Probably one of the hardest to find and rarest Walkman the RQ-J20X 82/83 with dbx tape hiss elimination
( note not reduce but totally ELIMINATES IT !! ). Requires a dbx encoder to make the tape to be
decoded by the player. DBX made stand alone belt clipped dbx decoder/ amplifier so dbx encoded
tapes could be played on any Walkman. Was the PPA-1 which I have NIB. Do a search on S2G for
details. This player has new belts now and had to have the pcb board remade, and almost all
new capacitors as common to this model, early Panasonic's, Aiwa, Toshiba is capacitor leakage
destroying pcb board. Yep this unit uses a flexable PCB, the main PCB, this is one of a kind unit,
they did that to add the DBX circuits but making this unit, harder to service.

I admire the build quality of the unit, very well built transports, one of the best I seen.

My eternal thanks to an amazing members skill and persistence & most of all TIME. I will bet
this is the ONLY PERFECTLY WORKING J20X in the WORLD !!

The non dbx sister to this was the RQ-J9. See end of this post for Photos of RQ-J9. These too have sound problems due to pcb board problem like J20X. See my multiple topics on this model and dbx technology do a search on S2G.  Please note whenever you buy a anyWalkman if seller says sound is not very good or electrical
problems it is probably pcb board capacitor leakage problems due to low grade capacitors used.
Stay away from these.




















Here was the price conscious model from Panasonic the RQ-J11 I believe released Nov. 81 as a
82 model to compete with the WM-1 Sony’s 3rd model after the TPS-L2 and the WM-2. This
example is a NIB never opened example when I bought it. Headphone foam is perfect never
unwrapped or out of box.

RQ-J9  1982/1983 Non dbx sister mechanically to RQ-J20X

Opening this post up again, forgot how superb it was.

wonderful!

I have a spare rxs40 here, the headphones output does not work but for the rest it is okay

Consecutive serial numbers...... Sounds like a dream of love, a true marriage, an awesome story and a lucky collector.... LOVE IT!

deep

John, thanks for your ultra-large, full documented post! Excellent, as always.

Although I don't feel passion for Panasonic, they indeed did great things, like that DD player or the J20X.

Since many time ago I'm searching for information about a player that seems that it was the very first walkman in the history to include a bass amplification system: the RF-H20. Th system is called "ultra-phonic" and it was included in later models also, a few years before the SONY Boodo Khan, which is commonly accepted as the very first one to have it.

Do you have any info about this player or this system?

Hugo

Thank you Hugo for kind compliment.    I did spend days putting this topic together and taking photos.  And a thank you to AO, Samovar, Claret Badger.  Tranxmetal so GRAND to see you on again seems so long since we have heard from you.  A big participant you were years ago ;-)   And yes the consecutive serial numbers must be the only two in existence in any collection.   A true marriage that will never be divorced :-)  If ever to sell only as a pair ;-)

Hugo I have never heard of the Panasonic RF-H20.   The prefix is used for Panasonic Radio only players.  I did search and found only info a svc. manual front page.  It is a smaller size radio than my RF-10 early in this topic I show released in 1985.  On Pocket calculator it mentions this model with Ultraphonic mode switch.   I am surprised that a bass extension circuit was put on a early Radio only player.   This would definitely predate the Sony DD100 of 1987.  Although the DD100 DOL boosted not only the Bass but ALSO the very high treble a most unique feature.  It also rolled off the amplification the louder the volume but still boosted bass and treble even at full volume WITHOUT the DOL on causing distortion at high volume.   The DD100 has the best bass boost/treble circuit of ANY Walkman I own or have heard.   As far as any knowledge of a Panasonic bass boosting amplification called Ultra Phonic I have never heard the term or seen a player with this on it.   Can you shed some more light on this subject or other players model numbers etc.

If you look in this topic at the RQ-JA5 from 1985 ( a AO favorite ;-) it had a feature that for about 2 years was found on some of Panasonic Walkman and Radio's called 3 - Preset Equalizer  with 3 separate buttons for High boost or Low Boost and Normal. By pushing BOTH Low and High it was doing same as the DOL of the DD100 2 years earlier.... So your hypothosis of another Walkman offering bass boosting amplification prior to Sony is correct !  Bravo a interesting point to be made.   Although 3-5 band equalizers were being offered on many players at this time.

RQ-JA5

RF-11 radio only model from I believe 85 or so did offer a single switch bass/high boost then mid boost and Normal switch which would be a singular bass/high like the DOL although I suspect the Sony DOL circuit and freq. eq was much more complex than Panasonic's.   Here is photo from www.pocketcalculatorshow.com showing the RF-11

Check out link at walkmancentral.com where in the DD100 model description it mentions Panasonic had the Ultra Phonic Mode on some of their models.

http://www.walkmancentral.com/products/dd-100

A search of internet brings up almost nothing on the Ultra Phonic mode or EQ.

RF-11

The RX-S35 out early in 1984 was I think an attempt to offer a full featured player in a smaller size but to keep cost reasonable the allowed the model to be thicker saving cost to make really small. A nice looking unit that included AM/FM and Dolby B.

i use own this model....never remembered this model # after so many years ...but do remember it looked just like that, it had half a window...and it was tinted....i had it around 1985.....then i got the JVC-CX-F5K. in 1986......thanks for posting it....it brought memories...

Thanks for the info John. Very informative!

I never heard about those 3-band preset EQ. Really curious.

I heard about Panasonic's "Ultra phonic" mode while reading on the DD100 in Walkman Central a few months ago. I even got in contact with the administrator but he couldn't find more info. the only information I found in the internet is this Panasonic RX-SA 80: (look at the turquoise switch)

Where does the RQ-382 fit in the line-up?  I just picked one up locally in decent working order with its outer sleeve.

so so what I know :-) but the inside was on ebay but much too expensive :-(

did you also so a :-)??

Here is link to Topic on the RX-SA80 although it was produced we (believe) in 1986 a year after this topics 80-85 time frame.  

PANASONIC RX-SA80

index.php?board_oid=193392314111653483&content_oid=295574646075608873

Photos of Working RX-SA80 in my collection

Jens I am unsure of what you are asking 

"so so what I know :-) but the inside was on ebay but much too expensive :-(

did you also so a :-)??"  

You posted two photos of the RQ-JA5

 I know you are using a German to English translator , you can PM me in German will have my best friend ( born raised Germany translate).

Realized after I did this topic in May of 2010 I purchased a RQ-J9  the mechanical sister to the dbx RQ-J20X model.  The RQ-J9 did not have dolby or dbx on it.   I posted several photos earlier in this post where the J20X is featured.

RQ-J9    1982

I have such a RX-S28 NIB!!

There was a real touch of class about Panasonic's stuff... wonderful post (missed it first time around)

I can't get my eyes turn away from your RX-S40. Nice

I wonder why Panasonic implement Tape EQ and Tone in the same setting, Metal H, Metal L (which is the same as Normal H) and Normal L. If they want to achieve that, they should implement a four position switch. Normal L, Normal H, Metal L and Metal H. Besides, do they know that Tape EQ and Tone are different? Sony as well does not know, with their TPS-L2.

moved