WM-EX922

The WM-EX922 is a higher-end EX-series playback Walkman built around a self-contained convenience concept instead of a new transport architecture. Its most distinctive feature was a built-in retractable earphone system, with the earpieces stored directly inside the unit and volume control integrated into the left earpiece behind a compact protective cover. The slim metal body kept the exterior unusually clean while still providing auto-reverse playback, Dolby B noise reduction, and AVLS.

This is one of those late-era Sony solutions that feels very practical and very specific to real daily annoyance. The EX922 was clearly built for users tired of separate headphones, loose cables, and the compact mess of portable listening. It came from the phase when Sony was no longer simply refining playback itself, but trying to reduce the clutter around it.