NWZ-WH303 - Sony Audio Service Manual (repair manual)

2013I33-1

© 

2013.09

Note:
Be sure to keep your PC used for service and 
checking of this unit always updated with the 
latest version of your anti-virus software.
In case a virus affected unit was found during 
service, contact your Service Headquarters. 

Photo: NWZ-WH303

– Continued on next page –

Photo: NWZ-WH505

Supported formats

Audio Formats (Codec) 
MP3
Media File format: MP3 (MPEG-1 Layer3) file format
File extension: .mp3
Bit rate: 32 kbps to 320 kbps (Supports variable bit rate (VBR))
Sampling frequency (*2): 32, 44.1, 48 kHz

WMA (*1) 
Media File format: ASF file format
File extension: .wma
Bit rate: 32 kbps to 192 kbps (Supports variable bit rate (VBR))
Sampling frequency (*2): 44.1 kHz

Linear PCM
Media File format: Wave-Riff file format
File extension: .wav
Bit rate: 1,411 kbps 
Sampling frequency (*2): 44.1 kHz

AAC (*3) 
Media File format: MP4 file format
File extension: .mp4, .m4a, .3gp
Bit rate: 16 kbps to 320 kbps (Supports variable bit rate (VBR)) (*4)
Sampling frequency (*2): 8, 11.025, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 kHz 

(*1)

 Copyright protected WMA files cannot be played back.

(*2)

 Sampling frequency may not correspond to all encoders.

(*3)

 Copyright protected AAC-LC files cannot be played back. 

(*4)

 Non-standard bit rates or non-guaranteed bit rates are included depending on the sampling 

frequency.

Maximum recordable number of songs and time 

(Approx.)

The approximate times are based on the case in which you transfer or record only 4 
minute songs (not including videos and photos) in the MP3 format. Other playable 
audio file format song numbers and times may differ from MP3 format.

128 kbps: Approx. 3,900 songs
1,411 kbps (Linear PCM): Approx. 350 songs

128 kbps: Approx. 960 songs
1,411 kbps (Linear PCM): Approx. 87 songs

128 kbps: Approx. 260 hr. 00 min.
1,411 kbps (Linear PCM): Approx. 23 hr. 20 min.

128 kbps: Approx. 64 hr. 00 min.
1,411 kbps (Linear PCM): Approx. 5 hr. 40 min.

CAUTION
Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced.
Replace only with the same or equivalent type.

Battery life

The time below may differ depending on ambient temperature or the status of use.

Actual battery life may vary depending on settings. The estimated battery usage 
hours shown below are based on typical usage conditions with “Settings for battery 
life measurement” as shown below.

MP3 128 kbps
OUTPUT/HEADPHONES: approx. 20 Hrs
OUTPUT/SPEAKERS: approx. 5 Hrs

Linear PCM 1,411 kbps
OUTPUT/HEADPHONES: approx. 18 Hrs
OUTPUT/SPEAKERS: approx. 5 Hrs

Even if the player is turned off for an extended period, a small amount of battery power is 
still consumed. 

‡

Battery life may vary depending on volume setting, conditions of use and ambient 
temperature.

‡

Music Settings
Dynamic Normalizer (*1): Off (default setting: Off)
Sound Enhancement (*2): Off (default setting: Off)
Illumination (*3): Off (default setting: On)

(*1)

 The [On] setting shortens the battery life about 25 % compared with the [Off] setting.

(*2)

 The [Sound Enhancement 1] setting shortens the battery life about 20 % compared with the 

[Off] setting.  
The [Sound Enhancement 2] setting shortens the battery life about 50 % compared with the 
[Off] setting.

(*3)

 The [On] setting shortens the battery life about 40 % compared with the [Off] setting.

Specifications

USB microB connector
Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0 compliant) 

Stereo mini-jack

Closed, dynamic

NWZ-WH505: 40 mm, dome type (CCAW Voice Coil)
NWZ-WH303: 30 mm, dome type (CCAW Voice Coil)

1,000 mW (IEC (*1))

NWZ-WH505: 40 ƻ at 1 kHz
NWZ-WH303: 30 ƻ at 1 kHz

NWZ-WH505: 105 dB/mW
NWZ-WH303: 107 dB/mW

NWZ-WH505: 5 Hz to 25,000 Hz
NWZ-WH303: 30 Hz to 20,000 Hz

Stereo

Dynamic Normalizer (On/Off)
Sound Enhancement (Off/1/2) [HEADPHONES output only]

Built-in Rechargeable lithium-ion Battery 3.7 V
USB power (from a computer via a USB connector of the player)

Approx. 2 hours
Quick charge
Approx. 3 minutes charge enables up to approx. 60 minutes playback.

5 °C to 35 °C (41 ºF to 95 ºF)

NWZ-WH505: 313 g (11.1 oz)
NWZ-WH303: 292 g (10.4 oz)

NWZ-WH505: 16 GB
NWZ-WH303: 4 GB

(*1)

 IEC = International Electrotechnical Commission

(*2)

 Available capacity may vary. A portion of the memory is used for data management 

functions.

“WALKMAN” specifications and designs are subject to change without notice.

‡

Contents

List of accessories and manuals supplied with your Walkman. 

“WALKMAN” (1)

‡

Headphones cable (1)

‡

USB cable (1)

‡

Quick Start Guide

‡

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

“WALKMAN” and “WALKMAN” logo are registered trademarks of Sony Corporation.

‡

“12 TONE ANALYSIS” and its logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

‡

Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and Windows Media are either trademarks or 
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other 
countries.

‡

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

‡

Apple, Mac and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other 
countries.

‡

ZAPPIN and its logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

‡

“Clear Phase” and “Clear Phase” logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

‡

“Clear Bass” is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

‡

“xLOUD” and “xLOUD” logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

‡

VPT, Virtualphones Technology is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation.

‡

All other trademarks and registered trademarks are trademarks or registered 
trademarks of their respective holders. In this manual, TM and ® marks are not 
specified.

‡

MPEG Layer-3 audio coding technology and patents licensed from Fraunhofer IIS and 
Thomson.

‡

This product is protected by certain intellectual property rights of Microsoft Corporation. 
Use or distribution of such technology outside of this product is prohibited without a 
license from Microsoft or an authorized Microsoft subsidiary.

‡

 .............................................  

3

2-1. Disassembly 

Flow 

...........................................................   7

2-2. Ear 

Pad 

............................................................................   8

2-3.  Front Plate Block (L-ch) .................................................   8
2-4.  Inner Housing (L), Open the Short-land (L-ch) ..............   9
2-5.  Front Plate Assy (DR1) (L-ch) ........................................   10
2-6.  Knob (SH), Knob (Power) (L-ch) ...................................   11
2-7.  MAIN Board (L-ch) ........................................................   12
2-8.  Battery Assy (BAT1) (L-ch) (NWZ-WH303) .................   13
2-9.  Ornament (Top) L Block (L-ch) (NWZ-WH505) ...........   13
2-10.  Battery Assy (BAT1) (L-ch) (NWZ-WH505) .................   14
2-11.  Front Plate Assy (DR2) (R-ch) .......................................   15
2-12.  Inner Housing (R) (R-ch) ................................................   16
2-13.  SUB Board (R-ch) ..........................................................   16

3-1.  Front Plate (L-ch) Section ...............................................   17
3-2.  Front Plate (R-ch) Section ..............................................   18
3-3.  Housing (L-ch) Section (NWZ-WH303) ........................   19
3-4.  Housing (L-ch) Section (NWZ-WH505) ........................   20
3-5.  Housing (R-ch), Headband Section (NWZ-WH303) .....   21
3-6.  Housing (R-ch), Headband Section (NWZ-WH505) .....   22

 .......................................................   23

ABOUT  THE  REPAIRING  OF  BOARD
When electric parts installed by this unit are defective, replace the 
complete mounted board. Individual electrical parts that the mount 
is done cannot be exchanged.

ABOUT  THE  HANDLING  OF  THE  BATTERY  ASSY 
(BAT1)
When the BATTERY ASSY (BAT1) is removed, insulate the end 
of wire by a tape etc. to prevent short-circuited of the wire part of 
BATTERY ASSY (BAT1).

System requirements

We do not guarantee operation for all computers even if they meet the following 
system requirements.

Computer

‡

Windows® XP Home Edition (*1) (Service Pack 3 or later)

Windows® XP Professional (*1) (Service Pack 3 or later)

Windows Vista® Home Basic (Service Pack 2 or later)

Windows Vista® Home Premium (Service Pack 2 or later)

Windows Vista® Business (Service Pack 2 or later)

Windows Vista® Ultimate (Service Pack 2 or later)

Windows® 7 Starter (Service Pack 1 or later)

Windows® 7 Home Basic (Service Pack 1 or later)

Windows® 7 Home Premium (Service Pack 1 or later)

Windows® 7 Professional (Service Pack 1 or later)

Windows® 7 Ultimate (Service Pack 1 or later)

Windows® 8

Windows® 8 Pro

Mac OS® X v10.6 or later

Not supported by OSs other than above.
“Compatibility mode” for Windows XP (included with Windows Vista and Windows 
7) is not supported.

(*1)

 Excluding 64-bit OS versions.

CPU: 1 GHz processor (2.6 GHz recommended for video playback)

‡

RAM: 1 GB or more (2 GB RAM required for Windows 8 64-bit)

‡

Hard Disk Drive / Solid State Drive: 600 MB or more of available space

‡

Internet Explorer 7 or later

‡

Internet connection (for Gracenote® MusicID® service, podcast features, Store 
access, or online help)

‡

We do not guarantee operation for all computers even if they meet the above System 
Requirements.

Not supported by the following environments:

Personally constructed computers or operating systems

‡

An environment that is an upgrade of the original manufacturer-installed 
operating system

‡

Multi-boot environment

‡

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Procedure:
1.  Open the Device Manager of windows on PC.
2.  Expand the “Portable Devices”, and right click on the “WALK-

MAN” and select the “Properties”.

3.  Click the “Driver” tab, and click the “Update Driver...”.

4.  Click the “Browse my computer for driver software”.

Procedure:
1.  Connect “WALKMAN” to PC.
2.  Open the my computer window on PC, and open the “Informa-

tion.txt” in “WALKMAN”.

3.  “03” in “Information.txt” is a version.
 

(Displayed characters/values in the following fi gure are ex-
ample)

NOTE  THE  MAIN  BOARD  REPLACING
When the MAIN board is replaced, the destination setting is neces-
sary.

Procedure:
1.  Obtain the destination setting tool (“Change_Destination_

Tool_NW-WH500_WH300.zip”).

Note: Confi rm the method of obtaining the destination setting tool to the 

service headquarters.

2.  Connect “WALKMAN” to PC.
3.  Open the my computer window on PC, and confi rm  how 

“WALKMAN” is recognized on PC.

 

In the following example, “WALKMAN” is recognized by 
MTP connection.

 

In the following example, “WALKMAN” is recognized by 
MSC connection (at this example, it is “E”).

4.  In the MTP connection, it is necessary to change into MSC 

connection. Please refer to “2. The change method to MSC 
connection”. 

 

In the MSC connection, please refer to “3. How to use the des-
tination setting tool”.