Sony NW-A306: Two-minute review

Yes, there are some very good-sounding smartphones out there. But if you want the best mobile listening experience possible, you want a dedicated high-resolution digital audio player. These are often known colloquially as some of the best MP3 players, despite the fact that their talents go way beyond lossy compressed audio now. Trouble is, said hi-res players tend to be big and pricey, relatively speaking, which can limit their appeal. 

No such drawbacks apply to the Sony NW-A306. It’s small and light, despite the robust nature of its construction, and is priced to compete with the less well-known brands at the market’s entry level rather than the bigger hitters like FiiO and Astell & Kern. 

It’s not short of features or functionality though, and when listening to some hi-res audio content through some appropriately talented headphones, there’s an awful lot to enjoy about the way the NW-A306 sounds. Its talents are much less apparent when listening to less information-rich files, mind you, so you’ll need to be prepared to fill its (rather limited) internal memory with hi-res stuff if you want to hear what it’s truly capable of. 

Sony NW-A306: Price and release date

• Released in February 2023
• $349 / £349 / $AU499

The Sony NW-A306 has a small profile and a surprisingly small yet affordable price tag to match. It retails for $349 in the US, £349 in the UK and $AU499 in Australia, and is also available to purchase directly on Sony's site.

When considering that the top of the line Astell & Kern A&ultima SP2000T is priced at an eye-watering  $2,399 / £1,999 / AU$3,599, it's easy to to see how this entry-level digital audio player undercuts the competition – even the more reasonable Astell & Kern A&norma SR25 MKII at $749 / £699 / AU$1,099 is pricier still.

Sony NW-A306: Features

• Android 12 operating system 
• Wired and wireless connectivity 
• 32GB memory (but only 18GB)

Of course you’re interested in one of the best hi-res audio players because you want an audio experience that’s on another level to that served up by your smartphone. But that doesn’t mean you’re not interested in extended functionality, does it? Sony certainly doesn’t think so.

The NW-A306 is quite wide-ranging in the way it accesses hi-resolution digital audio content. It has internal memory storage, but it's also simple enough to either drag and drop digital audio files from, say, a laptop (or use something like Android File Transfer if your music’s on an Apple device). Bear in mind, though, that a lot of its 32GB of memory is taken up by the Android 12 operating system and what-have-you, so unless 18GB of memory – which is going to fill up pretty quickly if you have a lot of hi-res content you want to make available when off-line – is sufficient, then you’ll be making use of the microSD card slot on the bottom of the player. 

The device's Android interface gives you access to the Google Play store and so it’s no trouble to download the app of any of the best music streaming services for online listening. Integrated dual-band Wi-Fi makes this possible – the Sony digital audio player also features Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connectivity. It’s compatible with SBC, AAC, aptX HD and LDAC codecs, along with digital audio file compatibility that runs to MP3, WMA, FLAC, WAV, MQA, DSD256, Apple Lossless and more, making the NW-A306 unarguably a high-res device (Sony is coy about the details, but reading between the lines strongly suggests the NW-A306’s DAC chipset operates at a native 24bit/96kHz resolution).

No matter how you decide to get your digital audio information on board, though, and no matter its standard, it’s dealt with by ‘S-Master HX’ digital amplification that’s been specially developed for the rebirth of the Walkman. The latest version of Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine technology (DSEE Ultimate) is involved too. It intends to upscale compressed audio files in real time, and even claims to be able to do a job on 16bit/44.1kHz CD-standard content too. Or you may prefer the questionable charms of the NW-A306’s ‘vinyl processor’, which adds some low-end resonance and surface noise to create an ‘authentic’ vinyl listening experience. Chances are, though, you’ll give such nonsense the swerve and use the extensive EQ adjustment options instead if you want to finesse the Sony’s sound. 

As far as battery life is concerned, the NW-A306’s stamina can vary greatly. The lithium-ion battery can last as long as 36 hours between charges – but that’s when listening to poverty-spec 128kbps MP3 files using one of the best headphones that's hard-wired. Switch up to some 24bit/96kHz content and that figure drops to 32 hours, and if you go all-in with DSD256 then you’re looking at a maximum of 14 hours. Your best-case scenario when using one of the best wireless headphones, meanwhile, is around 20 hours – and that’s when enjoying some 128kbps content.

• Features score: 5/5

Sony NW-A306: Sound quality

• Spacious, detailed and spirited sound
• Dynamic and pacy with hi-res content
• Somewhat struggles to deal with more compressed audio files

First things first, if you are likely to listen to compressed audio files (the sort of 256 / 320kbps stuff that Spotify deals in, for instance) through some ordinary wireless headphones, the Sony NW-A306 isn’t going to blow you away. Listen to it like this and it sounds no better than a half-decent Android smartphone, which renders it a pointless purchase.

If you do the right thing though – which means digital audio files of CD-standard 16bit/44.1kHz as a minimum from Apple Music or Qobuz, perhaps, and some properly accomplished wireless (or, ideally, wired) headphones – there’s an awful lot to like about the sound this digital audio player makes. In the right circumstances, it’s capable of sound quality that makes its price look like a misprint. 

A 24bit/96kHz file of Grapevine by Weyes Blood heard via a pair of Technics EAH-AZ80 – which we rank among our best earbuds – makes the point in some style. It’s a robust, full-figured sound the NW-A306 presents, but with no shortage of delicacy or deftness. The overall tonality is nicely balanced, and there’s no overstating or understating of any part of the frequency range. Integration is smooth, and the Sony  NW-A306 establishes a big, properly organised soundstage that has both depth and width.

Bass is deep, square-edged and punchy – and it’s controlled well enough that the NW-A306 has no problem giving rhythms believable, naturalistic expression. At the opposite end of the range, treble attacks crisply, with plenty of substance to complement the bite. And in every instance, detail levels are impressively high – the Sony has no problem handling the most minor and/or transient occurrences, and can identify and describe even quite subtle harmonic variations.

But it’s through the midrange that the NW-A306 does its most convincing and agreeable work. It’s an eloquent and revealing listen, with any number of interesting observations to make about a singer’s technique and attitude. And with a technician as warm and accomplished as Weyes Blood, the Sony communicates in torrents. No shred of information seems to elude it, and it manages to sound spirited and musical even though it’s getting through an awful lot of analysis.

The dynamic headroom is considerable. The NW-A306 can put a lot of distance between a recording’s quietest, most contemplative moments and its headlong charge into the crescendo. And in those tunes that require it, it’s never short of momentum. It’s an entertaining, entertaining listen, striking a pleasing balance between attack and insight.

Safe to say a lot of this expertise and positivity deserts the Sony if you step down to say a 128kbps file of Scott Walker’s Black Sheep Boy. Broad dynamics flatten out more than somewhat, while the more subtle second-stage dynamic insight all-but disappears. Detail levels fall away, and the entire presentation becomes less three-dimensional and, ultimately, much less convincing. So there’s a lesson here somewhere…   

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Sony NW-A306: Design

• 98 x 57 x 12mm (HxWxD)
• Weighs just 113g
• Milled aluminium frame

The first thing you’re likely to notice about the NW-A306 is how little of it there is. At just 98 x 57 x 12mm (HxWxD) and 113g, this digital audio player is small and light enough to slip into even the snuggest of pockets without a problem.

Somehow, though, Sony has managed to make this little player look and feel like a premium device. The milled aluminium casework is rigid and pleasant to the touch, and the ridged and rounded sides make it eminently grabbable. The 720p 3.6in TFT touchscreen is bright and sharp, if a little more reflective than is ideal, and the physical controls along one side are cleverly shaped – it’s easy to know what’s what without even looking.

Physical connections are all along the bottom of the player. There’s a 3.5mm headphone socket, a USB-C input and a microSD slot that can officially accept cards of up to 512GB (anecdotal evidence in those corners of the internet that concern themselves with such things, though, suggests that 1TB cards are compatible too). And there’s a recessed bar for attaching a lanyard or wrist-strap if you fancy. 

• Design score: 5/5

Sony NW-A306: Usability and setup

• A very smartphone-like experience
• Useful suite of physical controls 
• Mildly frustrating touchscreen

You’ve set up one of the best Android phones before, right? Well, setting up the NW-A306 is basically the same process. You’ll be prompted to switch onto your local Wi-Fi network, transfer any backed-up data from an existing Android device, integrate your Google accounts, and so on. How long it takes depends very much on how much like your Android smartphone you want your NW-A306 to be, but even at its most lengthy the set-up here is painless and almost entirely automated.

That’s just as well because for all its crisp legibility and brightness, the Sony’s TFT touchscreen isn’t the most responsive around. There’s a very specific sort of frustration brought on by pressing an on-screen button, waiting in vain for something to happen, pressing it again and then finding you’ve in fact issued two commands that will both be acted on. And it’s the sort of frustration the NW-A306 routinely deals in. Just try to bear in mind that it doesn’t take all that long to set up and once it’s done, it’s done. 

After that – and once you’ve reached an accommodation with the rather leisurely responses of the touchscreen – using the NW-A306 is pretty straightforward. I’m still yet to learn how to stop it having a panic attack every time I turn the volume past ‘50’, but in every other respect it’s logical in the way it operates inasmuch as it’s an Android device of the broad type we’re all familiar with. And the addition of a ‘hold’ button to disable the physical controls (which run to ‘play/pause’, ‘skip forwards/backwards’, ‘volume up/down’ and ‘power on/off’) is a very useful inclusion. 

• Usability and setup score: 4/5

Sony NW-A306: Value

As long as you’re prepared to indulge just a little, the Sony NW-A306 hi-res digital audio player represents very decent value for money. It’s small, but perfectly formed. Its operating system is familiar, if a little sluggish. It’s extremely capable with hi-res content, but rather less so with bog-standard stuff. And it’s just about the most affordable big-brand portable music players around.

• Value score: 4.5/5

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Sony NW-A306: Also consider

• Read our complete guide to hi-res audio

F1 23 has a lot to prove after last year’s bungled annual release. Thankfully, EA Sports has stepped up its game in 2023, offering a feature-rich Formula 1 package that’s sure to please fans of the world’s most popular motorsport and sim racing in general.

Heading up the features and modes on offer from a casual perspective is the returning Braking Point story. It presents a surprisingly compelling, decently written narrative that also acts as a fantastic onboarding experience for new players. It’s what I recommend for players completely fresh to the F1 games to check out first, and is certainly the case once again in F1 23. Especially if you’ve also been a fan of Netflix’s Drive to Survive docuseries or even just the best racing games in general.

Once you’ve got comfortable with F1 23’s brand of racing, you’ve also got Career mode and the comprehensive F1 World mode to check out. Career is relatively unchanged from previous years, but does incorporate new circuits, driver, and team lineups for the 2023 season. It's an awesome single-player game and experience, but can also be enjoyed co-operatively with a friend, seeing you both act as teammates for the same racing team.

Meanwhile, F1 World is not unlike Street Fighter 6’s Fighting Ground, encompassing all single and multiplayer modes under a shared progression system. It’s here where you can take your custom avatar and car for a spin while earning rewards in various modes.

There’s much more going on in F1 23 than in last year’s release, then, but it still hasn’t quite managed to shake off some of the cobwebs. Commentary is still extremely basic which lends an anticlimactic feel to the post-race breakdown. There are also still some visual oddities when it comes to your car’s damage model, such as loose wheels and parts flailing erratically when dislodged from the vehicle.

Still, the on-track action is significantly more electric than in previous years. The return of red flags adds a much-needed degree of dynamism and unpredictability to events, potentially changing the outcome of races that would otherwise be set in stone. But if you’re after a more laid-back experience, F1 23 has an absolute wealth of difficulty and accessibility settings to suit a very wide variety of players. 

Point Brake

EA Sports is clearly proud of Braking Point 2, the sequel to its story mode that debuted in F1 21. It sits at the top of F1 23’s main menu, and rightly so. Braking Point presents a surprisingly polished, well-put-together narrative with a spotlight on intense teammate rivalry. But there’s much more to it than that.

Braking Point centers on the fictional Konnersport racing team, a struggling midfield outfit that’s on the cusp of driver and management shake-ups both. The narrative largely centers around three characters: wunderkind Aiden Jackson, his egotistical yet nonetheless talented teammate Devon Butler, and F2 champion Callie Mayer.

At first, all three absolutely cannot stand each other’s presence both on and off the track. But there’s a healthy helping of character development here – more than I was expecting – and it’s constantly fascinating to see how each grows over the course of the 2023 season.

Braking Point diversifies itself from the more standard career mode by offering a variety of objectives per race. Most aren’t even full races, instead offering smaller slices with goals including finishing in the top 10, finishing ahead of your teammate, catching up to certain drivers, and so on.

In between these races or part-races, you’ll be watching highly detailed cutscenes with motion capture that’s only very occasionally uncanny. Besides that, you’ll also find yourself in the team principal’s shoes for a short time. This entails responding to scenarios that can positively or negatively impact your team’s performance and reputation, as well as browsing news and social feeds for the latest info and gossip surrounding Konnersport and the season as a whole.

Braking Point 2 is an excellent story mode that acts as the perfect onboarding tool for those new to F1 23. It’ll give you a taste of the hectic, drama-fueled world of Formula 1. And its bite-sized ‘missions’ help you get to grips with the game’s realistic handling model, its circuits, various weather conditions, and concepts like pitting for fresh tires. 

It's your world now

The other standout feature in F1 23 is F1 World, and it’s both comprehensive and well-organized. Anything that isn’t Braking Point and Career mode falls in here, meaning it’s where you’ll find single and multiplayer Grand Prix and Time Trials event setups. And if you play while connected online, you’ll earn experience that goes towards a shared progression system across all game types. That’ll in turn earn you various cosmetics, car parts, and more.

F1 23’s Career mode, though, is the meatiest mode of the bunch. It does remain relatively unchanged from its form in previous years. However, a number of new features have tightened up the overall experience.

For one, you’re getting the updated 2023 roster of drivers, teams, and circuits. That includes the all-new Qatar and Las Vegas tracks alongside stalwart favorites like Baku, Monza, Spa-Francorchamps, and Silverstone.

In Career, like always, you can choose to play as your custom driver and rise up the ranks. I always love playing the underdog in career modes like this, so I chose to line up alongside Alex Albon as a Williams driver. As ever, you’ll decide on race strategy, attempt to meet objectives in practice sessions, place in qualifying, and ultimately race for the podium.

There’s a large amount of decision making even as a driver, as R&D projects and press events will be signed off by you. You can also adopt a more managerial role and choose to run a team for the season, which opens up decision-making opportunities even more, including hiring engineers and combing over things like tire and pitlane strategy. It’s an extremely robust Career mode.

Baku for more

While F1 23 is an overall more polished package, some hiccups do remain from previous entries. The difficulty slider ranges from 1-100, and it’s not immediately clear as to how challenging each number will be besides a more generalized ‘easy’ or ‘medium’ for example.

And in terms of commentary, it’s still pretty lacking. Both pre- and post-race commentary is extremely dry, lacking any kind of realistic flair and instead opting for more basic chatter. The game’s damage model also leaves much to be desired. Parts such as tires and wings tend to glitch and flail unnaturally when detached from your vehicle, which certainly spoils the immersion.

These minor gripes aside, though, I can highly recommend F1 23 to racing fans of all kinds. It’s got content and moreish progression in spades, allowing for a game that’ll more than satisfy its year-long shelf life. 

Accessibility

F1 23 is a big step up over its immediate predecessor. Being a higher quality product overall really allows its accessibility and difficulty settings to shine, too. There’s a high degree of customizable options here. 

Visual indicators like racing lines exist to help you through the flow of any given track. Find yourself crashing a lot? Turn on the rewind feature to have another crack at that meddlesome corner. There are also multi-language voice and subtitle options for players all around the world.

You've also got a variety of colorblind settings, but one of the features that stood out to me most was a tinnitus relief setting. It's a fantastic setting for those who suffer from more sensitive hearing.

As for controller options, F1 23 is well-tailored to the best PS5 controllers and best Xbox controllers, but it naturally supports wheel setups, too. If you like a more immersive racing experience, then consider checking out our best racing wheels guide to see which one is right for you.

How we reviewed F1 23

I reviewed F1 23 over the course of a week on PS5, prioritizing new features like the returning Braking Point story and revitalized F1 World suite. I also wanted to let longtime fans know that the game's driving model is up to the realistic, yet accessible par the series is known for.

I also tested F1 23 at varying difficulty levels with a mixture of assists, driving aids, and accessibility settings to get a feel for how the game should play for gamers of all kinds.