The birth of the Walkman greatly expanded the possibilities of cassette tape. As each spurred the other on within the constraints of size and other conditions, they created vivid sound magic.
The first Sony Walkman, the TPS-L2, was released in 1979. More than ten years had already passed since the first Japanese cassette tape appeared in 1966. The TPS-L2 was based on Sony’s compact Pressman TCM-100 tape recorder, modified for stereo playback by removing its recording function and built-in speaker. It was born from the wish of Sony’s then honorary chairman Masaru Ibuka to listen to music everywhere. It captured the hearts of music lovers of all ages around the world and greatly expanded the possibilities of the cassette.
Since Japanese cassette decks appeared in 1968, it had become possible to play and record high-quality stereo music on cassette. The Walkman’s significance was that listeners could take those cassettes outside and listen freely.
Unlike a deck installed indoors, a Walkman was used under many different conditions. Cassettes adapted or specifically suited to mobile audio were therefore developed, and the players and tapes came to improve each other’s performance.
Because the Walkman is generally heard through headphones, differences in sound are easier to notice than when listening through an ordinary cassette deck and audio system. Tape with less noise and a wider dynamic range was preferable. Alongside stationary cassette decks, the Walkman must have played a major role in the development of high-performance normal, chrome and metal tapes.
The second Walkman, the WM-2, released in 1981, did not yet have Dolby noise reduction, but it did support metal tape.
Because the Walkman was portable, cassette shells needed a sturdy mechanism resistant to vibration and movement. The DP mechanism, first used in the high-position JHF, used the sheets inside the shell and the shape of the hubs to allow smooth tape movement without looseness and prevent uneven winding. Better tape travel also improved sound quality.
The Walkman also generally ran on batteries. To extend playback time through the cassette itself, the high-performance ES tape released in 1996 used a BS (Battery Saving) mechanism, with a newly designed vibration-resistant shell and a pressure pad made from a new material. It was a stamina cassette that literally helped the Walkman’s battery last longer.
A cassette is a medium in its own right, but also becomes part of a deck or recorder when inserted. By combining a precision shell and mechanism, high-performance tape and a Walkman, anyone could experience exciting sound magic.
Walkman history
- July 1979 - TPS-L2 released.
- February 1981 - WM-2 released and became a major hit.
- February 1982 - WM-D6, the first professional model, released.
- October 1982 - WM-7 released, the first model with auto-reverse.
- October 1983 - cassette-sized WM-20 released.
- November 1984 - D-50, the first CD Walkman (Discman), released.
- March 1985 - WM-W800, the world’s first double-cassette headphone stereo, released.
- May 1985 - WM-101 released with a flat gum-type rechargeable battery.
- July 1986 - WM-109 released with a headset and remote control.
- July 1987 - WM-501 released with the gum-type battery housed inside the player.
- Around June 1988 - WM-505, the first wireless model, released.
- 1990 - WM-DD9 released, highly regarded for its sound quality.
- 1991 - WM-EX85 released with a charger compatible with overseas power supplies.
- November 1992 - MZ-1, the first MD Walkman, released.
- November 1993 - WM-EX555 released with a function to play a selected track continuously; WM-EX999 could play for up to 25 hours using an AA battery and a gum-type rechargeable battery together.
- July 1994 - WM-EX1, a 15th-anniversary model, released.
- September 1995 - WM-WX1 released with a retractable headset cord.
- October 1998 - WM-EX9 released, the thinnest model to date at 17.4 mm.
- April 2003 - WM-GX788, the last cassette Walkman, released.
- April 2010 - shipments of cassette Walkmans ended.