1985

WM-F75

The WM-F75 used the proven WM-75 Sports platform and added a full AM/FM radio, creating a splash-resistant radio Walkman that required substantial internal rearrangement to make everything fit. A bulge at the back of the body housed the ferrite bar antenna, while a cable-drive system linked the rear tuning wheel to a scale visible along the edge of the cassette door. To preserve sealing, Sony removed the second headphone jack and relocated several controls. Dolby B, switchable auto-reverse, and metal-tape support remained, with automatic tape detection simplifying operation.

What stands out about the F75 is not just that Sony added a radio, but how many small compromises and mechanical detours were needed to do it without breaking the Sports concept. It shows how much the physical logic of a Walkman could still be shaped by water resistance, antenna placement, and sealing. The result feels less like a generic feature upgrade than a carefully negotiated piece of portable engineering.

The idea of a rugged Walkman had started with the bright yellow WM-F5, but turning that concept into a practical, fully featured portable player required a more complete approach. The WM-F75 represented that shift.

It brought together weather resistance, radio reception, and cassette playback in a form built to handle movement rather than simply endure it. The sealed enclosure was refined with larger rubberized buttons, protected ports, and a rear housing shaped around a ferrite antenna for stable AM reception.

Sony Walkman in 1985 View all Walkman models >