Sony WALKMAN NWZ-A15 Reference guide
Digital Media Player
NWZ-A15/A17
Use this manual when you have troubles or when you need to know how to use your WALKMAN®.
The color of Walkman sold in some countries/regions may differ from those shown above.
LDAC is added to the supported Bluetooth codecs when you update the system software of your Walkman to version 1.10
or later.
Setting wireless playback quality (system software version 1.10 or later)
Some functions are added to your Walkman when you update its system software to version 1.20 or later. In particular, the
ability to switch the memory to use while connected to a computer is added.
Selecting the memory to use
Getting Started
Basic Operations
Transferring Content
Music
Photos/Videos/Podcasts
FM Radio
Help Guide
How to Use
Table Of Contents
Help Guide NWZ-A15/A17 i...............................................................................................................
Getting Started 1...............................................................................................................................
Customer Registration Website 28..............................................................................................
Customer registration website 110........................................................................................
Before Use 29..............................................................................................................................
Before first use 111................................................................................................................
Walkman instruction manuals 112.........................................................................................
How to use the operating explanations 113...........................................................................
Enjoying Using Your Walkman 30...............................................................................................
3 steps to listening to music 114............................................................................................
Various ways to enjoy using your Walkman 116...................................................................
Parts and Controls 31..................................................................................................................
Parts and controls 117...........................................................................................................
Power/Charging 32......................................................................................................................
Turning the power on 119......................................................................................................
Turning the power off 120......................................................................................................
Using the HOLD switch 121...................................................................................................
Charging the battery 122.......................................................................................................
Charging in the battery care mode 123.................................................................................
Extending the battery life 124................................................................................................
Notes on charging the battery 125.........................................................................................
Initial Settings 33.........................................................................................................................
Selecting the display language 126.......................................................................................
Setting the date and time 127................................................................................................
Setting the date display format 128.......................................................................................
Setting the time display format 129.......................................................................................
Basic Operations 2............................................................................................................................
microSD Card 34.........................................................................................................................
Inserting a microSD card 130................................................................................................
Removing a microSD card 132..............................................................................................
Selecting the memory to use 10............................................................................................
Formatting a microSD card 133.............................................................................................
Notes on microSD cards 134.................................................................................................
Home Menu/Option Menu 35......................................................................................................
Home menu 135....................................................................................................................
How to use the Home menu 137...........................................................................................
How to use the option menu 139...........................................................................................
List of icons displayed in the information area 141................................................................
TOC-1
Connecting Your Walkman to Your Computer 36.......................................................................
Connecting to a computer 143...............................................................................................
Notes on connecting your Walkman to a computer 144........................................................
Initializing/Updating 37................................................................................................................
Resetting your Walkman 145.................................................................................................
Resetting to the factory settings 73.......................................................................................
Formatting memory 146.........................................................................................................
Updating the system software of your Walkman 72..............................................................
Transferring Content 3.......................................................................................................................
Operation Flow for Transferring Content to Your Walkman 38...................................................
Preparing content using a Windows computer 147...............................................................
Preparing content using a Mac computer 148.......................................................................
Installing Media Go 39.................................................................................................................
About Media Go 149..............................................................................................................
Installing Media Go 150.........................................................................................................
Installing Content Transfer 40.....................................................................................................
About Content Transfer 152..................................................................................................
Installing Content Transfer 153..............................................................................................
Importing Content to the Software 41..........................................................................................
Importing content from media using Media Go 154...............................................................
Importing content on your Windows computer into Media Go 156........................................
Importing podcasts into Media Go 157..................................................................................
Transferring Content to Your Walkman 42..................................................................................
Transferring content using Media Go 75...............................................................................
Transferring iTunes content using Media Go 158..................................................................
Transferring content using Content Transfer 76....................................................................
Transferring content using Explorer 77..................................................................................
Transferring content using the Finder 79...............................................................................
Notes for transferring content such as music from your computer 159.................................
Deleting Content from Your Walkman 43....................................................................................
Deleting content from your Walkman using Media Go 161...................................................
Deleting content from your Walkman using Content Transfer 162........................................
Deleting content received from a Bluetooth connection 163.................................................
Deleting content from your Walkman using Explorer 164......................................................
Deleting content from your Walkman using the Finder 165...................................................
Operating with Media Go 44........................................................................................................
Playing live albums with no gaps in between songs 166.......................................................
Deleting content imported to Media Go 167..........................................................................
Inputting the lyrics information using Media Go 168..............................................................
Music 4..............................................................................................................................................
TOC-2
Playing Music 45.........................................................................................................................
Preparing music 169..............................................................................................................
Playing music 170..................................................................................................................
Volume operation (Only for countries/areas complying with European
Directives) 171.......................................................................................................................
Browsing the music playback screen 172..............................................................................
Music playback operations 174.............................................................................................
Browsing the music list screen 176.......................................................................................
Searching for songs 177........................................................................................................
Playing playlist songs 178.....................................................................................................
Choosing an album from the cover art images 179...............................................................
Enjoying High-Resolution Audio 180.....................................................................................
Deleting Songs 46.......................................................................................................................
Deleting songs 181................................................................................................................
Using Bookmarks 47...................................................................................................................
What is the bookmark function? 182.....................................................................................
Adding a song to a bookmark list 183....................................................................................
Changing the default bookmark list 184................................................................................
Changing the order of bookmarked songs 185......................................................................
Removing songs from a bookmark list 186............................................................................
Using Karaoke Function 48.........................................................................................................
What is the karaoke function? 187........................................................................................
Using the karaoke function 188.............................................................................................
Changing the key (pitch) of a song 189.................................................................................
Using Language Study Function 49............................................................................................
What is the language study function? 190.............................................................................
Using the language study function 191..................................................................................
Rewinding and replaying 3 seconds 192...............................................................................
Repeating the same section 193...........................................................................................
Using Dance Mode 50.................................................................................................................
What is the dance mode? 195...............................................................................................
Using the dance mode 196....................................................................................................
Practicing the same section in the dance mode 197.............................................................
Changing the speed of a song for playback in the dance mode 199.....................................
Displaying Lyrics 51.....................................................................................................................
What is the Display Lyrics function? 200...............................................................................
Adding lyrics to songs 201.....................................................................................................
Making lyrics information in a text file 202.............................................................................
Displaying lyrics 205..............................................................................................................
SensMe™ Channels 52.................................................................................................................
TOC-3
What is SensMe™ Channels? 206...........................................................................................
Playing songs using SensMe™ Channels 207.........................................................................
Analyzing songs on your Walkman 208.................................................................................
Music Settings 53........................................................................................................................
Shuffle playback 209.............................................................................................................
Repeat playback 210.............................................................................................................
Setting the playback range 211.............................................................................................
Adjusting the playback speed 212.........................................................................................
Enjoying various sound quality 213.......................................................................................
Enjoying music with the recommended sound quality 214....................................................
Enabling sound effects for High-Resolution Audio files 215..................................................
Upscaling compressed audio to quality almost that of High-Resolution
Audio 216...............................................................................................................................
Customizing sound quality settings 217................................................................................
Presetting your equalizer settings 218...................................................................................
Moderating the differences in volume level between songs 219...........................................
Selecting the album display format 220.................................................................................
Photos/Videos/Podcasts 5.................................................................................................................
Viewing Photos 55.......................................................................................................................
Preparing photos 221............................................................................................................
Viewing photos 222...............................................................................................................
Browsing the photo screen 223.............................................................................................
Operations on the photo screen 224.....................................................................................
Deleting photos 225...............................................................................................................
Watching Videos 56.....................................................................................................................
Preparing videos 226.............................................................................................................
Watching videos 227.............................................................................................................
Browsing the video playback screen 228..............................................................................
Operations on the video playback screen 229.......................................................................
Searching for videos 231.......................................................................................................
Browsing scenes from thumbnails 232..................................................................................
Deleting videos 233...............................................................................................................
Playing Podcasts 57....................................................................................................................
What is a podcast? 234.........................................................................................................
Preparing podcasts 235.........................................................................................................
Playing podcasts 236.............................................................................................................
Browsing the podcast playback screen 237..........................................................................
Operations for audio podcast playback 239..........................................................................
Operations for video podcast playback 240...........................................................................
Deleting podcast episodes 242..............................................................................................
TOC-4
Photo Settings 58........................................................................................................................
Selecting how the photo list is displayed 243........................................................................
Video Settings 59........................................................................................................................
Displaying a video to match the screen size 244...................................................................
Playing only the sound of a video 246...................................................................................
Playing videos continually 247...............................................................................................
Changing the order of videos 248..........................................................................................
FM Radio 6........................................................................................................................................
Listening to FM Radio 60.............................................................................................................
Listening to FM radio 249......................................................................................................
Browsing the FM radio screen 250........................................................................................
FM radio operations 251........................................................................................................
Presetting broadcast stations automatically 252...................................................................
Presetting broadcast stations manually 253..........................................................................
Deleting preset broadcast stations 254.................................................................................
FM Radio Settings 61..................................................................................................................
Changing the FM radio scan sensitivity 255..........................................................................
Setting monaural/auto for FM radio 256................................................................................
Bluetooth 7........................................................................................................................................
What Is the Bluetooth Function? 62............................................................................................
What is the Bluetooth function? 257......................................................................................
What can your Walkman do with the Bluetooth function? 258..............................................
What is pairing? 259..............................................................................................................
Connecting with Bluetooth Audio Devices 63..............................................................................
Steps to use Bluetooth connection 260.................................................................................
Pairing and connecting with a Bluetooth audio device 262...................................................
Connecting with a paired Bluetooth audio device 70.............................................................
Making a Bluetooth connection using the NFC function 264.................................................
Disconnecting a Bluetooth audio device 69...........................................................................
Listening to Sound Using a Bluetooth Audio Device 64..............................................................
Listening to sound using a Bluetooth audio device 266.........................................................
Sending/Receiving Content via a Bluetooth Connection 65........................................................
Steps to transfer content via a Bluetooth connection 268.....................................................
Sending content via a Bluetooth connection 270...................................................................
Receiving content via a Bluetooth connection 81..................................................................
Playing content received via a Bluetooth connection 272.....................................................
Deleting content received via a Bluetooth connection 273....................................................
Entering a passkey to make a Bluetooth connection 274......................................................
Information of Bluetooth Audio Devices 66.................................................................................
Displaying the pairing information of Bluetooth audio devices 275.......................................
TOC-5
Deleting the pairing information of Bluetooth audio devices 276...........................................
Bluetooth Settings 67..................................................................................................................
Setting automatic Bluetooth connection at startup 277.........................................................
Setting wireless playback quality (system software version earlier than 1.
10) 74.....................................................................................................................................
Setting wireless playback quality (system software version 1.10 or later) 8..........................
Setting sound effects during a Bluetooth connection 278......................................................
Displaying Bluetooth information on your Walkman 279.......................................................
Notes on the Bluetooth Function 68............................................................................................
Notes on the Bluetooth function 280......................................................................................
NFC 11..............................................................................................................................................
What Is the NFC Function? 83....................................................................................................
What is the NFC function? 282..............................................................................................
Connecting with One Touch (NFC) 84........................................................................................
Making a Bluetooth connection using the NFC function 264.................................................
Settings 12.........................................................................................................................................
Music Settings 85........................................................................................................................
Shuffle playback 209.............................................................................................................
Repeat playback 210.............................................................................................................
Setting the playback range 211.............................................................................................
Adjusting the playback speed 212.........................................................................................
Enjoying various sound quality 213.......................................................................................
Enjoying music with the recommended sound quality 214....................................................
Enabling sound effects for High-Resolution Audio files 215..................................................
Upscaling compressed audio to quality almost that of High-Resolution
Audio 216...............................................................................................................................
Customizing sound quality settings 217................................................................................
Presetting your equalizer settings 218...................................................................................
Moderating the differences in volume level between songs 219...........................................
Selecting the album display format 220.................................................................................
Photo Settings 87........................................................................................................................
Selecting how the photo list is displayed 243........................................................................
Video Settings 88........................................................................................................................
Displaying a video to match the screen size 244...................................................................
Playing only the sound of a video 246...................................................................................
Playing videos continually 247...............................................................................................
Changing the order of videos 248..........................................................................................
FM Radio Settings 89..................................................................................................................
Changing the FM radio scan sensitivity 255..........................................................................
Setting monaural/auto for FM radio 256................................................................................
TOC-6
Bluetooth Settings 90..................................................................................................................
Setting automatic Bluetooth connection at startup 277.........................................................
Setting wireless playback quality (system software version earlier than 1.
10) 74.....................................................................................................................................
Setting wireless playback quality (system software version 1.10 or later) 8..........................
Setting sound effects during a Bluetooth connection 278......................................................
Displaying Bluetooth information on your Walkman 279.......................................................
Alarm/Sleep Timer Settings 91....................................................................................................
Setting the alarm to on/off 283...............................................................................................
Setting the alarm time 285.....................................................................................................
Setting a song as the alarm sound 286.................................................................................
Setting the sleep timer 287....................................................................................................
Common Settings 92...................................................................................................................
Displaying your Walkman information 288............................................................................
Limiting the volume 289.........................................................................................................
Setting the operation sound 290............................................................................................
Setting the screen off timer 291.............................................................................................
Adjusting the screen brightness 292......................................................................................
Setting a photo as wallpaper 293..........................................................................................
Setting the date and time 127................................................................................................
Setting the date display format 128.......................................................................................
Setting the time display format 129.......................................................................................
Resetting to the factory settings 73.......................................................................................
Formatting memory 146.........................................................................................................
Rebuilding the library manually 294.......................................................................................
Using USB connection mode 295..........................................................................................
Language Settings 94..................................................................................................................
Selecting the display language 126.......................................................................................
Announcement 13.............................................................................................................................
Precautions 95.............................................................................................................................
Notes on handling your Walkman 296...................................................................................
Notes on headphones 298.....................................................................................................
Notes on the software 299.....................................................................................................
Maintenance of your Walkman 300.......................................................................................
Customer Support Website 96....................................................................................................
Customer support website 301..............................................................................................
Specifications 14...............................................................................................................................
Specifications 97.........................................................................................................................
Specifications 302..................................................................................................................
Battery life 305.......................................................................................................................
TOC-7
Maximum recordable number of songs and time (Approx.) 307............................................
Maximum recordable time of videos (Approx.) 308...............................................................
Supported formats 309..........................................................................................................
System requirements 312......................................................................................................
Contents 313.........................................................................................................................
Troubleshooting 15............................................................................................................................
What Can I Do to Solve a Problem? 98.......................................................................................
What can I do to solve a problem? 314.................................................................................
Customer support website 301..............................................................................................
Q&A 16..............................................................................................................................................
Operation 99................................................................................................................................
Your Walkman does not operate or the power does not turn on. 315...................................
Your Walkman does not work properly. 316..........................................................................
Your Walkman power turns off or on automatically. 317.......................................................
You want your Walkman screen to stay on longer before it turns off
automatically. 318..................................................................................................................
The date and time have been reset. 319...............................................................................
A drink (water, coffee, etc.) was spilled on your Walkman, or the
Walkman was washed in the washing machine. 320............................................................
You want to back up the content such as music stored on your Walkman. 321....................
You want to find the product name (model name) of your Walkman. 322.............................
An alarm (beep) is heard and the message [Check the volume level] is
displayed. 323........................................................................................................................
Sound 100...................................................................................................................................
There is no sound. 324..........................................................................................................
Content such as music suddenly stops during playback. 325...............................................
Noise is generated. 326.........................................................................................................
Volume cannot be turned up, or the volume remains low when the
playback volume is turned up. 327........................................................................................
Sound can only be heard from one side of the headphones. 328.........................................
Sound is interrupted or skips. 329.........................................................................................
Sound is interrupted between songs. 330.............................................................................
The sound effect settings do not seem to have any effect. 331............................................
Power 101...................................................................................................................................
You cannot charge your Walkman. 332.................................................................................
How long is the life of the built-in rechargeable battery? 333................................................
The rechargeable battery needs to be replaced. 334............................................................
The battery life is short. 335..................................................................................................
How long is the standard battery duration? 336....................................................................
The battery runs out fast when you turn on the battery care mode. 338...............................
TOC-8
Connection to a Computer 102....................................................................................................
The computer does not recognize your Walkman. 339.........................................................
The computer does not recognize a microSD card inserted in your
Walkman. 340........................................................................................................................
Even if you use “Safely Remove Hardware” on the computer, [
Connected USB (Storage in use: system storage)] or[Connected USB (
Storage in use: SD card)] remains displayed on your Walkman screen. 341........................
You cannot install software to your computer. 342................................................................
The progress bar on the install screen does not proceed while installing
the software. 343...................................................................................................................
Your Walkman is not recognized by Media Go. 344..............................................................
Content such as music cannot be transferred from the computer to your
Walkman. 345........................................................................................................................
Only a small amount of content such as music can be transferred to your
Walkman. 346........................................................................................................................
Displaying/Playing/Deleting Content 103....................................................................................
You cannot play content such as music transferred to your Walkman. 347..........................
Content such as music suddenly stops during playback. 325...............................................
Playback progresses to the next album when repeat playback is set. 348...........................
Songs are only played within a limited range such as within one album. 349.......................
You cannot stop playback. 350..............................................................................................
Songs are not displayed in the order they were transferred in. 351......................................
Songs are not played back in the expected order. 352.........................................................
Sound is interrupted between songs. 330.............................................................................
You cannot adjust the playback speed. 353..........................................................................
Sound is distorted or noise can be heard when [Dance/Karaoke/
Language] is set to [Maximum Karaoke Mode] or[Minimum Karaoke
Mode]. 354.............................................................................................................................
Vocals are not suppressed even when [Dance/Karaoke/Language] is set
to [Maximum Karaoke Mode] or[Minimum Karaoke Mode]. 355............................................
The content such as music is displayed repeatedly. 356......................................................
Thumbnails such as cover art are not displayed. 357...........................................................
Lyrics are not displayed. 358.................................................................................................
þÿ [ %¡ ] i s d i s p l a y e d i n t h e s c r e e n . 359.................................................
[Unknown] is displayed for the album name or artist name. 360...........................................
You cannot delete content such as music using the Walkman functions. 361......................
You cannot play a podcast episode. 362...............................................................................
You cannot continually play podcast episodes. 363..............................................................
You cannot register podcasts to a bookmark list. 364...........................................................
You cannot find your desired channel. 365...........................................................................
TOC-9
[Morning] is always displayed for the time-based channel. 366............................................
Unsuitable songs for selected time-based channels are played. 367....................................
Audio podcasts are not played by SensMe™ Channels. 368..................................................
FM Radio 105..............................................................................................................................
You cannot hear FM radio broadcasts. 369...........................................................................
There is a lot of noise in an FM radio broadcast and the sound quality is
poor. 370................................................................................................................................
Bluetooth 106..............................................................................................................................
Pairing cannot be done. 371..................................................................................................
You cannot connect via the Bluetooth function. 372..............................................................
The screen to enter the passkey appears when pairing with a Bluetooth
device. 373............................................................................................................................
You cannot hear sound from the Bluetooth audio device. 374..............................................
You cannot operate your Walkman from a Bluetooth audio device. 375...............................
Sound skips or noise is generated during a Bluetooth connection. 376................................
Sound effects do not seem to have any effect when listening to sound via
a Bluetooth audio device. 377...............................................................................................
Video sound is delayed when listening to sound via a Bluetooth audio
device. 378............................................................................................................................
You cannot display or delete content such as music received using the
Bluetooth function. 379..........................................................................................................
The cover art of a song received using the Bluetooth function is not
displayed. 380........................................................................................................................
NFC 107......................................................................................................................................
You cannot connect with one touch (NFC). 381....................................................................
Other 108.....................................................................................................................................
Your Walkman gets warm. 382..............................................................................................
Message 109...............................................................................................................................
Message list 383....................................................................................................................
How to Use 17...................................................................................................................................
Troubleshooting 25............................................................................................................................
TOC-10
Digital Media Player
NWZ-A15/A17
Transferring Content
Operation Flow for Transferring Content to Your Walkman
Installing Media Go
Installing Content Transfer
Importing Content to the Software
Transferring Content to Your Walkman
Deleting Content from Your Walkman
Operating with Media Go
4-540-313-13(1)
Copyright 2014 Sony Corporation
Help Guide
How to Use
3
Digital Media Player
NWZ-A15/A17
Bluetooth
What Is the Bluetooth Function?
Connecting with Bluetooth Audio Devices
Listening to Sound Using a Bluetooth Audio Device
Sending/Receiving Content via a Bluetooth Connection
Information of Bluetooth Audio Devices
Bluetooth Settings
Notes on the Bluetooth Function
4-540-313-13(1)
Copyright 2014 Sony Corporation
Help Guide
How to Use
7
Digital Media Player
NWZ-A15/A17
Setting wireless playback quality (system software version 1.10 or later)
You can set whether to prioritize the stability of the connection or the sound quality for a Bluetooth connection as you
like.
1. From the Home menu, select [Settings].
2. Select [Bluetooth Settings] - [Wireless Playback Quality] - desired setting.
[Prioritize Sound Quality]
Sound is transmitted in high quality, but the connection may become unstable depending on the usage environment.
[Standard]
Both sound quality and connection are stable.
[Prioritize Connection]
The sound quality may not be as good as the other mode, but the connection status will most likely be stable. This
setting is recommended if the connection is unstable.
[Select]
You can set the wireless playback quality setting of your choice. However, the setting may be changed depending on the
status of the connected Bluetooth audio device.
Hint
Change the setting to [Prioritize Connection] if the connection is unstable due to the usage environment.
The wireless playback quality setting is automatically selected depending on the status of the connected Bluetooth
audio device when [Prioritize Sound Quality], [Standard] or [Prioritize Connection] is selected. The selected mode is
displayed when the connection is established.
The [Wireless Playback Quality] setting switches to [Standard] when you have updated the system software of your
Walkman from a version earlier than 1.10 to version 1.10 or later. The wireless playback quality setting switches to
[Standard] also when the Walkman has been reset to the factory settings.
Note
The [Wireless Playback Quality] setting cannot be changed while your Walkman is connected to a Bluetooth audio
device. To change the setting, disconnect the connection.
Changing the [Wireless Playback Quality] setting may not have any effect depending on the settings of the connected
Bluetooth audio device.
Help Guide
How to Use
8
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