I remember (years ago) discussing with Dits whether or not we should consider the Lasonic 918 an aka of the Sanyo M9994.
I can't say anything concerning electronics, but the design is basically the same. In addition to the keys (& knobs & functions), you should look at the woofers and the shape of their grills --not forgetting the position of the tweeters--, the position & shape of the tape door, the position of the led meters (VU in the 9994) etc (size, for instance)
It seems to me that Lasonic did nothing to conceal its copycat policy concerning Sanyo: in addition to the above, the box even features the same radio scale of another Sanyo: the M9921K, a lovely unit (from which, incidentally, the design of the 9994 derives) where the blue 4-bands radio scale with two red lights (Rec/Batt & FM Stereo) is dramatically labeled "Variable Monitor System/Automatic Level Recording".
There are differences of course, but they're are just makeup (the position of the tape counter, the absence of a separate eject button, the non-mobile tweeters, plus a few differente finishes etc). Quite not enough to lift the box from the status of an aka in my opinion. But you know that my opinion is biased so let's forget about it and just enjoy Lee's new beautiful toy (You see? Sanyo awakens the poet in me & I said it in rhyme)
