In 2006, Sony continued with only limited improvements. The product has been restructured to be maintained for existing users.
D-NE331
The D-NE331 is a late ATRAC CD Walkman from 2006 that supported standard CDs along with MP3- and ATRAC-encoded discs, with options for group navigation, bookmark play, M3U playlists, and customizable sound through a parametric equalizer in a compact body with G-Protection and jog-lever controls on some variants. It could run on AA batteries or a rechargeable pack depending on the regional version and included a remote that ranged from basic to more full-featured. This model sits near the tail end of the line, but it does not feel unfinished. The D-NE331 is part of the stage where the remaining experimentation had already narrowed into a practical, unpretentious player for people still burning discs after the broader market had mostly moved on.
D-NS313F
The D-NS313F was a late S2 Sports CD Walkman from 2006 that combined MP3 CD playback, CD-R/RW compatibility, an AM/FM tuner, Digital Mega Bass, and G-Protection in a rugged AA-powered body. The radio side included station presets, while the disc side stayed focused on practical playback from standard CDs and burned MP3 compilations. It belongs to the long-tail stage of portable CD, when Sony was no longer trying to make the format feel new. Instead, the D-NS313F kept the remaining use cases bundled together: outdoor-friendly handling, simple battery power, radio listening, and the larger libraries people could still carry on MP3 CDs.
In 2006, the development structure for Discman was discontinued. The main technological elements have shifted to digital players.
