WM-F109

The WM-F109 is the radio-equipped follow-up to the earlier WM-109, keeping the wired remote control concept while adding FM stereo and AM tuning to the same clean, symmetrical playback body. Auto-reverse and Dolby B remained standard, and the remote connection through the headphone cord allowed basic operation without reaching for the main unit. Like its predecessor, the player itself stayed visually restrained despite the added function.

What makes the F109 notable is that it pushes the Walkman a little further away from being something you physically handle every few minutes. Sony was starting to think more seriously about use while in motion, whether on a train, walking through a city, or carrying the player out of sight in a coat or bag. The F109 is a convenience model, but in a way that points toward the behavior of much later portable players.