We cannot deny the fact that Sony has created a niche for itself in the MP3 market with the launch of its Walkman series. They are getting things right at the mid range and top end of the MP3 players market. While the Sony NWZ-693F serves for the consumers looking for high end players and NWZ-436F comes in as a good and cheaper alternative to the iPod Nano, the competition is very tough in the bottom end of the market. This is because there are players available in the market like the Sandisk Clip, Samsung YP-U4 and Creative Zen Stone, are available for just around £30 and hence it is very essential for the competitive models launched to replace these models to have a great style, usability, value and a very decent sound quality. Hence, let us see how far the Sony NWZ-B135F Walkman of B series has scored.

Re-introduction of the USB plug and play interface:

In the industry of gadgets, features come and go rapidly and not to say how fast the space of the MP3 players are evolving. One of the features that had ups and downs is the built in USB interface that allows the player to be plugged in directly into the system without the use of a cable. This feature, which is famously known as the “Plug and Play” feature is currently out of fashion, but then Sony is trying to keep its hopes alive with its B series Walkman. This entry level model is aimed at active users and has been competitively priced.

NWZ-B135F – Ultra portable MP3 player:

Sony NWZ-B135F Walkman has a size that is slightly bigger than an average thumb drive, having its dimensions to be (H x W x D), 3.5” x 0.8” x 0.5”. Hence the drive is ultra portable and can be carried around in your pockets without any bulge. NWZ-B135F is available in a range of vibrant shades that includes black, pink, red and blue, out of which the red colour model is available only with the 2GB version and blue colour model with 1GB model alone. As you might have guessed, these shades go well with the gym suits palette. The front of the device has a glossy finish and its rear has got a textured finish, but the thick silver bezel around it makes the player look like a sort of a cheap player.

Tiny 0.75″ TFT monochrome display:

The NWZ-B135F MP3 Player has got a very tiny 0.75” monochrome display that is available diagonally on the front of the device. And the Sony brand stamp is placed right next to it, we feel that the brand stamp could have been moved elsewhere and the size of the display widened by a little. Yet, the screen does a decent job with the very little space that it has got. It is easy to navigate though the menus in the three line TFT screen.

Ample controls included:

Sony has include ample controls in the NWZ-B135F Walkman. The USB interface of the player is hidden beneath a removable cap at one edge of the device and the standard 3.5mm headphone jack is placed on the other edge. The facia of the MP3 player has the main playback controls, which includes Play/Pause button, forward and reverse keys and a back button. The array of controls does not end here. Sony has include a few others on the top edge of the player which includes a record key, volume toggle, and a bass boost button. The hold switch alone is housed in the bottom spine of the player.

Capacities and OS:

Sony NWZ-B135F Walkman comes in 1GB and 2GB capacities.

The operating system that the NWZ-B135F is compatible is, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1 or later.

Minimal menu interface:

The main menu of Sony NWZ-B135F MP3 Media Player has four icons that represent the minimal features of the player and it includes Voice, Settings, Music Library and FM. The main control panel that has the forward, reverse and play buttons, otherwise looks like a navigational pad. While the forward and reverse buttons can be used to navigate through the options, the  play/pause button allows you to make selections and go deeper into the menus. The Back button takes you to the previous screen.

The voice recording section allows you to choose form three selections which includes Low, Medium and High. Within the Music menu, you will be able to navigate by means of folder or by the ID3 tags of artist, album, play list, genre and release year. Music playback modes include normal, repeat, repeat 1 song and repeat shuffle.

The FM tuner includes an autoscan function and up to 30 preset slots and both the scanner and tuner works very well. There is no internal playlist editing, the display does not give you a lot of text to work with and scrolling is a little slow, but if all you want is a spot of music while you are on your way to work or going for a jog, the B133 does it in a no frills, no fuss fashion.

Formats and music controls included:

Sony NWZ-B135F Walkman supports the MP3 and WMA formats and includes subscription content from Rhapsody and Napster. Sony has included a handful of preset audio settings and a five band custom EQ. With these handy tools, you can always tweak to get your favourite settings. One thing that you must keep in mind is that these functions cannot be accessed with the Bass Boost function ON. Another interesting feature is that, a cool red coloured LED flashes with the rhythm of the music.

Adding music:

Once the NWZ-B135F is connected to the system, files can be easily copied across, either by straight drag-and-drop or using Windows Media Player or the media applet of your choice. Having the drag and drop feature, transferring music is extremely easy and you can have the whole library in your fingertips in just seconds.

Performance:

The quality of  audio is very good and clear. Yet, the bass boost function has to be used in order that edge you aspire for. But without engaging the bass, we can definitely say the sound is deficient. Since both the options are available, the NWZ-B135F might be appealing for a wider range of listeners. The mid ranges are nice and warm and the high end details are crisp. The voice recorder works well enough for light note taking.

Unimpressive battery:

The battery employed is Lithium ion Rechargeable and takes 70 minutes to have a complete recharge. The rated battery life of Sony NWZ-B135F MP3 player is just 16 hours which is not that impressive. Sony could have done better. A good news is that, the quick charge function has reborn. With just 3 minutes of charging, the player gives a very impressive 3 hours.

Warranty:

Sony backs NWZ-B135F Walkman with one year limited warranty for parts and labour.

Verdict:

Sony NWZ-B135F is a very impressive MP3 player with a highly stylish design and wide array of controls. The audio quality is quite good too. Sony NWZ-B135F Walkman does not have an impressive battery life as the other Sony Walkmans and the display is very tiny too. But the fact that drives us to recommend this stylish MP3 player is its array of features that compliments on the go usage of the device. The NWZB135F represents an excellent value for the money. It has all of the most-wanted features at a very reasonable price. And it carries Sony’s excellent reputation for quality and durability. In short, the Sony NWZ-B135F is a super portable, stylish and a fully featured MP3 player.

Sony NWZ-B135F Flash Memory MP3 Player – Technical Specifications, Features

Manufacturer Sony
Model Name Sony NWZ-B135F Walkman
Model number NWZ-B135FBLK (2GB, Black)
Player type MP3 player, Radio
Dimensions (W x D x H) 3.5 in x 0.6 in x 1 in
Colours Available Black, Pink, Red, Blue
Weight (g) 29
Display type 3-line TFT monochrome display
Display size 0.75″
PC interface supported Hi-Speed USB
Operating system Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1 or later
Flash memory installed 1GB or 2 GB Integrated
Supported digital audio standards MP3, WMA
Sample rate 48 KHz
Playback modes Repeat shuffle, One track repeat
Response bandwidth 20 – 20000 Hz
Sound effects Mega Bass
Sound output mode Stereo
Built-in clock Digital clock
Additional features Voice recording, FM radio recording capability
Equalizer factory presets Pop, Jazz, Heavy, Custom, Unique
Equalizer bands 5 bands
Radio Tuner type Digital Radio tuner
Station preset qty 30
Antenna form factor Headphone cord FM
Microphone Built-in mono Microphone
Headphones Stereo Binaural Ear-bud
Special features Equaliser
Drag and drop
Bass boost
Voice Recording
Back-lit display
Power Illuminator
AVLS
Repeat
Shuffle
Hold
FM tuner
Connectivity 1 x Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5mm
1 x USB 4 pin USB Type A
Battery Lithium ion Rechargeable
Estimated battery life 16 hours of continuous music playback
Recharge time 70 min
Accessories supplied Headphones – MDR-E708
Quick Start guide
Rechargeable battery
Warranty One year

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