No sound artist - but a good phone ...

My requirements
1. dimensions smaller than: 120mmx60mm
2. weight possible under 120g
3. Camera least 5MP and Flash
4. additional front camera
5. GPS, WLAN
6. excellent audio quality
These requirements are met to date, unfortunately, very few devices: The Live Walkman fits most, the SE Ray has no real flash, the iPhone 4 (S) is too heavy. Samsung Galaxy and Omnia W sound bad. (See GSM Arena tests) is dispensed with the front camera is still the Xperia Mini (Pro) in question.

Positive on LMW
+ Small and light (very good)
+ Neat processed (good, but the top two buttons disturb sometimes, because they can be easily press to phone out of his pocket -. Player of ...)
+ Display quality (very good)
+ Camera served its purpose (still good, better than that of my old Nokia C5)
+ Service and responsiveness (very good)

General Android deficits
- Manufacturers may install masses of crapware, the user may delete but not
- Available no meaningful wired headset solutions (multi control keys)
- Complete backup of the system only (forbidden) Rooting possible
- Native video calling impossible

Negative points on the device
Here I will limit myself to the evaluation of sound quality, although the short term (less than 1200mA battery) is negative consequence.
The device is being advertised by Sony as a music phone, which is easy to read even at the product name. One might therefore assume that a very good audio quality is guaranteed. To make it short: The audio quality is measured by the very poor sound of the vast majority of Android competitors products quite well. The positive test results on GSMarena support my subjective assessment here. Even at a separate Walkman button that quickly leads to the same player, was thought. (However, the player does not support FLAC, making it unfit for my needs again ...) Unfortunately, the music is fun but marred by a medium-high level of background noise. This makes for me to use as a primary music player impossible.

What exactly is the problem? Now, the audio chip generates the background noise when it is activated. A classic amplifier noise as you would expect from a simple audio technology. The signals are generated not only for playing music, but basically go all signals passing through the audio chip. (Alarm clock, ringtone, system sounds, etc.) Accordingly, it is also completely independent of the output quality of the material used, whether in mp3 96kbit / s or .flac - rustles the part! This noise falls on to the built-in speakers to external speakers and also headphones. At high listening levels this noise is of course covered - with quiet music passages it falls but immediately and interfere accordingly.

What can you do about it? Nothing. There is no solution, either through firmware updates, or by third-party music players. This also comes as no surprise, because it is a pure hardware problem.

Monday device caught? No, the issue occurs on all LMWs on I would say! Not everyone pays attention, not everyone has good headphones and healthy ears - but the problem is there. There are now several forums dedicated to the topic of the ...

Try other headphones? Yes, that may well add it! An efficiency weak headset does not respond as sensitive to amplifier noise, since it deflects its membranes only with stronger signals. However, as decreases of course the maximum possible level - which is already low enough in portable devices due to low output voltage.

Conclusion
The Live with Walkman is a very consistent product in and of itself and will find many fans. But the designation Walkman led to believe here was quality audio quality offered. The is the best will not so! The sound is good, but can not keep up with my elderly Samsung YP-Q1 MP3 player or the old Nokia C5. In addition, the noise described occurs, which "enrich" any soft music passage. So dear hifi friends: Stay away, or select headset accordingly!
Those who place less emphasis on the sound, but here has a really good product in hand. Only the battery life would be improved. There are of course still with Android some construction sites. Bottom line gets the LMW according to my needs just 4 stars. But I am sure that users will be very satisfied with average audio-claim (sprinkling on the bus, etc.) with the device. Here then full 5 stars would be attached.

What next?
Unhappy as I was, I resold the LMW. For this, the Xperia Mini came into the house. And lo and behold: (Almost) no noise! I have also heard from the iPhone 4S my girlfriend. Apple remains for me in terms of sound, the ultimate in the phones, but the Xperia reflected very very good! It offers slightly less resolution, much less stage but the sophisticated bass and an overall coherent and "musical" playing. A 1 for Apple, a 1 for Sony. Prize Winner clearly Sony. The higher price I would pay, but now I like Android better than iOS. :-)

Edit:
I have my assessment beszüglich the Xperia Mini unfortunately revise! All devices of this series have a hardware problem, which leads to a malfunction of the display and makes it unusable as a result the mobile phone. This is in turn a hardware problem (as it did at Live Walkman). Although there is a software workaround, but the results in a reduction of the display sensitivity. The problem can be found on "Xperia Mini overheat issue" easy. So very clear vote: Stay away from the Xperia Mini !! After already my second SE is faulty, I now doubt heavily on the expertise of Sony's engineers or the Chinese manufacturers.