Sony has unveiled a 3,300 Euro gold-plated Walkman music player as the Japanese electronics giant focuses on higher end products in its audio division.
The latest player to use the iconic Walkman brand, which dates back to 1979, comes in two models – the WM1Z and WM1A. The WM1Z is the 3,300 Euro model while the WM1A comes in at 1,200 Euros. Both were shown off at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin on Thursday.
Sony has gold-plated a copper chassis on the WM1Z. The WM1A boasts an aluminum finish.
The devices can handle any music file from high-resolution sound to MP3 files. And Sony’s devices can also upscale low-quality files.
Another key feature is the Bluetooth connectivity that lets you play audio from a variety of sources such as a smartphone. Both devices are expected to be available in October.
The high-end Walkman range highlights Sony’s focus on premium products in its audio business. Home entertainment and sound revenues – which include its audio products – saw sales fall 6.8 percent year-on-year in the three months ended June 30, while the operating income was up 85.3 percent, underlining the focus on profitability over scale.
Sony also used IFA to launch two new smartphones – the Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact – as well as give updates to its upcoming concept devices.###
