WM-R15

The WM-R15 was a portable cassette recorder Walkman from 1984, combining playback, Dolby B noise reduction, and recording capability in a compact belt-clip-friendly body. It could record either through line input or built-in microphones, and included a small tape counter plus side-mounted gold contacts for an optional tuner pack. Its amplifier output was notably strong for its size, giving it more flexibility than many casual playback-only models.

It occupied a narrow but very real middle ground. It was not a professional field recorder in the D6 sense, but it offered more possibility than an ordinary playback Walkman for people who actually wanted to capture sound on the move. Models like this are a reminder of how broad the cassette Walkman family had already become by 1984, forming branches for users whose needs went well beyond pressing play.