WM-16WM-6 twin

WML ID #16

Manufacturer: Sony

Model: WM-16

Nick: WM-6 twin

Year: 1983

Made in: Japan

Technical details, specifications

Battery: 2AA

Colors: gray (matte)

Window: yes

Frame: plastic

Case: metal

Carry: belt

Expandable: no

External compartment: no

Head: PP238-3604 3Z JPN

Tape selector: Manual switch

Waterproof: no

Speaker: no

Frequency range: Photos reused with permission from boxedwalkman on IG. Hz

Functions

DC in: yes

Record by input: no

Record by int mic: no

Hotline mode: no

Cue: no

Balance (L/R): no

Phone type: 1

Equalizer: no

Auto volume no

Auto reverse: yes

Anti rolling: no

AMS no

Blank skip no

Logic control: no

Hold lock: no

Bass: no

Noise reduction: Dolby System

Radio: no

Remote control: no

Wireless headphone: no

Indicator: led

Description

This early auto-reverse model followed the WM-7, but was simpler and cheaper. This could be seen in its larger size and plastic, as opposed to metal, casework. Many key features were kept: along with auto reverse, Dolby B NR, LED direction indicator and chrome/metal tape compatibility. Removed were the remote control and the logic-operated tape transport controls. Although more affordable than the WM-7, the WM-6 was by no means in the “budget” class. It still cost over twice as much as the cheapest model, the WM-22.

In contrast to the WM-7, two extra motors, a special rotating switch and complex electronic logic circuit for auto reverse arrangement, the WM-6 was simple, using only a solenoid coil and a couple of transistors. The mechanical layout was unusual though, in that the head was on the opposing side of the deck to the tape transport buttons, something that was not obvious from a casual glance at the outside.

While the WM-6 worked well on the whole, the simplified mechanism had some drawbacks. The main was that it returned to the forward direction after pressing stop key or after use of fast forward or rewind. This made finding a track on the second side of the tape difficult; one had to remember to press the reverse button after each winding operation. In an attempt to get around this, the designers included “cue” and “review” modes which did not require the play mode to be disengaged, though of course then the winding keys did not latch and the sound from the fast moving tape would have been deafening if the volume had not been turned down first.

The WM-6 was not perfect, but it showed how auto reverse could be simplified and included on Walkmans other than the very top line models. Soon this feature would become widespread across the range.Via walkmancentral (edited)