Newly entering here since recently I migrated back from totally digital to analogue - or just so. If you have nothimg better to do read on how that came... Exiting the 90s I was profoundly fascinated by mp3 and disregarded my analogue gear - though at the time it already wasn't purely analogue anymore. Probably here I do not have to introduce the Sony TCD-D3 portable DAT. Had it working in my car through a Sony Tape Headunit, I think it was a XR-7192 using an Aux-In Adapter Tape. Compromised the sound quite a bit but still sounded good enough. When the TCD-D3 came out I made wide eyes but my budget was narrow, Couldn't afford it. Then I learned the sister of a friend was traveling to Hongkong and I asked her to bring me one on the off chance this would work out. Well, it did!! I used it intensly but at some point it threw errors and I boxed it up and it collected dust for the next 20+ years. Gladly enough I couldn't bring myself to bin it. And two years ago I unearthed the Zombie and thanks to Mr. Mickeleit in Hamburg, who serviced it, got it back to life. And I was surprised how good it sounded! As if some magic ingredient is added to the music. Plus the charm of putting a playlist together and freezing it on a tape. Hence the addiction started and here I am back in the analogue world of 80s and 90s audio gear. Soon enough next to DAT I needed cassette tapes. For I put a 80s Blaupunkt Woodstock SQR 88 in my car (the Sony XR-7192 of my youth was long gone). From here it is a small step to... ...the Walkman. Yes. Now I remembered that mid 80s I worked for two weeks during school vacation to buy a Sony DDII. A gift from the gods at the time!! I cannot even remember what happened to mine, but it's looooong gone. Until recently. When I got one from ebay. Arrived today It seems to be a decent device that just now pleases my ears as I am writing this. Again I am surprised at how good it sounds. Still it requires a bit of attention and I decided to give it a try. Center gear problem is audible, so that's for starters. And the spring for the release lever is missing. Need the exact dimensions of that tiny bitch, will search this forum or post a question in the next days. For those sharing knowledge here I already say thank you!! The 80s/90s audio gear is probably the pinnacle of hifi - at least really fascinating. So its great to bring it back to life with the help of you enthusiasts. As a newbee I can share at least this - Enthusiasm!
Welcome to the forum, I think we all dived into digital but the fun factor of 80's electronics has a strong draw. The forum has had a few different hosting services through the years, there's a ton more information if you hit "old_forum" at the top, that's the only way it could be preserved. Google is the best way to search the forum, the search engine on here stinks. One of the big collectors is in Germany, he has the famous wall with the step-ladder and he's grabbing a box, he hasn't posted in years but he had one of everything, I think he rents them out.
