1996 WM-EX3
The WM-EX3 is a playback-only Walkman equipped with an automatic inversion function.
1996
WM-EX5
The WM-EX5 is a playback-only Walkman with an automatic reversal function. It features Dolby B, remote control operation, and bass boost, and is compatible with AA batteries and gum-type rechargeable batteries. It is an early high-end model that enhances convenience through the introduction of electronic control functions.
Sony marked its fiftieth anniversary with a cassette Walkman, not to challenge Discman or MiniDisc, but to acknowledge where the company began. The WM-EX5 worked as a symbolic object, shaped more by reflection than competition.
Its polished mirror surface hid a side-loading cassette door, and the soft grey trim framed the player with the quiet formality of a commemorative piece. Controls were kept minimal.
Volume, Dolby, and battery indicators lined the top edge, while playback buttons sat behind a sliding rear panel. The bundled remote carried a blue electroluminescent display and provided full access to playback modes, sound presets, and track skip.
Its compact plug allowed easy headphone changes without losing control functions. The WM-EX5 presented the Walkman as a commemorative object, using design and presentation to reflect its legacy rather than extend its technical direction.
See also WM-EX655
