The cases for the A10 are disproportionate to the price of the A10 itself so I refuse to get one, unlike my ZX-1 for example. And I'd like to believe that so long as it is attached to my IEMs and in my ear, the A10 will do a bungee jump if it drops out of my hands

Here look bungee and still didn't come out without blemish, it's all about luck, I'm getting a case, I figure I'm lucky I didn't wreck it.

georgelai57 said:

The cases for the A10 are disproportionate to the price of the A10 itself so I refuse to get one, unlike my ZX-1 for example. And I'd like to believe that so long as it is attached to my IEMs and in my ear, the A10 will do a bungee jump if it drops out of my hands

Click to expand...

 fundamental law of physics number 78: whatever it is you have in your hand, you will drop it! and subsequently it will fall on the butter side.
^_^ (some people like to write poems, me it's fake laws of physic. that's the headfier in me I guess)
 
I think a screen protection is pretty important on any DAP. I tried to cut one from a bigger screen, but I did a pretty ugly job because that's how good I am with anything manual(think of the result as if I had tried to cut it with a spork). now I use a screen protection from the fiio X1 (exact same screen size) that covers the real screen, but not the black zone around it. if you guys find something that's the right size, I'm interested.

Great tip on the x1 screen protector fitting:
I'm ordering some, my cut out didn't look any good either, but it's going to stay there till I get the new ones.

castleofargh said:

   having a massive brick, crappy UI and 6hours of battery can really ruin your experience of music.

Click to expand...

And ****ty customer support too, dead fiio x3 and still no response either from fiio or seller, i have had good experience with sony customer service

What exactly is 'clear audio' doing? I like it, but don't know what it is doing. There are a few sound setting effects but none explained.

Seems like the MDR-1A is designed specifically for the 17A.  Sony pairs them at expos and the Sony stores too so that said something.
I would look for something close to the 1A's impedance of 24ohms.  Pure portable bliss this combo is for me right now.
Even the MDR-1R @ 40ohms sounded weak and dull it's suppose to be close to the 1A in performance with proper amplification.
 
I would highly recommend sticking in the 16-32ohms range and 105+db sensitivity.  
 
Quote:

scorpion667 said:

  The rule of thumb is to use a source with output impedance 1/8 or less of your headphone/IEM impedance.
For you, A17 would be 1/10 of the XBA-H3(40ohm) so you should be good I believe. Let's see what others have to say

Click to expand...

spatzi said:

What exactly is 'clear audio' doing? I like it, but don't know what it is doing. There are a few sound setting effects but none explained.

Click to expand...

 
ClearAudio+ originates from Xperia line, and is believed to combine multiple sound effects. It's believed to include at least surround and EQ, possibly more. The idea is a simple, easy, one-button toggle for instantly appreciable improvement, which may not be an improvement depending on how much of an audio purist you are.
 
Meanwhile, "Clear Audio Technologies" is an umbrella term for every single one of Sony's engineering choices on a walkman. What counts and what doesn't count varies from one press releast to another, but here's an english version of the literature.

My Walkman arrives today. I hope I like it. My "portable" system includes a MacBook pro, fiio desktop amp, dac, powe supply, optical cable and cans. I have to slim down.

Some a17 and fiio x5 comparisons:

A17 and x5 with koss ksc 35's = X5 wins. Wider soundstage on small portable headphones. Feels more 'live' and present. These are the best small clip ons I have ever heard.

A17 and x5 with beyer dynamic t90 = a17 win. This is a shock. Clear bass definitely an advantage here for a17. Set it to 3 out of 4. X5 sounds thin in comparison and x5 has no bass enhancement option. Volume levels not a big deal. a17 is pushing these beyer's at 600 ohms with room to spare. Amazing.

X5 is like a semi portable player to me. Good around the house, but at home I usually plug direct to high end receiver and x5 can't match that. So where do I use it? X5 useless for taking to the gym. Much too big. Can take it outside in the winter but it's so heavy. Not a summer portable at all if you walk around in shorts.

Definitely has sonic advantages over the a17 but keep in mind the sq differences are only really obvious when you're doing side-by-side comparisons within 20 seconds of each other. I might think the x5 is better sounding but then I think about its weight, terrible battery life, awful UI, and .,$&@! Scroll wheel that skips movement once or twice at random moments (how did this get released?) and then I go back to loving the A17 as it has none of these problems. I've been listening to at least 7 albums since last night on the a17 and the battery bar has not moved at all. All that is missing is spotify streaming. Spotify is what makes me consider the z1. Just can't seem to find everything you want in one player.

I played around with the sound settings on the a17 and find the best one is the clear bass enhancement. It's all I use. Sometimes using the studio setting in the equalizer will make certain things sound better but it's really the only one out of the equalizer presets that sounds decent.

My major problem now with a17 is a lack of protective case, which is pathetically humorous. Every other company makes their own cases or has other companies making their cases. Sony store " sorry we don't have a case for you!" I've even checked eBay I can't find a single thing to protect the a17. I am almost tempted to take it back just for this reason alone. It's a portable player and it's going to be scratched within a day unless I get a cover for it.

Dude you sound like my grandma. She has her TV remote and couches covered in clear plastic bags. 
 
I used my iPhone 5 naked for 1.5 years with no visible scratches. My 4 month old caseless 5s has no scratches. My A17 had no scratches after one week of daily use. 
Just concentrate when you handle the devices and it will become instinctual after a while. 
 
If you're REALLY that worried, you can buy cases online. Don't get stuck on problems for which there are already solutions available.

scorpion667 said:

Dude you sound like my grandma. She has her TV remote and couches covered in clear plastic bags. 

I used my iPhone 5 naked for 1.5 years with no visible scratches. My 4 month old caseless 5s has no scratches. My A17 had no scratches after one week of daily use. 
Just concentrate when you handle the devices and it will become instinctual after a while. 

If you're REALLY that worried, you can buy cases online. Don't get stuck on problems for which there are already solutions available.

Click to expand...

Can't compare iPhone to the Sony. They are made of completely different materials. Sony a17 is all plastic. I just paid $300 for a music player, I would prefer it not be scratched within one day of it being in my pocket. Asking for a case from the store where you bought it is not a lot to ask. All kinds of schiit can get in your pocket. Might mistakenly put it in there with your keys, or a coin, or even a bit of dirt. If this thing had gorilla glass on it then I wouldn't care. a17 is extremely easy to scratch. I have a sansa clip as well, also made of plastic, but it's $25 so I don't really care too much about it getting marked up a bit.

Dude, I just told you there are no links to buying cases online. Even ebay doesn't have one. Please show me a link, and for something less than $50.

spatzi said:

 

•  
•  
•  

Can't compare iPhone to the Sony. They are made of completely different materials. Sony a17 is all plastic. I just paid $300 for a music player, I would prefer it not be scratched within one day of it being in my pocket. Asking for a case from the store where you bought it is not a lot to ask. All kinds of schiit can get in your pocket. Might mistakenly put it in there with your keys, or a coin, or even a bit of dirt. If this thing had gorilla glass on it then I wouldn't care. a17 is extremely easy to scratch. I have a sansa clip as well, also made of plastic, but it's $25 so I don't really care too much about it getting marked up a bit.

Dude, I just told you there are no links to buying cases online. Even ebay doesn't have one. Please show me a link, and for something less than $50.

Click to expand...

 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OFFICIAL-Sony-WALKMAN-silicone-case-CKM-NWA10-BM-for-NW-A10-series-/111522541805?pt=US_MP3_Player_Cases_Covers_Skins&hash=item19f742f0ed
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-Japan-Official-Walkman-Silicone-case-CKM-NWA10-for-CKS-A10/151475814870?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27538%26meid%3Ddfdc7905a8044946a0a83838ec674cfe%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D11353%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D111522541805
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OFFICIAL-Sony-WALKMAN-CLEAR-CASE-CKH-NWA10-XM-FOR-NW-A10-SERIES-/301395469123
 
I searched "buy sony walkman A10", set price range from $49 to $9 on Ebay and got 18 hits
 
Are you kidding me? Glossy aluminium with a beveled edge like the iPhone is extremely easy to scratch! 

 
For the problem of putting the device in your pocket with other objects, refer to my previous post. 
Anyway, I won't linger on it - to each his own.

scorpion667 said:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OFFICIAL-Sony-WALKMAN-silicone-case-CKM-NWA10-BM-for-NW-A10-series-/111522541805?pt=US_MP3_Player_Cases_Covers_Skins&hash=item19f742f0ed
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-Japan-Official-Walkman-Silicone-case-CKM-NWA10-for-CKS-A10/151475814870?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27538%26meid%3Ddfdc7905a8044946a0a83838ec674cfe%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D11353%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D111522541805
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OFFICIAL-Sony-WALKMAN-CLEAR-CASE-CKH-NWA10-XM-FOR-NW-A10-SERIES-/301395469123

I searched "buy sony walkman A10", set price range from $49 to $9 on Ebay and got 18 hits

Are you kidding me? Glossy aluminium with a beveled edge like the iPhone is extremely easy to scratch! 



For the problem of putting the device in your pocket with other objects, refer to my previous post. 
Anyway, I won't linger on it - to each his own.

Click to expand...

No, I'm not kidding you. Search "Sony case A17". You get nothing. Why would I search A10 when it's an a17? If I had known you need to search a10 (???) to find a17 then yes, i might have got some results. Thanks for the links. they're still all way overpriced, no simple silicone cases, which you can find for every other player, but at least they EXIST.

Make up your mind. First, you don't scratch your iphone in 1.5 years and now it's extremely easy to scratch? It's the screen that's the major problem with a17. It's plastic, it's not gorilla glass.

The main point here is you seem to think there is nothing wrong with Sony not even including a 50 cent silicone case with a $300 item and then not even selling a case separately in their own store.

spatzi said:

No, I'm not kidding you. Search "Sony case A17". You get nothing. Why would I search A10 when it's an a17? If I had known you need to search a10 (???) to find a17 then yes, i might have got some results. Thanks for the links. they're still all way overpriced, no simple silicone cases, which you can find for every other player, but at least they EXIST.

Make up your mind. First, you don't scratch your iphone in 1.5 years and now it's extremely easy to scratch? It's the screen that's the major problem with a17. It's plastic, it's not gorilla glass.

The main point here is you seem to think there is nothing wrong with Sony not even including a 50 cent silicone case with a $300 item and then not even selling a case separately in their own store.

Click to expand...

 
The title of this thread is A10... A17, A16 and A15 are simply region specific models of the same device with different capacity as per OP:
 

Region J - NW-A16, A17
Region EE -  NWZ-A15, A17
Region E - NWZ-A15, A17
Region CEW - NWZ-A15, A17
Region MX3 - NWZ-A17
Region U/CA - NWZ-A17
Region CN - NWZ-A17

Click to expand...

 
Yes you said A17 is easy to scratch. I said iPhone 5 is also easy to scratch. I take care of my things. As such, neither my naked A17 or iPhone 5 are scratched. 
 
If it's just the screen you're worried about, you can simply buy any generic smartphone screen protector for 99c on eBay and cut it to size. If it's a big deal to you then return the player as you say.