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Sony VAIO VGF-WA1/W Wireless Digital Music Streamer | 
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| Brand: Sony
Category: CE
List Price: $349.99
Buy New: $199.00
You Save: $150.99 (43%)
New (5) Used (4) from $129.87
Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 23294
Color: White
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 9.2
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 17.8 x 10
MPN: VGF-WA1/W
Model: VGF-WA1/W
UPC: 027242713352
EAN: 0027242713352
ASIN: B000P5BSUG
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | plays music from your computer on built-in stereo speakers | | • | searches iTunes, Windows Media Player, and other music libraries for unprotected music files (plays protected music files purchased from Sony Connect online music store only) | | • | built-in Wi-Fi capability | | • | USB adapter for easy wireless connection to PC (uses proprietary network technology) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
VAIO Wireless Digital Music Streamer opens the door to a new world of audio entertainment with wireless playback of your PC music library. You can play back files recorded on SonicStage CP, iTunes, Windows Media Player and other applications. So you are ready for seamless playback of your favorites regardless of the type of music software.
Amazon.com Product Description
The Sony VAIO WA1 Wireless Digital Music Streamer opens the door to a new world of audio entertainment with wireless playback of your PC music library. You can play back files recorded on SonicStage CP, iTunes, Windows Media Player and other applications. It provides seamless playback of your favorites regardless of the type of music software.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Not Vista64 compatible September 25, 2008
Be warned--though the manufacturer claims Vista compatibility, this thing is NOT Vista64 compatible (per Sony Support). With some work, I was able to configure a workaround, but it's not supported by Sony. And the japanese firmware update someone else posted looks great, but simply will not install on a 64-bit OS.
The Sony support site for this is a debacle. It's a shame, because the hardware itself is beautiful and sounds great (not a ton of base, but no distortion at all). There's really nothing else like it on the market--too bad Sony of America doesn't see fit to really support it.
The (only) glaring deficiency for the hardware is the inability to quickly scroll through lists. I use it to play randomly through my whole collection, so I can deal with it, but it's a serious issue for normal playback of any good sized media library.
 Great idea and excellent sound, but use a different UPnP server April 26, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this a little over 4 months ago. The WA1 was very simple to set up with the configuratiobn tool Sony provided. It was a breeze to get it to work with my wireless LAN and security settings. Getting your music library in shape is the more daunting task.
The player is easy and the streamlined, buttonless control panel is cool. The music that comes out of this box is amazing, but that will depend heavily on the quality of the particular music file it is playing. There is good bass, and as with all sony products, the spatial effects are amazing.
I have used the player all over my two story townhouse and it works well. It works well outside, also. My neighborhood is loaded with wireless LANs and I have used it at a friend's house two doors away. This is through two concrete blocks walls!
No wireless LAN available where you want to use it? Easy, Use the internal memory to store songs and take the WA1 anywhere.
Sony almost got this one right. Using Sony's included server, or the one that comes with Windows Media Player may be adequate for most music libraries. However, if you have a large library, trying to find one or two songs with this player may be difficult.
A better UPnP server to use with this device is Twonky. Twonky allows customization of the menus and "plays well" with this device.
This is an amazing device. Buy Twonky and make your music library selections with quality files and this becomes a 5 star product for your home!
 Do NOT buy before you read this!!! April 5, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Be forewarned-I was too excited about this gift until I realized its LIMITED functions:
1) Web Radio streaming capability ONLY if you are a SONY 365 subscriber and want to listen to 365 provided radio stations!!! That is correct; this radio will not access/play/stream ANY OTHER radio off the web, ie Sirius, XM, etc...Period. No Can Do.
2) PC Music Files-Ready for this one? It will ONLY access Windows Media Player versions 10.0 and 11.0..it WILL NOT play iTunes nor any other stored music files on your computer...Period. Nada.
After several hours of working with Sony reps to download software required for setup and installation, I came to the very disappointing realization that this is not the product for anyone unless they meet the above 2 specifications; additionally, as this product is brand new to the market, the Sony reps knew virtually nothing more about the product nor its limited functions than I could infer from reading the small fine print in the manual.
Back to the drawing board for the perfect wireless pc/web quality radio speakers...
Useless web radio March 19, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Got this thing today and will return tomorrow. What is the point of selling a product and promoting its internet radio feature if you don't tell people that you are limited to Live365 radio stations. This makes no sense and is a waste of time when i can find my own radio stations.
Also you can't just put in a cd and play the music wirelessly, you have to first download the cd.
Overall very good, two big misses : CLICK-WHEEL and Internet Radios // The next version should be perfect ?? March 9, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
A) Three great features that make it worth it - I'm satisfied
- The setup is very easy with the USB Cable. Found the networks without any problem
- Good design overall : battery, look and feel, ease of use
- GREAT sound
B) Two big misses ( disappointed , but forgiving given A!):
- NO CLICK-WHEEL nor ANY way of picking music in a long list ( unless you call pushing the "down arrow" 499 timesa way of selecting a track, which seemingly Sony does). They should upgrade the Firmware and allow a new remote to do it. THIS IS SURPRISING. So I use it with playlists made on the computer.
- Limited radio access... so it cannot be called fully an Internet Radio
C) Recommendations for Sony for next version
- Check the compatibility with many UPnP servers... works fine with Windows Media Player, but not with a Linux UPnP server that is on my NAS. Cannot read playlists then.
- Add a website for the device to configure remotely, change the name, etc. See Roku's Soundbridge as an example
- Think of a large display on the front... so you CAN use the remote and see the titles
- Display should show title + artist, not filename!
- Selection by Notation (x star and above )would be g
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