Sony

Sony NWMS9 Digital Music Player Network Walkman

3.0 (11 reviews)

Compact Network Walkman with MagicGate Memory Stick support for portable digital music playback.

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Overview

The Sony NW-MS9 Network Walkman represents an early chapter in portable digital music, designed for listeners who wanted to carry their CD rips and downloaded tracks in a pocket-sized device. It supports a broad range of audio formats for its time — ATRAC3, MP3, WMA, and Liquid Audio — giving users flexibility with their music libraries. The included 64MB MagicGate Memory Stick Media provides up to 120 minutes of playback depending on the encoding bitrate, and swappable Memory Sticks let you expand your library on the go.

As an SDMI-compliant device, the NW-MS9 incorporates digital rights management features that were standard in its era. Music is loaded via a computer using Sony's transfer software, which means you will need compatible software to manage your library. While the 64MB storage and proprietary media format feel limiting compared to modern players, the NW-MS9 remains a collectible example of Sony's early portable digital audio engineering and the compact industrial design the Walkman line was known for.

Key Features

Portable digital music player

64 MB memory, expandable with MagicGate Memory Sticks

Supports MP3, ATRAC3, WMA, and Liquid Audio formats (upgradeable for more)

5 Mbps file transmission speed

USB interface; includes battery charger, USB cable, headphones, NiMH battery, and carry strap

Specifications

Model
NW-MS9
Storage
64MB MagicGate Memory Stick Media
Playback Formats
ATRAC3, MP3, WMA, Liquid Audio
Playback Time
Up to 120 minutes
Upgradeability
Supports additional audio formats via upgrades
Compliance
SDMI Compliant

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Extremely compact and lightweight form factor for true on-the-go listening
  • Supports multiple audio formats including MP3, WMA, ATRAC3, and Liquid Audio
  • Swappable MagicGate Memory Stick allows you to carry additional music libraries
  • Up to 120 minutes of playback from the included 64MB storage

👎 Cons

  • 64MB of included storage is very limited by modern standards
  • Relies on proprietary MagicGate Memory Stick Media rather than standard flash storage
  • Requires Sony companion software for transferring music, limiting platform flexibility
  • Legacy device with no current manufacturer support or firmware updates

Frequently Asked Questions

It plays ATRAC3, MP3, WMA, and Liquid Audio formats.
The included 64MB MagicGate Memory Stick Media stores up to 120 minutes of music, depending on the bitrate and format used.
You transfer recordings from CDs and internet downloads to the device via your computer using Sony's companion software.
The device uses Memory Stick Media, so you can swap in additional MagicGate Memory Sticks to carry more music.
It means the NW-MS9 follows the Secure Digital Music Initiative standards for digital rights management, which governs how protected content is handled on the device.