Sony Walkman NWZ-A815 User manual

bout the Manuals
The following manuals are included with the player. Additionally, after
installing software from the supplied CD-ROM, you can refer to the help
provided within each software.
-Quick Start Guide explains set up and the basic operations, enabling you to
import songs, videos and photos to acomputer, to transfer them to the
player, and to play them back.
-Precautions explains important notes to prevent accidents.
-Troubleshooting explains symptoms, causes and remedies when the player
has problems.
-This Operation Guide explains standard and advanced features, enabling
you to make full use
of the player and troubleshoot problems.
To use the buttons in the Operation Guide
Click the buttons located in the upper right of this manual to jump to "Table of
Contents:' "Home Menu List:' or "Index:'
Jumps to the table of contents
Find what you are looking for from a list of topics in the manual.
Jumps to the home menu list
Find what you are looking for from a list of the option items in the player's menu.
Jumps to the index
Find what you are looking for from a list of key words mentioned in the manual.
Continued {!r

'Q' Hints
• You can jump to the indicated page by clicking apage number in the table of contents, in
the Home menu list, or in the index.
•
You can jump to the indicated page by clicking apage reference indication (e.g. GY page
4) on each page.
• To search for areference page by keyword, click the "Edit" menu, select the "Search"
feature
of the Adobe Reader to display the navigation frame, type the keyword into the
Search text box, and click "Search:'
•Once you jump to another page, you can jump to the previous
or next page by clicking
the
or button located at bottom of the Adobe Reader screen.
•Operation procedure may differ, depending on your Adobe Reader version.
To change the page layout
The buttons at the bottom of the Adobe Reader screen enable you to select how
pages are displayed.
Continuous - Facing
Two pages are displayed side by side
with each pair
part of acontinuous
roll
of pages. When you scroll, the
previous or next pairs of pages scroll
up or down continuously.
Continuous
Pages are displayed as acontinuous
roll
of pages. Facing
When you scroll, the previous or next Two pages are displayed side by side.
pages scroll up
or down continuously. When you scroll, the display changes
to previous or succeeding pairs
of
pages.
Single Page
Pages are displayed one at atime.
When you scroll, the display changes
to aprevious
or succeeding page.

Table of Contents
Supplied Accessories 8
Parts and Controls 9
Player Controls and Screens 11
How to use the 5-way button and screen 12
Displaying the "Now Playing" Screen 16
Using the OPTION Button 17
Searching for Songs (Music Library) ••••••• 18
Searching for songs by song name 18
Searching for songs by album 19
Searching for songs by artist 20
Searching for songs by genre 21
Searching for songs by release year 22
Searching for songs by folder 23
Searching for Songs by Initial
Letter 24
Playing aPlaylist 25
Searching for Songs Based
on the
Currently Playing Song 26
Playing Songs
in Random Order
(Intelligent Shuffle) ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 27
Playing songs released in the same year in
random order (Time Machine Shuffle) 27
Playing all songs in random order 29
Displaying the Now Playing Screen Each
Time the Songs Switch
(New Song Pop Up) •••••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••• 30
Displaying the Music Option Menu.... 31
Setting the Play Mode (Play Mode)••••••••• 32
Setting
the Playback Range 34
Setting
the Album Display Format 35
Setting
the Sound Quality (Equalizer) ••• 37
Changing the sound quality 37
Customizing sound quality (Custom) 39
Making the Sound More Vibrant
(VPT (Surround» ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 40
Listening with Clear Stereo Sound
(Clear Stereo) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 42
Correcting Sound in the High Range
(DSEE (Sound Enhancer» •••••••••••••••••••••••• 43
Adjusting
the Volume Level
(Dynamic Normalizer)••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 45
Playing aVideo 46
Setting
the Video Orientation 48
Setting
the Display of the Video
Screen 50
Setting
the Zoom Function 51
Playing Videos Continuously 53
Setting
the Video List Display
Format 54
Playing
Only Video Sound 55
Displaying
the Video Option Menu 56
Displaying a
Photo 57
Setting
the Photo Orientation 59
Setting
the Display of the Photo
Screen 61
Playing aSlide Show 62
Setting
the Slide Show Play Mode 63
Setting
the Interval of aSlide Show 64
Setting
the Photo List Display
Format 65
Displaying
the Photo Option Menu 66
Continued ~

Limiting the Volume
(AVLS (Volume Limit» •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 67
Turning Off the Beep Sound 68
Setting aScreensaver Type 69
Setting aScreensaver Time 70
Adjusting the Brightness of the Screen
(Brightness) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 71
Setting the Current Time
(Set Date-Time) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 72
Setting the Date Format 74
Setting the Time Format 75
Displaying
the Player Information
(Unit Information) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 76
Resetting to Factory Settings
(Reset all Settings) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 78
Formatting Memory (Format) ••••••••••••••• 79
Selecting
the DisplayLanguage 81
Recharging the Player 83
Maximizing Battery Life 84
About Data Transferring 86
What are Format and Bit Rate? 89
What is audio format? 89
What is video format? 90
What is photo format? 90
Storing Data 91
Upgrading the Player's Firmware 92
Troubleshooting 93
Messages 105
Precautions 110
About Copyrights 116
Specifications 118
Index 123
•Depending on the country/region in which you have purchased the player, some models
may
not be available.

HomeMenu List
You can display the Home menu by pressing and holding the BACK/HOME
button
of the player. The Home menu is the starting point of each function,
such
as playing songs, videos and photos, searching for songs, and changing
settings.
All Songs 18
Album 19
Artist 20
Genre 21
Release year 22
Folder 23
rArtist 24
tAlbum 24
Song 24
tTime Machine Shuffle 27
Shuffle All 29
Continued 0

Music Settings
Play Mode 32
Playback Range 34
Equalizer 37
VPT (Surround) 40
DSEE (Sound Enhance)
43
Clear Stereo 42
Dynamic Normalizer
45
Album Display Format 35
New Song Pop Up 30
Video Settings
Zoom Settings 51
Video Orientation 48
Display 50
Continuous Playback
53
Video List Format 54
On-Hold Display 55
Photo Settings
Photo Orientation 59
Display
61
Slide Show Repeat 63
Slide Show Interval 64
Photo List Format
65
Common Settings
Unit Information
76
AVLS (Volume Limit) 67
Beep Settings 68
Screensaver 69,
70
Brightness 71
Set Date-Time 72
Date Display Format 74
Time Display Format
75
Reset all Settings 78
Format 79
Language Settings 81

Please check the accessories in the package.
DHeadphones (1)
DHeadphone extension cord (1)
DEarbuds (Size S, L) (1)
D USB cable*1 (1)
DAttachment (1)
Use when connecting the player to the optional cradle, etc.
Supplie •
(cess rl S
DCD-ROM*2*3 (1)
-MP3 Conversion Tool
-Windows Media Player 11
-Operation Guide (PDF file)
DQuick Start Guide (1)
*1 Do not use any USB cable other than the supplied USB cable or the specified
optional dedicated cables.
*2 Do not attempt to play this CD-ROM in an audio CD player.
*3 Depending on the country/region in which you have purchased the player,
the supplied software may be different.
How to install the earbuds correctly
Ifthe earbuds do not fit your ears correctly, low bass sound may not be heard.
~~j~~l~h::~~~:~;:~i~~~I~~'s~;:~~~~~ee:i:se c~~~~r~:~~;~~~~it ~~~
your ears snugly. ~ V~
At purchase, Msize earbuds are installed. If the earbuds do not
fit your ears, try one of the other supplied sizes, Sor L.
When you change the earbuds, make sure to install the earbuds with the
headphones properly to prevent accidentally leaving the earbuds inside your
ears.
About the serial number
The serial number provided for this player is required for customer
registration. The number
is shown on the rear of the player.

Parts an
Front
Co tr Is
Rear
Headphones
mS .. way button*l
Starts playback and enables
navigation of the player's on-screen
menus
((F page 12).
[gJ BACKlHO E button*o2
Press to go up one list screen level, or
to return to the previous menu.
Press
and hold the BACK/HOME
button to display the Home
menu
((F page 11).
[]] WM~PORT jack
Use this jack to connect the supplied
USB cable, or optional peripheral
devices, such as supported
accessories for the WM-PORT.
@] Headphone jack
For connecting the headphones or the
headphone extension cord. Insert the
jack pin until it clicks into place. Ifthe
headphones are connected
improperly, the sound from the
headphones may not sound right.
When using the headphone extension
cord
b"1'~~adPhones
extension cord
r5l Display
The display may vary, depending on
functions
((F page 11).
Continued ~

L§J OPTION/PWR OFF button*2
Displays the option menu (& page
17).
If you press and hold the OPTION/
PWR OFF button, the screen turns
offand the player enters the standby
mode.
If you press any button while
the player
is in the standby mode,
the "Now Playing" screen, etc.,
appears
and the player is ready for
operation. Furthermore,
if you leave
the player in the standby mode for
about a
day, the player turns
completely offautomatically.
If you
press any button when the player
is
turned off, the start up screen
appears first, then the "Now Playing"
screen appears.
•The player consumes battery power very
slightly even when it
is in the standby
mode. Therefore, the player might
turn completely offin ashort time,
depending on the power remaining in
the battery.
m VOL +*1/_ button
L....::......J
Adjusts the volume.
r~8-1 RESET button
L .1
Resets the player when you press the
RESET button with asmall pin, etc.
(& page 93).
~ Straphole
This is used to attach astrap (sold
separately).
[1Q] HOLD switch
You can protect the player against
accidental operation by using the
HOLD switch when carrying it.
By
sliding the HOLD switch in the
direction
of the arrow, all operation
buttons are disabled.
If you slide the
HOLD switch to the opposite
position, the HOLD function
is
released.
*1 There are tactile dots. Use them to help
with button operations.
*2 Functions ofmarked with -on the
player are activated ifyou press and hold
the corresponding buttons.

la er Controls nd cr ns
Use the 5-way button and the BACK/HOME button to navigate through
screens, play songs, videos, photos,
and change the player's settings.
The Home
menu appears when you press and hold the BACK/HOME button.
The diagram below shows how the screen changes when you press various
operation buttons. For example, the player's screen changes as shown below
when you select "Music Library"-
(~lbum" from the Home menu.
Home menu
Select J:I (Music library), and press
the [>nn button.
Music Library
Press the BACK/
HOME button.
Press and hold the
BACK/HOME button.
~®h, ,~mlJq;Jlltltlh~,,'x, "
All Songs
Select"Album;' and
press the [>nn button.
Album list
Press the BACK/
HOME button.
Press and hold the
BACK/HOME button.
Select your desired album, and
press the [>nn button.
Press the BACK/
HOME button.
Press and hold the
BACK/HOME button.
Song list
Select your desired song, and
press the [>nn button.
Playback begins.
Press the BACK/
HOME button.
Press and hold the
BACK/HOME button.
Now Playing screen
Continued 0

The 5-way button performs different functions on
the list screens, on the thumbnail screens, and on
the «Now Playing" screen.
*There are tactile dots. Use them to help with button
operations.
How to use the S-way button on the list screen
Music
"=:::,.,.,.,.,~'" Index
The initials of song and album, etc., names in the list section appear.
List
t>DD Confirms the item of the list.
Press and hold to play back all songs in the selected item.
~/V Moves the cursor up or down.
Press and hold to scroll up or down faster.
<lIt> Changes screens, or, when an index is displayed, moves the cursor
left or right to display alist of items.
Displays the previous or next screen of the list, when the index is
not displayed.
Video
List
Buttons
t>DD
~/V Moves the cursor up or down.
Press and hold to scroll up or down faster.
<lIt> Displays the previous or next screen of the list.
Continued {~

Photo
l>DD Confirms the item of the list.
Press and hold to play back aslide show of photos in the selected
item.
List
~/v Moves the cursor up or down.
Press and hold to scroll up or down faster.
<]/[> Displays the previous or next screen of the list.
How to use the 5-way button on the thumbnail* screen
Thumbnail screen
Thumbnails
l>DD Displays the song list of the selected item during music operation,
or displays the selected item during photo operation. Starts play
back of the selected item during video operation.
~/v Moves the cursor up or down.
Press and hold to scroll up or down faster.
<]/[> Move the cursor left or right.
Press and hold to move the cursor left or right faster and then
scroll up or down through the thumbnail screens.
* Thumbnail refers to a reduced size image of apiece of cover art, one scene of avideo, or
aphoto. To display thumbnails for albums, see (F page 35; for video files, see (F page
54.
Continued {:~

How to use the 5-way button on the IINow Playing" screen
Music
Song name
Artist name
Album title
Genre
Release year
~~ __ ."""'."""h:~~~:,;:~;;rm .... ~ Playing status
t>DD Starts song playback. When playback starts, [:::::> appears on the display,
and if the t>DD button is pressed again, DO appears and playback pauses.*
This pause and resume feature is available only on the "Now Playing"
screen.
~/v Press the ~/V button to display the cursor and scroll through the
displayed items.
When genre, album title, or other characteristic is
selected by the cursor, press the t>DD button to display alist of artists
matching the genre
of the currently playing song or the song lists of the
album that
is currently playing.
<]/[> Moves playback to the beginning of the current, previous, or next song
when pressed once
or repeatedly. Press and hold to scan aplaying song
backwards
or forwards quickly.
*Ifthere is no operation for more than 30 seconds while asong is paused, the screen
turns off
and the player enters the standby mode.
Continued {}

Video
1Jj ••• 1I1!3N~"~ Playing status
When you change the display orientation to horizontal, the ~/'l /<:J/r> button functions
will also
be changed.
Buttons
l>DD Starts video playback. When playback starts, c:> appears on the display,
and ifthe
[>00 button is pressed again, 00 appears and playback pauses.*l
You can play videos only from the "Now Playing" screen of the video.
~/V Press the ~/V button to find the beginning of the next, previous or the
currently playing video.*2
<lIt> Press the <lIt> button to scan aplaying video backwards or forwards quickly.
During playback, fast forwards/backwards changes through 3levels by
repeatedly pressing the <l/t>
button ((xIO), (x30), (xIOO)). By pressing
and holding, speed increases 1level, and by releasing, returns to the
normal playback.
*1 If there is no operation for more than 30 seconds while avideo is paused, the screen
turns off and the player enters the standby mode.
*2 If "Continuous Playback" is set to "On;' you can find the beginning of the previous or
next video from the currently playing video ((iY page 53).
Photo
liil.II·'·W"""'~"'~ Playi ng status
When you change the display orientation to horizontal, the ~/'l /<:J/r> button functions
will also
be changed.
Buttons
l>DD c:>- appears on the display and aslide show starts. If the l>DD button is
pressed again,
DO appears and playback pauses.*
<l/t> Displays the previous or next photo.
* When playing songs while aslide show is paused, the screen goes dark if there is no
operation for the period set in "Screensaver Timing" ((iY page 70). When the song
playback and aslide show accompanying it are paused, and there is no operation for
more than 30 seconds, the screen turns off and the player enters the standby mode.
Continued ~

The "Now Playing" screen displays information about the currently playing
contents.
--= 5-way button
""",=_=w= BACK/HOME
button
Now Playing
Press and hold the BACK/HOME button until the Home menu
appears.
Press the ~/V /<J/f> button to select ~ (Now Playing), and then
press
the [>DD button to confirm.
Detailed information about the currently playing content file appears.
~Q" Hints
• You can display the "Now Playing" screen by pressing the OPTION/PWR OFF button to
select "Now Playing:'
•
When playing videos or photos, you can select "Go to the song playback screen' from
the option menu to display the song playback screen.

Usin th OPTIO Button
You can change various settings of each function when you press the OPTIONI
PWR OFF button. The OPTION/PWR OFF button is useful since you can
display the setting screen immediatelywithout selecting setting items from the
iii (Settings) menu of the Home menu.
I
oPress the OPTION/PWR OFF button while playing or pausing songs,
videos or photos.
The option menu appears.
Press the ~/"V /<J/r> button to select the item, and then press the I>UU
button to confirm.
The screen of the selected setting item appears or the selected command is
performed.
The items
of the option menu differ, depending on the screen on which
you press the
OPTION/PWR OFF button. For details, see "Displaying the
Music Option Menu"
(~ page 31), "Displaying the Video Option Menu"
(~ page 56), "Displaying the Photo Option Menu" (~ page 66).
'Q' Hint
• When there are multiple menus, display other menus by pressing the <l/[> button.

for Songs(MusicLibrary)
~;.-- Music Library
Songs transferred by Windows Explorer, or another transfer capable software
can be played back
on the player.
You can search for songs by title of songs, albums, artist, and genre, etc.
I I
/, •• mm~~~~_um -- 5-way button
i .PWROFF
~ ••. i.j., 8
~i ~ ~ BACKIHOME
';'HOME button
~o
"~~~"Hint
• To delete songs from the player, use the software you used to transfer the songs, or
Windows Explorer.
oPress and hold the BACK/HOME button until the Home menu
appears.
Press the ~rv /<J/r> button to select IJ (Music Library), and then
press the t>DD button to confirm.
The list screen appears.
Press the ~/\l1<J1r> button to select"AII Songs:'and then press the
t>DD button to confirm.
The song list appears.
Press the ~/\l1<J1r> button to select asong, and then press the t>DD
button to confirm.
The song you selected starts to play back and the playback of songs
continues in order.
Continued ~J

Press and hold the BACK/HOME button until the Home menu
appears.
Press the ~rv 1<J/f> button to select J:I (Music Library), and then
press the [>UD button to confirm.
The list screen appears.
Press the ~/V /<J/r> button to selectIIAlbum:'and then press the [>UD
button to confirm.
The album list appears.
oPress the ~rv 1<J/f> button to select an album, and then press the
[>UD button to confirm.
The song list for the selected album appears.
oPress the ~rv 1<J/f> button to selectasong, and then press the [>00
button to confirm.
The song you selected starts to play back and the playback of songs
continues in order.
'Q' Hints
• You can play all songs of alist item by selecting the item from the list and pressing and
holding the l>DD button in step O.
• You can change the display format of the album list «(!ff page 35).
• You can select the playback range of songs «(!ff page 34).
Continued ~

Press and hold the BACK/HOME button until the Home menu
appears.
f) Press the b../\l/<JJr> button to selectiJ(Music Library), and then
press the [>00 button to confirm.
The list screen appears.
Press the ~/\lI<J/r> button to select"Artist:'and then press the [>00
button to confirm.
The artist list appears.
oPress the b../\l/<J/f> button to select an artist, and then press the [>00
button to confirm.
The album list for the selected artist appears.
oPress the b../\l/<J/f> button to select an album, and then press the
[>00 button to confirm.
The song list for the selected album appears.
Press the ~/\l/<J/r> button to select asong, and then press the [>00
button to confirm.
The song you selected starts to play back and the playback of songs
continues in order.
'~# Hints
• You can play all songs of alist item by selecting the item from the list and pressing and
holding the [>DD button in steps 0to .
•
You can change the display format of the album list (GY page 35).
• You can select the playback range of songs (GY page 34).
Continued {}