the story
The Brass Heart. Made in Japan, this 1988 Sony WM-AF23 was ready for a perfectly respectable life playing music. Then people got involved. You can picture it disappearing into a backpack with a mixtape that took three evenings to make and was casually described as “just some songs.” It heard “this is our song” become “never play this again,” then spent the following weekend rewinding it seventeen times. Somewhere between borrowed jackets, handwritten dedications and tapes returned without explanation, it became less of a gadget and more of an accomplice. We suspect its least fulfilling relationship was with a drawer. Decades of silence, loose change and a key nobody could identify. An undignified arrangement for something with so much left to play. APD has given it a thorough restoration and formally cancelled its retirement. It sounds fantastic and is ready to get tangled up in somebody else’s life. The next questionable mixtape is your responsibility.
What You Get
• The unit itself, pristine apart from a small blemish on the metal Walkman badge, fully serviced and ready for use. Pictures show the exact unit you’ll receive.
• Your choice: a freshly curated APD mixtape or a retro prerecorded tape from our archives
• New period correct headphones
• Original Sony belt clip
• Iconic Sony Sound - arguably sounds better than anything on the market today
• Legendary APD packaging with a custom sticker pack for a gift-worthy unboxing.
Features + Highlights
• Made in Japan
• Brass flywheel and old-school cassette transport
• Pre AVLS (think loud!) they are you’re eardrums after all
• Stereo cassette playback with manual side changes. Flip the cassette for Side B
• Normal / CrO2-Metal tape selector
• Analog FM/AM tuner
• Runs on 2 AA batteries
• Intact “It’s a Sony” sticker
Service Provided (Nerd Stuff)
• Full off body cleaning and restoration
• Belt pathways fully cleaned and premium belt replacement
• Motor lubricated
• All contacts cleaned (crackle free)
• NAK-T100 Speed Adjusted
• Capstans and pinch rollers cleaned
• Head cleaned and demagnetized
• Transport cleaned and lubricated
• Full playback and radio tested
• Included NAK-T100 test capture shows 3005.4 Hz and 0.283% weighted quasi-peak wow/flutter.
Condition + Character
• A legend reborn. Pristine overall cosmetics apart from a small blemish on the metal Walkman badge (see photos). In great shape for being 38 years old. Fantastic sound!
• Part of the APD Legend Collection.
FCC information: This vintage Walkman is sold as a used device. The FCC’s adopted online-marketplace FCC-ID display rule exempts listings for used devices (47 CFR § 2.803(c)(3)(iii)).