In 2017, the MP3 player is certainly on the endangered species list, but Sony has introduced a new device in hopes of bringing the now outdated tech back to popularity. Bringing back the Walkman, the iconic personal portable music playback device that hung on the hips of countless 1980’s hipsters, may be a hit-making move for the legendary Japanese brand.
Since most smartphones store and play music, the need for music-only devices like a Sony Walkman or, more recently, an iPod, has declined. However, Sony is hoping that music listeners will branch out in favor of its new Walkman NW-ZX300. It’s plenty techy, and it sounds phenomenal. And, like a true Sony, it looks fantastic.
Touted as a 21st-century upgrade to the classic cassette-playing Walkman, the new MP3 player boasts a sleek, modern design and, most importantly, beautifully balanced audio for incredible sound production.
Designed with an aluminum-milled frame, the new Walkman comes with a fingerprint-free glass touchscreen. Thanks to High-Resolution Audio and an S-Master HX digital amplifier, listeners can expect crystal clear sound. Of course, other modern features like Bluetooth wireless streaming and MQA support are also included.
Available for $700, the Sony Walkman NW-ZX300 offers up to 30 hours of 128 kbps MP3 playback and boasts 64 GB of onboard storage.