WM-EX150

The WM-EX150 is a low-end EX-series playback Walkman that added Mega Bass to an otherwise very stripped two-AA cassette player. Its plastic standing body kept the same everyday formula of belt clip, manual tape selector, and simple controls, but the extra bass enhancement gave the machine a slightly more consumer-facing sound identity than the very plainest models beneath it. The transport remained uncomplicated and clearly cost-conscious.

This model is a good example of how Sony uses one compact feature to create an entire step in the lower end of the lineup. The EX150 is not especially sophisticated, but in hindsight, it looks like the kind of machine built for someone who wanted "a little better than basic" without really moving beyond the everyday cassette player.