WM-EX55

The WM-EX55 is a more refined EX-series playback Walkman that moved away from the upright low-end format and into a flatter body with full-logic controls hidden beneath a sliding front cover. It offers auto-reverse playback, Dolby B noise reduction, Mega Bass with 2x expansion, automatic tape-type selection, anti-rolling support, and compatibility with a full 9-pin remote, all arranged in a machine that clearly put more emphasis on handling and polish than the simpler EX players around it.

By this point the Walkman had started feeling less mechanical and more curated. The sliding cover, remote support, and flatter proportions all point toward a player meant to be carries and controlled with a little more elegance. It sits in the stage where Sony was refining cassette portability into something smoother and more self-contained instead of just adding features one by one.