Gadget: Sony A845 16GB Video Walkman

Whether you love them or, more likely, hate them, vuvuzelas have been one of the main talking points at this year's Football World Cup. The BBC has received hundreds of complaints about these plastic horns which can reach up to 130 decibels in ear-assaulting output. While TV viewers at home will have to put up with them, Sony's new Walkman video player may just be the answer for those football fans fast developing tinnitus in South Africa.

MP3 players these days have to offer something special to stand above smartphones such as the iPhone and the HTC Desire. Sony's latest Walkman has built-in Digital Noise Cancelling and includes in-ear EX Noise Cancelling headphones which sell separately for close to 80. You can select from four different environments such as bus/train and the Walkman transports you to audio solitude. The reduction in background noise is impressive, especially when the sound is relatively constant.

Although there's no wi-fi internet or app store to rival the iPod Touch, the Walkman is attempting to forge its own niche of audio excellence. Along with an eye-popping 2.8in full-colour OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) screen and BBC iPlayer support, the Walkman showcases a Full S-Master Digital Amplifier and Clear Audio technology to give Apple's finest a real spanking in the sound quality department at least.

Although the Walkman may be as close to size zero as an MP3 player can get (it's only 7.2mm wide), it doesn't quite have the aesthetic beauty or intuitive excellence to match the iPod Touch.

However, like Wayne Rooney, everything it sacrifices in the looks department is more than made up for by its performance. Video is pin-sharp and audio puts the iPod to shame.

This article was first published in The Scotsman, Saturday July 3, 2010