Sony WA-R9000 - anyone seen this before?
ao - 2012-10-25 03:46
Another strange fish from Sony. Can't say it's something I want in my life but it's clearly for the Asia market only but none-the-less, quite interesting.
ao - 2012-10-25 03:47
Somewhat curiously there's one for sale at the mo....
stereo2go - 2012-10-25 05:47
I guess the intent is for desktop or tabletop listening? Looks a little like the WM-EX90 or GX90 from around the same period.
It's unique indeed, from the days of innovative/risk-taking Sony.
johnedward - 2012-10-25 08:29
Now thats a definite never seen before item. Early mini desktop stereo. Did search which came up with almost nothing but this translated page apparently from Japanese auction site shows several there sold and often language Learning wording appears.
One must say to own one in USA or EU would have you probably the only collector with one. As AO said though not something I want in my life.
johnedward - 2012-10-25 09:00
Of note I have a very odd Sony Walkman that what little research info I could find it is designed for language learning. It has digital circuits that you play a tape then you can repeat 4,8,16 seconds instantly and as often as you want while tape is paused. Then tape plays and at time interval you set it stops and then digitally repeats time segment you choose. End switch on battery end is 3 preset speeds one slow one faster than standard ..odd. The dolby circuit must have short or ground problem as when turned on high pitch shrlll in headphones The digital repeat sound is very flat sounding and lower volume than actual tape playing. All notations on player in Japanese characters. Some buttons I still am unsure of purpose. ANYONE SEEN or HAVE ONE OF THESE ??
No recording feature. 1995 Release Date Believe it uses the WM-EX series basic mechanics such as WM-EX55 although controls on opposite sides door vs. back but head transport same and both use AA internal battery or gumstick.
SONY IC REPEAT WALKMAN WM-EX99R
johnedward - 2012-10-25 09:48
Only other IC Repeat ( what does IC stand for?) model is the TPS-R10 based on the WM-100 series a bit earlier I believe than the EX series. The TPS appears to have less features than the EX99R. Photo from Shizaudio.
SONY TPS-R10 IC REPEAT
traveler - 2012-10-25 10:09
IC = Integrated Circuit - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuit
samovar - 2012-10-25 13:55
fascinating, i have seen many language learning appliances but never walkmans like these two sony. the release date of the EX-99R is unfortunate, as it was around those years that most language courses abandoned the tape for the cd as the preferred audio storage device.
ao - 2012-12-24 11:29
How interesting, never seen these two before John
claret.badger - 2012-12-24 22:00
ao - 2012-12-25 01:17
Wow, good spot CB