I am beyond happy This came today and it is in such amazing good condition. Apparently the Red M-5550 is extraordinarily Rare to find compared to the Black model. I MUST SAY of my 301 Walkmans this one is truly one of the most beautiful to look at and layout of design is flawless. No wonder Sanyo in early years was one of SONY's biggest competitors along with Panasonic. The fit and finish of parts as you can see even 30 years later is superb. I believe it to be a better machine than the TPS-L2 or WM-3. Any thoughts on this ? It is significantly thinner , slighly less wide and about same height as the TPS-L2. Bravo SANYO I need to get her re-belted to compare sound quality.

Can anyone confirm how early this model came out to compete with the TPS-L2? I think was release in mid/late 1980 ? ?

FEATURES

Player has a very useful pitch control with rotary dial accessed on side with increments showing on front. I think Sanyo was first portable stereo Walkman to have this feature. There is a High / Low tone switch. IT has a well executed and functioning microphone that can be used to cut music out and talk to other persons headset and your own OR push the MIX button to allow outside voice /sounds to mix with played music from cassette.


THE GLORY OF RED METALLIC SANYO M-5550









Great example picture of perfect exicution of METALLIC FINISH





THE FIRST TWO CONTENDERS TPS-L2 and M5550 THE SANYO IS DEFINITELY SMALLER !

Going to need a good cleaning and new belt.

Here are my other "EARLY" Sanyo's.

M4440 Burgendy Metallic Brick !



M4430





THE GIANT and LEAD HEAVY M6060
One of the very few top loading /ejecting players of all times. Fashioned after the car cassette players of the day.



Different Pouch carrier - talk about looking like it clips on to your construction utility belt !!


NOW THIS IS COOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Great spring loaded slide out carrier 4 AA battery holder



Look how much LARGER the M6060 is to the M5550. Have to tell you that this player when you pick it up feels like it has 4 AA batteries in it then you add them and I believe this is the HEAVIEST WALKMAN. IT WILL PULL YOUR PANTS OFF !!!

[QUOTE]

IT WILL PULL YOUR PANTS OFF !!!

Excellent!

john,,i have to go along with something i read quite a long time ago. they said sanyo was every bit as good as sony but there sales in the usa were weak so they dropped out of the market here but continued doing well in europe and asia.