circa 1979
Sony EL-D9

This image I found on the Internet a long while ago and couldn't find it anymore...
Sony prototype for a professional-level EL deck, with LCD meters and programming facility (what would soon be named "AMS"). It is also possible the EL-D9 could have been a digital audio PCM version of the ELCASET format.

Looks are somewhat close to the contemporary TA-N9 and PS-X9 (ie. the shortlived "professional series", albeit only implicitly named.)

I have so far found no other image or mention of the EL-D9 in my extensive japanese literature. Or anywhere else for that matter.