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Back in 1982 I had a Sony Walkman. I loved that thing, but for the life of me I can't remember what I paid for it.
I just received my Music Direct catalog and the Sony Walkman NW-ZX2 is on the back cover for $1,200....
Granted it can do soooooo much more than the original, but $1,200 seems like a lot of scratch. I guess Sony isn't targeting kids wearing hi-top white Nike's riding skateboards anymore.
Meat; It's the right thing to do. Romans 14:2
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Old Japanese guys running Sony and Toyota are still living in the past.
$1200 bucks? Maybe if it was 1992 they could get away with selling a few thousand of these. Not now.
Not sure what the point is if it doesn't.
Japanese cos. have been left in the dust with this kind of thinking. Which is what happens when you have cronyism and old guy business culture.
if they'd release a new cassette walkman!The market has moved on. Comms devices like phones meet these mobile music needs now. Audiophilia has other muses.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Edits: 08/14/15
"Pro" Walkmans that ran several hundred dollars even back in the mid 80s such as the WM-D6c which had a fancier transport, recording capability, etc.
Those would compare similarly in inflation adjusted dollars.
We just moved house. Your post reminded me to take my cassettes and cassette players out of the garage and put them somewhere drier. Including my WM-D6C.
Still plenty of cassettes around, just for fun of course.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
$1200 spent today was about $325 in 1978 dollars.
When the Walkman was introduced in 1978 is went on sale for about US$200. I think that is about US$750 in today's money.
So yeah, it's about 160% of the effective price. The biggest difference is that the price of a Walkman or Walkman like device dropped like a stone the following years. I think the Fiio's of the world have already done that, and this leaves Sony with a "premium" product whose price isn't likely going to go down in MSRP.
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As audiophiles, we take what's obsolete, make it beautiful, and keep it forever.
Hey! I have a blog now: http://mancave-stereo.blogspot.com or "like" us at https://www.facebook.com/mancave.stereo
for the first CD Walkman. $400!!!!
"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius
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As audiophiles, we take what's obsolete, make it beautiful, and keep it forever.
Hey! I have a blog now: http://mancave-stereo.blogspot.com or "like" us at https://www.facebook.com/mancave.stereo
Something to fall back on, just in case :-)
I planned on sending it to Geoff Kait to see if he could work some magic on it, but haven't seem him around lately.
$250 in 1983 USD is a little under $600 in today's $, but like you said, you're getting so much more.
My issue is integration with my automobile system where I most use portable storage devices. I wonder how would it show up on Ford's MySync?
the re-invention of the 2nd generation Ipod. I have a ton of Wav files on mine.
I've not been impressed with any portable digital audio player..... To me, a smart phone playing a good audio app performs just as good.....
Now I would be interested in a new portable analog cassette player that's a lot gentler on tapes.....
bought a brand new Sony walkman in '83 over in Okinawa after reading all the great reviews. Spent about $250 for their top of the line model. While jogging one day it few off my waist and hit the ground....hard.
Stopped working from that point on. Sent it in for repair; it came back two weeks later no better than it did when it left.
Fairly disappointed in both myself and the unit. Hell for that kind of money (about a week's pay for me back then) I would've expected Sony anticipating those things going through similar fashion and built them a bit better.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
Perfectly happy with my iBasso DX50 and Etymotic hf5s with Custom moulds.My phones (including moulds) and player cost about half of the price of the Sony player and the iBasso sounds tremendous to me. Also has a readily available user replaceable battery.
Not trying to say that the Sony doesn't sound good, just that half the money can buy you very good sound quality.
I'm also sure that the HMI on the Sony is a lot prettier than the iBasso, but the iBasso HMI is usable and I don't watch the display when I'm listening to music...
Cheers
Welly
He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.
- Douglas Adams
Edits: 08/12/15
...get a Pono for less than half the price and it sounds better.
That's what kids ( and most adults ) use for tunes-on-the-go ( and at home ).
I have 2 tablets and a new smart phone and I love these mobile devices.
But I also have the Astell and Kern AK100, and I simply do not use the tablets or phone for music anymore. There is just no comparison.
Similarly I have a Kindle paper white and I don't do too much reading on any other device (although I still prefer paper books).
A specialized device is just better for those who care.
And if it _can_ play files it has to play hi-rez files.
Do any Androids meet those requirements? I know iPhones will never have a radio.
Remember that we have really good classical on FM down here.
Warmest
Tim Bailey
Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger
There are a number of lesser brands/models that have FM radio built-in (linked below) but you sacrifice other features found in the best phones.
Why don't you just carry a transistor radio if old school mobile FM is that important to you? Or a boombox? ;-)
Old transistor radios for old people
Old boombox for old people
...Including iPhones, but they are not activated.
I think here in Oz a Windows phone is about the only one with FM radio activated.
I rarely listen to the radio so I'm not totally across it.
I have 128GB of capacity on my main phone and 64GB on my secondary phone but not a lick of music on either of them.
Good luck finding what you want.
Cheers.
Smile
Sox
you can get Internet Radio.
I can listen to ABC Classic FM on the net on my desktop in the study through Yamaha MS20S fold-back powered monitors.The ABC use AAC for that and it still sounds better sitting in the study and listening to the bedroom system, a receiver and B&W DM100s, across the hall behind me. Perhaps that's because the speakers in there are B&W DM100s, but I doubt that's the entire picture.
LBNLeast I doubt if many US residents are familiar with what I would regard as good sounding FM. Threads on AA on that subject being part of that view.
And, I have been there with my travelling audio system which I also travelled with it here in Australia. On planes and in hotels, and while walking for exercise.
That system? That US company's 'Traveller pack' :- A class-A amp in a bag, and Etymotics. Plus a DC motor cassette/walkman/radio with variable Freq. spacing, a Portable CDP, and airplane adaptor plugs. Plus powered Sony Spkrs in my suitcase, with a T-ribbon antenna with a 3.5mm plug and a 2-by 3.5mm socket. Spare batteries for the amp.
I now use the MS20s just to listen to videos I am watching on the PC. It was at one time SOP if something I loved was on, for me to switch the MS20s off and walk into the bedroom and lie down in the sweet spot.
Now I just walk in to the bedroom.
I should one day set up more effectively in the study. Probably a rebuilt rcvr fed by the external antenna system, pre-power in/outs added, plus a DIY band-pass P-P sub, maybe even add felt around the MS20S' drivers etc.
The I will be able to AB the two sources. I'm not expecting to change my opinion.
Warmest
Tim Bailey
Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger
Edits: 08/12/15
Some internet streaming sources are compressed, but losslessly compressed.
Of course, you do have to PAY for it. Otherwise, in the words of Edward Gorey, "How elegant, how delightful, how gay - to think that one does not even have to pay!"
I've been using this service for about a week now - I'll try to post my impressions so far by EOD tomorrow (probably over on the Music forum).
And I pay for ABC Classic FM through taxes.
I really like not having to chose stuff and being surprised.
I simply want a phone with decent FM sound, once reception is okay.
Warmest
Tim Bailey
Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger
For the quality of sound and the ability to play HiRez files. This was not ment for kids but for the Hi End market
Alan
even have trouble spending 400$ on a Pono player.Plus, historically Sony was never able to capture an audiophile market particularly in the US.
They lost the portable audio segment to Apple and now I highly doubt they can regain the market once they used to *own*.
Edits: 08/12/15
Well, if kids are willing to pay $400 for designer headphones...
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"If there's a mathematical expression for, 'Move the cartridge back and forth, from this point to that one, until everything seems to line up', I don't know what it is."
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TIA
Warmest
Tim Bailey
Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger
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