Hi all,

I've added recently a very special unit to my collection: the Infinity Intimate. This walkman is special because of two reason: the main one is because it was the world's first walkman that featured Dolby system.

The second one is because it was the only one walkman that this very respected high-end speaker brand made in their history.

Here it is, and it comes with a nice case:

It features radio, with an aditional module that has to be inserted like a cassette:

Here it is without the case:

It has BIG buttons and separate volume levels for each channel (that's a rare feature):

Here you can see the head and the pins for the radio module:

(The dolby button is that on the left side).

Hope you enjoy!

What a lovely thing to behold. You must be pretty chuffed with that. I had Infinity speakers a long time ago and they had a very high quality feel to them. Someone has really cherished this machine!

Nick

Can I ask how you know it was the first unit to feature Dolby?

it's a shame these don't go for much

I sold mine with original case and foam headphones for less than 50

Oh, I read it in an ebay auction and started to research, so I found this document by Dolby (it's attached), where you can see this in page 5:

Great looking unit, the case looks rather nice and I think Infinity are a respectable brand!

infinity: never-ending pleasure...

Hugo great addition to your ultra fine collection.  As you stated worthy for two reasons the first Dolby Walkman and made by a high quality speaker mfg. company.  I love this model very much and the hefty rock solid build.   Appears our cases are different yours is probably a early serial number unit my guess.  My serial # 82013001399 although my number suggests it is the 1399 unit made?

ONE ORIGINAL DESIGN.... 3 IMPOSTORS (clones) 

It appears we have some cloning going on here.  Note the too obvious similarities between the KLH S100 , INFINITY RS-002 and CYBERNET PS-101.  After I took the photos realized that the AKAI PM-01 appears also to be part of this unusual family thus the reason the AKAI not in group photos.

Noted differences are the Infinity only one with DOLBY but no mic/talk button that the AKAI, KLH and CYBERNET all have.  Also the KLH is only one with Tape counter on front.   We know Cybernet copied others with cheaper models but still the quality and heft of the PS-101 is excellent so it is NOT the original designer and since Infinity made so few Walkman my bet is on the AKAI as holder of the original design and sold to other 3.   There are probably a few more clones out there but I only know of these.

One must wonder why AKAI would not have been first with Dolby and let a Infinity be first on market with a option that would set the trend for ALL later Walkman from all mfg. companies. 

AKAI PM-01

I think this is part of the Infinity product literature for this model.....

John: fantastic research what you did. Love the way you research and enjoy your collection.

I knew that there were a KLH that looks the same, but had no idea about the AKAI or the Cybernet. I think that probably was KLH and not AKAI the one who manufacture it.

A quick search at google took me to this comment about KLH:

"Those look to be from the era when KLH was falling apart - speakers made in Westwood, MA - amp labeled Canoga Park, CA (produced in Japan ?).

From what I remember KLH made a move to Westwood about 1977, then were sold off to an Asian firm about 1980, then they moved their headquarters to California. It's all a bit confusing....today the KLH label is on rather generic audio made over-seas."

If you look the back side of this KLH, you will see that it says "KLH research and development. Canoga Park, CA". Look photos of this auction.

"Canoga Park". If I look backwards of my Infinity, it states "Infinity systems Inc. Canoga Park, CA". So maybe it was KLH and not AKAI...

It's only a theory, of course...