NW-S603

The NW-S603 opened the fourth-generation S Series flash-memory Network Walkman lineup and introduced Clear Audio Technology to the flash segment. It effectively succeeded the earlier A600 series while shifting the S line toward higher sound quality. It comes with 1 GB of storage supporting ATRAC3plus, MP3, WMA, and AAC files. A color OLED display handled track details, while voice recording, FM radio (via cable), WM-PORT connectivity, and the lithium-ion battery offers 45 hours of playback.

This generation redefined the S Series around specialized audio enhancements and feature depth beyond basic sports use. The S Series stopped feeling like a sporty side branch and started becoming a real part of Sony's hierarchy. Clear Audio Technology, voice features, FM functionality, WM-PORT integration, and stronger battery life gave the line a much more substantial place between Sony's simpler players and its premium branches.