Gadget Review : Sony Smart B-Trainer : A user's comparison with the Sony NWZ-W252 W Series Walkman MP3 Player

After wearing the Sony Smart B-Trainer (SBT) while racing in the rain at the IM4U Reach Out Run 2015 in mid June (you can read my experience in my earlier blogpost), I went on to put the SBT thru more rigorous testing.

The heart-shaped sugar pink Sony Smart B-Trainer unit I was given to test

This time round, I won't be giving an in-depth technical review of the device nor will this review be a user manual of how to use the device. You may find out more information including the full specifications of this device from Sony's website.

The package

As already mentioned in my earlier blogpost, the SBT works as both a MP3 Music Player and also a Voice-guided trainer for most of a runner's sporting needs, with the added features of voice-guided training, GPS, bluetooth, heart-rate monitor sensor all rolled into one. The SBT also comes in a range of attractive colors of White, Black, Baby Blue, Pink and Lime Green.

I love the case that allows me to fasten the Smart B-Trainer so it doesn't jiggle around when I move the case! 

In this post, I have instead, written a simple comparison of the SBT with the Sony NWZ-W252 W Series Walkman MP3 Player (W252) that I own, which was purchased way back in 2010.

The NWZ-W252 W Series Walkman MP3 Player (Left) vs the Smart B-Trainer (Right)
Similar in shape but not in width

Shape, Fit and Weight

The SBT looks similar in shape to the W252. However, the W252 has a bigger neckband which did not really fit well around my head. The loops around my ear somehow were too big and this resulted in the earbuds frequently slipping out of my ear mid-run.

Side by side comparison of the SBT (left) vs the W252 (right)

Sony seems to have improved the fit of the SBT as it did not have this problem at all. In fact, the package came with an adjustment band as well to adjust the neckband accordingly so that the device and earbuds could fit snugly around one's neck and loop around the ears properly. I can attest to this fact because the earbuds did not come loose at all while I was racing at high speed (4 min + pace) during the Reach Out Run 2015 race. In fact, I didn't even need to use the adjustment band at all and the SBT fit very well.

In addition, the SBT package comes with a variety of different sized earbuds and even swimming earbuds for swimming usage. Yes! You heard that right! The SBT can even be used for your swim workout! I have tested this device in my apartment's swimming pool!

Various sized ear buds come with the package. The darker colored ear buds are used for swimming.
The USB docking charger is included. Along with the Adjustment Band for the Neckband.

In terms of weight, the difference isn't all that great : W252 weighs 1.6oz (43 grams) and the SBT weighs approximately 1.5oz (40 grams). However, the SBT somehow feels lighter on the head by a great deal when I wear it as compared to the W252.

Waterproofing

Both the SBT and W252 are waterproof however, the W252 has a magnetic piece at the ends of both the left and right headphones which started to rust and corrode from sweat after multiple usage although it was meticulously wiped after each use.

Notice how I have had to cover the rusted and corroded right headphone end with cellotape
to prevent the rust from sticking to my face when I run with it

I foresee that the SBT won't have the same problem as it doesn't have this magnetic piece attached to both headphones.

The heart rate monitor sensor is found on the right headphone. 

Sound Quality, Playing Music & Battery Life

In terms of sound quality, I found both devices were more or less on par. The SBT and the W252 do not have an EQ function and neither does it have a BASS function. 

Normally, this doesn't affect me much because usually, if I ever listen to music on the run (*Note : I only run with an MP3 player in a safe enclosed environment like the local park where there are no vehicle traffic) because I use music for running purely for the beat and rhythm to fire my workout if I am feeling particularly lethargic that day. 

Nonetheless, I can imagine that you might be a little dismayed if you are particular about the sound quality of the music you play in your ears.

The W252 has a proprietary music scanning feature called 'Zappin' which allows me to zap in and listen to small sections of each music track and when I find one that interests me, I may choose to zap out and resume playing the song of choice.

The SBT does not have the 'Zappin' feature but it has the ability to allow me to switch between playing the songs randomly in Shuffle mode or play the songs in order of the folder and file names in Normal mode. 

Buttons found on the W252

In terms of battery life, the W252 can be charged for just 3 minutes and it would provide me with 90 minutes of playback time but can provide up to 11 hours of playback time on a full 1.5 hours charge.

The SBT is also fully charged after 1.5 hours however, how long the battery lasts will depend very much on the usage of the unit as the device has both a Bluetooth, GPS and Training Plan feature working together at different times depending on the choice of the user. 

On average, I found that if I left the GPS and Bluetooth on while running with the Training Plan on, the device could only last me about 3 hours max but if I turned off the Training Plan feature, the device could last a further half hour. This is in line with the Specifications on Sony's site.

Summary data of the selected workout shown in the app.
More details can be found by scrolling through the tabs from left to right at the lower half of the screen

Both devices are charged via their respective USB cradles which can be connected via USB port to my computer or to a power point via a head socket with a USB port. 

Buttons on the SBT

Attaching the SBT to the USB Docking station (1)

Attaching the SBT to the USB Docking station (2)

Transfer of Music and Storage Space

Music can be transferred easily to the device from my computer via the USB connection. However the W252 can only hold roughly 1.68GB of songs whereas Sony claims that the SBT is an MP3 of 128kbps which can store an approximate of 3,900 songs assuming 1 song is 4 minutes. 

For the record, I haven't reached the ceiling yet although I have so far transferred around 200 songs into the SBT and some of the songs are as long as 6 minutes!

Voice Guidance

The SBT also has full voice guidance throughout my workout giving me feedback on my pace, speed, calories burnt, distance, heart rate and feedbacks to me whether I am running too fast or too slow or on target pace or whenever I start or stop the training plan or turn on / off the device. 

Whereas the W252's voice guidance only comes into play during the zappin in and zappin out feature activation.

Others Great Features of the SBT

The SBT is a trainer so it obviously has the additional advantage of a built-in GPS, heart rate monitor, Bluetooth and Training Plan feature which allows you to download your training data via the app installed on your phone or tablet or computer and enable you to further analyze your training in terms of comparison of pace, heart rate, cadence, steps, elevation. I loved this feature although I cannot install the app on my Windows Phone so I had to install it on my Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 instead!

Overall distance ran and workouts recorded shown in the app

In addition, the SBT also has the rather neat NFC feature that can allow the app on the trainer to be downloaded to your smartphone with NFC setting enabled. (*Note : the NFC function may not be available on your smartphone). 

None of the above is available on the W252 which works solely as a music player and doesn't have the added complication / bonus (depending on how one views it) of an application software to be downloaded separately.

In addition, the SBT's GPS distance tracking appears to also work while running on an indoor treadmill! I was surprised to find that the device could still keep track of the distance I ran on the treadmill while listening to the voice guidance although it is only 88% accurate compared to the treadmill's display at the end of the workout.

Total workouts recorded in June 2015
The one dated 25th June was supposed to be a 8 km treadmill run but the device recorded only 7.05 km.

The Cons of the Sony Smart B-Trainer

Whilst the SBT is a great device, I have uncovered along the way of my usage, a few cons of the unit which I believe may be of some interest to readers of this post.

1. The SBT does not allow the user to change the training plan from a Target Distance or Target Pace training plan to a Free Training Plan while using it on the fly. This can be a bit of an irritation if you are feeling good that day and running faster than the prescribed pace but cannot switch to the Free Training Plan. The voice guidance will continue to repeat that you are running faster than your prescribed pace at set time intervals.

2. A completed workout cannot be immediately viewed on screen unlike a sports watch. You will have to replay to listen to the voice recorded summary of your workout. This may not be so ideal for "visual" people. (Research has shown that roughly 65% of the world's population are visual learners)

3. If you are running faster than your pre-set pace on your downloaded Training Plan for that day, the SBT may have difficulty finding the right song to fit your pace in the database (assuming you did not load a song with fast enough beats into the device earlier on) and as a result, the SBT may continue to repeatedly play the same current song and disallow you to change the song manually no matter how many times you press the play next song button.

 

4. The GPS on the SBT doesn't work under covered bridges or inside tunnels unlike the GPS tracking on my Garmin Forerunner 220 watch. So the distance tracked may not be so accurate depending on whether you encounter such scenarios in your run route.

 

The Smart B-Trainer has a brain!

Amongst one of the rigorous tests I put it through, there was this feature of the ability to pre-set one's pace in the training plan. However, in order to gain access to this feature, one had to first log a certain amount of distance before the feature would be available to be selected.

I tried driving around in my car with the device on. However, it managed to detect that my heart rate was not working like it would if I ran and it refused to track the GPS distance accurately despite me driving for more than 7km! At the end of the car ride, the total distance read out via the voice feedback on the workout summary was only 1.5km!

So you see, this device is very smart! You can't fool it at all! 

I have had lots of fun testing this device.

Enjoying the B-trainer after my very 1st test run with the GCAM MY Team

The SBT retails at MYR999.00 and is already available in stores in Malaysia.
 

Lastly, I would like to thank Sony Malaysia for the opportunity to test this new piece of sound technology and Jamie Pang for linking us up as testers of the device.

For a another well-written in-depth review of the SBT, please refer to my friend, running buddy and fellow GCAM MY Training teammate – Nick Phillip’s blog here.

*Note : My review above is non-technical in nature and all opinions expressed in this review is entirely the author’s own, may be generic and does not claim to represent a similar experience for every user. This review is also not influenced in any way by Sony Malaysia.