Sony Walkman NW-A306 Upgrade Review From the A55

Why Upgrading From the A55 Feels Like Entering a New Era of Portable Audio

After spending several weeks with Sony’s Walkman — the NW-A306 — I can confidently say that this compact device reshapes the way I enjoy music on the go. Sitting right beside it during my testing period is my trusted older companion, the Sony A55, a device I’ve used extensively and know inside out. Today, I’m breaking down a full comparison between the two and sharing 8 major reasons why you might want to consider upgrading from the 50-series to Sony’s newer 300-series Walkman line.

This article captures all the observations from the original discussion while expanding on the details, explaining the experience in richer depth, and presenting a clearer overall narrative.

Sony Walkman A306 Review

1. Extremely Dim Minimum Brightness: True Night-Mode Listening

If you love listening to music before you fall asleep — whether you’re in a dark bedroom, a quiet cabin, or simply trying to unwind after a long day — the A306 introduces a surprisingly powerful improvement:an ultra-low minimum screen brightness.

The new screen becomes so dim at its lowest setting that it is almost invisible under normal lighting. In a pitch-black room, it feels gentle on the eyes, allowing you to navigate menus without any discomfort.The A55, by comparison, is almost shockingly bright at its lowest brightness. Opening the display in the middle of the night feels like pointing a flashlight directly at your face. It completely breaks the calm atmosphere and disrupts the nighttime listening experience.

With the A306, this issue is completely gone. The subtle glow makes nighttime navigation effortless, comfortable, and unobtrusive.

2. A Real Search Function: The Feature the Old Walkman Never Truly Had

It seems basic, but it’s a game changer.

On the A55, searching for a song is incredibly limited. You’re restricted to alphabetical search categories — A, B, C — and if your music includes titles in other languages, symbols, or mixed scripts, it becomes nearly impossible to locate what you need quickly.

The A306 changes everything by running Android, which means:

• You can search using a full keyboard.

• You can download additional language packs.

• You can search by song title, artist name, or album name.

This single improvement dramatically improves usability for people with large or multilingual libraries. Finding your favorite track while commuting or traveling becomes instant and intuitive.

3. Dramatic Performance Boost: Faster Response, Smoother UI

The new A306 feels significantly more responsive than the A55 — not just a little different, but dramatically so.

On the older Walkman:

• Turning off the screen and using physical buttons introduces a nearly one-second delay before the music starts or pauses.

• The UI feels sluggish.

• Sometimes you even have to double-press the power button just to wake it.

On the A306:

• The screen wakes up instantly.

• Button commands register immediately.

• Scrolling, switching menus, and browsing your library feel fluid and modern.

It’s one of those improvements you don’t realize you desperately needed until you try it.

4. Goodbye Proprietary Cable, Hello USB-C

The A55 uses Sony’s old proprietary charging port.If you forget that cable at home, you are completely stuck — no charging, no file transfers, nothing.

On the A306, everything is finally simplified:

• Standard USB-C charging

• Universal cable compatibility

• Faster and easier file transfers

• No dependency on a rare or easily misplaced cable

This alone makes the new Walkman far more practical for travel or everyday carry.

5. Improved Sound Quality and Better Low-End Response

While both Walkman models offer good sound quality, the A306 introduces several enhancements:

• Low frequencies feel punchier, fuller, and more controlled.

• Sony’s updated upscaling technology (the ultimate version) noticeably improves clarity in compressed files.

• Even when using Bluetooth headphones, the A306 performs slightly better, offering more stable output and improved codec support.

The upgrade isn’t dramatic enough to compete with high-end desktop gear, but within this compact form factor, the improvements are clearly audible.

6. AAC Codec Support + Full EQ Control Over Bluetooth

Surprisingly, the A55 does not support AAC for Bluetooth audio — something many users rely on, especially with Apple devices or certain wireless earbuds.

The A306, however:

• Supports AAC

• Supports high-resolution wireless audio

• Gives you full EQ access even when using Bluetooth

On the A55, EQ simply cannot be applied over Bluetooth.On the A306, not only can you fine-tune your sound, but you can also double-stack equalizers:

1. Use the EQ inside your earphones’ companion app

2. Add the Walkman’s own more precise EQ on top

This allows for extremely granular control of your sound signature.

7. Better Wireless Stability With Bluetooth 5.0

The A306 upgrades to Bluetooth 5.0, bringing better stability and slightly longer range.It’s not the newest version on the market, but for audio devices, it’s more than enough:

• Stronger signal stability

• Fewer dropouts

• More consistent high-resolution transmission

It simply works better and feels more reliable in everyday use.

8. Freedom Through Android: Apps, Players, Streaming Services

Because the A306 runs Android, you’re no longer restricted to Sony’s default interface.

You can install:

• Spotify

• YouTube Music

• Tidal

• Apple Music

• Poweramp

• Any player you like

This transforms the A306 into a small, optimized, dedicated music device with the flexibility of modern apps. You can tailor the experience to exactly how you want to listen.

Battery Life Concerns? Surprisingly Not a Problem

Many people worry that using Android would drain the battery, the A306 is extremely power-efficient.

After an entire night, the device only lost 5~6% battery.With typical usage patterns, it lasts comfortably long for a device in this class — especially given the performance and freedom it offers.

Who Is the A306 For?

If you’re using:

• IEMs (in-ear monitors)

• Portable earbuds

• Compact headphones

The A306 offers the perfect combination of portability and excellent audio performance.If you use large, power-hungry headphones that require strong amplification, you may still want a bigger DAC/amp or a more powerful DAP.

But for most users who want:

• A compact music player

• Great UI

• Good Bluetooth performance

• Excellent battery life

• Punchy sound quality

• Modern app flexibility

…the A306 hits a remarkably well-balanced sweet spot.

Final Thoughts

After weeks of use, the Sony Walkman A306 feels like a meaningful leap beyond the A55 — not just a small update, but a genuine step forward into a more flexible, more modern way of enjoying portable music.

I’ll also be sharing every negative aspect I found in the comments section, so be sure to check that out as well.

If you’re considering an upgrade, this might be the perfect time.

Sony Walkman A306 Review