1988

WM-505

The WM-505 was Sony's first wireless cassette Walkman, launched in 1988 with a short-range RF transmission system that sent audio to a matching pair of dedicated wireless headphones instead of relying on a conventional cable. The player itself remained compact and high-end for the period, offering auto-reverse, Dolby B noise reduction, Dynamic Bass Boost, and rechargeable gumstick power, while the headphones used a similarly slim rechargeable cell of their own. An optional AA adapter provided a more conventional backup for longer use.

This is one of those wonderfully specific late-1980s Sony ideas that feels forward-looking and slightly impractical in exactly the right way. The WM-505 was clearly trying to solve the cable problem before the technology was ready to make that solution invisible, which gives it a very transitional charm. It could never have been the mainstream future, but it shows Sony already reaching for it.

Sony experimented with cable-free playback in the WM-505, pairing a compact cassette body with a short-range wireless audio system. It used an amorphous playback head, Dolby B noise reduction, Auto Reverse, Mega Bass, and an anti-rolling mechanism to keep the transport steady during movement.

The gumstick cell sat inside the enclosure, and the layout followed the late-eighties push toward a thin, symmetrical form with straightforward controls. The wireless system defined the model.

The WM-505 sent audio through a proprietary analog radio link to cordless headphones powered by their own gumstick battery. Within a limited range, the setup allowed cassette playback without a physical cable between the player and the listener.

The design carried practical limits. The radio link performed best over short distances, and interference or crowded environments could introduce brief dropouts.

Sony Walkman in 1988 View all Walkman models >