▸MZ-E50L

041   |   Sony   |   '96 11

Unspeakable Secret

In May '46, with a capital of ¥190,000  and approximately 20 employees, "Tokyo Telecommunications Industry" was established in Tokyo, Japan, led by President Dai Fukai. Fifty years later, in '96, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Yes, the astute among you must have guessed that "Tokyo Telecommunications Industry" is indeed Sony. And our protagonist, the MZ-E50L, is the commemorative model for the 50th anniversary.

The E50L, almost identical to the E50 (which it practically is), shares a remarkably similar appearance. However, the E50L features an even more sleek and flat design with no protruding disc window. The body is adorned with a metal inscription that reads "1996 SONY 50th ANNIVERSARY." Additionally, the E50L is Sony's first model with a universal headphone jack for the remote control (while the E50 still uses Sony's special Micro Plug connector).

It is said that the E50L was a gift given to guests at the 50th-anniversary celebration. Due to the official non-disclosure, the only confirmed information is its debut in November. The mysterious identity of the E50L has driven its value to skyrocket, reaching an astonishing price of ¥468,000 for an "unused excellent condition" unit on Japan's Yahoo Auctions in December '20. The estimated quantity is believed to be between 300 to 500 units, but details remain an unsolvable and unspoken secret.

We appreciate any official MD information including specifications. 

MD-ST60