20.7.2018

I'll review this from a slightly different perspective - I got it to use as a dry land, full-time stand-alone audiobook player. So I don't really care for music usage or swimming, only audio books. So from that perspective:Pros:- Pretty comfortable and you can put it on very quickly. Also easy to pocket. Almost the perfect form factor.- Controls/keys are pretty good. A possible improvement would be to remove the unnecessary separate Power key, as it could be combined with Play+Pause (hold to power, click to Pause/Play).- It is very easy/fast to Pause/Resume play, key is easy to spot. Also easy to turn off the "ambient mode" feature (more about it below).- Ambient mode feature is quite useful.Hit a key to toggle it (a synthesizer voice will announce toggle with "On" or "Off") and the external microphone will pump external noise into the sound. The effect is similar to having nothing in your ears. The level of amplification can be adjusted (Low/High/Medium). Low sounds very similar to having nothing on your ears, while Medium and High amplify more, so any external noises will actually sound much louder than they are. This feature is handy if you need to talk to someone for a bit or just want to be aware of external noises (traffic,etc). It does not work as well as in full-size Sony headphones like the MDR-1000X, as there is some ambient "hiss", but it's still quite functional. Sony could improve this by pausing the playback while the voice cue is playing - right now it keeps playing and the speaking lady will just go over your book (takes about 2 seconds to toggle).- Build quality is good. I do not use them to swim, but take them to the beach (sand/salt) and use them while walking to work, often under rain. Don't expect them to break anytime soon, but if you use them in the ocean, saltwater will eventually kill them.- FLAC is not supported, but I don't really care as most of my audiobooks are in MP3.- Battery lasts around 10h unless you're using the ambient noise amplification a lot. That's about the duration of most of my audiobooks, so you can go through a whole book without charging.- Loading content is super simple, just drag and drop MP3 files from a file explorer into the "Music" folder after connecting to a computer via USB. No need for iTunes or any external software unless you want to.- Even 4GB will do for audiobooks, as MP3s are small and you can pretty much only listen to one book at a time.Less good:- Not really made as an audio book player, so there are a few limitations. The biggest is that you can only listen to ONE audiobook at a time. The device cannot keep track of positions of multiple books/folders. It does resume from where you left, so once a book is started you can keep resuming from there just by pressing play. If you press "Next/Previous" by accident and end up changing track or folder, you'll lose the position in the book - the Next/Previous buttons are clearly marked and are not easy to press by accident, so it hasn't been an issue for me.- The cradle is annoying and something you'll need to carry along if you want to charge it. Don't lose it. It would be nicer to charge with a normal microUSB port and have it covered with a rubber latch, similar to what Samsung does with its waterproof headphones.

5.8.2016

I feel compelled to attempt to address what I've seen to be the biggest concerns/ misgivings about this product: the volume and what can be done about it.I've been after a waterproof MP3 player for some time, specifically for swimming, and after researching the competitors, I felt that this one provided the best all-round features. However, the mixed reviews on whether the volume is good enough seems to have been debated for some time so the purchase was a cautious one. There was also a lot of uncertainty/ lack of clarity on a number of different features and points, which again, I'll attempt to address below.Having run (and swum) it through its paces, I can confirm, in my opinion,that the volume CAN be really good, with the following understandings and potential, easy, tweaks:- Out of the box, the AVLS (Automatic Volume Limiter System) is disabled. If you're not sure if AVLS is on or not, turn the volume up as high as it can go. If you hear a series of beeps, it's off.I did not know this at the time, and so managed to turn AVLS on (more detail below) without realising. This resulted in a very underwhelming walk where the sound of my footsteps far exceeded playback at 'top' volume - at this stage, I figured the volume was as poor as some people have said and I was contemplating a return.- Turning AVLS on and off - the instructions advise that AVLS can be turned on and off by holding down the forward button and volume up button at the same time for around five seconds (whilst playback is paused). The battery indicator will then apparently flash a couple of times to confirm success. For the life of me, I could not get this to properly work. After attempting for a while, I apparently succeeded but then couldn't turn it off again.If this happens to you, reset the device to factory settings by holding the power button down for 17 seconds or so. You won't lose your music, and AVLS will be off once more.- With AVLS off, the volume at max is fair. However, to really get the most out of it, I would implore you to download any free program online that lets you increase the 'normal' dB of your track/ audio book/ podcast. It's incredibly easy to do and I did not notice any decline in quality after doing so.With AVLS off, and your track's dB slightly upped, the volume is absolutely fine - on the verge of being almost too loud on max, actually. Put it this way - when swimming lengths in a public pool (whilst a class did aqua-aerobics to the music of ABBA), I was able to listen to an audio book without the slightest hindrance.I won't go into much detail at all about other features as I feel they've been adequately covered already - in short, battery life seems fair, the product is light, fits very well and doesn't let any water in (providing you choose your buds carefully). All in all, a really good price for a really good waterproof MP3. Please do not be put off by negative comments on volume. If you're clued up and prepared to put in the slightest amount of work to get the most out of the system, you'll be happy.

25.5.2016

I think these are the fourth generation and I've had each in turn. All variations have had good and bad points and these are no different. My effusive five star rating is given because quite simply this integrated MP3/headphone combo is the best all round sports music system I've come across.Generation one was much larger but in terms of buttons and use the easiest of the first three generations. This latest version has regained that ease of functionality lost on the 2nd and 3rd gen and for that I've very pleased. In particular the last version I had was pretty nasty when it came to the on/off button. This has a nice tactile feel and is easy to use.This version has also made the fitting more secure over the previous versions.The over ear fitting as well as the behind the neck wire is far more solid than all previous efforts. In fact if you want there is a small elasticated band - supplied - that can be fitted to make the player more snug fitting. For me, I don't need it as my slightly large hat fitting suits this well and it's a solid job even when sweaty.It has a nice tactile organic style and feel which is comfortable in use as well. Given that this is also a player as well as headphones it has to be said that its fairly compact too. Not quite as small as Gen 3 but that is down to the over ear run of the headband.To put music on is simplicity itself. You can drag and drop MP3 files or as I do, use Windows Media Player. I do so because syncing with Media means my music files are automatically adjusted to suit the best supported file type.Now there are a couple of negatives. All the previous versions had a much better holder/charging/transfer unit. This version has a dock that fits on one side only, meaning that it is easy to end up with it being pulled or damaged in a bag. The other negatives relate to sound. Sound quality is good - it is after all a Sony - but a bit bright for my ears. By no means bad but I prefer a bit more bass. And the other sound niggle is volume, or rather lack of it. Because Sony is a sensible mainstream company it adheres to the European dB standards - which of course is a 'Good Thing,' especially for your kids. But for me, in a gym I like my music loud to drown out the inane dance stuff inevitably pumped through the over load speakers.There is another add on which is of no real interest to me which is an ambient outside sound function which is there to allow you to hear what is going on around you. I have no use for this in the gym, but if you are a runner on the roads and paths then this may well be a properly good idea as you might just hear that bus with your name on it coming towards you.Bottom line is that this MP3/headphone unit is for sports not audiophile listening in your best armchair and for that - and I've been using these for five or six years now - I think this is unbeatable.

19.12.2018

After a lot of research - and already owning and using a variety of other Sony headphone and earphone products - I opted for these waterproof earphones to use when swimming and to help deal with the boredom of going up and down the pool, and also to drown out the bellowing voices of young chaps at the David Lloyd club, including in the showers where the earphones effectively block out the disgusting sounds of snorting, nasal and throat grunting and coughing up phlegm. Not by me, from other members!! With these earphones in and your favourite music playing the disgusting sounds of the shower room and changing area are drowned out. These Sony earphones are perfect for the job. They fit well,are durable, are waterproof of course, easy to operate once you've spent a bit of time with the instruction sheet and have practised using the variety of buttons on the earpieces, and the sound quality is good. Other users have reported issues with reduced volume when using the earbuds for in-water use (the unit comes with changeable earbuds - one set for normal use out-of-water and one set for in-water). If they had only read through the operations manual that comes with it they would have known that when using the waterproof earbuds the max volume will be less than when using the standard earbuds due to the membrane in the earbud for preventing water getting into the unit. This is perfectly understandable and the earphones when using waterproof buds provide a perfectly adequate volume level for listening to most modern music. I think it would be difficult for listening to an audio book or to some classical music as perhaps too much ambient sound especially from swimming strokes/splashing etc would get through. Also, loading music is easy. Just connect the unit to a PC or Mac using the USB connector that comes with it, and the unit appears in the file menu as a seperate drive, then just drag and drop your music files whether whole albums or single tracks, into the music folder on the device. I've got more than enough music on my device to fill the hour or so I spend three times a week in the pool and wet-spa area at the club, and the showers too. I think I have around 35 or so albums on it and have only used up around half the available storage space (8gb version). Navigating through the MP3 player to find a specific album or track is a bit tricky as there is no screen to show what is being selected but once you get the hang of it its not too difficult, but I just put the unit on shuffle and let it play randomly. It's very easy to forward tracks or go back.A good device for listening to music in water, well-built, very good battery life, decent sound quality even with the reduced max volume level from the waterproof earbuds. I'm very happy with these earphones.

28.5.2016

I bought this MP3 player as a replacement for my original version 1 Sony waterproof MP3 player (the previous model) which was "lost" , I opted to buy the new version because of the talk thru mode, I.e. There are microphones on the headset that pic up ambiance so you can here if someone is talking to you. I much preferred the sound quality of the original version this one seems to have less base and unless you get the earbuds right there isn't any bass at all. It comes with Sony software to transfers music and you can drag and drop playlists from iTunes into the Sony interface, but be aware it makes another copy of the files and will use up disk space. The fit is a good as the original,

3.6.2016

I have had each iteration of this MP3 player as Sony has in my opinion produced the best music player for gym users such as myself. But. The competition is very limited for wearable MP3 headphone combinations and by no means is this Sony item perfect. It is however, a considerable improvement on the previous version which had a grim power on/off button and serious failure issues whereby it would simply stop working - which happened to mine. First off the buttons are much nicer to use and that makes a real difference. Once you have got the muscle memory in place it's all good. The overall construction both appears and feels very good and Sony seem to have moved back up a step from the previous model fortunately.

29.8.2016

I brought these to replace my nwz-w273s this was the previous model before the ws414. I have been using the w273 for almost 3 years and it was time for a change so brought the new model ws414. I have to say its a big improvement to the previous model.1st the sound quality is a lot better very detailed ,clear and has more definition. The Volume seems to be a lot louder than my old pair ,but do make sure you put the correct buds in, this will get you a better fit in your ears, Sony provides several sizes. The band that fits around your ears is defnitly more secure and sticks to your ears perfectly, there is no drop or movement whilst jogging.

2.2.2017

Having spent significantly more on running earphones, that were totally useless I was not optimistic that these would stay put. Gladly I was wrong.I noticed in the advertisement photos that the earpieces did not appear to sit flush against the women's heads, although it did for men, this concerned me as I have struggled for years to find earphones that stay in my ears whilst running. As in the photos, the mp3 player does not sit so flush for me, but it happily stays in place for 12+ mile runs without adjustment. This alone makes the product worth the investment, but I can also use it for swimming!Because it doesn't sit flush against my head, it does "snag" in the water, and doesn't sit underneath a swim cap.

18.2.2017

(EDIT UPDATE): You don't need the waterproof earbuds to use in water. I have started using mine with the standard earphones for the past few months in pools, showers, saunas and steam rooms with no problems whatsoever. It probably invalidates the warrenty, but it's worth it while they're still working.Firstly, I purchased this MP3 player directly from a Sony store in the high street, and I'm glad I did.The 1st one I bought wouldn't allow me to play any of my own music, despite the fact that it would let me upload my music to the deviceThe 2nd one I got (only two days after the first) was oddly not waterproof and quickly died within 5 seconds of getting it wet.The 3rd one I got (only 2 days after the second)

28.6.2016

I've had a waterproof player on my wish list for sometime and was recently looking for an MP3 player to take on holiday and I stumbled across this Sony model. I've always opted for Sony because for me they always have a rich sound. The headset is very easy to use and I got used to the buttons very quickly. I have organised my music into folders anyway on a hard drive; it was easy to drag and drop and organise my music onto this headset. [Double tap on the track selection button will take you to the next folder]. The microphone setting is really good, and helps you to hear quite well whilst quietening the music slightly.I couldn't wait to use these in my swim.. I did get a few odd glances from fellow swimmers!

30.3.2016

It takes a lot to make me feel so pleased with a product that I would take the effort to write a review. This device has done it though. I'm a runner and on training runs music is an absolute must. For a long time I had my rather bulky windows phone in a waist strap with wires up through my shirt...... It worked but it was never great and couldn't get to controls so if a song that wasn't working for you came on you just had to endure it. The benefit of course was that my phone doubled up as a GPS tracker so I could log my runs etc. A month ago I bought a Smartwatch (Garmin forerunner 630) so that I could capture more info from my runs which is great, but I have been missing the music or still needing to take my phone.

27.12.2018

Sony NWWS413 Walkman 4GB Waterproof MP3 Player - BlackSwimming can be so boring so having music whilst you complete your lengths is a godsend. The volume seems to be okay and the music is audible and can be quite loud. The thing which infuriates me is the fit. It is really fiddly. If you are a bald man then you will be okay. If you are a lady with hair and need to wear a swimming cap, then it will be problematic. You need to put the edges of your cap behind your ears and fit the earpieces in place. However, because everyone’s ear holes are different sizes, you never get a perfect fit in spite of being provided with differently sized ear pieces. You then need to get the strap from your goggles to fit over the cord going from each earpiece.

8.1.2020

These were a birthday gift and not something I was looking for or something I needed as I already had two mp3 players. When I saw they were only 4gb and had what I would call the gimmicky usp of being swim friendly my heart sank (no pun intended). Would I actually use them, ever? Mmm...Anyway, I made the effort to charge them up and load them with songs (extremely easy, even with the software, although I didn't realise you can actually just drag and drop). Since then I've used them in the gym, at work and whilst out walking and I've been pleasantly surprised by the sound quality. Fit: pretty standard, not too obtrusive on the ear although I do seem to be between bud sizes.

19.5.2018

I bought this entirely for Swimming.If you're reading this review you're problably looking for the same, and are humming and harring between buying this or one of the cheaper swimming headsphones\mp3 players from AGPtek and so forth.I'd suggest getting this. They stay perfectly in my ears and I've had no issues at all with swimming. As an added plus the resume right where you left off when you turn them off - great for podcasts and audiobooks.5* for the product, but 2* for the Amazon Warehouse deal I got them from. They were £50 from the Warehouse but when they turned up they didn't include any earbuds at all making the headset useless.

28.5.2018

This had fit my needs perfectly! I do not like carrying my phone while doing exercise (whether it's running in my local park or going to the gym) so this was perfect for me! The noise isolation is very good to the point that I don't hear the grunts and weird conversations that happen in the gym. When I'm on the way home from the gym, there's a button to 'let sound in' through the use of microphone so you can safely cross the roads and listen to oncoming traffic. Normally I do not like in-ear earphones but I got to it relatively quickly and haven't had it fall out of my ears once despite using it for running (never tried with swimming).Charging & managing music is very easy, simply plug in,

Sony Walkman NW-WS410 - Reviews

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