1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Just got a WM-DD33, my first proper DD walkman

Discussion in 'Chat Area' started by PJ0688, Mar 15, 2017.

  1. PJ0688

    PJ0688 Member

    Messages:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Hi guys,
    About 6 years I ordered a WM-DD22 from ebay due because I noticed the DD was praised by a few youtube and I wanted something more portable than my TC-D5m. However when I received it, as soon as I put a tape in I sawley disappointed. It it barely sounded better than a microcassette. But wait, what was the point of this thing if it sounded like crap, so I kept fiddling with the head alignment, but I was never able to get it sound any good and I mean any good. So I thought; "oh well I suppose people just accepted that back in 1989 or whenever it was made".

    A few years later I decided to buy an EX505 to play about with, I when I played back a tape a I make a few years earlier, I was surprise at how good it sounded, but it wasn't all good, the music would occasionally sound wobbly, as in the wow & flutter was all over the place (I haven't fixed it, I suspect the mechanism needs cleaning). So I thought if that's what walkmans were meant to sound like, perhaps I should look into the DD walkmans again, it they're meant to pretty solid when it comes to tape speed. But this time I wasn't going to make the mistake of getting the bottom on the line model. After doing some research the WM-DD33 seem to be the best value for money.

    It arrived to today, my first thoughts were,I hope it doesn't sound awful. and to my surprise It Didn't! I was pleasantly surprised at the sound, this was exactly what I was expecting 6 years ago. I also noticed it was a bit shorter, but the build quality was much better. I'll admit it's not as good as the TC-D5m, but it's pretty good.

    I assume the DD22 and the other DDs with round 'play' buttons were cheaper models, they don't have the clicking gear issue, but the sound and build are much worse. If anyone has more info behind the cheap DDs, please let me know. I've posted some comparison shots below:
    P1100675_r.jpg

    P1100685.JPG
    P1100686.JPG
     

    Attached Files:

  2. walkman archive

    walkman archive Administrator Staff Member

    Messages:
    1,883
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Barcelona
    Thanks for sharing your story. I'ts very interesting, and it confirms me my suspects that the DD22 and all those aren't up to the quality that we all expect from a good DD.
    How can you describe the sound of the DD2 against the DD33? Lifeless? Dark? Metallic?
     
  3. PJ0688

    PJ0688 Member

    Messages:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    The DD22 sounds dull and muffled, like someone put a rag over the music. Probably comparable to those cheap walkmans that didn't have rewind. It could just be that it needs work though, but I've never been able to get to sound good by adjusting head alignment screws.
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2017
  4. mrp32Dave

    mrp32Dave Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    276
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    I agree the the DD22 and the like are much lower build quality with a different and cheaper mechanism, never liked these, I have several DD33's and they sound really good.
     
    PJ0688 likes this.
  5. PJ0688

    PJ0688 Member

    Messages:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    The DD33 is amazing though. aparting from making a noise, does that 'click' (gear issue) affect anything else?
     
  6. TooCooL4

    TooCooL4 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,914
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    UK
    The clicking does not really affect anything, but it mean the gear is on it way out.
     
  7. PJ0688

    PJ0688 Member

    Messages:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Ah, I thought it increased the wow and flutter or something.
     
  8. TooCooL4

    TooCooL4 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,914
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    UK
    It should not if the gear is not completely broken yet, don't forget it's quartz locked the electronics should take care of that. But if the gear is fully broken that is different.
     
  9. walkman archive

    walkman archive Administrator Staff Member

    Messages:
    1,883
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Barcelona
    The DD33 sounds pretty well. Much better than the vast majority of walkmans.
    The gear issue should worry you, and the more you use it, the lesser play time it still has... until it breaks completely. I suggest you to send it to a good technician, as it's worth the repair. I bet there should be some in Japan or china, but language is a big barrier.
     
  10. PJ0688

    PJ0688 Member

    Messages:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    If I knew a good technician I'd send my TC-5Dm as well, it has issues with it's recording circuits. But I don't have a clue where to send either of them, I gave the D5m to a guy here in Sydney he didn't do much to it, the recording circuits still didn't work that well and I had to align the head myself, it wasn't even screwed down.
     
  11. walkman archive

    walkman archive Administrator Staff Member

    Messages:
    1,883
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Barcelona
    Hmm, better to wait until you find someone with expertise level rather than giving to anyone that could do a mess :devil:
     
  12. PJ0688

    PJ0688 Member

    Messages:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Well he's a professional, but he's better at amplifiers. He did get my KA6es going, just not the D5m. But I'll have a look around sydney to see if I can find someone who specialises in tape machines.
     
  13. enryfox

    enryfox Active Member

    Messages:
    288
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    close to Milan (Italy)
    I'm surprised it sounds that bad ! It's a cheaper DD with more plastic, but it was still a mid range model. I have a WM-22 which was the low range model and it sounds pretty decent, even better than more modern walkman's. W&F is not that great (still using the original belt though) but EQ and frequency range are more than ok.

    Maybe the DD-11 needs recapping, or it has a head with a damaged gap.
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2017
  14. PJ0688

    PJ0688 Member

    Messages:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    It could just be that my dd22 needs some sort of repair, but it's dolby just wasn't as sharp as all my other tape decks, even after I tried a head alignment.
     
  15. walkman archive

    walkman archive Administrator Staff Member

    Messages:
    1,883
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Barcelona
    When you say it sounds bad, you mean it has technical problems like W&F, azimuth, speed or tracking issues or something related to the belts or some kind of distortion? Or do you mean there's no technical issue but it's more an empty sound or somewhat unpleasant?
     
  16. PJ0688

    PJ0688 Member

    Messages:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    It sounds like a microcassette in terms of sound quality, especially when I turn dolby on, very low fi,
     
  17. TooCooL4

    TooCooL4 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,914
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    UK
    If it does that when you put Dolby on, i wonder if it's Dolby miss tracking.
     
  18. PJ0688

    PJ0688 Member

    Messages:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    What causes that?
     
  19. enryfox

    enryfox Active Member

    Messages:
    288
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    close to Milan (Italy)
    I checked the DD11 service manual and like the DD33 there is no adjustment of playback levels, they are "correct" by design. If you already played with the head azimuth it is either a capacitor in the pre-amp that needs replacement or a damaged head. The pre-amp section has a couple of capacitors which should be electrolytic and might need replacement. They might be hard to find though ...
     
  20. PJ0688

    PJ0688 Member

    Messages:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    I tried demagnetising it and got no where, so I may consider selling as I'm more keen on this DD33 I just got.
     

Share This Page