Sony Walkman RIP (1979-2010)

I was surprised that it wasent already dead for decades. Owned a Sony "Walkman WM-22" in the early eighties, poor sound for a poor boy.
 
What surprised me most is that they were still selling them. *Shock face*

Nice run though, but the 80's called and they want their product back.
 
I found my original early 80's Walkman last year in a box in the garage. The belts are toast but it still looks great and I am sure I could get it up and running if I wanted. I loved this thing when it was new. I remember listing to it for hours late at night after everyone in the house had gone to bed.

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I had a Panasonic version of the Walkman from 1985 and it was a pretty impressive unit. I remember it had Auto Reverse, CrO2 EQ and it recorded (normal bias only). I remember being on car trips with my parents listening to "Who's Next" or "Truth" by Jeff Beck on Maxell XLII cassettes. I also recorded my family members with it quite a bit and it did a nice job. I used it almost non-stop from 1985 until 1991 when it finally gave up the ghost. Yeah it died after just six years, but it had MANY hours on it by that time (honestly, it might as well had been 25 years old). I could never find another one I liked as much (that was until I got my mini disc). Just out of nostalgia I would love another one of those.
 
I managed to get a 90s Sony Walkman still sealed in the original package for $4 at SA. I grabbed it so I could play a tape through the input on my car stereo if I ever felt like it.
 
stereorob said:
agreed, piss poor sound!, maybe even poop poor!, they will not be missed, by me atleast., but the compact cassette was still a major part of audio-history!
and they touched us all in there own unique way.
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cassettes are capable of more than decent sound...tho you needed decent gear to record on and to play it back...i confess that i don't really miss cassettes but sound quality was hardly their downfall

i still have a mid 90's sony walkman in a drawer somewhere...it's even got mega-bass LOL...i think it was all of 50 dollars or so when i got it,they were hopelessly plastic and cheap by then...the best of the "walkman"types were from the mid to late 80's....the best i had was the koss music-box,which was pretty full featured,tiny and provided the soundtrack for many a high school adventure
 
Been using my phones 'as walkman' for god knows how long (only buy models with minijack). Have not missed portable cassette and cd players one bit.
 
This was my last cassette Walkman. Excellent quality, used it intensively for years. After that came a Technics CD player and a Sony MD Walkman.

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I have fond memories of being 10 years old in '87 and listening to the Top Gun soundtrack on a Walkman late at night because I was too embarrassed to listen to it during the day on the stereo system we had.
 
gewoonmaf said:
This was my last cassette Walkman. Excellent quality, used it intensively for years. After that came a Technics CD player and a Sony MD Walkman.

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I remember when these came out. I was always very envious of my friends who had them. It is amazing how thin they are.
 
I get two or three requests a week for them, and people are floored when I tell them we no longer carry them. We carry a knockoff piece of junk. I was under the impression they had stopped 2 or 3 years ago but doesn't surprise me, likely not much profit in them given how many working parts compared to an MP3 player (ie none) I miss them and I remember how cool I thought I was walking around with one on my belt (They were heavy it about pulled my pants down) going through town bobbing my head to Queen or Jethro Tull, etc. Not ready to give up on cassettes just yet, Just bought a Denon Player. Also found we have some decent units brand new available for special order.
 
So long Walkman... Sound quality was pretty impressive for it's size in the 80s.

How many tapes did you rewind with a pencil after being "eaten"? Had a nice kenwood car stereo back in the day, it was "hungry" too. Even the onkyo at home "ate" a bunch. If you were quick (when you could hear it start slowing) you could just use the old pencil trick. If you were in the other room or not paying attention, you'd have a mess of tape all balled up in little crimped tatters. Remember the sound?

Yeah they made music portable, but I for one will not be going back to cassette anytime soon.
 
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