SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 (01) PDF Document

Before using your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 for the first time, please check the following:

Important Information: For details on laws, regulations, and trademark rights, refer to the “Important Information” file located in the internal memory of your player. To view it, copy the [Important_Information] file to your computer, double-click it, and select a language.

Model Names: Several model names may appear in the Help Guide. Some models may not be available depending on your country or region.

Computer System Requirements: When connecting the player to a computer, ensure your computer meets the necessary system requirements.

Battery Charging: The battery might be low when you first use the player. It is recommended to charge the battery before use.

microSD Cards: The term [microSD cards] in the guide refers to microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards.

The package for the SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 contains the following items:

WALKMAN® (1)

USB Type-C® cable (USB-A to USB-C) (1)

Operating Instructions

Reference Guide

Please note that headphones and a microSD card are not supplied with the Walkman. The models sold may also vary by country or region.

When you turn on your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 for the first time, an initial setup screen will appear. Follow these steps:

1. Hold down the (power) button for 5 seconds until the player turns on. If the battery is low, it may not turn on. In this case, charge the player for about 30 minutes before trying again.

2. If necessary, select a language and proceed to the next step.

3. Tap [START].

4. Review the [End user license agreement] and tap [Agree].

5. Follow the remaining onscreen instructions. This may include setting up Wi-Fi and a Google Account, which can also be done later.

6. On the [Select Home screen] menu, choose your main home screen and tap [OK].

– [Page 1 (default Home)]: Default Android™ Home screen.

– [Page 2 (WALKMAN® Home)]: A home screen customized for music playback, featuring a Music player widget. It is recommended to select this option for easy music control.

Once the setup is complete, the selected home screen will appear. You can change the main home screen later in the [Home settings].

To turn the power on:

Hold down the (power) button for 5 seconds until the player turns on. If it’s the first time, the initial setup screen will appear. If the battery is low, charge the player for about 30 minutes before turning it on.

To turn the power off:

1. While the screen is on, hold down the (power) button for 2 seconds.

2. Tap [Power off].

To conserve battery, you can set the [Auto power off] feature, which automatically turns the player off after a certain period of inactivity. This setting can be found under [Settings] → [Battery] → [Auto power off].

You can lock the operating buttons on your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 to prevent accidental operations by using the HOLD switch.

1. To enable the HOLD function, slide the HOLD switch upwards. The status icon (HOLD) will appear in the status bar. When enabled, the following buttons cannot be operated:

– Playback operating buttons

– +/– (volume) buttons

You can still operate the (power) button and the touch screen while the HOLD function is enabled.

2. To release the HOLD function, slide the HOLD switch downwards.

When carrying the player, you can also press the (power) button to turn off the screen, which helps prevent unintentional operations on the touch screen.

To charge the battery of your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1, follow these steps:

1. Connect the player to a running computer using the supplied USB cable.

2. The charge lamp in the bottom right of the screen will light up. When charging is complete, the charge lamp will turn off.

3. Once charging is complete, disconnect the player from the computer.

Note: If the battery is very low, the computer may not recognize the player immediately, and the screen may not turn on. Charge the player for about 30 minutes, after which the computer should recognize it.

To reduce deterioration in the battery’s performance on your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1, you can use the [Battery Care] function, which limits the maximum charging capacity.

1. Swipe the [WALKMAN Home] screen upwards.

2. Tap the menu items in the following order: [Settings] → [Battery] → [Battery Care].

3. Tap the switch to turn the function on. A battery care icon will appear in the status bar.

Note: When this function is on, the maximum charging capacity is limited, and the battery will not fully charge. This is not a malfunction. The battery care icon will appear in the status bar even when the battery is not charging.

You can reduce the battery consumption of your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 in the following ways:

Turn off the power manually when you are not using the player.

Turn off apps when you are not using them.

Set [Auto power off]. The player will turn off automatically after a certain period of inactivity. To set this, swipe up on the [WALKMAN Home] screen, then go to [Settings] → [Battery] → [Auto power off].

Adjust the screen brightness.

Turn off all sound adjustments.

Turn off the Bluetooth function when you are not using it.

Turn off the Wi-Fi function when you are not using it.

To insert a microSD card:

1. Open the microSD card slot cover.

2. Insert the microSD card until it clicks into place. Ensure the gold contact pins are facing up.

3. Close the cover.

To format a microSD card (this will erase all data on the card):

1. Swipe the [WALKMAN Home] screen upwards.

2. Go to [Settings] → [Storage].

3. Tap the drop-down list and select the name of the microSD card.

4. Tap the (options) button, then tap [Format].

5. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the formatting.

To remove the microSD card:

1. First, you must unmount the card. Swipe the [WALKMAN Home] screen upwards.

2. Go to [Settings] → [Storage].

3. Tap the drop-down list and select the name of the microSD card.

4. Tap the (options) button in the top right of the screen, then tap [Eject].

5. Open the microSD card slot cover.

6. Push the microSD card in slightly, and it will pop out.

7. Remove the card and close the slot cover.

The SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 has the following parts and controls:

1. Touch screen: Tap icons or items to operate the player.

2. Built-in microphone: Used for sound input. Do not cover it during use.

3. Headphone jack (Stereo Mini): Push the headphone plug in until it clicks.

4. Strap hole: Attach a strap (not supplied).

5. USB Type-C port: Connect to a computer for charging or using the USB-DAC function.

6. microSD card slot: Located inside the slot cover. Insert a microSD card (not supplied).

7. microSD card slot cover: Open to insert a microSD card.

8. Built-in antenna: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas are built-in. Do not cover them during use.

9. (power) button:

– Press to turn the screen on or off.

– Hold for 5 seconds to turn the player on.

– Hold for 2 seconds to turn off or restart.

– Hold for 10 seconds to force a restart if operations are unstable.

10. +(*1)/- (volume) buttons: Adjust the volume.

11. Playback operating buttons:

– ▶❚❚ (play/pause)(*1): Start or pause playback.

– ◀◀ (previous track)/▶▶ (next track): Jump to the previous or next track. Hold to fast-rewind or fast-forward.

12. HOLD (hold) switch: Slide to lock playback and volume buttons to prevent accidental operation.

13. Charge lamp: Lights up while the player is charging.

(*1) There are tactile dots on the play/pause and volume + buttons to assist operation without looking.

The [WALKMAN Home] screen on your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 is customized for music playback. Here are its main components:

1. Status bar: Shows player status and notifications. Swipe down to open the notification panel and Quick Settings.

2. Music player widget: Displays the current track from the “Music player” app.

3. Shortcuts to apps: Tap a shortcut to launch an app.

4. Dock: Can hold up to 5 shortcuts for apps.

5. Navigation bar: Contains three buttons:

– (back) button: Returns to the previous screen.

– (home) button: Displays the [WALKMAN Home] screen.

– (overview) button: Shows recently used apps.

6. Cover art: Tap this area on the widget to launch the “Music player” app.

7. Previous / Play (Pause) / Next buttons: Control music playback directly from the widget without opening the app.

Your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 has two home screens: the default Android Home screen and the music-focused [WALKMAN Home] screen. You can switch between them and set one as your main home screen.

To switch between home screens:

Simply swipe the home screen to the left or right.

To set the main home screen:

1. On either home screen, press and hold an empty space.

2. Tap [Home settings] → [Select Home screen].

3. Select the home screen you want as your main screen (the one that appears when you tap the (home) button), and then tap [OK].

The “Music player” app on your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 has several screens you can navigate by swiping from the central Playback screen.

To launch “Music player”:

On the [WALKMAN Home] screen, tap the [Music player] icon or tap the cover art in the Music player widget.

Main Screens (navigate by swiping from the Playback screen):

A. Playback screen (Center): Shows information for the currently playing track. Swipe up for Sound adjustments, down for the Library, left for Favorites, and right for the Play queue.

B. Library screen (Swipe Down): Select tracks from various categories like [All songs], [Album], [Artist], etc.

C. Play queue screen (Swipe Right): View and edit the list of upcoming tracks.

D. Favorites screen (Swipe Left): Access tracks, albums, and playlists you have added to Favorites.

E. Sound adjustment screens (Swipe Up): Access settings like Equalizer, DSEE Ultimate™, and more.

A Mini player also appears at the bottom of each screen (except the playback screen) for quick control. Tap it to return to the full playback screen.

The status bar on your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 displays various icons to indicate the player’s status:

Updating the database of “Music player”: Appears when the music library is being updated.

microSD card mounted: Indicates that a microSD card is inserted and recognized.

HOLD indicator: Shows that the HOLD switch is active, locking the physical buttons.

Bluetooth device connected: Appears when the player is actively connected to a Bluetooth device.

Wi-Fi network connected: Indicates the player is connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Airplane mode: Shows that all wireless connections (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) are disabled.

Battery status: Displays the current battery level.

Battery Care function: Indicates that the Battery Care feature is enabled.

To secure your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1, you can activate the screen lock function. This will automatically lock the screen when it turns off.

1. Swipe the [WALKMAN Home] screen upwards.

2. Tap the menu items in the following order: [Settings] → [Security] → [Screen lock].

3. Tap the desired method to unlock the screen (e.g., PIN, pattern, password).

4. A setting screen may appear depending on the method chosen. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the setup.

Important: Be careful not to forget your unlocking code. If you forget it, the player will need to be formatted at a service center to erase the screen lock information, which will also erase all your data.

To adjust the volume:

Press or hold down the +/– (volume) buttons on the side of the player.

Alternatively, you can use the volume dialog:

1. Turn on the screen.

2. Press the +/– (volume) buttons to display the volume panel.

3. Tap the volume scale or the digits on the panel to display the full volume dialog.

4. In the dialog, you can turn the volume knob or tap the +/– buttons to adjust the volume.

To limit the maximum volume (AVLS):

The AVLS (Automatic Volume Limiter System) function reduces the risk of ear damage from loud volumes.

1. Swipe the [WALKMAN Home] screen upwards.

2. Tap the menu items in the following order: [Settings] → [Sound].

3. Tap the [AVLS (volume limit)] switch to turn it on or off.

Note: AVLS is not effective when sound is output through a Bluetooth or USB device.

You can prepare and transfer music to your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 from a computer or purchase it directly on the device.

From a Windows Computer:

It is recommended to use the “Music Center for PC” application (version 2.5 or later).

1. Install Music Center for PC on your computer.

2. You can import music from audio CDs or existing files on your computer into the Music Center for PC library.

3. Connect your Walkman to the computer via USB.

4. On the player, select [File Transfer] on the [Use USB for] menu.

5. In Music Center for PC, select the albums or tracks you want to transfer and click the transfer button.

Alternatively, you can use Windows Explorer to drag and drop music files directly into the [Music] folder on the player’s internal storage or microSD card.

From a Mac Computer:

You need to install additional software, such as Android File Transfer.

1. Install Android File Transfer on your Mac.

2. Connect your Walkman to the Mac via USB.

3. On the player, select [File Transfer] on the [Use USB for] menu.

4. The Android File Transfer window will open, showing the player’s files.

5. Drag and drop music files from Finder into the [Music] folder on the player.

Purchasing Music on the Player:

Connect the player to a Wi-Fi network, install a music service app from Google Play, and purchase/download music directly to the device.

To display lyrics on your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1, you need to create a lyric text file (.lrc file) and transfer it with the corresponding music file.

Creating a Lyric File (LRC):

1. On a computer, open a text editor like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac).

2. Enter the lyrics, with time information at the beginning of each line. The format is [Minutes:seconds:hundredths of a second], for example: [00:05:27].

3. Save the file with the exact same name as the music file, but with the .lrc extension. For example, if the song is “Track01.mp3”, the lyric file should be “Track01.lrc”.

4. When saving, ensure the character encoding is set to [UTF-8].

Transferring the Files:

1. Connect your player to the computer.

2. Transfer both the music file and the corresponding .lrc file to the same folder within the [Music] folder on your player’s internal storage or microSD card.

Displaying Lyrics:

On the playback screen in the “Music player” app, tap (Options) → [Display lyrics].

Connecting your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 to a Wi-Fi network allows you to use music streaming services and download content.

1. Swipe the [WALKMAN Home] screen upwards.

2. Tap the menu items in the following order: [Settings] → [Network & internet] → [Wi-Fi].

3. Tap the desired network from the list of available networks.

4. Enter the network password and tap [CONNECT].

When the connection is successful, “[Connected]” will appear under the network name.

You can also turn the Wi-Fi function on or off quickly from the Quick Settings panel by swiping down from the status bar and tapping the Wi-Fi icon.

Setting up a Google Account on your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 is necessary to use services like Google Play for installing apps.

1. Ensure your player is connected to the internet via Wi-Fi.

2. Swipe the [WALKMAN Home] screen upwards.

3. Tap [Settings].

4. Open the account menu and choose to add an account.

5. Follow the onscreen instructions to sign in with an existing Google Account or create a new one.

You can perform personalization for 360 Reality Audio on your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 using the player and a smartphone with a camera.

1. Turn on the Wi-Fi function to connect the player to the internet.

2. On the [WALKMAN Home] screen, tap [Sony | Headphones Connect].

3. Follow the onscreen instructions to install the Sony | Headphones Connect app.

4. Launch the Sony | Headphones Connect app.

5. Register your compatible headphones.

6. Follow the app’s instructions to set up the data for personalization, which may involve using your smartphone’s camera.

7. Select an online music service that supports 360 Reality Audio within the Sony | Headphones Connect app to complete the personalization.

Note: This feature requires compatible headphones and may require a subscription to a music-streaming service.

On your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1, you can control the playback mode (Shuffle/Repeat) and the playback range.

Selecting the Playback Mode:

On the playback screen in “Music player,” tap the playback mode area to cycle through the options:

– (Shuffle): Plays tracks in random order.

– (Repeat 1 song): Repeats the current track.

– (Repeat all): Repeats all tracks in the current playback range.

– Off (Normal playback): Both icons are darkened.

When both (Shuffle) and (Repeat all) are lit, all tracks in the selected playback range will be played randomly and repeatedly.

Setting the Playback Range:

1. Tap (Options) → [Settings] → [Playback range].

2. Select the desired range (e.g., All range, Selected range).

The playback mode will apply to the tracks within your selected playback range.

You can manage playlists directly on your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1.

Creating a Playlist:

1. On the library screen, tap [Playlists].

2. Tap (Options) → [Create new playlist].

3. Enter a name for the playlist and tap [OK].

4. Add tracks by tapping (Context menu) next to a track, album, etc., tapping [Add to playlist], and selecting your new playlist.

Editing a Playlist:

1. In the [Playlists] list, tap the playlist you created to view its tracks.

2. To change the order of tracks, tap (Options) → [Edit song order] and drag the tracks into the desired order.

3. To remove a track, tap (Context menu) to the right of the track and tap [Remove from this list].

Note: You cannot edit playlists that were transferred from a computer.

Deleting a Playlist:

1. On the library screen, tap [Playlists].

2. Tap (Context menu) to the right of the playlist you want to delete.

3. Tap [Delete] and confirm the message.

Connecting to a New (Unpaired) Bluetooth Device:

1. Turn on the Bluetooth function on your Bluetooth device (e.g., headphones, speaker).

2. On the Walkman, swipe the [WALKMAN Home] screen upwards.

3. Tap [Settings] → [Connected devices] → [Pair new device].

4. A list of available devices will appear. Tap the name of your Bluetooth device to pair and connect.

Connecting to a Paired Bluetooth Device:

1. Turn on your paired Bluetooth device.

2. On the Walkman, swipe up and go to [Settings] → [Connected devices].

3. Tap the name of the device in the list of [Previously connected devices].

Alternatively, you can turn on the Bluetooth function on the player, and it will attempt to automatically connect to the last used paired device.

You can use your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 to process audio from your computer for higher sound quality.

1. Install a compatible application on your computer. For Windows, install Music Center for PC and the Sony Audio USB Driver. For Mac, install the Hi-Res Audio Player for Mac.

2. Configure the settings in the application on your computer for USB-DAC output if necessary.

3. Connect the Walkman to your computer via USB.

4. When the [Use USB for] menu appears on the Walkman, select [USB DAC] and tap [OK].

5. On the Walkman’s [WALKMAN Home] screen, tap [Music player].

6. On the library screen in “Music player,” tap [USB DAC].

7. When the start message is displayed, tap [YES].

8. Play music on your computer. The sound will be output through the headphones connected to your Walkman.

To turn off the USB-DAC function, tap the (back) button on the USB-DAC screen on your player.

You can adjust the sound using the “Sound adjustment” app or through the sound adjustment screens in “Music player”. Both methods share the same adjusted values.

Using the “Sound adjustment” app:

1. On the [WALKMAN Home] screen, tap [Sound adjustment].

2. Swipe the screen left or right to select a sound adjustment setting.

3. Adjust the sound by following the onscreen instructions.

Available Sound Adjustments include:

Direct Source: Outputs the original sound quality without any effects.

Equalizer: Select a preset or customize your own equalizer settings.

DSEE Ultimate™: Upscales the sound quality of audio files.

DC Phase Linearizer: Reproduces the audio characteristics of analog amplifiers.

Dynamic Normalizer: Moderates volume changes between tracks.

Vinyl Processor: Produces a rich sound similar to playback from a vinyl record.

ClearAudio+™: Automatically applies recommended sound settings.

Note: Some sound adjustments cannot be used if Direct Source or ClearAudio+ are enabled, or if there is an active Bluetooth connection.

To restart the player:

If operations become unstable, you can restart the player without deleting data.

1. Hold down the (power) button for 2 seconds while the screen is on.

2. Tap [Restart].

If the player freezes, hold down the (power) button for 10 seconds to force a restart.

To format the player (factory reset):

This operation restores the player to its factory settings and will delete all content, Google Account information, and downloaded apps. Be sure to back up important data first.

1. Swipe the [WALKMAN Home] screen upwards.

2. Tap [Settings] → [System] → [Reset options].

3. Tap [Erase all data (factory reset)].

4. Confirm the message and tap [Erase all data]. You may need to enter your PIN, password, or pattern.

5. Confirm the final message and tap [Erase all data] again. The player will restart automatically when formatting is complete.

Updating the system software allows you to use the most recent functions. Always back up your data before updating.

1. Connect the player to a power source.

2. Turn on the Wi-Fi function and connect the player to the internet.

3. Swipe the [WALKMAN Home] screen upwards.

4. Tap the menu items in the following order: [Settings] → [System] → [System updates].

5. Confirm the message carefully and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the update.

The approximate battery life of the SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 varies depending on the usage and file format. The values are based on continuous playback with default settings.

Music (when using “Music player” app)

Music (when using a music app other than “Music player”)

Bluetooth (when using “Music player” app)

Bluetooth (when using a music app other than “Music player”)

Note: A Bluetooth connection can shorten battery life by up to 50%. Battery life also decreases when the screen is on or when sound adjustments are active.

The SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 supports the following music file formats:

MP3 (.mp3): 32 – 320 kbps (VBR) / 32, 44.1, 48 kHz

WMA (.wma): 32 – 320 kbps (VBR) / 44.1 kHz

FLAC (.flac): 16, 24 bit / 8 – 384 kHz

WAV (.wav): 16, 24, 32 bit (Float/Integer) / 8 – 384 kHz

AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 16 – 320 kbps / 8 – 48 kHz

HE-AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .3gp): 32 – 144 kbps / 8 – 48 kHz

Apple Lossless (.mp4, .m4a): 16, 24 bit / 8 – 384 kHz

AIFF (.aif, .aiff, .afc, .aifc): 16, 24, 32 bit / 8 – 384 kHz

DSD (.dsf, .dff): 1 bit / 2.8224, 5.6448, 11.2896 MHz

APE (.ape): 8, 16, 24 bit / 8 – 192 kHz (Fast, Normal, High)

MQA (.mqa.flac): Supported

Note: Copyright-protected files cannot be played back. Files that are 4 GB or larger (2 GB for APE) cannot be played back.

To connect your SONY WALKMAN NW-A306 YY1301B1 to a computer, you need compatible application software.

For Windows PC:

Music Center for PC is required. Please check the support page for the latest supported Operating Systems.

For Mac:

Additional software is required to operate the device on a Mac. An example is Android File Transfer.

Additionally, a Wi-Fi environment is required to use some features of the product, such as downloading apps or streaming music.