the story
Little Ninja. Sony dropped the WM-FX303 in 1994 looking like something you could carry into a restricted area without attracting unnecessary questions. Small, lightweight, dressed almost entirely in black and refreshingly uninterested in showing off, it’s the kind of Walkman that disappears into a pocket until somebody decides the situation would be dramatically improved by a cassette. Then out comes the tape, on go the headphones, Mega Bass gets engaged with perhaps more enthusiasm than the recording engineer intended, and suddenly a trip to buy toothpaste has a soundtrack and a completely unnecessary sense of purpose. This one arrives more than three decades later in pristine condition, with just a touch of wear suggesting it wasn’t kept under armed guard the entire time. A proper visit to the APD lab has everything working as beautifully as it looks, with clean, punchy cassette playback that punches well above this thing’s tiny footprint. The radio is there too, presumably for emergencies. Small, stealthy and deceptively capable, the WM-FX303 is proof that sometimes all you need to improve your day is a cassette in your pocket and somewhere completely unnecessary to go.
What You Get
• The unit itself — in fantastic external condition with very minor bumps and bruises, fully serviced and ready for use, you’ll only need to supply 2 AA batteries. Pictures show the exact unit you’ll receive.
• Your choice of a freshly curated APD 80’s mixtape or a retro prerecorded tape from our archives
• A pair of period-correct headphones (new)
• 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
• Cr02 tape support
• AVLS - save your eardrums if you want
• MEGA BASS - vintage Sony boom booms 💥💥💥
• Analog FM/AM tuner
• Small-sized format Walkman build — sturdy, built for real use
Service Provided (Nerd Stuff)
• Full off body cleaning and restoration
• Belt pathways fully cleaned and new premium belt installed
• Motor lubricated
• All contacts cleaned (crackle free)
• NAK-T100 Speed Adjusted, wow and flutter within spec
• Capstans and pinch rollers cleaned
• Head cleaned and demagnetized
• Transport cleaned and lubricated
• Full playback tested
Condition + Character
• This reborn legend has great cosmetics with some minor visible wear happening in it’s 32 years of life (see photos).
• Controls, sliders, knobs and tape door feel rock-solid and responsive.
• Cassette porthole clean and clear.
• Clean and corrosion-free battery contacts.
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)).