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.