Sony Walkman TPS-L2 (1979-1981)

Sony Walkman TPS-L2 

🥇First Commercially-Released Portable Stereo Cassette Player 

The Sony Walkman TPS-L2, launched on July 1, 1979, was the world's first low-cost personal stereo, fundamentally changing how humanity interacted with music and public space. Originally inspired by Sony co-founder Masaru Ibuka’s desire to listen to opera during long-haul flights, the device was a modified version of a journalist's voice recorder, stripped of its recording head and outfitted with a high-fidelity stereo amplifier. To mitigate early company concerns that personal listening was "anti-social," the blue-and-silver metallic unit featured two headphone jacks and a unique "Hotline" button, which activated a built-in microphone so two listeners could talk over the music without removing their headphones. The pocket-sized player became an instant global phenomenon, selling over 30,000 units in its first two months alone and anchoring the Walkman brand for decades to come.

Source: eBay