For auction Sony TC-D5 Professional II field recorder in excellent working condition. Some light signs of wear - please see photos. This Sony TC-D5 Pro II comes with the very rare original Sony carrying case and strap. Sony logo on the front is missing. The TC-D5 (1978) was the machine that while clearly not being a “personal stereo cassette player” in the accepted sense of the term contributed immensely to the development of the Walkman idea and range. Launched in 1978, it immediately became a favourite of senior management of Sony Corporation as a source of high quality portable music. This despite the lack of suitable lightweight headphones, its large size and its high prices. This provided the idea for a cheaper, smaller version that could be sold cheaply enough to become widely popular. >> Further information This "Densuke" series portable cassette recorder was designed to strict standards for audio quality — evident in features such as its capstan servo, "disc drive" mechanism, and Dolby NR. The designers sought high performance in a small, light unit. With less surface area available, some controls were grouped on the front and other, less-used controls were moved inside the cassette cover. It is a well-organized layout that shows great attention to detail. A die-cast case makes the recorder exceptionally durable. The TC-D5 Pro II remained in production long after the other variants had been discontinued and proved popular despite its very high price. The WM-D6C was a natural competitor, capable of similar levels of performance and yet being smaller, lighter and considerably cheaper. It was used by some broadcasters (e.g. the BBC) in preference to the TC-D5 Pro II when they replaced their Uher open reel recorders with cassette machines. >> The Walkman Archive - review “The Most Extraordinary Portable Deck” “ It surpasses any other gadget I have ever seen in terms of build quality” “ The sound is really awesome, surpassing by far any other Walkman in my Collection”.