WM-EQ3

The WM-EQ3 is the second-generation model in Sony's Beans series, carrying the line's playful rounded form into a more visibly novelty-driven direction. Its injection-molded body was infused with phosphorescent material so the shell glowed softly after exposure to light, and Sony extended the same treatment to the bundled headphones for a matched low-light effect. Beneath the styling, it remained a basic playback-only cassette Walkman with a conventional belt-drive transport and straightforward controls built into the curved housing.

This model shows Sony leaning fully into character design instead of trying to disguise the simplicity of the underlying machine. By 1997, the company already knew there was no point pretending every cassette player needed to look serious or technical. The EQ3 works because it treats the Walkman as a compact personal object with presence, more than a neutral playback tool.