Sony NW-E507

Offers more than just a quick shuffle.

After getting out of the MP3 blocks late, Sony is keen to make up for lost time, and the NW-E507 is the flagship model from a new range that includes three distinct series of flash-memory players. As such it boasts 1GB of storage - enough for around 700 ATRAC tracks - and an FM tuner.

Sony makes a big deal of the Organic EL display, and even though it's only three lines deep, it is very bright and easy to read, and obviously a plus over its natural prey, Apple's iPod Shuffle. It's also easy to use, with an intuitive series of pushes, pulls and twists getting you right to the heart of your collection quickly, even though transfer times from a PC seem to drag.

What is impressive is the battery life: not just the claimed 50 hours of playback, but the fact that a quick three-minute juicing will enable the E507 to run for three hours! Never again will you have to leave your music at home because you only remember to charge your player as you're walking out the door.

Sound quality is also more than acceptable, especially with ATRAC files, but higher-bit-rate MP3s also sound impressive on the supplied headphones.

The only problem we have is with the pricing: £160 is a bit steep, especially when you consider that the rival iPod Shuffle costs under a ton. Yes, we know you get a nice screen and an FM radio, but we're not entirely convinced that the extras are worth the premium.