Sony to launch NW-A55L Walkman in Europe (Update)
An updated version of last year's A-Series has appeared on Amazon in Europe. This is a new model since the product code is different than last year's model, NWA55LX.CEW, where X is for the different colours, B-black, R-red, L-blue, G-green and N-gold. Only a 16GB model will be offered.
Update 1: I have tried contacting Sony Germany, UK and France, and I have not received any actual real responses, except one, keep checking the Sony website for updates on new products, lame. Some retailers are claiming Bluetooth 5.0 and where as others just state Bluetooth with no version provided, so unknown which version it will be in the end.
Last year's model used the same Mediatek Bluetooth as the previous A-Series models, the MT6625LN, so I would imagine this will model will use the same chip. The datasheet for the chip only shows Bluetooth 4.2, but a version with Bluetooth 5.0 was certified on SIG. So who knows, perhaps the new chips have Bluetooth 5.0 but I would imagine the new model would need to pass through Bluetooth certification if they were using Bluetooth 5.0? Just a thought. So while the retailers might be right with the USB type-C an Bluetooth 5.0, I would wait for final specs from Sony before buying this.
The model is expected to ship on November 11th in the UK and cost 180 GBP, while in Germany will be available from December 1st, and cost 199 Euros. In the product description below it mentions USB type-C which it might be true but the photos on the product page showing the USB port still look like the original WM-port NW-A55 from last year.
Last year's model used the same Mediatek Bluetooth as the previous A-Series models, the MT6625LN, so I would imagine this will model will use the same chip. The datasheet for the chip only shows Bluetooth 4.2, but a version with Bluetooth 5.0 was certified on SIG. So who knows, perhaps the new chips have Bluetooth 5.0 but I would imagine the new model would need to pass through Bluetooth certification if they were using Bluetooth 5.0? Just a thought. So while the retailers might be right with the USB type-C an Bluetooth 5.0, I would wait for final specs from Sony before buying this.
The model is expected to ship on November 11th in the UK and cost 180 GBP, while in Germany will be available from December 1st, and cost 199 Euros. In the product description below it mentions USB type-C which it might be true but the photos on the product page showing the USB port still look like the original WM-port NW-A55 from last year.
Of course Sony could swap out the WM-port and add a USB type-C instead but again unknown if this is the case. I have contacted Sony via email and on Twitter but I have received NO reply in either cases, not a surprise. I have seen the player showing up on various other retailers, like Mediamarkt/Saturn so this is going to be sold in Europe. There is nothing on the US Amazon site so perhaps it will not be offered outside of Europe.
For those interested in pre-ordering, check out the links below. It is substantially less expensive than the upcoming A100 but lacks WiFI, BT 5.0 and the funky retro cassette UI.
UK
Germany
Product description from Amazon:
With a premium handy design, the NW-A55L portable digital music player delivers the incredible fidelity of High-Resolution Audio, plus audio upscaling with enhanced DSEE HX and vinyl processor. By capturing and reproducing digital audio at a higher rate than CD, High-Resolution Audio allows you to get closer to the original studio recording.
The Sony NW A55L also supports DSD and S-Master HX to ensure the very best audio quality. LDAC , our premium wireless codec of 3x the bitrate of standard Bluetooth, lets you enjoy high-resolution audio wirelessly for a superior listening experience. You can expand the already large 16GB of internal memory of your NWA55L with a micro SD card – pop one in the slot to enjoy endless playlists and even the biggest music collections on the go.
Perfect for commuting or when you want to enjoy your music all day, when fully charged you can enjoy up to 45 hours of music playback when playing MP3 128kbps. NFC and Bluetooth technology make connecting to your music fast and easy. Just touch your NFC-enabled device to your A55L Walkman for a quick, seamless connection, then start streaming. No NFC? No problem. Connect via Bluetooth and you’re ready to go.
With the 3.1 inch LCD touch screen, controlling your music has never been easier and the USB Type-C port gives easy and fast connectivity with a range of devices.
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