In 1984, a wide range of models were released to suit different price points and uses. The product is designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers.
WM-DC2
The WM-DC2 is a playback-only Walkman that employs a disc drive mechanism. It uses AA batteries. It belongs to a lineage that prioritizes stable playback through its disc drive system.
WM-DD2
The WM-DD2 is a playback-only Walkman that employs a disc drive mechanism. It features Dolby B and Hotline functionality and is compatible with AA batteries. Its disc drive system prioritizes stable playback.
WM-D6C
The WM-D6C is a professional-grade Walkman with recording capabilities. It features a disc drive mechanism and uses AA batteries. It belongs to a lineage that prioritizes practicality as a portable recording device.
WM-F15
The WM-F15 is a Walkman with a built-in radio. It features Dolby B and uses AA batteries. It belongs to the early Walkman lineage that integrated radio functionality.
WM-R15
The WM-R15 is a Walkman with recording capabilities. It features Dolby B and automatic inversion, and uses AA batteries. It belongs to the early lineage of portable devices that incorporated recording functionality.
WM-17
The WM-17 is a playback-only Walkman with an automatic inversion function. It features Dolby B and uses AA batteries. It is an early high-performance model that combines automatic inversion and noise reduction functions.
WM-30
The WM-30 was an ultra-compact cassette Walkman from 1984 that refined the stretchable design introduced by the earlier WM-10, using a brushed metal case and upright layout that kept its footprint unusually close to that of a cassette itself. Powered by a single AA battery, it paired Dolby B noise reduction with a manual tape selector and a sliding chassis that expanded only when needed for cassette loading. The whole machine was built around the idea of making full stereo cassette playback feel improbably small. Where the WM-10 had introduced the expandable format almost as a technical statement, the WM-30 feels more like Sony settling into that idea and making it usable at scale. It was aimed at people who wanted a Walkman that disappeared into a pocket or belt pouch without feeling flimsy or stripped down. More than a radical departure, it reads like the moment the super-compact branch started becoming a real part of the lineup rather than a clever side experiment.
WM-F30
The WM-F30 is a Walkman with a built-in radio. It features Dolby B and uses AA batteries. It belongs to the early Walkman lineage that integrated radio functionality.
WM-40
The WM-40 is a playback-only Walkman with an automatic inversion function. It features Dolby B and uses AA batteries. It is an early high-performance model that combines automatic inversion and noise reduction functions.
By 1984, the Walkman had become widely available in the market. At the same time, the increasing number of products led to a growing complexity in the product configuration.