Walkman TPS-L2 (Sony)

The Sony Walkman TPS-L2, released in 1979, revolutionized how people consumed music. It was the first truly portable cassette player, freeing listeners from their living rooms and ushering in an era of personal soundtracks. Its iconic blue and silver design, along with the lightweight headphones, became a symbol of the 1980s. People fondly remember the ability to create personalized mixtapes and listen to their favorite music on the go, whether walking, jogging, or commuting. The Walkman transformed public spaces, as people retreated into their own sonic worlds, and it forever changed the music industry, paving the way for future portable audio devices.