Choosing between digital audio players often comes down to a simple tension: keep the purchase focused and lower-priced, or pay more for a player whose title and attributes point to broader playback flexibility. The Sony NW-A55 and Sony NW-ZX707 both carry the Walkman name, but they target different priorities. The useful shortcut is to decide whether your listening setup needs a straightforward portable player or the extra storage and format coverage associated with an Android DAP.
Quick verdict
Choose the Sony NW-A55 when a lower listed price and focused playback features are enough. Choose the Sony NW-ZX707 when a higher listed price is justified by specific added capabilities. Both list a headphone jack, so wired headphone connection does not separate them.
Listed-price comparison
| Player | Listed price | Price comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Sony NW-A55 Walkman | USD 148.00 | Lower listed price |
| Sony NW-ZX707 Walkman | USD 465.99 | USD 317.99 higher |
Where Sony NW-A55 wins
The NW-A55 wins for a buyer who wants named Hi-Res processing features without making the decision about a long format list. S-Master HX digital amplification and DSEE HX upscaling are called out alongside Hi-Res Audio. That gives the NW-A55 a clear reason to win for shoppers who prioritize those playback features over Android DAP functionality or the 64GB capacity named for the NW-ZX707. This is a feature-led choice, not a claim that either player is universally better.
Where Sony NW-ZX707 wins
The NW-ZX707 wins when an Android DAP is the central requirement or when the named format menu matters. It lists MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, WAV, HE-AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DSD, APE, and MQA, compared with the NW-A55's MP3 listing. Its title also identifies 64GB. Those are concrete reasons to choose it for a broader file-library brief. The higher price is easiest to justify when those specific format and storage details matter, rather than simply because the player costs more.
Product notes
Sony NW-A55 Walkman
The Sony NW-A55 suits a shopper who wants a Walkman with microSDXC compatibility and a listed 16 GB capacity for planning a portable library. Its title identifies it as an English Hi-Res Music MP3 player, keeping the intended playback role clear. That is a concrete reason to choose it alongside its USD 148.00 listed price. The limitation is equally specific: its condition is marked open box. Pick the NW-A55 when the lower outlay and memory-card setup fit the listening plan; the open-box condition is the tradeoff to weigh.
Sony NW-ZX707 Walkman
The Sony NW-ZX707 gives the choice a concrete long-listening angle with battery life up to 25 hours and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Those details make it the more relevant pick for a shopper who places portable runtime near the top of the brief. Its limitation is the USD 465.99 listed price, which is USD 317.99 above the NW-A55. Treat that gap as a deliberate budget decision rather than letting price alone decide the purchase. Choose the NW-ZX707 when a listed runtime of up to 25 hours makes the added price relevant to your daily listening schedule.
Final choice by use case
- Choose Sony NW-A55 for a memory-card-supported library and a lower listed price. Its 16 GB capacity and microSDXC compatibility make that use case concrete.
- Choose Sony NW-ZX707 for longer listening stretches. The up-to-25-hour battery figure is the clearest use-case reason to accept its higher listed price.
- If Android DAP functionality, 64GB, and the wider named format menu are non-negotiable, choose Sony NW-ZX707.
- If the open-box condition is acceptable and the lower-priced Walkman meets your playback needs, choose Sony NW-A55.
