Step up your sound with the incredible audio fidelity of the NW-A55. Hear all of your favorite music in authentic Hi-Res audio, through the S-Master HX upscaling. Keep listening for up to 45 hours on a single charge and expand your on-the-go music collection with the SD card slot.
Go wireless with BLUETOOTH
Use your favorite BLUETOOTH headphones to listen to your favorite content.
Music played from your computer sounds even better with USB DAC function
Use your NW-A50 Series as a USB DAC (Digital-Analog Converter) by pairing it with a PC or Mac computer. When connected and activated using the supplied USB cable, the NW-A50 Series replaces your computer's regular sound processing with its own highly tuned hardware processing.
BLUETOOTH Receiver mode to give your smartphone music a boost
Stream music through the NW-A50 via Bluetooth and a smartphone connection to give all your music an NW-A50 boost. Your favorite tracks will benefit from S-Master HX and DSEE HX upscaling, as well as Vinyl Processor and equalizer.
Effortless control with the large touch screen
With the large, full-color touch screen, you're in complete control. Change tracks, create playlists and more, just by tapping the handy on-screen buttons.
DSD playback
Experience the natural sound and intense detail of DSD audio formats, thanks to the NW-A50 Series' high-quality PCM conversion.
Hi-Res audio in maximum quality
Reduces distortion and noise across a wide range of frequencies for rich, full-bodied sound.
Rigid aluminum milled frame for improved sound quality
The premium aluminum milled frame provides superior rigidity for low impedance and clear, stable sound and solid bass.
Gold-plated circuit board and contact springs for low impedance
The on-board plate and contact springs of the NW-A50 that connect the circuit board to the aluminum milled frame are both plated with gold. The results are powerful bass and a clear mid-range.
Expand your memory with the SD card slot
Store even more music on your Walkman, Pop in an SD card (not supplied) for additional memory.
DSEE HX restores all your compressed music files
Upscales compressed digital music files and takes them closer to the quality of Hi-Res Audio.
High Resolution Audio for uncompromised sound
Enjoy the subtlest nuances in higher-than-CD quality Hi-Res Audio.
| Power |
| Battery Life - Continuous Playback Music |
MP3 (128 kbps) / Ambient Sound Mode ON: Approx. 30 hrs, MP3 (128 kbps) / Ambient Sound Mode OFF: Approx. 45 hrs, AAC (256 kbps) / Ambient Sound Mode ON: Approx. 27 hrs, AAC (256 kbps) / Ambient Sound Mode OFF: Approx. 39 hrs, FLAC (96 kHz / 24 bit) / Ambient Sound Mode ON: Approx. 27 hrs, FLAC (96 kHz / 24 bit) / Ambient Sound Mode OFF: Approx. 39 hrs, FLAC (192 kHz / 24 bit) / Ambient Sound Mode ON: Approx. 23 hrs, FLAC (192 kHz / 24 bit) / Ambient Sound Mode OFF: Approx. 30 hrs, DSD (2.8224 MHz / 1 bit) / Ambient Sound Mode ON: Approx. 20 hrs, DSD (2.8224 MHz / 1 bit) / Ambient Sound Mode OFF: Approx. 25 hrs, MP3 (128 kbps) / Noise Cancel ON: Approx. 37 hrs, MP3 (128 kbps) / Noise Cancel OFF: Approx. 45 hrs, AAC (256 kbps) / Noise Cancel ON: Approx. 33 hrs, AAC (256 kbps) / Noise Cancel OFF: Approx. 39 hrs, FLAC (96 kHz / 24 bit) / Noise Cancel ON: Approx. 32 hrs, FLAC (96 kHz / 24 bit) / Noise Cancel OFF: Approx. 39 hrs, FLAC (192 kHz / 24 bit) / Noise Cancel ON: Approx. 27 hrs, FLAC (192 kHz / 24 bit) / Noise Cancel OFF: Approx. 30 hrs, DSD (2.8224 MHz / 1 bit) / Noise Cancel ON: Approx. 22 hrs, DSD (2.8224 MHz / 1 bit) / Noise Cancel OFF: Approx. 25 hrs, MP3 (128 kbps) / SBC (Connection): Approx. 20 hrs, FLAC (96 kHz / 24 bit) / LDAC Connection Preferred (Auto): Approx. 13 hrs, SBC (Connection): Approx. 15 hrs, LDAC (Sound Quality): Approx. 12 hrs |
| Battery Life — Continuous Playback Music Notes |
The values shown in this topic are the approximate battery life when content is played continuously at the default settings. Even if the player is turned off for an extended period, a small amount of battery power is still consumed. Battery life may vary depending on volume settings, conditions of use and ambient temperature. The battery is consumed considerably when the screen is on. The battery life may become about 70% shorter when some of the sound quality settings are active. |
| Charging Time (full charge) |
Approx. 4 hrs |
| Charging Time (Quick Charge) |
- |
| Built-in battery |
Built-in Rechargeable lithium-ion Battery |
| Charging and Power supply |
USB power (from a computer via a USB) |
| Storage Media |
| Memory Size |
16 GB, Micro SD Micro SDHC Micro SDXC |
| Playback & display |
| Music Searching Methods |
All Songs, Artist, Release Year, Playlists, Album, Genre, Composer, Hi-Res, Recent Transfers, SensMe Channels, Folder |
| Music Play Mode |
Shuffle Playback, Repeat Off, Repeat 1 Song, Repart All, All Range, Selected Range |
| Drag and Drop |
Yes |
| Display Resolution |
3.1" (7.8 cm), WVGA (800 x 480 Pixels) |
| Display Type |
TFT color display with white LED-backlight |
| Photo Playback Notes |
- |
| FM Tuner |
Yes |
| Sound Effects |
6 Band equalizer, DSEE HX,DC Phase Linearizer, Dynamic Normalizer, VPT, ClearAudio+, Clear Phase, Vinyl Processor |
| Audio Playback |
MP3 (.MP3): 32–320 kbps (Supports variable bitrate (VBR)) / 32, 44.1, 48 kHz, WMA (.WMA): 32–192 kbps (Supports variable bitrate (VBR)) / 44.1 kHz, FLAC (.flac): 16, 24 bit / 8–384 kHz, WAV (.WAV): 16, 24, 32 bit (Float / Integer) / 8–384 kHz, AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 16–320 kbps / 8–48 kHz, HE-AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 32–144 kbps / 8–48 kHz, Apple Lossless (.mp4, .m4a): 16, 24 bit / 8–384 kHz, AIFF (.aif, .aiff, .afc, .aifc): 16, 24, 32 bit / 8–384 kHz, DSD (.dsf, .dff): 1 bit / 2.8224, 5.6448, 11.2896 MHz
*Audio that is converted to Linear PCM is output., APE (.ape): 8, 16, 24 bit / 8–192 kHz (Fast, Normal, High), MQA (.mqa.flac): Supported |
| Audio Playback Notes |
Sampling frequency may not correspond to all encoders. Copyright protected files cannot be played back. Non-standard bit rates or non-guaranteed bit rates are included depending on the sampling frequency. Files that are 4 GB (APE is 2 GB) or larger cannot be played back. This product recognizes audio sources exceeding CD quality (44.1 kHz / 16 bit quantization) and DAT quality (48 kHz / 16 bit quantization) as High-resolution Audio. The "HR" symbol is displayed for high-resolution audio sources. For sampling frequency over 352.8 kHz, it will be down converted to a lower frequency for playback. |
| Durability |
| Waterproof |
- |
| Headphone Out (Stereo mini-jack) |
| Frequency |
20–40,000 Hz |
| Maximum Power Output (JEITA 16Ω/mW) |
35 mW + 35 mW |
| Headphone Out (Balanced standard-jack) |
| Frequency |
- |
| Maximum Power Output (JEITA 16Ω/mW) |
- |
| Software |
| Operating System |
Sony original OS |
| Connectivity |
| Terminals |
Headphone: Stereo mini-jack, WM-PORT: WM-PORT (multiple connecting terminal): 22 pins, USB[2]: Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0 compliant) |
| Wireless Capabilities |
Communication system: Bluetooth Specification Version 4.2, NFC: Yes, Supported Bluetooth profiles: Yes, Supported Codecs (Transmission): Yes, Supported Codecs (Reception): Yes |
