"Can you get Audible on Sony Walkman?" If your Sony Walkman such as NW-A306 / NW-WM1ZM2 has the Google Play Store, you can download the Audible app to play audiobooks directly. If not, you need to use a converter or AudibleSync to transfer Audible audiobooks to your Walkman via USB cable.
No matter which Sony Walkman you own, you can get the detailed guide here to download and sync your Audible library to your Sony Walkman for playback.
Quick Answer: Choose the Right Method to Play Audible on Sony Walkman
| Sony Walkman Model Series | Operating System | Recommended Method |
|---|---|---|
| NW-A306, NW-A105, NW-WM1ZM2 | Android OS | Direct app install |
| NW-A55, NW-ZX300, NW-E394 | Proprietary / Linux | AudibleSync or Conversion (Local Files) |
| NWZ-B183F, NW-WS413 (Wearable) | Non-Screen / Basic | Conversion (Local Files) |
Part 1. How to Listen to Audible Books on Sony Walkman via Audible for Android App
If you own one of Walkman MP3 players like the NW-A306 and NW-WM1AM2 running Android OS 12, they have full access to the Google Play Store. In this case, you can download and listen to Audible books on them directly via Audible app.
Step 1. Make sure that your Sony Walkman is connected to a stable WiFi network. Then go to the Google Play Store from the device's home screen.
Step 2. Look for the 'Audible' app and click Install. Then open it and log in with your Amazon or Audible credentials.
Step 3. Browse your Audible library, locate the audiobook you want and click the 'Download' icon to download the book for offline listening on your Walkman.
High-quality audiobooks may exceed 500MB in file size. Therefore, the use of external storage is strongly recommended. To save internal storage space, please go to the Audible app settings and set the "Download Location" to your microSD card.
Part 2. How to Get Audible Books on Sony Walkman via AudibleSync
If you own a model like the NW-A55, you can use AudibleSync to help transfer and play Audible on Sony Walkman. It is the only official Windows desktop tool for Audible now.
Step 1. Download and install the AudibleSync app on your Windows 10 or 11 computer.
Step 2. Open AudibleSync and log in to your account.
Step 3. Connect your Sony Walkman to your computer via a USB cable.
Step 4. On the AudibleSync interface, look for your Walkman in the left side. Then click 'Activate Device' to authorize your Walkman for Audible playback.
Step 5. Find and download the audiobook you want to transfer, then select the title and click 'Copy to Device' to sync Audible books to your Sony Walkman.
Once transferred, eject your Walkman safely from your computer. Then locate your books in the 'Music' or 'Folder' menu on your Walkman and start listening.
Part 3. How to Play Audible on Sony Walkman via Local Files
If your Walkman device supports neither the Audible app or AudibleSync, you can use this universal method. That is to convert Audible AAX/AA books to common audio files and transfer them to non-Android and any Walkman for playback as Walkman does not support the encrypted AAX format.
Almost all MP3 Walkman supports MP3, WMA and AAC audio file formats without built-in DRM protection. So here, let's use AudFree Audible Audiobook Converter for Windows/Mac to convert Audible audiobooks to common audio files, like MP3 while removing DRM lock together.
Apart from the mentioned powerful features, this smart software also has the ability of splitting Audible books by chapters or fixed time interval and customizing the output audio parameters, like bit rate, sample rate, audio channel, etc. With this tool, you can own Audible files permanently, without worrying about the books disappear when an app update breaks compatibility.
Now, let's see how it works step by step.
- Step 1. Add Audible books to AudFree
- Launch the AudFree Audible Converter from your Mac or Windows computer. Then log in to your Audible account within the built-in web player. Later, browse your library and choose the title you want to convert. Next, click + > Add to list to load the files into AudFree tool.
- Step 2. Set output format for Audible on Walkman
- To define output audio format as Walkman supported audio files, please press the 'menu' > 'Preferences' icon to launch setting window, in which you can customize the output formats for your Sony Walkman device. For the best Audible audiobooks quality on your Walkman, you'd better converting Audible to MP3 320kbps.
To achieve the optimal balance between file size and sound quality on your Walkman, set the bitrate to 128kbps or 256kbps, and the sample rate to 44,100Hz.
For most Sony devices, M4B (AAC) is the preferred format over MP3. M4B supports chapter markers, allowing you to navigate through a book on your Walkman just as easily as you would on a smartphone. In contrast, the standard MP3 format often treats the entire book as a single, lengthy audio track that cannot be navigated internally.
- Step 3. Remove DRM and convert Audible books for Sony Walkman
- All customizations have done, the only thing you need to do is clicking the 'Convert' button and AudFree Audible Converter will automatically break DRM protection and convert added audiobooks to target audio files you set before. After the conversion, you can locate unprotected audiobooks on your computer by touching the 'Converted' > 'folder' icon on AudFree tool.
- Step 4. Transfer converted Audible books to Sony Walkman
- To import unprotected Audible audiobooks to Sony Walkman, please connect your device to the computer via a USB cable. You can locate the destination folder contained Audible AA/AAX files and then put Audible audiobooks to your Walkman devices for playing via dragging & dropping action or copying & pasting action.
- Disclaimers: If you use AudFree Audible Audiobooks Converter to convert audiobooks for playback on Sony Walkman, please don't share the converted audio files with others. Generally speaking, it's considered legal to get rid of DRM lock only for personal use.
Part 4. FAQs about Audible on Sony Walkman
Why Is My Sony Walkman Not Showing My Audible Files?
If the Audible files have been transferred to the Walkman but do not appear, they may be located in a folder that the Walkman does not scan. Please ensure that your files are stored within the root 'Music' folder. If these files are in .AAX format and originate from a non-Android device, the system will completely ignore them until they have been converted or authorized.
Can I Use Bluetooth Headphones with Audible on a Sony Walkman?
Certainly. Walkman players running on the Android operating system can connect to Bluetooth via the standard Android settings menu. For older, non-Android models, provided the device supports Bluetooth functionality (such as the NW-A55), you can wirelessly stream your converted MP3 audiobooks to any headphones or speakers for playback.
Can I Skip Chapters in Audible Books using the Physical Buttons on the Walkman?
On Android devices, the physical side buttons (Play/Pause, Skip) will directly control the Audible app, just as they would a music player. On older models, these physical buttons will function perfectly, provided the audiobook is in a standard MP3 or M4B format.
Part 5. Conclusion and Suggestion
If your Walkman model is powered by Android, using the Audible app to play audiobooks seems better as it's totally free. But if not, the AudFree Audible Converter solution is the only choice for you to keep and transfer Audible audiobooks to Walkman for permanent playback.
In short, no matter which way you choose, you can achieve your goal without effort. Hope you have a nice listening experience when playing AA/AAX audiobooks on Sony Walkman.
Staff Editor
