[ruthieandjohn]

Verhayen has indeed "restocked" their Sony D-25 eBay repair service and is continuing their excellent work.
 
Meantime, I followed the procedure here for a DIY battery. http://www.head-fi.org/t/473384/battery-for-sony-d-25-needed-any-ideas#post_6448653  
 
You need:
 

1. 2 AAA-sized Li Ion batteries (here:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T7J3M0K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 )
2. 2 AAA cell holder, wired in series (here:  http://www.radioshack.com/radioshack-2-aaa-battery-holder/2700398.html#.VTv3tpM3k84 )
3. Li Ion cell charger (here: http://shop.digitalenergyworld.com/14500-Battery-2-Pack-750-mAh-37V-LI-ION-w-Charging-Dock-812376017786.htm?categoryId=-1   I found mine at Radio Shack)

 
YOU MUST BE SURE TO NEVER PLUG THE D-25 INTO ITS POWER SUPPLY WHILE THESE BATTERIES ARE IN - IT MAY TRY TO CHARGE THEM BUT IS SET FOR THE LEAD-ACID ORIGINAL BATTERIES AND MAY EXPLODE.
 
If you trim the wires on the cell holder to minimum length, you can tack-solder them to the battery posts in the compartment.  Observe the correct polarity!  Plastic sits right next to these posts, so be careful not to melt the plastic with the soldering iron.  You can still remove the batteries from the holder, as it is the holder, not the batteries, that you soldered into the compartment.
 
The entire assembly will fit within the battery compartment and will allow replacing the battery compartment door.
 
Here is the result.
 

 
The assembly will run the disk player for about 100 minutes... more than one disk worth but less than two!  The batteries I used were 500 mA/hr devices... this is not too much less than the BP-2X battery sold (but out of stock) that fits like the original and that offers 600 mA/hr lifetime, listed here:  http://www.laptop-ac-adapter.org/camcorder-sony-bp2x-bp-2x-battery-p-296.html

 

[ruthieandjohn]

I am now selling this professionally-restored D-25 with remote, wall wart power supply, battery mod, and service manual, here, to make room for a new amp.

 

[jamato8]

Verhayen has indeed "restocked" their Sony D-25 eBay repair service and is continuing their excellent work.

Meantime, I followed the procedure here for a DIY battery. http://www.head-fi.org/t/473384/battery-for-sony-d-25-needed-any-ideas#post_6448653

You need:

1. 2 AAA-sized Li Ion batteries (here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T7J3M0K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 )
2. 2 AAA cell holder, wired in series (here: http://www.radioshack.com/radioshack-2-aaa-battery-holder/2700398.html#.VTv3tpM3k84 )
3. Li Ion cell charger (here: http://shop.digitalenergyworld.com/...-Charging-Dock-812376017786.htm?categoryId=-1 I found mine at Radio Shack)

YOU MUST BE SURE TO NEVER PLUG THE D-25 INTO ITS POWER SUPPLY WHILE THESE BATTERIES ARE IN - IT MAY TRY TO CHARGE THEM BUT IS SET FOR THE LEAD-ACID ORIGINAL BATTERIES AND MAY EXPLODE.

If you trim the wires on the cell holder to minimum length, you can tack-solder them to the battery posts in the compartment. Observe the correct polarity! Plastic sits right next to these posts, so be careful not to melt the plastic with the soldering iron. You can still remove the batteries from the holder, as it is the holder, not the batteries, that you soldered into the compartment.

The entire assembly will fit within the battery compartment and will allow replacing the battery compartment door.

Here is the result.



The assembly will run the disk player for about 100 minutes... more than one disk worth but less than two! The batteries I used were 500 mA/hr devices... this is not too much less than the BP-2X battery sold (but out of stock) that fits like the original and that offers 600 mA/hr lifetime, listed here: http://www.laptop-ac-adapter.org/camcorder-sony-bp2x-bp-2x-battery-p-296.html

That is wiring the batteries in series, which doubles the voltage but the current is the same as one battery and running the D-25 off of twice its rated voltage makes no sense though a good way to burn it out.

Yes this is old but should not be done.

I never saw this post using 3.7 batteries and have used 3.7 batteries in a holder that I built. It is removable and not hard wired and you can easily charge each 3.7 cell. They take 20 minutes to recharge with a charger built for 3.7 volt batteries. They barely get warm while charging. Also you do get a true doubling of the current and maintain a voltage of 3.5 to 4.2 volts from the battery pack. I get a run time of 3.5 hours, at least. Also, exceptional sound. By running the batteries at twice the voltage, you just have to burn off the excessive voltage for no reason. Like I mentioned, I get 3.5 hours and the unit is still playing. I can power my Focal Utopia without issue and get good depth and very enjoyable sound.

 

[Elegiac]

All very nice. Ya get great sound out of the old portables

 

[chrishh]

Well, I threw in the towel and sent the Sony D-25 to Verhayen, who advertises what turns out to be a FABULOUS repair service on e-bay for a flat rate of $149.95:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-D-25-D...565?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23361b4695

Only 2 left, according to eBay.

They took two weeks (despite their eBay site statement that they do the work in 2 business days (!))

But in my case, they had a LOT to do, but they brought this vintage best-of-class player up to snuff and head and shoulders above later discman players:

1. Unstuck the "sled" on which the laser diode slides to move across the CD;
2. Replaced a gear in the sled transit mechanism that had missing teeth;
3. Replaced the motor and CD spindle, which had a bad bearing so that though it worked, it made a scraping noise (and was subject to future failure);
4. Cleaned the volume potentiometer.

They provided a detailed list of what they had done, the time required, and what parts they replaced.

More impressively, they provided me with 12 (TWELVE) videos, starting from one that documented the initial state of the CD player (lit up and spun the disc, but nothing else, and recorded the scratches on the cover.) They also showed the oscilloscope videos showing the "eye" patterns of proper operation, as well as deliberate scratches on their test CD and the ability of the CD player to recover the information anyway. They also compared measured and specified laser drive current, which in my case was OK.

The other 11 videos stepped through each step of their diagnosis and repair, including the false lead of removing the RF shield that is the surface immediately below the spinning CD, as a source of the scraping sound before they diagnosed the bad spindle motor and bearing.

They are former Sony repairmen and have all the oscilloscopes, test CDs, and procedures that you would expect from the best manufacturer repair facility.

In short, if you have or want what has been called the sonically best portable Sony CD discman portable CD player, but you don't know whether your D-25 you bought on eBay can be restored to working condition... These Folks Can Do t1 They told me that that flat rate covers anything necessary except the display, which apparently if it is blank or has missing segments, is something they cannot fix.

I'm listening to it now... it sounds SOOOO much better than the plastic-encased Sony Discman of more recent vintage. They also are planning to sell the Discman battery, but they want to have several dozen in stock before they advertise it, since they are so scarce.

I just wanted to report on the highly effective class operation that these folks have going! I am sure that with the additional problems, even if I had succeeded in unsticking the sled transport per jamato8's help, it still would have problems requiring things beyond my capability. The $150 was well spent for me!

Hi,
do you still have the videos and is it possible to upload them somewhere?