AIWA HS-GX45



My My it has been 9 weeks since I posted any of my collection in this topic. Am most pleased with this unique and wonderfully performing example of AIWA's HS-GX45 Limited Edition 45th (1996) ANNIVERSARY Walkman new in box.

The unit has a most interesting finish on the metal as from one angle it is a smooth satin soft appearance and from another angle the finish sparkles and glitters with great beauty. Unlike most all anniversary Walkman of other mfgs. that slapped on a cheap sticker AIWA produced a 3 dimensional epoxy like badge for the front of the player with great depth. Tasteful use of gold plating on logic controls, a beautiful band around the player that has a wave to the design on side. Of special interest is the POP UP MECHANISM like the EX1,2,3 and EX5 although not the mechanical wonder of cassette exiting at END of player the GX45 has a strong pop up movement that pushes tape out to be easily pulled from player. A rarity is the quality of the headphones that matches the sonic excellence of this model ( which easily matches the EX5 ). The golden ear buds have the clearest and crisp high range of ANY original equipment ear buds I have in my 319 walkman collection. Only a pair of JVC ear buds were equivalent and the Aiwa's have a slight better bass. All in all a tribute to AIWA's expertise ( obviously shared SONY by this time in 1996) and for once a mgg. sold headphones that showed the sonic excellence of the player produced. Not quite the GLITZ and GOLD of the 50th Anniversary AIWA models but I like the understated elegance of the GX45. ENJOY the views.

Greetings Mr.Edward. Funny you should post these pictures. I just purchased the very same player lastweek. I hope to receive it on Monday. Like yours, it is boxed and in mint condition. Can't wait to receive it. I have always been a fan of aiwa players. They always had an edge over the sony models in my view.

So i have just received my gx-45 today. If i was asked to describe this player i would use one word, cheap. The quality of the player is awful. The construction of the player seems to be made from tin. Really really dissapointed with this one. Needless to say, within an hour of receiving it i had it up on ebay. This one is a perfect example of the demise of the once great aiwa brand. It will not be joining my prized collection. We will agree to dissagree on this one my friend.

Always fine to not agree with someone. I find it a bit harsh that your overall judgment of the player is that the metal housing feels cheap/ tin ! You say nothing about the sound, appearance,pop up and out mechanism ( albeit not smooth as the EX1/5 ) sound of headphones. All are part of a players qualifications. No its not in the top 20% of quality players but on other hand I do not believe it was a expensive cost to purchase. As I have never seen one and no one else on forum seems to have one on just the rarity factor that few exist or possibly made that alone IMO makes it worthy of having even if construction falls short of glory of AIWA in early Walkman years. Even some of the off brand cheaper players in early years if NIB and because cheaper players broke or were tossed out then now so few exist that regardless of quality/performance they still rank collectible because probably no other collector has one. And yes understand some collectors only have the best and some of us collect across a wide range of time periods , quality and manufactures.

I'm not having a go or anything. Just hugely dissapointed with the player. The sound may well be good, but quality is very poor in my opinion. It is basically a sony player with an aiwa logo. Aiwa never used that type of gum battery to my knowledge. Also the wired remote conection is the type used on some sony models. But hey, collecting is all about opinions. If you like something, it doesn't really matter what another person thinks.

A sony 701t. Now thats a player i would love to own. Maybe some day eh! Cheers.

Oh no problem I dont take disagreements personally As for the GX45 being a sony by 96 Sony owned nearly all of AIWA so no surprise product design, cut corners on quality etc became Aiwa also. As a note I do not know of ANY Walkman that have a SIDE opening POP up mechanism like this model. Anyone KNOW OF OTHER MODELS from any mfg.?

I for one am GLAD for the normal gumstick battery as the CURSED AWFUL I HATE THEM CANT BUY THEM DONT HOLD CHARGE NO Lead Acid 2 volt battery unique to Aiwa. Have way to many wonderful older Aiwas that always have to use add on battery case which is big due to 2 AAA battery's or a/c mains. I have all the PB series Lead acid battery's not ONE take a charge now Yes the 2 volt idea makes for cleaner better sound and possibly motor performance but at what price being only AIWA and some Kenwoods used lead acid battery's.
Thank God for Sony's gumstick and generic there still available new and after years often still hold reasonable charge.
yep the Sony 701T is something to aspire to but mechanically its simply a 701C so sound is same. You pay for the Tiffiny name, and expensive case material. the cost is all about "IMAGE" with the S and T models. Like you said If you like something does not matter what others think. Cheers and keep up the great boxed collecting and posting. JE

Hello JohnEdward in my collection I have an Aiwa that is equal to your GX45, but is dark gray and is called PX750. It 'exactly the same walkman. You know him?

Yes have seen one on ebay a while ago. My guess is they made the GX45 for Anniversary model with the side pop up/out mechanism then to recover cost of designing this model released it following year as the PX750. It is a nice player but not built to feel solid. Sadly do not think Aiwa put the best in this model like Sony usually did for real anniversary models. I have only ever seen one other Aiwa GX45.

John: This walkman is absolutely not rare at all. I have three units here and could have twice as much since I´ve seen at least 3 more sold on Ebay the last year.

True is also: NIB it is extremely rare. The case is very sensible, many have dents.


Dottore: The PX750 was released just in Japan a.f.a.i.k.

Derek: Some people are really enthusiastic about the players extraordinary sound quality which I personally would assess better than a 701´s quality. Indeed the 701T is technically identical 100% to any other 701 type. If you ever had opened up such a unit you would know, they are from a cheap and bad quality. Ive done that at least 8 times or more often and at least 3 of them just didn´t work anymore afterward, though I had been very carefully. This never ever happened to me with any other unit.

But indeed I don´t know what the GX45 is looking like inside. I would be happy to own a NIB unit....

I want to buy one GX45, where can i find it?

Dear Eingang. I have opened quite a few 701's to change belts. I've never had any problems with them. The 701s i have works and sounds flawlessly. I dissagree with you regarding there build quality. I find them to be quite robust units. The later aiwa units lack the same build quality. Of course this is just my opinion.

Hello Eingang,

can you sell me one of yours, please?

Your

Christian

Are you speaking german?