WM-36

The WM-36 is a more polished variation on the WM-33 platform, combining a five-band graphic equalizer with Dolby B noise reduction and a metal cassette door that makes the player look and feel more resolved than the lower-end plastic-bodied models around it. It still runs on two AA batteries and retains a manual tape-type selector, but the added equalizer range and cleaner playback give it a more deliberate, sound-oriented character despite sharing much of its underlying architecture with cheaper siblings.

Sony was refining a cost-efficient chassis with just enough real improvement to create a credible middle tier. It was not redesigning everything from scratch, but selectively adding the elements users could see, hear, and appreciate most.