Manufacturers face considerable difficulty in meeting this demand alone, let alone the need for a waterproof audio source. Sony’s Walkman NW-WS413 solves these issues by fusing its headphones and MP3 player into a single, water-resistant device. Both of the devices come with a choice of black, blue, green, or ivory finishes and come with either 4GB or 8GB of storage. However, there is no reason not to choose the larger size if it is available given the slight price difference between each type.
Design
The Sony Walkman NW-WS413 is very comfortable to wear, however they are not particularly stylish. Although they are far more sturdy than they appear at first glance, they can get a little tangled when placed in a gym bag. Although they can withstand some abuse, we wonder if they also need a battery cover, which is already a fairly common accessory for headphones, or possibly a little bag. Weight-wise, the entire wearable device is comparable to a pair of waterproof bone conduction earbuds at 32g. The neckband keeps securely in place on the back of the head once the fairly heavy earpieces are installed. After changing the ear-tips for one of the three options provided in the package, they form a barrier from the outside world and water, and the neckband holds everything in place. The earpieces have a sizable selection of buttons. Although all the buttons are strategically placed, it doesn’t take long to learn where each one is by touch, making it initially seem a little intimidating. Although there may be too many buttons for such a little product, having to memories a long list of double, triple, and quadruple presses to carry out basic tasks is superior to what some competitors offer.
Sony NW-WS413 Walkman review: Comfort
There are two separate pairs of silicone earbuds included: four normal and four that are made specifically for swimming with an additional thin membrane. The NW-WS413 demonstrated to be equally adept at running and swimming when in use, which is how it is intended to assist keep the water out. We never had any issues with these staying on while swimming, and the adjustable band helps prevent them from swinging around while striking pavement. Even if we are not very good swimmers, it is still a remarkable accomplishment that they didn’t fall out despite our erratic flailing. Similar to that, despite being put through intense Olympic weightlifting, they remained immobile. The NW-WS413 has a lot of buttons, and it can take some time to learn what each one does, especially since some features can only be accessed by holding or double-pressing a button. Holding the Mode button, for example, allows you to switch between Folder, Playlist, and Album play modes, while quick taps of the Mode button activate Repeat and Shuffle options.
Connectivity
Despite the fact that headphones are inconvenient to wear and heavy to carry, bulky specialized chargers developed exclusively for them are becoming more and more common. Even if we abhor them all, we can see why a waterproof device like the Sony Walkman NW-WS413 requires one. The charger uses five gold connectors instead of a USB-C port, which makes more sense for waterproofing. You’d better make sure you don’t lose the Sony Walkman NW-WS413 player’s cradle because it’s the only method to access the player’s 4GB of internal storage. The Sony Walkman NW-WS413 may be used to drag and drop MP3, AAC, WMA, and Linear PCM files when it is linked through USB 2.0 to a PC or Mac. also you can check our article on Sony NW-WS413 Walkman review.
Sony NW-WS413 Walkman review: Noise cancelling
Through built-in microphones, the Ambient Sound Mode allows you to hear sounds around you. We consider this to be the WS410 series’ main selling point. Unlike other headphones, activating the ambient mode has no impact on the sound quality or volume. The background noise combines well with the music, giving the impression that the headset is truly open-back. While jogging, we become more conscious of our surroundings. And the WS413 would ease any pain felt by people who dislike using on-ear headphones that block out noise. By holding the button for a longer period of time, you can choose between 3 possibilities. The sound in Mode A is the most similar to what we often hear without headphones. Mid-range sensitivity is increased in Mode B. The noise floor is stronger in Mode C because the lower range is amplified.
Audio performance
Once the headphones are on, all of the buttons are easily accessible. Although you may also play songs based on albums or folders, we choose to play the music in shuffle mode after selecting Mode from the play menu. Comparable to other sports headphones we’ve used, the audio quality held up even after we submerged our heads in water. However, this didn’t last long. These may be the clearest headphones we’ve ever worn while submerged, but it wasn’t always like that. At first, water sloshed in between strokes, briefly interrupting the action. This was valid for both front crawl and breaststroke swimming. It became considerably more stable and the in-and-out popping ceased, indicating that water had eventually entered our ears. Either that, or the Dynamic Normalizer’s activation caused the audio to level off. Even if it didn’t disturb me anymore, the music’s purity was replaced with a muddled sound. It reminded me of a movie scenario where a group of people are at a party and music is playing, and when they move to the next room, the music shifts to sound more bass-heavy and less treble-like. We would have liked the sound to be clearer. We put the NW-WS413s through their paces and decided to dash home after the swim. We promptly switched earphones before heading out, and the run’s music was significantly clearer as a result. The comfort levels remained great and the earbuds sat snuggly without any of the popping you sometimes hear when earphones seal and unseal a vacuum in your ear.
Sony NW-WS413 Walkman review: Call performance
You can manage playing and other settings from the headset on the WS413 Walkman, which has 4GB of storage. There is no Bluetooth functionality, and connecting with your smartphone for audio calls is not supported. You must purchase the NWZ-WS610 series for that.
Battery and charging
These Sony sports headphones are the greatest yet, despite not being the company’s first. A 12-hour battery, which is twice as long as the previous generation’s, is new to this series. The Ambient Sound option, which enhances the wearer’s ability to hear their surroundings, will, as we have noted, lower this to seven or eight hours, depending on the file type and Ambient Sound level set. you can read our article on Sony NW-WS413 Walkman review. We really like the Quick Charge feature, which is what it is. You can use these headphones for an hour after a three-minute charge if you place them in their unique dock. Since the dock is compact and light and, as was indicated, ends in a USB connector, you should be able to charge the device using the majority of USB plugs, including laptops and mobile chargers. If you don’t remember to charge in between sessions, that brief three-minute charge makes a significant impact.
Price
The Sony Walkman NW-WS413 has been around for about ten years, as evidenced by its peculiar design. It was the sole choice available to swimmers for a very long period following some aquatic auditory action. It has always had two earpieces on either end of a sturdy cabled neckband, but this most recent revision makes use of plastic with a rougher surface. It makes it slightly simpler to reach the playback controls, which can only be accessed by touch due to the device’s architecture.
Conclusion
The Sony NW-WS413 Walkman, which we have also tried for mountain biking, performs wonderfully. It is comfortable, durable, and simple to use. This is an excellent alternative if we want to listen to our downloaded playlists without utilizing our smartphone and configuring a Bluetooth connection to headphones. The Sony Walkman is frequently a better choice for the beach, sand, and salt water even though we have a few expensive earbuds.
