Sony A729 question

[Artmuzz]

I own a big collection of Sony Walkman DAPs. I have the Sony S639F, S754, A845, A865, S618F and X1060. Anyway I seen a Sony S729 at my local pawn shop going for £49. I thought the price was a bit steep for a secondhand S729 but it came with a case. Only reason i am interested in this DAP is that I read that it is the best sounding DAP Sony ever made. With me owning all those Sony DAPs I mentioned, will I notice any SQ improvement if I bought the S729? Also does the A729 suffer from the horrible EU volume cap? I know that my S639F (that was released the same time as the A729) doesn't suffer from the EU volume cap but I am just wondering.

Please advise

[CrowdAds]

[Keeper]

Someone who has more comparative information than I can better answer your questions, but I can say this, I recently sold my A729 only because I wanted a touch screen player, the A865. As soon as I agreed to sell the 729, I regretted it. I ended up getting an A828 about a week later for about the same that I sold the 729, considering I included a case. Still kicking myself for that move and for losing 8GB in the process. It is a very nice sounding player! I did get mine from the UK about 3 years ago-but since I have not owned any other SONY players - I could not compare the volumes. The volume was absolutely fine for me and was as loud or louder than my Samsungs and Sansas.

I am awaiting an A865 coming in from the UK, and also am considering picking up an S639 or 38, because I have heard that they have fantastic sound as well. If it is matches the A729, then great! Darkside loves SONY players, and so is probably one of the best persons to give you comparative insight. Are there any songs on the one you are looking at, can you go in with your own headphones and have a listen?

[The DarkSide]

I want a 32gb or 64gb Sony that's tactile myself. I personally hate touchscreen players,...I just settled with my A867. And, I do think my S639 a bit bit more bass. The EU volume limit is a bitch.

[Artmuzz]

I decided to buy the Sony A729 to go with my collection of Sony DAPs. I got it for a reduced price after haggling and it comes with a nice Sony leather flip case which was designed for the A729.

The SQ on the A729 is very good and alot bass heavy than my other Sony DAPs. It also has fuller sound too. There doesn't seem to be an issue with the EU volume cap probably because it was originally released before the EU volume cap became law in the rest of Europe.

[Marvin the Martian]

So Artmuzz, how do you decide which player from your collection to listen to each day? Just curious because you have quite a few, and they're all quality devices.

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by Artmuzz

I decided to buy the Sony A729 to go with my collection of Sony DAPs. I got it for a reduced price after haggling and it comes with a nice Sony leather flip case which was designed for the A729.

The SQ on the A729 is very good and alot bass heavy than my other Sony DAPs. It also has fuller sound too. There doesn't seem to be an issue with the EU volume cap probably because it was originally released before the EU volume cap became law in the rest of Europe.

So now that u have the 729, how does the SQ compare to the S639? I am still trying to decide if i should pick up the latter.

[The DarkSide]

I forgot, I also had the A729. It's an excellent player. Congrats on the acquisition. I wish they made THAT model in 32GB, or better yet 64GB. That to me is the PERFECT Sony dap. Even without the FM tuner,...

http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/...-32893617.html

[Artmuzz]

Originally Posted by Keeper

So now that u have the 729, how does the SQ compare to the S639? I am still trying to decide if i should pick up the latter.

The A729 sounds a little more fuller in soundstage than the S639f but just a little. I find that the instrument separation is better on the A729 but again just a little. Both the A729 and S639F are great sounding DAPs. I think the later models like the A845 and S574 would sounded equally as good if it wasn't for that terrible EU volume cap which was put on all Sony DAPs after 2009. One thing I miss though is a virtualizer function like what found on Android music player apps. I feel the virtualizer function give more life and atmosphere to tracks but the Sony SQ is very good as it is anyway.

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by Artmuzz

The A729 sounds a little more fuller in soundstage than the S639f but just a little. I find that the instrument separation is better on the A729 but again just a little. Both the A729 and S639F are great sounding DAPs. I think the later models like the A845 and S574 would sounded equally as good if it wasn't for that terrible EU volume cap which was put on all Sony DAPs after 2009. One thing I miss though is a virtualizer function like what found on Android music player apps. I feel the virtualizer function give more life and atmosphere to tracks but the Sony SQ is very good as it is anyway.

Thanks for the feedback - and congrats on picking up the A729. Enjoy!