Review: Sony Walkman cradle (BCR-NWU3)

The Sony Walkman cradle (BCR-NWU3) is part of the wide selection of official Walkman accessories currently available for the S610 and A810 series of digital media players. The cradle is designed not only to charge and sync, but also to enable Walkman devices to output line-level signals to external speaker systems and to accept and record line-level signals from various audio sources.

Does it deliver on all of its promises? Read on to find out.

Packaging

Sony usually puts so much thought into the design and build quality of its products that the importance of presentation and the unboxing experience often seem to have been forgotten.

Such is the case with the Walkman cradle, which is packaged in hard plastic that requires a pair of scissors to cut open and carries no "wow appeal."

Contents

Included with the cradle are a DC charging cord that looks like a standard USB cable, AC adapter and power cord, operating instructions, and other paperwork.

Wrapped around the charging cord is a sticker bearing the words "Cannot connect to PC with this cable. Connect to AC adapter." To connect the cradle to a computer for syncing, the USB cable supplied with the S610 and A810 series must be used.

The cradle has both audio-in and audio-out ports (more on this under "Function" below), but the necessary stereo mini plug connector audio cables are not included.

Design

Complementing the sleek design of the A810 Walkman perfectly, the cradle is fashioned out of the shiniest, most smudge-loving silver and black plastic known to man.

On the bottom is a rubber base that keeps the unit in place when inserting and removing seat clips (also called cradle connectors), using the player's controls, and (un)plugging various cords and cables.

Rather than set the I/O ports (see "Function" below) along the curved side of the cradle, Sony's design team cut a piece from the back and lined up the jacks on a flat edge.

This isn't the most creatively designed cradle out there, but the "missing piece" gives it some character and makes it more visually interesting than a lot of other docks (nice, considering that cradles and docking stations typically maintain permanent places on desks and shelves).

What really strikes me about the cradle, aside from its coaster-like appearance, is actually its size. It's huge! Take a look at it next to the Creative Zen Vision:M docking station, iPod/iPhone dock, and iriver clix 2 cradle:

Fit

The Walkman cradle is currently compatible with only the S610 and A810 Walkman series (and their regional counterparts) and requires the use of seat clips for a perfect fit. The clips are not absolutely necessary for the players to connect, but they're recommended to minimize the possibility of damage.

Black plastic seat clips (or cradle connectors) are supplied with each player, not the cradle. Note that the S610 and A810 connectors are not interchangeable, so if you have and use both players, you'll need to swap seats as often as you swap devices.

The clips snap into place with little effort and can be removed by pushing the "concave part" toward the back of the cradle and pressing down on the three dots above the Walkman symbol.

Here are some photos of the S610 and A810 connected and sitting pretty in the Walkman cradle.

Walkman S610 series

Walkman A810 series

Function

The Walkman cradle is equipped with the following I/O ports:

• Audio-out jack for connecting the cradle to a speaker system (requires optional cable)
• Audio-in jack for recording to an unspecified Walkman model from an audio source like a CD player (requires optional cable)
• WM-PORT jack for connecting the cradle to a computer (requires USB cable supplied with Walkman player)
• DC-in jack for charging the Walkman player with the AC adapter

The Level Switch at the bottom of the cradle sets the recording level. Level 1 is for recording from a line-out or headphone jack of something like a DAP, while Level 2 is for recording from the line-out jack of a component system or anything with a high audio output level.

Three of the four functions work without a hitch: connecting to external speakers, connecting to a computer, and charging a Walkman's internal battery. What I can't make heads or tails of is the audio-in recording feature. Neither the S610 or A810 has recording functions (none that I can find, anyway), so either Sony plans to add the capability through a future firmware upgrade or a new Walkman model with line-in recording is coming down the pipe.

Conclusion

The Sony Walkman cradle (BCR-NWU3) is an attractive add-on that simplifies the already user-friendly S610 and A810 series of media players by acting as an all-in-one hub for charging, syncing, and playing music through a speaker system.

When and/or if the players are able to make use of the integrated line-in jack to record audio from CD players and other sources, the cradle will instantly become the ultimate must-have Walkman accessory. For now, though, it's a convenient and easy way to get things done without having to keep track of a bundle of cables and cords.

The cradle is available now from Sony Style and Amazon for $50.

Comments

[OMEGA007]

hi can you tell me if with the cradle an a810 can play music to external speakers while charging via the ac (with the cradle not conected to the pc for synch)

[Jenn]

Hi OMEGA007. Yes, the A810 (and S610) can play music through speakers while being charged with the included AC adapter. It's annoying that in addition to the adapter and power cord, you need to connect the charging cord (the USB cable). A three-part charging system is strange.

[OMEGA007]

i asked because i wanted to know if i could do that with the ac adapter sony sells separately not this cradle but i asume its the same since the usb cable that the ac adapter has cant be used to transfer data like this cable.

And i asume also that the ac adpter box in the cradle like the one on the other ace adapter has an usb slot for you to charge a mp3 player with an direct usb conection like those thumbdrive sony mp3 players.

[Jenn]

It didn't work with the generic USB AC adapter I have, but I'm able to charge the player and play music while connected directly into the AC adapter that came with the cradle. I'm using the USB cable supplied with the player (one end is Sony's proprietary WM connector, the other end is a standard USB plug), so I think I just have a faulty generic AC adapter.

In other words, in response to your A810 Walkman review comment, the player should be able to charge and play while connected to an outlet:

* using the supplied cable and a generic usb to ac converter
* using the Sony AC Walkman charger
* using the Sony Walkman cradle

[OMEGA007]

thats weird that it plays music while charging with the data cable supplied with the walkman because i believed the cradle lets you play music while charging because the cable cant transfer data so it doesnt tries to synch.

so i wonder why then the sony ac adaptor cable doesnt transfer data (to make you buy the data cable instead of the ac charger if you need a data cable spare, maybe?)

but even so it doesnt explain why the data cable on the cradle ac charger lets you play music because in the pc it cant and if i try lets say my cell phone data cable on my ac to usb converter it tries to synch like it was connected to a pc (the same with an usb mp3 player i got), weird that this data cable doesnt try to synch and bans you from playing music when connected to the cradle ac.

about the usb to ac converter i think it works on the sony one and not generic because sony ac adapter is 800 MAH and most generic ones are 500 MAH.

and sorry for the long comment i was just curious because i wanted a mp3 player that if in some case the battery fails i could play music from the ac to use it like a desktop system with speakers and that comment about the supplied cable just maked me wonder why it does that.

thanks for all Jenn, nice site and nice reviews.

[Kimmi]

I just got my pink sony 4gb player and cradle today!
Can you tell me how to record into the walkman?
What exactly do I need to do?
Thanks.

[OMEGA007]

you cant record into the walkman via the line in yet, maybe if they release a firmware update for that or maybe this is only for newer unreleased yet players.

[Rob]

Jenn,

Thank you for posting such a thorough and clear review of this cradle. I was considering buying one for the line-in functionality, but as this doesn't currently seem to work, I won't be buying one in the immediate future. Thank you for making this clear - yours is the only site I could find that actually made this rather fundamental limitation explicit!

Rob

[Jenn]

Thanks, Rob. I'm glad you were able to find out what you wanted to know before you actually went ahead and bought it.

[Keith]

Could someone help me understand this? If I drop the the sony s615 into the cradle, does the wm-port on the bottom take care of the charging, while at the same time transfer the music to the speakers -there are no other connection required to the walkman other than the the WM-PORT, RIGHT?

thanks
Keith

[Jenn]

The Walkman will only be charged if the cradle is plugged into a wall outlet (through DC-in jack) or connected to a computer (through WM-PORT). If you only connect the cradle to a set of speakers, the Walkman will not be charged.

In other words, dropping the player into the cradle doesn't do anything unless the cradle is connected to something else through one of the ports on the back.

[Amith]

Hi,

Was just wondering, is there any way that the FM tuner option can be incorporated to the a816?...bought this model thinking it had the radio as well....am desperate to have radio as well...thanks

Amith

[ez]

I wonder why they didn;t do one of these with a remote control??? Going to buy one though as will do as a travel charger also...

[Joe Edwards]

The recording feature is ties to the Sony NW-S700 series flash players. This player can record with a special cable or through the dock. I have never seen the recording cable in the States, but there were TONS of them at Akihabara.

[Joek]

Hi

Can someone confirm if the AC adapter suplied with this unit is universal voltage (ie 100-240 volts) Can I use it in the USA while on Holiday.

Joek

[Elton Noway]

The label on the AC Adapter (that ships with the BCR-NWU3 cradle), includes the following information:

INPUT: AC100-240V 50/60Hz 6W
OUTPUT: DC5V 800mA

In other words, Yes, you could use this cradle/AC Adapter in the US.

[Elaine]

Hi.
I'd really appreciate your advice, please as I can't find the info I want.

I recently bought the Sony NWZA818 for my son, and we would like to be able to charge it without always having the laptop on.

Do I need to get this cradle or is there a cheaper option?
I've seen cheap wall plug-chargers that the sellers claim to be suitable on Ebay but am nervous that they might damage the battery.

I'd be really grateful for any suggestion/advice/opinion you could offer, please.

Many thanks

[Jenn]

Generic USB-to-AC adapters should work with no problem. The only way to damage the Walkman's battery would be to use a charger with the "wrong" amperage. USB-to-AC adapters are designed to work with pretty much anything that will charge via USB (5V).

I use the USB adapter supplied with the Walkman cradle to charge most of my DAPs and USB-chargeable devices.

[Damage]

The recording function does work on older walkmans with the WM-Port (NW-S70X series for one) and that has recording function enabled. The dock itself should work across the board for any and all Walkmen with the WM-Port.

For $200, I believe you can get the one with the S-Master enabled speaker, subwoofer, and remote. Just a tad bit rich but.