Can somebody tell me if these Walkman prices are a realistic guide.

http://bit.ly/11TnfiY

It depends, some of those items are extremely rare, such as the AIWA HS-PX20. Doubtful if many are fully functional.

Seller is an S2G member here, so perhaps they may be able to cut you a deal if you contact them directly about the items.

Thanks for that!

50-60 € is max. for walkman i pay. in fact, its still a piece of nearly 30 yrs. old electronics, no matter how rare ...

TDK MA-XG 90 Type IV METAL Cassette -

RS II Mechanism - JAPAN Version NEW SEALED

From Israel  £96.62 + £5.15 postage

wow

Indeed if you are happy to pay 50-60€ and can find a model easily at that price you want then why pay more? I know I certainly wouldn't.

What do you do if you want something as well known as say a Sony WM-DD9? It is very unlikely you will get one for that budget range. Personally I have no real desire to have one for the prices currently commanded for one, and it is unlikely a reasonably priced one will ever turn up without being noticed by many people.

It is simply a matter of supply and demand. In this case the current demand and lack of supply of famous models is driving prices high. The situation is unlikely to change, especially since more and more people go onto the internet to look for these items and want to have them to own.

Yes, and it all depends subjectively on what you determine as a "good walkman".

For example I bought a Panasonic RQ-SX75V for a few quid short of a tenner. It only needs one AA battery, has radio, and tapes play reasonably well. Being a late 90s Panny the amp is a tad weak, but is adequate for a pair of 16 Ohm IEMs. I'd be more than happy to leave this on my desk at work to know that no-one is going to pick it up and walk off with it (yes, things do go missing in our open plan office - mice and laptop PSU mostly). It is a good disposable walkman and it performs what I want it to do without me caring too much to worry about its security.

Conversely I have an AIWA HS-PX303. It isn't the rarest thing in the world, but they are somewhat hard to spot on ebay and when they do come available there are plenty of people who'd want even a non-functioning one, and yes mine was broken too. I bought parts from USA and I repaired it. Despite being a late 80s unit, the sound quality on the AIWA HS-PX303 is light years ahead over the Panasonic RQ-SX75V and I would say that it is an excellent walkman from both a design perspective as well as a listening one.

Both are good walkmans, in the respect that they play tapes and not eat them, but I'd still rather be listening to the PX303 than the SQ75V if I can help it. IMHO the former is a better built device (apart from the crappy capacitors) than the latter, and the experience of listening to audio a better one too for that.

well, i let the %&$!$* pay %&$!$* prices ... no problem ....

a DD9 is just an autoreverse model. nice, ok. but there is no reason to pay 330 € for it. there are NO NEW tapes around there anymore. the last tapes you can get must be old cakes which are spooled in cheap shells...

so it doesn`t make any sense, even with a nak i doubt you can kick the best possible sound out of it in 2013.

i don`t want to have a collectibe i cannot use 100% fro a high price ... and thats why i don`t pay them. i can get enough nice working walkmen for 1-10 € at the bay .. so why pay more ? ...

last ones where these :

klick

klick

klick

2 of them are 80s players. nice sound, nice to repair... one is a midsize thingy. not the flatest one.. but nice ... autoreverse and radio, and i already had 3 of them. i like them very much, i had none of them to repair...

and what i read about the DD9 problems is nothing, what i`d pay 300+ € for o.O ...

copypaste it again here : "/edit : http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=11015 ... what they say : "Also, beware if you decide to get a Sony WM-DD9 (around 180Euro on ebay), they often have bad ICs and if the control servo is damaged, the player will be useless and very hard to fix. If you want something reliable - get a Sony DD series player. You can find someone to fix the gear and from then on it will be a ong road of enjoyment for you. They are completely mechanical, no IC controls and nothing within reason to break down. " ...

thats NOT a good walkman for me... and sony is not a brand which is very rare ... i`d pay more for a more unknown brand, which has produced a nice player, which no one knows .. thats more interesting for a collector...

and all in all, never forget, its ooold electronics, which means, the parts in it are also old. and the older they get, the more impossible it is to get the real sound out of it...

p.s. : come on, its not a rolex .. its just a mass produced DD9 ...

Haha!, that tecstar is the same as my red fairmate walkman!!

i compared it ... i dont believe, its the same .. look at the screws .... but i HAVE something which is similar to your fairmate ^^ ...

I'm VERY pleased with my AIWA PX347. I'm terrified of it dying some day. Recordings on TDK SA90 (type ii) sound superior to MP3 320kpbs on my Sony X1060, in my opinion of course. I just scored a Sony WM-25 in good condition on ebay, looking forward to that. I passed on a few WM-22's due to lack of NR, very important to me. 

i liked it too, but i couldn`t repair.. so i threw it in the bin... the belts were very thin ...

Yeah! Mine is struggling to rewind C100 tapes ( so I don't anymore), I  imagine the belt is slipping under load. 

just try a DD ... you can get them between 15-25 € at the bay, or for a few bucks on the fleamarket, if you`re lucky ...

edit : oh... just another example, not 90s, rock solid 80s, powered by two AA batteries...

so you even don´t have to spend more money for better sound and build quality of the 80s...

Yup the DD mechanism if not clicking or even so, once repaired is just great.

I have the Sony WM-DC2 and the sound from that is top. Other early 80s Sony DD models are almost as good and can be very cheap to buy, but will most likely have a clicking centre gear that needs attention.

The WM-DD9 is not a true DD walkman in the sense that it uses belts and a completely different mechanism.

gearwheel :

http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=11015 ... what they say : "Also, beware if you decide to get a Sony WM-DD9 (around 180Euro on ebay), they often have bad ICs and if the control servo is damaged, the player will be useless and very hard to fix. If you want something reliable - get a Sony DD series player.

plop:

The WM-DD9 is not a true DD walkman in the sense that it uses belts and a completely different mechanism.

I apologize if I intruding in your discussion, Also I apologize for my bad Inglese, but I noticed That there are some false beliefs about DD9, it's die hard. Let me explain one thing here, once and for all:
1- The Problem That exposes the member of Tapeheads, in the matter of servo circuit is wrong. In reality it is a mechanical problem. It Occurs When the DD9 is Subjected to intensive use. I have solved this problem with an upgrade, Which can be done Both the DD9 is Already Dead, Both in a preventive manner, making the DD9 immune from this defect forever.
2 - The mechanism of DD9 is light years ahead, not only to all the WM-DD, but also to all autoreverse walkman, including Aiwa. Its mechanism consists essentially of a dual WM-DD (WM-DD multiplied by two). It's a true WM-DD, the two belts perform the same function that performs the gear that breaks in the WM-DD, ie forward and rewind of the tape, but the transmission to the two capstans and genuinely DD, with two motors. The Sony, to obviate the problem of the gear that is always breaks (Clack, Clack, etc..) has used the same system on the WM-D6C, which uses a belt for the advancement and rewinding of the tape, while being a WM-DD true. The WM-DD9 is, among all the walkman, the spearhead.
These are not my thoughts, but verifiable facts.
I hope that, in spite of my bad English, I was able to clarify these concepts.

Thanks Dottor. I don't mind you adding your opinion. Anyway, I find another voice adds variety to the thread.

I wasn't saying the DD9 was worse than the older DD models, I wanted to differentiate the fact that there were belts within the DD9 mechanism. There are still some people who think the DD9 was also belt free like the other older DD models.

Hello Plop,

I understand, you are right, many people still believe that the DD9 is even a belt drive. But just answer them, that even the D6C has the belt. The DD9 has two straps because being a walkman dual, almost all the mechanical components are doubled. I also wanted to clarify the misunderstanding that, many believe that the DD9 suffer from problems as control IC. I always try to give my information, when possible.
Thank you for having responded to me.

@dottor : thx for your correction, no problem, think, every member here is happy to get better facts .

well i didn`t say anything against the build quality of that DD9 .. it might be the best one you could get 25 yrs ago..

but i`m more happy with easy to repair and use cheapo 80s bricks and midsize player...

Dottor Walkman it is always great to have you post here.   What you say about the DD9 is all True.   I have two DD9 , one mint boxed and one with matching orig. headphones and use one of them often even mint one as no use in time makes its own problems for Walkman to work.   Yes I sometimes think when I use the perfect flawless restored mechanically boxed one I should not what if I scratch it.  Well maybe it will get a scratch or two and the value drops but I use my toys be it a collectible muscle car or Walkman. But I respect those that have NIB Walkman never used perfect in a closet or display case and there they stay perfect in time but sadly probably not functioning.

   Fully agree about using the lesser quality but decent sounding players out in public etc as nice to not worry about damage or being stolen.  The Panasonic RQ-SX75V is as you say decent sounding but not of quality build.  Most of SX series the weak amp and build quality hurt it( far from poorly built though).  Although Plop you might look for a RQ-SX75, a  tape player only model and 100% mechanically different FAR better than the SX75V and often can be had for well under $100.  Sound quality , high definition is amazing for SX series although amp is not strong better than SX75V for sure.  And it can rewind a 90 min tape in under 90 seconds... sounds like a jet engine rew/fwd starts slower and revs up like crazy cool sounding and you can jump to next song in few seconds not 15-25 seconds.  Even faster than some of the best Sony EX series known for fast Rew.   Not all but many of the RQ-S series have 20-19,000 up to 21,000 freq. resp. and build quality is superb and heavy/solid.  Most have thinner belts which are not easy to find and last less than others.  I generally with most of my players avoid long rewinds to let belts last longer.   

   Correct there are a LOT of excellent sounding players that are far from the DD9 and some other model's crazy current pricing.    Each person is good to have his preferences what he collects or plays/ uses.   Its always best I think as members we are gentle about others who view things differently than us.   Our differences define us.

   Plop I agree the Aiwa PX-303 is really excellent sounding as are several other Aiwa models but we live with bad caps, replacement.  Once repaired they are a quality machine.    

   As to getting the most out of the current Walkman that are 15 to 30 + years old correct they can not produce the specs designed to as new because of aged electronics yet restored as Dottor Walkman can and has done the upgraded machine sounds better than new and will run for another 25 + years.   The tapes being older and growing older yearly eventually yes will be a problem.   But the better quality metal formulation tapes will still give nearly full frequency response and sound as when new.  They will continue to be able to do this for many years yet into future.   Tapes like TDK SA type II probably are slightly degraded in sound from age and will continue but I have New old stock and find them excellent still.   Maybe if my ears were 18 years old and I used $500 to $2500 Headphones or Ear buds I would notice the ageing problem of tapes losing sound quality.    Bottom line for me MANY higher quality and even better mid range models sound clearly better than mp3.  Yes better digital formats are out there and sound amazing but I for now and past still prefer analog including my dbx encoded vinyl records with Dynavector moving coil cartridge ( over a CD).  Its just a preference for the coloration done to the sound by the recorded media.   Even the best digital recording ability today can not "EXACTLY" equal live.   Close and for most people equal a live performance but all recording methods , Reel to Reel, Cassette, Vinyl records, digital in ALL its formats slightly change the sound when recorded and when played back.  Its much more about "Convenience " any more.   10,000 songs find it and play it in seconds yes that's grand but for many of us listening is about the joy of the sound and its quality to the actual live performance AND doing it portable and privately with headphones/earbuds.   Great portable digital is out there but reality is 90 + % of public world wide is listening to the highly compressed harsh sharp sounding MP3 lacking freq. response at ends of range on really poor quality ear buds.....if they would just go get even $100 ear buds people would be astounded at better sound.   Many times when younger people see/comment on my CASSETTE WALKMAN while having a cheap ear bud in ear with MP3 playing I have them put my ear buds or portable headphones on to listen to what I am playing from tape and they simply cant believe the bass, quality of sound and especially how LOUD it can ROCK.   Yes some comment on the HISS.. yes its a trade off but honestly after 5 mins of listening most of us it becomes a minor or none issue ( bless loss of high tones with age HA HA then tape hiss  not even heard much )  Most of my tapes are made with OUT dolby encoded especially B.  Most dolby circuitry especially in budget or many mid and even some higher end players cuts highs too much for me vs. hiss. Yet some work well.  Example the dolby B in the Sony WM-7 performs Excellently when you turn it on the highs are barely affected and hiss is noticeably reduced especially using the excellent orig. headphones. ( I love that player's sound)  Sure I have dolby C encoded metal tapes or That's SUANO made on quality expensive home deck and play on my best Dolby C models for when I am in a AUDIOPHILE mood but most of time its working out at gym, riding my bike outside, hiking, walking, sitting at offices , laying outside by pool using mid to upper range models on TDK SA or That's or other chrome brands without dolby.  Works for me.

  We LOVE WHAT WE LOVE and we do not have to know WHY 

   We are all INDIVIDUALS..... isn't it GRAND !!!!

Here is link to Panasonic SX series Topic   photos of many of these good quality decent to very excellent sounding players to be had at very reasonable prices( some models definitely better sounding than others).  Believe topic once done that showed all the freq. response and specs of SX series but did not find it under a search.

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Hi John,

Nice long post. Good to have the perspective of another S2G member especially one with over 400 walkman

Yes the build quality of the SX75V is pretty mediocre, but it is pretty much a disposable egg walkman that I can leave somewhere and not worry about and when I pick it back up again still sounds reasonably ok.

I actually have a few RQ-SX75 units (a silver, a purple, and a blue one in box from Japan), but unfortunately never found replacement belts for them, so they await their opportunity to one day show me how fast they can wind that tape another day. I have a number of RQ-S units (mainly Dolby C units), and I have found belts to suit them. As good as the Panasonics are, I find myself strangely preferring the AIWAs instead.

We all like what we like and our individuality enriches this forum. It is nice to see a wide range of tape players/recorders of all shapes and sizes being enjoyed still in this pro-digital age.

weeks ago, i had lots of that panas rq-sx ... but i was not pleased with the quality. think, i`ll never buy again those extremely flat ones... i threw them in the bay and fished some 80s models.

sony`s wm ex 5XX were also able to spool with 16 X speed ...

and about the metal tapes : they are not as durable, as many ppl. think. there is a danger of rusting, so it depends, how they have been stored ....

its very good to show the young ppl out there, how it still rocks .. this is like "spread the word!" ...

To gearwheel:
I understand your point of view and I agree.
But I also noticed something: many Walkmans of the 80s such as the mechanism WM-DD, has a lot of plastic in its mechanism, and in particular the housing pulleys, for wrap tape, and the spines on the main metal plate. Instead DD9 uses metal, also where could don't necessary. Sony has not skimped in the construction of DD9 and this is something that I really like.

To JohnEdward:
Hello John, it's always interesting to read about your experience. You are the encyclopedia of the walkmans. I agree with everything you say.
I want to tell a curiosity. I also own a Panasonic RQ-SX75 new silver. I noticed his high speed, but it is not the walkman best faster. I clocked a Walkman even faster, the Sony WM-EX20, you know?

@ dottor walkman : don`t get me wrong : well, for me its not a problem, that plastic was taken often as build material. there are good reasons to take plastic for an outdoor device (production costs, light weighted, not corrosive, etc..). i haven`t seen a player without any plastic inside so far.

the main reason why i prefer the 80s models is, that they are way easier to repair. try to unsolder the old stone age electronic, no problem (my yesterday restored tecstar):





try to do that with a tiny SMD soldered machine, for example that pana rq-sx series :




its a pain ... to repair such a thingy, you need eyes of a falcon and skills like a watchmaker...

and thats, what is important for me : having devices for the coming decades, that are possible to repair at home. stone age machines may be not the high end, but in the nowadays "end time", they´re more durable...

/edit : i forgot... do we really need hi enders while walking through the streets, with all the noise surrounding us ?... i`m pleased with clear, uncompressed sound and no wobbling. thats ok and decent enough for me...

aob9 it all depends on how badly you want any of them. If some one thinks they are worth it, they will pay the price.

As I put on here before I was looking for a Sony Super Metal Master, but they are going for £50 - £125. I was not willing to pay that much, I waited around and found one for €26.

Keep looking one of these days you will get lucky.

Look at this one, a guy from TapeHeads selling 50 TDK MA-XG60’s for $3200. I say good luck to him, like the TDK MA-XG 90 on your link for £98.32 again good luck to him anyone who buys them is mad / has too much money or both.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-N..._cvip=true&rt=nc

To gearwheel: as I said, I agree with you, about what you said.

@dottor : . ...

yes, that "metal madness" .... when i see that boxes full of cassettes, i think "hey wait, where is that sales discount due to take a whole box of them ?" xD ...

in germany, there`s a saying: "everyday, an idiot gets awake." which means, every day someone may come around the corner who is willing to pay those prices...

Looks like they are either sold or withdrawn from sale. You could buy a car for that money.

Plus 1

Don't believe what rumors are said at "tapeheads" about the issues with DD9's I fixed almost every single DD9 that came thur the door over 50 and never had a issue with fixing and upgrading them. To me the best built player around, nothing come close. 

hm, to make it the best for me, i`d like to have a DD9F ^_^ ...

The dd9 is nothing special..... there are much better sounding walkmans around....and it uses 2 belts which not many people know bout