Hi there,

Don't you think that no brand released ever the 'perfect' walkman for audiophiles? A walkman that has an excellent base sound (a good head, transport and Dolby B & C), modern features (like small size, autoreverse or remote) and a complete set of sound adjustments like a variable powerful bass dynamic amplification and adjustments for bass, voice and treble.

It looks to me that big brand's marketing deparment were too stupid (or too inteligent) that they never released all the most desirable features together in only one walkman, but they dispersed them in many models.

All started with the first walkmans with EQ, like the awesome HS-G08:

It sounds very good, but the problem is that it lacks a powerful bass. And also it's difficult to achieve the right response curve with the EQ, probably because the wide effect of every slider.

A few years later the Boodo Khan adressed the bass problem with a ground-breaking dynamic bass amplification, called DOL system:

It sounds great, but the problem is that it has no in-between steps. It's just ON or OFF. So sometimes sounds great but sometimes is just massive bass, depending on the music and the headphones itself. Also, it lacks some modern features like autoreverse or Dolby C.

A few months later AIWA released the PX101, one of the best players ever made, that has Dolby C, small size and advanced features, poweful bass and even parametric DSL. It's almost perfect! But... it has a few problems. The bass slider is annoying: it does almost nothing between 0 and 50% and the effect variation is huge between 60 and 80%, making it very difficult to achieve the right effect. Apart from this, it's very close to the perfect player. It only lacks an EQ and I can also ask for a DD (Disc Drive) transport to lower the W&F.

Then the MEGABASS system was released and SONY launched a very interesting model, with DD transport and Megabass: the DD30:

The perfect combination! It sounds great, thanks to both features. Yes, but... it's heavy and bulky compared to the PX101, it lacks Dolby C and the megabass is a two-step effect. Just 'mid' and 'max'. Again, I continue searching for the perfect player...

Now we focus on the AIWA PX303, the sucessor of the PX101, with a new HX Amorphous head mounted in a bi-azimuth mechanism and a really powerful bass. In fact, I believe it's the most powerful bass ever seen in top-class walkman.

Sounds awesome with excellent recordings on good tapes and a good pair of headphones. Specially with properly chosen music.

The problem? Many adjustments for bass, almost none for treble.

Then it came the wonderful PX505, the latest top player from AIWA, with a variable BBE slider and many features from the PX303:

Sounds really good, but it lacks a bi-azimuth head and, while now the highs can be adjusted with the variable slider, the bass is just a two-step switch. So, some steps ahead in some direction, some steps back in others... Hmmm, I don't like that.

In the meantime, many other players were released, but none of them offered all that I want: a good base quality, powerful, adjustable bass and a decent EQ, as well as moderns features and Dolby C.

This graph resumes the situation:

Curiously, the 'cheap' SONY B39 that I had when I was a teen offers many of those features, like mega bass, variable sliders for bass and treble but lacks an advanced transport, a good head or top features like Dolby C.

From 1990 on, many brands removed all 'variable sliders' and put simple 'ON-OFF' switches to control sound on their walkmans. At best, a two or three-steps swtich.

The famous DD9, for example, is like a DD30. Excellent base sound but just a two-steps megabass.

So... what can I do? I can't really believe that no brand released a really complete player that offers good base sound and complete sound possibilites.

So maybe I have to pick an external EQ, like the SONY SEQ-50 and take it with a walkman:

I can use it with a WM-DC2, that has an extraordinary audio quality:

like this:

Yes, but it still lacks a powerful bass and here's also another problem: this EQ adds a lot of background noise, so what you achieve by one side you loose in the other side.

Hmmm. Looks bad. 20 years of walkmans. Hundreds of different models and no brand released ever only one model with all the desirable features for audiophiles.

But... wait. I think I found something!!! Yes, the SHARP JC-C50 has it all!!

YES! It has:

- good base sound

- small size and advanced features, like autoreverse or remote.

- S-XBS system for powerful bass

- Dolby B & C

- a 3-band EQ for adjusting the sound!!

And all in a 100% metal body, powered with a gumstick or external AA battery!

It sounds really great, and allows you to adjust the bass (just 'ON-OFF') and the whole response curve with the EQ. Yeah, not a 3-steps BASS and 5-band EQ but, hey, it's the only one walkman that I know to date to have all these features combined.

And... what's the problem? Well, it's veeery hard to find one. World is not perfect...

Hugo what a very interesting topic that I bet the thought was triggered when you posted to my topic 

History of AIWA and Sony's Branding control of Aiwa's Sales/Products

I had never thought of looking at the few high end audiophile Walkman made in that nearly every one lacked some needed feature to make it truly audiophile quality with sound adjustment needed for great sound with many types of music and headphones/tapes.  I do not have that most rare Sharp JC-C50 but indeed it appears to have nearly all yet still some limiting adjustments on the sound. 

HUGO  - WHAT IS the Freq. response of the Sharp is it in the audiophile range of 18,500 to 21,000 kHz. Also is the head Amorphous or a higher grade special alloy and design for response and hardness?  

I can think of one player that has nearly all the requirements /features to be the audiophile player.  The Panasonic RQ-S80 with 12 Laminate Core Head probably the very finest Panasonic head made with freq. response 15 to 21,000.  It has Dolby B and C and only available adjustment of sound is through the remote which sadly is often missing making the player lack its sound control adjusting features.  Interestingly enough this player has several preset EQ settings chosen already.   They allow for 8 different preset adjustments in 4 freq. ranges ( unknown) shown by a 5 level bar graph display on remote.  See photo. Yet without the ability to individually adjust EQ ranges this player falls short of its ability to to be a true audiophile player as you discussed.   This player is only player other than the magnificent Aiwa PX-1000 that has a real time spectrum freq. analyzer display.  Although the S-80's is not the detailed display of the PX-1000 it does show 4 freq. ranges shown with interesting musical cleft symbols with the top Horizontal bar telling you approx. level of strength of that freq. in one of four ranges. Each cleft symbol changes quickly to the music sound.   See photo. A very interesting display design which I believe this and the RQ-S60 the same model with out Dolby C or 12 Laminate Core head are only two using such a unique form of display.  If only the player had a on off bass and high tone adjust with a properly  calibrated variable slider unlike the PX-101's this would be my contender for top audiophile machine.  Although due to its extreme small size probably smallest of very high end players the dependability long term suffers with repairs more often required to keep player fully functioning with orig. specs realized.   

Ah the frustration continues.   

Panasonic RQ-S80

i gave one of these away john...great thread btw it's limitations are...bass only on the remote....and you can't use good headphones with the remote

Size comparison shots :

AIWA PX-101

PANASONIC RQ-S80

SONY WM-DD9

REVELATION  !!!  THE S-80 has SURROUND SOUND Feature.

WOW   IT has been nearly a year since I have listened to my S80 as prior to that I had repairs done by Retrodos some caps replaced and belt and general service. Sadly the motor is weak and it has noticeable wow/flutter thus I have never been really able to critically listen to this player.   Although it still has the slight fluctuation in speed it is listenable to a degree.  What I never realized is the second set of EQ settings adds a surround sound ( Ambiance ) to each of the 4 orig. EQ settings that is VERY well done I would even say better than the EX20 and EX2000 surround sound feature which I have. The Sony's surround sound feature unless listening at very low volume added a muddy slight blurring of clarity of sound.   Dont know how I missed this LIVE feature on the S80 before other than never spent much time listening due to my great disappointment that unit was repaired but needed a rare to find motor ( I have recently bought a very good condition S80 with broken belt hoping motor in it can be transferred).   The owners manual states 

LIVE " You can enjoy to add gloss to the vocals and make feel as if you were hearing a live stage performance."

You would think Panasonic would have called it a surround sound or Ambiance /modified reverb which it seems some of all this.   It adds truly a great sonic experience with my much better Sony MDR-V6 ( orig. Japanese mfg not Malaysia or Korean Drivers).   The orig. headphones are very good although not equal to the Ear buds of the  DD9.  Guess I am going to have to get this player back to 100% again. The clarity of this 12 Laminate Core Head is amazing in my last 30 mins of listening.  The sound stage presence of instruments I say surpasses the DD9 even.  I will have to do a direct comparison when it is fully repaired.  Both the DD9 and the S80 suffer not very powerful amplifiers .

Hugo I believe you have a working S60 which although it does not have the fine head of the S80 still boasts a 15-20,000 freq. response in the owner manual.  I believe the LIVE EQ setting will work on this player as they both use same remote.  My S60 is new boxed away so not easy to get at the moment.  Let me know what you think of the LIVE feature. Seems best on NORM EQ setting.

Actually you can use good headphone you do have to use the orig. remote with earbuds attached ( cant plug other headphones into remote ) and set the EQ settings you want.  As long as you dont power down the player by removing battery supply the settings are saved. So you can unplug the remote headphones and plug in any headphones you wish.  I was using a pair of the Sony MDR-V6 full sized cans.   

This is correct john my friend....just the fact that the bass etc is only on the remote, bugged the hell out of me...do panasonic make a walkman with dolby c where the bass control is actually on the walkman??

The hx ps101 is my perfect walkman thus far...didn't realy like the dd9...just seems like you're typical sony to me as it doesn't have treble control....sorry for going off topic

Afraid Panasonic higher end models ALL put the bass boost/S-XBS only on the remote which is as you say so aggrevating not to mention most Walkman found now are missing the remote. Sony did this on many models too such as EX9,EX7, EX20.  I did find one of the S series the RQ-SX5 has the vibration sound switch on player.  Probably the 2nd best sounding Panasonic is the RQ-S65 a ultra rare bird that has Dolby C AND the S-XBS is a TWO setting boost with switch ON the player.   This player has the FG Amorphous Head.  A truly sonic superb player but mine needs a belt but playable like the S80.  Although in photo of inside lid the S-XBS freq. graph does not show that HIGH frequency the graph shows above 9500 kHz gain about 8 db which means this player has a system somewhat like the DOL of the Boodo Khan.  The Bass boost on Max is about 25 db from 15 to 100 kHz.  I must assume the mid boost setting is a much more reasonable half of that for Low and High frequency.  Yet still not the perfect player as the boost low and high would need to have a range continuously variable.  The search goes on.

Only high end unit in the SX line is the RQ-SX75 but multiple EQ settings are only on remote ...shame. So it generally appears in the better to high end Panasonic players EQ or Bass boost on all but few is only on remotes.  Poor design born of saving production cost probably.

PANASONIC RQ-S65

For some of the newer members here is a fantastic informational topic on high end Walkman having DOLBY C from all manufactures known.   Great to re-read as it has some very technical discussions about what is Dolby C , how it works and discussions on audiophile cassette head designs and alloys.

http://REPLACEMENT ERROR/topic...finitive-list-photos

Now this is a special walkman john....pardon me for asking but if you ever wish to sell or trade please let me know my friend....i have 2 working sx 71 and something else of note a rq  s50 panna the reason i mention the second one is because it has the live sound like the sx 80 but its built on to the walkman with the s sbs...it also has highspeed access....thanks for this post john

Should I ever sell the RQ-S65 will def. let you know although some time ago Tuna put Dibs on this player but he may have one by now.   That is interesting you mention other Panasonic models with this LIVE surround sound feature.  I will have to look my SX and S models as I have a very strong love for the S model line especially and Panasonic in general.  Have 31 S and SX models. Apology Hugo as this is off topic as to the "Perfect Walkman" as seems only the RQ-S65 has Dolby C and surround sound/two level bass/high boost.

"The imperfect is our paradise"

(Wallace Stevens, The Poems of Our Climate)

In truth, I believe that all the accessories that alter the sound, such as equalizers, mega bass, dsl, etc.. are tools not suited to a true and pure audiophile. Moreover they introduce noise. So I rule out all walkmans that rely on these accessories and have a mechanism with belt , so with a high wow & flutter and speed inaccurate. For me a Walkman for serious audiophiles, must have a mechanism, one head, electronic components and dolby C, all of the highest quality. In my opinion the only ones walkmans who possess these qualities are: the WM-DD9, the WM-DC2 and the WM-D6C. The presence of Megabass in DD9 is useless, is a feature that I never use, but if I have to listen to a tape recorded with low quality, you can improve the sound with megabass, but it's still a gimmick not audiophile. The only drawback in the DD9 is the lack of output line, but after a few upgrades, keeping the volume at level 6, can be considered a output line on par with the output line of the WM-DC2. So, ultimately, I think the Walkman perfect for an audiophile it's the WM-DD9, also its mechanical construction is higher than the WM-DC2 and the WM-D6C, so made to last and to maintain its quality unchanged over time.
It's very interesting this article, with which I fully agree:
https://sites.google.com/site/...an1/cassette-players

Thanks for your extensive info, John.

I don't actually have the Sharp with me because it's being changed belts at this moment. But as soon as it arrives I'll test it, ok?

I have a S80 and it's indeed a nice player, but having all the settings in the remote stops the fun, because although it saves the latest setting as you said, everytime you want to change it you have to switch back to the remote, change the settings and then switch again to your good pair of headphones. And if for an instant you open the battery door, you loose the settings so you have to start again.I guess if I cut the cable and connect a female jack in the remote so I can plug my headphones would be great.

However, although I felt the treble response is excellent, the bass lacks that natural power that the DC2 or the D6C have. You can activate the S-XBS but it's not the same (as many other top-players, like the PX101 i.e.). I don't know what's the difference between them because if you analyze the freq.resp they are more or less the same in the low freq, but the listening experience is quite different...

Thanks for your always interesting info, Dr Walkman.

Let me explain my point of view in my article. Although I didn't explain it clearly I was not referring to the state-of-the-art audiophile player. I diferentiate these top-of-the-tops players from top players with advanced features but not so great W&F and response (i.e.: PX101, PX303, S80, 701C...)

I like to listen to the first ones while at home in quiet ambience and big headphones.

When I go in the street I prefer thinner and more advanced players to avoid flip the tape and to have a remote in the pocked for more commodity. As the ambiente is noisy -although I use a passive noise reduction headphones- I could not feel all the quality. Well, I could not fell the difference between group 1 (DC2...) and group 2 (PX101...).

So for those situations I prefer to have more EQ options but with a good base sound. The Sharp comes here as a pretty good alternative, in my opinion.

So I agree with you totally, but speciually when you are at home listening.

I didn't know that website. Is it recent?

Hello Hugo, I completely understand your point of view.
I, instead, always prefer to listen the DD9, both at home and in the street.
As regards the other walkmans, are very interesting, especially for the collection.
As for the site, I know him for a long time, but has not had many updates. I do not know who it belongs to. I'd like to know more, I think it is very interesting.

Dottor is correct in my ears

I never use external remote do-dads

they just add or remove gain

gimmie a decent line out - and i'm happy

bass bloat with mediocre headphones was standard diet in the 80-90's - and a lot of people associate MEGA BASS with perceived quality - it's clearly not

the's 70's hifi makers had it right - boost upper bass - and lower mids

Hi, guys! Just want to share my happiness. Few weeks ago I've become a happy owner of Panasonic RQ-S80. I bought him from board member Minty (Thanx for that, Minty). It was a great opening for me - to get that amazing sound quality (warm, deep and detailed) from portable cassette player! I gave up on mp3 and cd players along time ago, just because I cant listen digital records no more. At home I use to listen vinyl LP's and there was a dream for me - to make an portable sound system with high quality analog sound that can be compared to vinyl sound! And its done now.

My combination of equipment is:

- Panasonic RQ-S80

- Westone 4R (4 drivers headphones) + special silicone "star" tips

- FiOO E11 headphones amplifier

- Custom made cables from quality silver for headphones and amplifier

And result is - amazing sound, probably the same sounding as vinyl !

*anybody here is dealing with the same equipment ? Maybe I can get some

Its really audiophile thing! listen to him every day...And now I use just factory recorded license cassette tapes.By the way, I listen to hip-hop music...

But my next target is to buy Sony WM-D6C and start to make my own records from vinyl player on high quality tapes. Im so hyped to hear how Dolby C is going to sound on my RQ-S80.

Hi Roman,

The S80 is indeed a good player with a very coold design. Personally I find it sound to lack a bit of 'punch'. The other problem is the high W&F, probably because the super-thin belts that it has.

I personally prefer the best AIWAs (PX101, 303 or 505) or a SONY 701C or DD30 for street listening. For home listening, definitely a D6C, D5 ProII, DC2 or a DD9 (thanks to the very low W&F), but it depends on what you have or prefer...

Can't confirm about the blank skip now...

BTW: your photo is not showing

I agree with you, I do not really use the remote when adjusting the volume probably because I have to mess with 2 volumes and they do not make them louder, it just reduces them and possibly add more distortion with the volume control on the remote.

If it weren't for the famous *tick I would choose a boodoo khan with DOL on

(not enough guts yet to fix that yet)

Graphic EQs will work best if the cassette is recorded extremely properly. It MUST be 'perfect' so that the sound will be good when using the EQ settings. Mega Bass is not as good as it used to be, especially on modern walkmans such as the WM-EX194 or other modern ones from the 2010's. I don't use mega bass. I have some modern ones that were given to me and still works, just not using the MB because it can distort at high volumes.

Well, you forgot about RQ-S55. It is very similar to R65 and it is rare, too.

Marian

the dd9 sounds boring

dc2 is more fun.

but perhaps dottor knows how to change these things..

for listening use a nak, studer, tandberg,etc.

the perfect walkman for me is a WORKING walkman...

Welcome ROMAN, if your looking to better the sound get yourself a Sony SEQ-50  five band EQ unit.  Sent you a PM.  Just a hassle to have all the wire and two units to carry on you when out and about.

I have two S55, in dark brown and white, but non working. It's indeed rare :-)