[moseboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soozieq /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm not sure about the differences between the 720/820 other than the 820 comes with Bluetooth, which I have no need for

I'm glad to hear about soozieq's comment about the A829's improved sound quality, but I would really like to know if the same applies for the A729, as that's probably what I'm going to get. Anyone heard both the A720 and A820 series?

 

[ads1107]

@moseboy
the only difference with the a729 and a829 is the inclusion of bluetooth on the a820 models. So the sound will be the same. Again, the a720 series are only lacking the bluetooth

 

[Loc13]

For those who don't need bluetooth and 16GB, Bestbuy is selling the Sony A728 for $160. If you search on FatWallet, you'll find a 10% off coupon, and 12% off if you have Bestbuy Rewardzone membership. That's $144 and $140.8, respectively before tax, for the 8GB version, which I think it's a fantastic deal. I had the A728 before but returned it and pre-ordered the A829 from Vanns, but haven't received it yet. I may just jump on the A728 again b/c the price is very tempting!!

 

[soozieq]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ads1107 /img/forum/go_quote.gif @moseboy the only difference with the a729 and a829 is the inclusion of bluetooth on the a820 models. So the sound will be the same. Again, the a720 series are only lacking the bluetooth

Sony like to confuse people about what are essentially the same models. Same thing with the 800/810 series which were exactly the same bar the software. And now with the 720/820 it's even more confusing as one would assume they're totally different! Couldn't they just have called them the 829-BT and the 829?? Maybe not, that would be too simple, and there's enough letters in the names as it is!

moseboy: A couple of people over at Atraclife bought the 829 (both 808/818 users like myself), and also thought the sound quality was better. I listened to mine for 3 straight hours tonight, and then went back to the 808. Soundstage was noticeably smaller on the 808 after listening for so long to the 829.
BUT the 808 doesn't have a small soundstage, it's just smaller by comparison.

 

[Aaron5604]

I just wish the Sony's had better lossless support. There's still no compressed lossless is there?

 

[moseboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ads1107 /img/forum/go_quote.gif @moseboy the only difference with the a729 and a829 is the inclusion of bluetooth on the a820 models. So the sound will be the same. Again, the a720 series are only lacking the bluetooth

That's what I thought, but I just want to make sure....

Quote:

Originally Posted by soozieq /img/forum/go_quote.gif moseboy: A couple of people over at Atraclife bought the 829 (both 808/818 users like myself), and also thought the sound quality was better. I listened to mine for 3 straight hours tonight, and then went back to the 808. Soundstage was noticeably smaller on the 808 after listening for so long to the 829. BUT the 808 doesn't have a small soundstage, it's just smaller by comparison.

So does this mean the A829 and the A729 both sound better than the A808 and the A818? Because I was under the impression that the A818 is exactly the same as the A808 except the A818 doesn't require the use of Sony's ATRAC software.

If the A818 sounds exactly the same as the A808, I would then assume that the A729 sounds exactly the same as the A829. If the A818 sounds better/worse than the A808, I would be inclined to say that the A729 sounds better/worse than the A829 as well.

Does anyone know if the A808 sounds different than the A818 (or any other differences between the A729 and A829)?

(P.S. It's not that I don't believe anyone that says there are no differences. I just know how new these players are and want as many personal testimonies as I can get before I go and buy one.)

 

[kite7]

Can anyone tell if the screen is glass or hard plastic? When I read from a user review that the screen is glass , I raised my eyebrow in question

 

[soozieq]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moseboy /img/forum/go_quote.gif So does this mean the A829 and the A729 both sound better than the A808 and the A818? Because I was under the impression that the A818 is exactly the same as the A808 except the A818 doesn't require the use of Sony's ATRAC software. If the A818 sounds exactly the same as the A808, I would then assume that the A729 sounds exactly the same as the A829.

The 808/818 are the same!!! Sony released the 800 series first (with SS/Atrac), then just a few months later they released the 810 series to cater for those who wanted drag and drop. They even described the 818 as the SS/Atrac-free 808. The only difference is in the software used for transfer and that Atrac got dumped. It was a good move for Sony since there was a lot more interest in the drag and drop version. You only have to look at the reviews for the 818 on Amazon to confirm that. The 808 got fantastic reviews for sound (on Amazon UK) - but dire reviews for the software. So rest assured, the 810/800 are the same model.

The 720/820 are the same model too. Only Bluetooth separates them.

 

[vr5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kite7 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Can anyone tell if the screen is glass or hard plastic? When I read from a user review that the screen is glass , I raised my eyebrow in question

lcd cover it looks identical to the cover on sony's T series cameras. if it's plastic then the one which does not scratch.

 

[moseboy]

Alright, so if I don't need BlueTooth, should I just go ahead and get the A729, or should I wait and see what Sony comes out with next? Does anyone have any "inside info" on if Sony is coming out with something a lot better in their next line of players? Or should I just bite now?

 

[soozieq]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moseboy /img/forum/go_quote.gif Alright, so if I don't need BlueTooth, should I just go ahead and get the A729, or should I wait and see what Sony comes out with next? Does anyone have any "inside info" on if Sony is coming out with something a lot better in their next line of players? Or should I just bite now?

I wouldn't think they're going to bring out a new model just yet. I can't be sure, but it seems unlikely so soon after the new series has just been released.

I have around 1600 songs (@320kbps) and 8 sitcom episodes on mine (for those odd moments waiting around with 20 minutes to kill!), and I still have 3GB left. Unless you're desperate for extra storage (which I'm not), then go ahead and bite the bullet, especially if you can get a good deal.

 

[wolfboy]

Something new is always going to be around the corner and you'll say the same thing when that comes out > repeating cycle. You might as well just get one now.

 

[breezy_amar]

iv just realised that this sony plays GAPLESS!! ull need ur music to be .WAV, but still! you CAN listen to gapless albums!

 

[ceres]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soozieq /img/forum/go_quote.gif The 808/818 are the same!!! Sony released the 800 series first (with SS/Atrac), then just a few months later they released the 810 series to cater for those who wanted drag and drop. They even described the 818 as the SS/Atrac-free 808. The only difference is in the software used for transfer and that Atrac got dumped. It was a good move for Sony since there was a lot more interest in the drag and drop version. You only have to look at the reviews for the 818 on Amazon to confirm that. The 808 got fantastic reviews for sound (on Amazon UK) - but dire reviews for the software. So rest assured, the 810/800 are the same model. The 720/820 are the same model too. Only Bluetooth separates them.

Any idea if transfer speeds are better on the 820s than on the 810s/800s?

 

[Loc13]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kite7 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Can anyone tell if the screen is glass or hard plastic? When I read from a user review that the screen is glass , I raised my eyebrow in question

I believe it's glass. It doesn't scratch easily.