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Rating: 
Summary: Practical but scarce.
Review: (After using this little player/recorder on a daily basis, I'm raising my rating to 4 stars. It's light, rugged and, best of all, adequate to the task of accompanying my daily walks without requiring the use of headphones. Since this is no doubt the end of the line for stereo mini-cassette recorder/players by any manufacturer, I'd probably buy another just for back-up.) Walkman-style players are a dime a dozen. So what attracted me to this particular model was its ability to record reasonably high quality live music in stereo. The unit is the same size as the one I'm replacing--an Aiwa--which costs about 40% more. There are a few nice features on the Panasonic--the battery power indicator and built-in speakers that are actually usable--but not enough to atone for the loss of my Aiwa. The silvery face makes it less practical for "stealth" recordings, tuner sensitivity and selectivity are atrocious, it lacks auto reverse and, most significantly, despite the claims of stereo recording, Panasonic neither supplies a mini-stereo microphone nor offers a purchasable one. If you can find the Aiwa, pick it up for the extra 40%. Otherwise, a Sony mini-disc, though considerably more expensive, is probably your best bet.
Rating:
Summary: Practical but scarce.
Review: (After using this little player/recorder on a daily basis, I'm raising my rating to 4 stars. It's light, rugged and, best of all, adequate to the task of accompanying my daily walks without requiring the use of headphones. Since this is no doubt the end of the line for stereo mini-cassette recorder/players by any manufacturer, I'd probably buy another just for back-up.) Walkman-style players are a dime a dozen. So what attracted me to this particular model was its ability to record reasonably high quality live music in stereo. The unit is the same size as the one I'm replacing--an Aiwa--which costs about 40% more. There are a few nice features on the Panasonic--the battery power indicator and built-in speakers that are actually usable--but not enough to atone for the loss of my Aiwa. The silvery face makes it less practical for "stealth" recordings, tuner sensitivity and selectivity are atrocious, it lacks auto reverse and, most significantly, despite the claims of stereo recording, Panasonic neither supplies a mini-stereo microphone nor offers a purchasable one. If you can find the Aiwa, pick it up for the extra 40%. Otherwise, a Sony mini-disc, though considerably more expensive, is probably your best bet.
Rating: 
Summary: A Must Have Walkman
Review: I just received the Panasonic RQ-A200 today November 27, 2000. Why do I say this is A Must Have Walkman because it records your voice, plus you can listen to your cassette tapes, the Am/Fm station is o.k. The reason why I say o.k. because it's a turner, not digital but it has Fm reception normal or city, so you can hear clear Fm radio station. But who cares because when you put the head phones on you get excellent sound out of the panasonic. When you switch to the speakers the entire room can hear clear music sounds coming out of this baby. Also it has a pause button so you can pause your cassette tape and come right back to it. Plus a little spot for you to put a stero mic. Head phones are included. One important thing you do have a stop button. So if you go forward or rewind you can stop the tape. To sum it up Panasonic has out done theirselves. You are silly not to have a walkman like this. The rest of the other walkmans are o.k. but will you get something that records your voice, plus listen to the radio, speakers without having your head phones on and excellent sound. So check it out, you can't go wrong with this Panasonic Walkman.
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