I found an unusual G.E. unit at Goodwill today for $1.00.At a casual glance,it simply looks like an old transistor radio.This may be true but for one important exception.The word "Stereo" appears on it's front.If FM Stereo is selected on the unit's side,you get really high quality stereo sound from a pair of headphones!Of course FM and FM Stereo will sound the same if heard from its built in mono speaker.This built-in speaker sounds about like any typical transistor radio's speaker I remember hearing.However,what surprises me is the vast quality difference of the sound when listening through stereo headphones!I have actually heard many walkmans that don't have near this ones quality of sound through a pair of headphones.






Unless I'm mistaken,most here consider a radio only stereo headphone portable unit to be a "walkman" type device even if it is not equipped with a tape mechanism.Of course I don't remember ever seeing a walkman with a rod style antenna like my new G.E. 7-1650A.Does anyone want to debate whether this is a walkman or not?Though I feel it is,some might disagree.

Tranxmetal's minimal Walkman definition:

Stereo Cassette Player.

We all know the "walkman" name is a trade mark by SONY, but we use that name in general to describe something like a cassette player. Actually in this new generation "walkman" means a type of new cellular phones with MP3 player. Also I have Mini-Disc recorders/players from SONY with the Walkman logo, (important: Any kind of iPod NEVER must be confused with a Walkman) In our times, the 80's, any cassette player with any brand name, with or without radio with or without speakers, was a walkman. (here I can't include the cassette dictation machines or voice recorders).

Portable radios, including headphone radios, wrist radios, card-size radios, radio watches, are for me only radios.

Walkmans are stereo cassette players, in popular minds, but the most correct words are "Personal stereos" "Stereo Cassette players" or "Portable Stereos"

Agreed Tranxmetal, Agreed!

Doing a forum search I see this topic has been approached a number of times.Also i just did some web surfing on the subject.Even in the '80s,I always assumed any portable device marketed primarily to deliver stereo sound through headphones was a walkman type device.Though I still like this definition,I see now it is incorrect.I suppose the portable radio and headsets put out by many of the same companies were actually developed from the transistor radio.I had thought that transistor radios were by definition only capable of mono output.Asking Sony for a definition doesn't help things outside of their branded items.It seems they would call a box of cookies a walkman if they wanted to market them and thought it would help sell them.

Though I have a number of walkmans (as defined by accepted society standards ) I've not spent a lot of time in the walkman forum here at stereo2go.Perhaps the mods can move my thread to the "off topic" forum.Even so I really like my cool little G.E. transister radio.Thanks Tranxmetal for clarifying for me the differences

By the way Tranxmetal,do you see a PM I sent to you some time ago?

I really like your little radio Jovie. I had a similar Sears model back in the mid-eighties that delivered crystal-clear loud sound. All for the princely sum of $20 brand new. I wish I still had it.

Yeah, this is growing on me too

Thanks guys!,
As I said,there's a vast difference in what you get as stereo through headphones compared to the sound from it's tiny front mono speaker.Strong,clean sounding,and simply beautiful!It would seem to be an interim product between the old transistor radio and the stereo radio with headset that became popular during the '80s.Also I'm afraid I'm a bit biased when it comes to G.E. products from the late '70s,early '80s.I'm always excited to find them in the wild!

That is a really nice walkman Jovie!

Very rare and nice, plus it is rather handy when
you not want to use the headphones

I think I want one also

I like so much the G.E. stuff too, I have some walkmans including mini-cassette recorders, also two BoomBoxes founded in the wild (must be), my mother has a G.E. laundry machine, and a refrigerator but I do not have opportunity to catch any G.E. radio.