WM-EX314

The WM-EX314 is a more fully equipped upright EX-series playback Walkman that packed auto-reverse, Dolby B noise reduction, variable Mega Bass controlled by twin lid-mounted wheels, and Sony's AVLS system into a standing plastic two-AA body. It kept manual tape selection and a fairly straightforward physical layout, but gave the user more immediate control over sound and tape handling than the lower EX machines around it. Even without moving into the flatter premium branch, it felt more complete.

This is one of those late upright Walkman where Sony was clearly trying to squeeze as much perceived value as possible out of a familiar format. It still sits in the everyday side of the line, but it reads like a machine for people who wanted their "ordinary" cassette player to do a little more than usual.