kbps / 8-48kHz, Apple Lossless ( .mp4, .m4a): 16, 24bit / 8-384kHz, AIFF ( .aif, .aiff, .afc, .aifc): 16, 24, 32bit / 8-384kHz, DSD ( .dsf, .dff): 1bit / 2.8224, 5.6448, 11.2896 MHz, APE ( .ape): 8, 16, 24bit / 8-192kHz (Fast, Normal, High), MQA ( .mqa.flac): Supported
Dimensions
(W X H X D): Approx. 56.5 mm x 98.4 mm x 11.8 mm Approx. 2.23 inchs x 3.88 inchs x 0.47 inchs
Weight
Approx. 113 g 3.99 Oz
Connectivity
  • TERMINALS: USB: Type-C (USB3.2 Gen1 compliant), Headphone: Stereo mini-jack, External Memory: microSD microSDHC microSDXC
  • WIRELESS CAPABILITIES: Communication system: Bluetooth Specification Version 5.0, Supported Bluetooth profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, SPP, OPP, DID, Supported Codecs (Transmission): SBC, LDAC, aptX, aptX HD, AAC
Headphone Out (Stereo mini-jack)
  • FREQUENCY: Frequency response: 20-40,000 Hz
  • MAXIMUM POWER OUTPUT (JEITA 16Ω/MW): 0.4-1.1mW (32Ω)
USB DAC Mode
Yes
Power
  • Built-in Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion Battery
  • Charging and Power Supply: USB Power (from a computer via a USB)
  • BATTERY LIFE - Bluetooth (Transmitter mode): MP3 (128kbps) / SBC-Connection pref: Approx. 22 hour, FLAC (96kHz/24bit) / LDAC Connection Preferred(Auto): Approx. 11 hour
Power Continued
  • BATTERY LIFE - Bluetooth (Transmitter mode) Notes [1]: ・A Bluetooth connection will shorten the battery life by up to 50% depending on the following conditions. -Format of the content. -Settings of the connected device.
  • BATTERY LIFE - CONTINUOUS PLAYBACK MUSIC NOTES: ・The values shown in this topic indicate the approximate battery life when the player is playing continuously with the default settings. ・Even if the player is turned off for an extended period, a small amount of battery power is still consumed. ・Battery life may vary depending on volume setting, conditions of use and ambient temperature. ・The battery is consumed considerably when the screen is on. ・The battery life may become about 40% shorter when some of the sound adjustments are active. ・The battery life may become about 30% shorter when the [High-Res streaming] function is active.
  • BATTERY LIFE - CONTINUOUS PLAYBACK MUSIC: MP3 (128kbps) / Stereo mini-jack: Approx. 36 hours AAC (256kbps) / Stereo mini-jack: Approx. 36 hours WAV (44.1kHz/16bit) / Stereo mini-jack: Approx. 36 hours FLAC (44.1kHz/16bit) / Stereo mini-jack: Approx. 36 hours FLAC (96kHz/24bit) / Stereo mini-jack: Approx. 32 hours FLAC (192kHz/24bit) / Stereo mini-jack: Approx. 32 hours DSD (2.8224MHz/1bit) / Stereo mini-jack: Approx. 28 hours DSD (5.6448MHz/1bit) / Stereo mini-jack: Approx. 22 hours DSD (11.2896MHz/1bit) / Stereo mini-jack: Approx. 14 hours

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