Sony Network Walkman NW-HD5

819 reviews

May, 2013

Positive
Usability (32)
Battery (25)
Design (17)
Sound (16)
Memory (12)

No negative mentions yet

General overview
Price comparison
Product Specifications

alaTest has collected and analyzed 819 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviewers are impressed by the memory and sound. The design and battery are also mentioned favorably, but some have doubts about the connectivity.

usability, battery, design, sound, memory

connectivity

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other MP3 Players the Sony Network Walkman NW-HD5 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 84/100 = Very good quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 819 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(44% of reviews)
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Features

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Battery
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Design
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Showing 689 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Showing 1 - 10 of 689 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (177)

Expert review by: Michael Kobrin (pcmag.com)

Sony Network Walkman NW-HD5

Sony has been struggling to keep pace with Apple's hugely successful iPod and iTunes, but it's been a losing battle. The Sony NW-HD5 20GB hard drive audio player is a solid competitor: It certainly has a leg up on its wheel-sporting white rival in the...

Small and sleek. Removable battery. Impressive battery life. Very good sound quality. Easy to navigate and browse.

Must install the software to transfer music. No native WMA support. Device requires "authorization" to be used with more than one computer. Lacks extra features like FM radio or recording. Most of the sound enhancement settings work only with ATRAC...

If you can handle Sony's strict DRM and clunky softwareand live without frills like recording or a color screenthis is a solid player.

Aug, 2005

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Expert review by: (cnet.com)

Sony Network Walkman NW-HD5 (Black)

Supercompact and durable design; excellent sound quality; intuitive tactile interface; removable battery; stellar battery life.

No extra features, such as FM radio or recording; ATRAC3 is the only DRM option; must use SonicStage software for music transfer.

If you want a slick alternative to the iPod and you're into Sony's Connect music store, then the NW-HD5 is a stellar choice.

Jul, 2005

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Expert review by: Grahm Skee (anythingbutipod.com)

Sony Network Walkman NW-HD5 Review

The Sony Network Walkman NW-HD5 is the successor to the NW-HD1, NW-HD2, and NW-HD3. (Sony skipped the NW-HD4 because in Japanese the number four sounds like the word for "death".) This particular model is a 20GB, and they have yet to release the 30GB...

I love this player except for the restrictions that Sony employs with its proprietary formats and software. My opinion is that these restrictions are almost not worth it. I want the freedom to share music, with the capability to transfer music on and...

Jun, 2005

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Consumer review by: chcr01 (cnet.com)

"Perfect sound, durability and battery"

Got an newer iPod, another walkman and other mp3s, No one sounds like this, maybe louder but no better.

Unbreakable, perfect sound. 20Gb is a lot for a only music device. Battery lasts for a whole week. Never had a better electronic device. I've got it for about 5 years and is still the best for me.

SonicStage

Mar, 2012

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Consumer review by: Wiredkiwi_NZ (cnet.com)

Bulletproof - abused & thrashed for 5 years still going

The BEST piece of electronics I've ever owned. The WORST software...

superb battery life, incredibly robust, tiny, easy to use. This was used all day, every day for 5 months on a driving trip through Africa. Sand, heat, dropped, immersed, you name it, this magic device never failed, and only needed recharged every third da

screen sometimes goes blank in 45 degree+ (C) temps - don't leave it in direct sun. Avoid the Sonic Stage software at all costs

Aug, 2011

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Consumer review by: Wiredkiwi_NZ (cnet.com)

"Bulletproof - abused & thrashed for 5 years still going"

The BEST piece of electronics I've ever owned. The WORST software...

screen sometimes goes blank in 45 degree+ (C) temps - don't leave it in direct sun. Avoid the Sonic Stage software at all costs.

Aug, 2011

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Consumer review by: Bribaba (cnet.com)

"Inadequate in all respects except two"

Sony really know how to hack off customers. As if the terrible software wasn't enough, there's the error prone hardware to contend with. I'm on my second player now and the faults I've found are as follows: buttons fall of; when playing a track, the...

Sound quality, battery life

Shoddy build, terrible software, Sony's obsession with DRM

Dec, 2007

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Consumer review by: Bribaba (cnet.com)

Inadequate in all respects except two

Sound quality, battery life

Shoddy build, terrible software, Sony's obsession with DRM

Dec, 2007

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Consumer review by: smasher58 (cnet.com)

"2 year old hd5: droped,kicked,dunked, this Ipod Killer keeps kickn'"

Its surrvived a dip in the pool, a very breif dip. Its been droped hundres of times.Thrown across the room in jean pockets, jerked out of pockets by the headphone jack, and it just keeps on working. I go days without charging it, I've never bought it a...

Great battery life. Has survived so much abuse compared to any other player ive owened.

SONICSTAGE, just get mp3fm

Aug, 2007

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Consumer review by: smasher58 (cnet.com)

2 year old hd5: droped,kicked,dunked, this Ipod Killer keeps kickn'

Great battery life. Has survived so much abuse compared to any other player ive owened

SONICSTAGE, just get mp3fm

Aug, 2007

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Product Specifications

Sony's worldwide reputation for creating unique, attractive, high-quality, advanced technology products rests on a long line of innovations embraced by people from all walks of life. With a diverse product lineup serving a variety of lifestyles and industries, Sony continuously strives to introduce new products and technologies to meet changing market needs.PRODUCT FEATURES:20 GB internal Hard Disk Drive memory;Fast music and data transfer via Hi-Speed USB connection;Capable to store audio, visual and data files (Word, Powerpoint, ATRAC, Mp3, Jpeg, Mpeg, etc.);SonicStage 3.1 software for easy music management and transfers;Sony's unique G-sensor technology protects the internal HDD even if it falls from a height of 1 m;Directly playback: ATRAC / MP3;Extremely long playback time of up to 40 hours with the built-in rechargeable battery;Large 7 line (1.5 inch) LCD with various backlight colors;Ultra compact size weighing just 135 grams.