WM-55

The WM-55 was an affordable stereo playback Walkman equipped with switchable auto-reverse and Dolby B noise reduction, using the same transport and general architecture as its sports-oriented sibling, the WM-75. It accepted normal, chrome, and metal tapes, ran on two AA batteries, and used a slide-catch cassette door to help prevent accidental opening during use. Its anti-rolling mechanism kept playback stable during movement, while the overall body remained relatively light and compact for a feature-rich midrange model.

By this point auto-reverse was becoming less of a premium talking point and more of an expected convenience, and the WM-55 reflects that shift clearly. It gave ordinary buyers access to a cleaner, easier listening experience without pushing them into the brighter, more specialized Sports branch. Optional tuner-pack compatibility also makes it feel very mid-1980s Sony: modular, flexible, and quietly more capable than it first appears.