WM-2Walkman 2

Sony WM-2 feature
WML ID #2
Manufacturer Sony
Model WM-2
Nick Walkman 2
Gang Pioneers
Together 4
Year 1981
Made in Japan
Initial price 32000 ¥
Technical details, specifications
Battery 2AA
Battery life 9h (with 2)
Available colors black red gray white
Dimensions 30*109*80 mm (262 cm³) 3D size
Weight 280 gr
Window yes
Frame
plastic
Case
plastic
Carry Clip
Expandable no
External compartment no
Tape selector Manual switch
Waterproof no
Speaker no
Frequency range 40-12000@1, 40-15000@4 Hz
FMax output 2x20 mW
Functions
DC in yes
Record by input no
Record by int mic no
Hotline mode yes
 
Cue no
Balance (L/R) no
Phone type 1
Equalizer no
Auto volume no
Auto reverse no
Anti rolling no
AMS no
Blank skip no
Logic control no
Hold lock no
Bass no
Radio no
Radio tuner none
Radio bands 0
Remote control no
Wireless headphone no
Indicator led
Description

This milestone walkman was the second walkman after the legendary TPS-L2 and set the form factor for the DD line.

The WM-2, or "Walkman II" as it was known, took the mantle from the TPS-L2 as the smallest stereo cassette player in the world. It could hardly be smaller, being only just larger than the cassette it played.

The main change that made this miniaturisation possible was mounting the tape heads in the lid and arranging for the cassette to be inserted the other way round. Because of this, the heads did not have to retract into the casing for the cassette to be removed, saving a very worthwhile amount of space. The engineering precision required to make this complex arrangement work properly was not inconsiderable, though there were few problems in practice. Not content with simply making the machine smaller, the designers went a step further by making the engagement of the heads power-operated. This allowed the control keys to have a short travel and to be placed on the front of the machine rather than along one edge, reducing the size yet further. To protect the delicate parts, all keys were automatically released if the door was opened.

The small size of the machine made stability even more critical than it had been before, so the counter rotating flywheel was beefed up somewhat, and the parts were now large and heavy enough to make a real difference. As with the TPS-L2, the play key was released mechanically at the end of the tape, and in later versions of the machine, the motor was stopped electronically in the winding modes, using an optical sensor and a reflective disc driven from the supply spool. These later models can be positively identified by putting the mechanism into rewind with no tape inserted, after a few seconds the red "battery" light should go out and the spindle should stop rotating. Later models can also be identified by the writing on the controls, early sets have "fwd" engraved on them, later ones say "play". The excellent core-less servo motor was carried over unaltered from the TPS-L2, though little else was.

In comparison with the mechanics, miniaturising the electronics to the required degree must have been fairly straightforward, with new and smaller components becoming available all the time. There were three distinct designs used for the electronics, such was the pace of development at this time. Most of the features of the TPS-L2 survived, except for the separate left and right volume controls (a miniature stereo volume control was now available) and the "hot line" microphone. In place of this, the original headphones had a large orange push button where the two leads separated that muted the sound, a similar but less interesting arrangement. The WM-2 retained dual headphone sockets however. The tone switch was also retained, but it was marked for normal and chrome/metal type tapes.

The sleek appearance of the WM-2 was made possible in part by it having no "front" or "back" as such. All faces were styled with equal attention to detail, and unless the cassette-viewing window was visible it did not look obviously like a tape player at all. A battery door would have spoiled the lines, to this was placed inside the cassette compartment. This also made the machine more robust, reducing the chance of the door falling open by accident and the batteries spilling out. So sleek was the basic design that there was no real way of attaching a handle, clip or strap, so a strong plastic holder with a belt clip and attachment points for a shoulder strap was included that it could be clipped into. This too was beautifully designed and made the WM-2 no less attractive.

The WM-2 was the best selling cassette Walkman model of all to date, selling around one and a half million units. Originally, it was available only in metallic grey, though later black and red versions were offered too.

Site wide
Additional notes Boxed photos courtesy of boxedwalkman on IG.
Owners 2
You Owned it?
Favs 0
Love it?
Views 5515
Created 2021-07-10 18:46:34
Updated 2023-06-04 21:46:57
Compare Add
Models big image

Gallery

Accessories
gallery photogallery photogallery photogallery photogallery photo
Advertisements
gallery photogallery photogallery photogallery photogallery photogallery photogallery photogallery photogallery photogallery photo
3D model
Comments
avatar

WML @ 2023-05-31 14:20:18

Youtube commercial: youtube embed

79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
04