Somy Mp3 audio enhancements?

Hi everyone,

I'd greatly appreciate your input. I have my eye on the 8 GB Sony NWZ-A728 player. I don't really care about extra features, I just want great sound and this one has a number of audio enhancements: Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE), Clear Bass, Clear Stereo, and great EX Series headphones that isolate noise. It's the best Sony 8GB deal for my price range (the S series is too expensive). However, it seems to have just been discontinued, so it's only available from a few places. The Fry's website had it for $109 but it seems to be out of stock in all stores....and the places that do have it seem to sell it for around $170 or so, which is significiantly more.

So I looked at the 8 GB Sony player they have everywhere right now, which is the NWZE438F for a great price of $99.99. While it's newer, they seem to have stripped it of value. It comes with the cheapo ipod-quality headphones. Even worse, it has none of the sound enhancements I mentioned above.

My question is - headphone issue aside, would these two have basically the same audio quality? Or does the combination of DSEE, Clear Stereo, and Clear Bass technologies, plus the EX headphones, really make the A728 worthwhile? Is the difference noticeable? Also, any suggestions on where I could buy the A728 for a good price?

Thanks so much for your feedback...cheers.

 

My hate for sony and their naming scheme only grows stronger. The sony sound enhancements are pretty good, but IMO the Cowon's jet effects are better. As for the sound quality, Sony is in my top 3 as the best sounding DAP's. Which break down into the Sansa Clip/Fuze, Cowon's, and Sony's. The different models from Cowon and Sony change a bit, but never really dip, just change in sound signature. Sony seems to have a more consistent 'warm' sound with their players. I wouldn't buy a sony that didn't have the sound enhancements.

 

QFT

Sony has some of the DUMBEST naming schemes ever. I mean how do you recommend a product to your friend when it is a bunch of letters and digits? It is hard to even search for a product. They had such great products but such poor marketing.

Anyway I dont think there is much difference between those two. The headphone does not make much difference. You can just buy others to go with it anyway. I dont think that particular model is noise canceling. If it was the headphone does make a difference as Sony noise cancellation is built into the player itself. I believe there are noise canceling models of that particular MP3 player. Should not be much more. I liked the noise cancellation. Was a joy to use on planes and subways (it does work).'

edit: LOL the title reminds me of the Sony references in anime where they cant explicitly say Sony so they call it Somy.