NW-A16

The NW-A16 is an A Series Network Walkman with 32 GB storage supporting MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, and Linear PCM playback. A lithium-ion battery delivers up to 50 hours of use with digital noise cancellation and WM-PORT connectivity. This 8th-generation A Series model emphasized high-resolution audio in a compact form.

This is where Sony's compact Hi-Res A line really begins to feel like a modern long-term strategy instead of just a nice product. Earlier A models had already become elegant and mature, but this generation introduces a different kind of confidence. The player is not trying to be a mini media gadget or a smartphone-adjacent object. It is trying to be a compact, serious, high-quality dedicated player.