I've been looking around ebay for the last month or so trying to get some cheap deals on older Sony players since I like the D-25S I got from Silicon Salvage. I bought a D-33 and D-11...both were not very useful when I got them but with ebay that's the risk you take, and I had only lost about $10 each on them. Well I got my hands on a D-2 (it doesn't say anywhere on the player itself...I'm going on what the seller told me). Manufactured in July 1989. It's basically a D-25S with normal battery capacity. It's plastic and a lot thicker than the metal tank that is the D-25S. The amp is just as strong as the D-25S (with Grados I can't put it past 4 on the volume pot without some serious pain) but the sound is pretty clear and I think it's even a little less bright than the D-25S, which is probably one of my only little quirks with that player. This player sounds great with my Beyer 250-80s. However, this player takes 4 AA's as its battery source (I was lucky to get the original AC adapter too). This means, while the player is not anti-skip, it can be carried on a plane/train/whatever. This guy still works like a charm. I have thrown a lot of CD's at it (including CD-R's) and it has not skipped at all. Best thing was I only paid $10.50 for it including shipping!!! However, it's really like I spent $30 for it since my previous $20 on the other players was pretty much wasted. Still, a great deal. If you're a fan of the D-25S and happen to get a chance to get this player, I would definitely recommend it.

do you have any photo

That's weird. I have a D-7 that I bought new and the sticker on it says it was manufactured in June 1986. Besides the AC adapter, it only uses a big, heavy metal rechargeable battery pack that clips to the bottom of it (doesn't take a charge anymore though ). The CDP weighs a ton with the battery clipped on.

I wouldn't have thought Sony would go back to an earlier model number on a later PCDP.

Well, it may not really be D-2. That's what the auction said. There is no indicator on the back of the player. Just the serial # and month it was built.

If I get a chance later today or tomorrow, I'll post a pic or 2. Right now the batteries for my camera are recharging.

chriscu1,

It's just odd to me that there isn't any other model no. markings on your Sony. My D-7 has the model number stamped into the plastic body on the back next to the line-out jack. My D-E401 has the model number on the lid and on a sticker on the bottom. So somewhere in between Sony just indicated model no. with a sticker??

Anyways, as long as you like your new Sony, doesn't really matter what model it is.

Looking forward to the pics of this mystery model.

DOH! Megadeus, you were right. It is stamped into the back of the player. It's really hard to see because it has the same black background as the player. Anyway, it is indeed the D-2.

Since the cap here is 25k for pics, I put a pic of it in my Yahoo photos. Here's the link:

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/greatcu1/...r=/D-2&.view=t

If anyone wants any more pics of it (from a different angle, etc.), just let me know.

Everytime I see a picture of an older sony I feel I got to have it . They just exude quality and look like professional audiophile machines.
IMHO the newer pcdp look like frisbies and from a few auditions they dont sound much better from the headphone out.

Quote:



I agree, thats why i went on a buying spree on ebay and grabbed up 4 old pcdp's, including a D-2.

I've had the chance to listen to the D-2 some more straight out of the headphone jack. I'm anxious to hear what gloco thinks. I think this is one of the best sounding headphone jacks I've ever heard. I've tried it with Koss KSC 35's, Beyer 250-80's, and Grado RS-1's. All sounded very good. The line out also sounds great, but to be honest I haven't put it to the test much.

Hey chris, i can't to compare it to the 25S, hopefully it wont be as bright and have a more smooth signature sound. I'll definitely write up a quick review and comparison between the two models. I also have a D-121 and D-141 coming soon. My brother owned the D-121 and i do recall it sounding very smooth...a few years back. Let's see if my memory is correct

I think it is definitely less bright than the D-25S. All ears are different, of course, but hopefully you'll like the sound as well.

I've actually been listening using the batteries just to see what the battery life is. I don't expect the 4 AA's to last long, but it's still nice to know. I'll post results when I know.

It's sad that the old players took a 9V adapter, while the new ones use 4.5V. That's a pretty hefty loss of juice there.

chriscu1,

Thanks for the pic.

So that's a D-2. Glad you were able to confirm the model no.

Is there any logic to Sony's model numbering scheme??

It does look like a newer design compared to my D-7 (pretty much a square with no rounded corners at all, a little chrome strip running near the lid). That D-2 is a pretty cool looking classic though.

Any chance you might take a closeup pic of it, focusing on the front and the control buttons? Same angle, but close in on the front of it.

Megadeus, I've put a couple more pics on the page. If only the display was backlit like the D-25S....

Just fyi, the headphone jack is on the right side, the remote jack on the left, and the line out and power hookup in the back.

Thanks for the new pics chriscu1.

Might have to get me one of those someday...

Hey Chris, i rec'd the D-2 last week, unfortunately it can barely read a cd for more than a minute, its also extremely noisy.

On the other hand, i rec'd the following Sony units:

D-121, D-141 and the D-33, the D-33 headphone out is great (with the megabass turned off). Very clear and detailed. Very smooth and downright enjoyable, it even tamed the bright Grado sound! The D-121 is also a great unit, but it doesn't seem to like cdr's too much, it plays them, but skips like a person if you even look at it the wrong way. The D-141 sounds quite the same, although this is when Sony started resizing their units and making them very light. Actually, the D-121 is very light itself, all plastic construction. The D33 is all plastic but quite large and heavy, it also takes 4 AA's, unlike the D-121 and D-141 which take two. I've been using the line out on the 121 and 141 and they both sound great, i'm sure the D-33 will turn out the same.

Between the three working units, i spent $9.25 before shipping