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Seeking information on Sony WM-EX80/90 and WA-8800

tuna - 2011-07-23 02:36

Hello guys! My first thread after quite a while. I have found these players in the local ads in mint condition and I was wondering what are your thoughts on those. I am interested in all three but the information available on them seems to be difficult to find and there are a lot of contradictions. So I have a few questions:

 

1. EX80 and EX90 - whaz are the similarities and are these two even from the same era?

2. EX amorphous head - is it in the EX90 and EX80 or not? Some sites suggest it is but then I see any kind of writing on the actual walkman.

3. What is the value of the EX80, EX90 and WA-8800 if they are mint condition as I want to offer a fair price to the seller. 

4. WA-8800 seems very interesting but I was wondering how rare it is and if someone has a picture (the seller has provided a low-rez picture) it would of course be welcome.

 

Thank you!

plop - 2011-07-23 03:22

EX90 is like the GX90. The EX90 is player only, whereas the GX90 has record and tuner.

 

Also available in white

 

DSC00007.JPG

 

Elite had one for sale a while ago

 

index.php?board_oid=193392314111653483&content_oid=193392314111839695

 

WA-8800

 

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/sony_wa_8800wa880.html

 

hi-res picture of WA-8800

 

http://www.retronom.hu/files/images/sonywa8000mk2.jpg

bub - 2011-07-23 04:34

I have an EX80.

 

Can be a great sounding model, similar to 701C mechanism. Watch out for seized motors though- they use the same motor as the 2095/EX49/GX51.

tuna - 2011-07-23 08:41

Thank you for teh replies guys!

 

The EX80/90 look like they are virtually mint condition but they will need belt replacement. How difficult is it to do this? Any desoldering required like on the Panasonic SX?

mark - 2011-07-23 08:55

hello.

 

i have an ex85 which is quite a lovely tiny thing. the belts on it are easy to change and require no desoldering... if i remember correctly.

 

i thought that the whole introduction of the 'ex' to the model number was to denote the ex amorphous head. but, having a plastic fantastic ex195, which i can't imagine to have an amorphous head due to its cheapo nature, i don't know if that is the case. plus my wm-190s have an amorphous head but no ex in the model number. so. sony seems to like to play head games with its customers, so to speak.

 

 

tuna - 2011-07-23 09:38

Yes, I agree! It is very difficult to say which one has an EX amorphous head and which one doesn't.

bub - 2011-07-23 18:44

Hi. No desoldering required for the EX80. No EX amorphous head either. Belt size I believe I used 0.7/0.8 mm square belt 70mm (Very common in Sony logic controlled machines.)

 

But you have: Megabassx2 and Dolby B NR. Basic player but nice sounding.

tuna - 2011-07-24 06:55

Thank you guys, your comments have been invaluable to me. If I don't succeed in replacing the belts without causing some damage, it will be my fault entirely. But I think it is worth it since I think 15$ is a decent price for EX80 and EX90 lot in mint condition.

 

I am not sure I like the design of either EX80/90 but I always wanted to compare the sound of the early 1990s Sony with a more recent WM-EX6xx series player (the ones that were still made in Japan).

ao - 2011-08-03 08:02

WA-8800 is nice, a unique unit and last of the legindary WA series.  I sold one last year for £180 so yeah, a bargain.

 

Can we see some pics?

lapis - 2012-03-28 03:05

The white WM-GX90 looks even better than the black one !

I wonder can this recorder be compared to the WM-F707 ?

 

sam078 - 2012-10-25 03:30

Hi I am looking for to buy Sony WA8000 or WA 8000 MK II or WA 8800 vintage handheld stereo. Please let me know is there are any sellers who want to make a deal with me. If so please email me at (Sameer.r82@gmail.com). I can assure you that I can give you the best price.

lapis - 2015-11-13 22:53

EX90 and GX90 are like the top loading cassette decks from the 70's, except in a more modern look.

ao - 2015-11-13 22:56

Originally Posted by sam078:

Hi I am looking for to buy Sony WA8000 or WA 8000 MK II or WA 8800 vintage handheld stereo. Please let me know is there are any sellers who want to make a deal with me. If so please email me at (Sameer.r82@gmail.com). I can assure you that I can give you the best price.

sam078, maybe open a new thread in the 'wanted' section?

autoreverser - 2015-11-13 23:23

AO, for sure you need glasses, this gentlemen was looking for those units ages ago - 

sorry, sir, i-t-m- you seem to be so blind that you can't even spec the ball in pinballmachine...