Hey all-

I had my sony WM-D6C serviced a couple months ago by a recommended center (Pro Digital Audio in Pennsylvania). they did a full tune-up, changed the belt and made all becessary adjustments to the tape head. They work on these units alot. The unit was in great condition when I sent it, so I didn;t anticipate any issues asside from the tune up.

I always felt the WM-D6C lacked low end a bit before I sent it for the tune up, thinking it would sound better and have more low-end afterwards.

When I got it back the first time, I thought it didn;t sound as good as before, lacking in bass frequency. So, I sent it back and they said it checked out good again on all the tests. got it the second time around and I'm still disappointed... 

Overall sound has alot of clarity, depth and imaging compared to all the other walkman's i've collected. But, it is lacking in Bass as much as i would prefer. No matter the setting I adjust, It still seems weak to me as I compare to my simpler Sony WM-1.

Of all the walkmans i have collected, I actually prefer the sound on my WM-1 overall because it has a wider frequency and kicks out more bass. (especially through Grado SR-80 cans). The WM-1 lacks a bit in high end, but cranking the volume cures that! Also, the WM-1 has more volume and can produce louder which the Grado's need.

So, my complaints on the WM-D6C is the lack of low-end and not having the volume capacity as the WM-1. They both have the same 6V power supply, so it baffles me why I like the WM-1 better over all....

any thoughts?  Is the WM-D6C over rated?

The level of bass is relative, to me the WM-D6C plays the music like it was recorded. The WM-D6C is the best Walkman I own. Maybe you are uses to music equipments that give you artificial bass boost?

To me anyway the D6C is not over rated. Are the Grado SR-80 inefficient, if so you need to get an headphone amp. Check out Ray Samuels Audio for headphone amps. www.raysamuelsaudio.com

If you are using grado sr60 they are in comparison to the koss porta pro wich I find inadiquite...i sugest getting much better headphones imho...

You make it seem like the unit came back worse after the tune-up.

To me this may be a slight concern.

Ask if they adjusted any of the electronic adjustments like the pots for volume balance. In my experience the volume balance pots don't track perfectly across the frequency range (Actually the APLS slider and recording knob don't either).

This is unlikely, but another reason this can be caused is old capacitors, especially if yours is one of the earlier models. Leaky caps can lead to poor frequency response and low volume output. Sadly the only real way to figure out is to test vs another known working D6C.

And yes, the D6C does stay true to the source when recording, or maybe a slight bit better (the internal amps are awesome). VS the original source, I find the D6C improves the low/mid range just a slight bit and the soundstaging is great as well.

However, the Azimuth must be spot-on (I assume that the tune-up has the azimuth set-up properly).

And yes, it can be your headphones, but since you say it comes out worse after the tuning, I will ask them what has been adjusted first.

This is not an answer to your problem but just a comment on bass response. I have a D6C, DC2 and DD9. I recently did a back to back test after adjusting the azimuth on my D6C. The test was on a self recorded tape (TDK SA using Dolby C). The D6C had less of a bass response than either the DC2 or the DD9. With the bass adjustment switched off, the DD9 had the deepest bass but a little overblown. However, the DD9 easily had the best clarity and dynamic range. The DC2 I would describe as having less clarity and frequency response but the bass was a little more balanced. With dolby c recordings in comparison the DC6 sounded disappointing across all the frequency ranges. It faired a little better with Dolby B pre recorded tapes (I used some XDR recordings from the early 90s). If I had to choose between the three, my preference is the DC2. However I use both the DC2 and D6C everyday. The DC2 for my commute to work and the D6C to listen to when going to bed. The D6C is still like having 'hi fi in your pocket' but the DC2 is my favourite.

Bub...

you might be right! lacking in bass response, i noticed I don't have as much volume level as the WM-1. Both units run on 6V power, so you may be on to something here. I also have a pair of Koss Pro's to compare as the grado's are known for being "lite" on the low end. The Koss Pro's is where I notice the difference in bass the most between these 2 units.  

So, it may be the bad capacitors. What series of serial number should I look for on mine?

From Liberman: "Sony WM-D6C recorders after US serial number 267,201 (Canada 270,001; AEP 269,301; UK 269,601; E [Europe] 270,001) feature a glass epoxy circuit board instead of the old phenolic one. Sony WM-D6C recorders after US serial number 267,201 (Canada 270,001; AEP 269,301; UK 269,601; E [Europe] 270,001) feature a glass epoxy circuit board instead of the old phenolic one."

This will allow you to tell if yours used through-hole componenents or SMT. (Google for the WM-D6C on trashaudio to see the older model)

Mine for example is serial 299541, which makes it the SMT model. It's the loudest portable I own, and having the slider at 4 is already too loud for me.

And I use an ESW9, which at 42 ohms, is supposedly harder to drive than the SR-80 at 32 ohms. I have tried an Alessandro MS-1 (also 32 ohms) and I find that the D6C drives it well at the same levels. i have not tried the SR-80 or PortaPro.

One (not very accurate) test I can think of is recording a test song with your D6C from your PC and then playing it back to the line-in of your PC, and then have another D6C owner do so with the same mp3. Then compare the playback result. However to be consistent both PCs must use the same soundcard, tape and recording/playback levels, so it will be best if you can obtain another D6C to compare directly.

I looked at the serial number...it's a 270230. So, it has the better chip board. I do remember before sending it off for a tuneup that it was a loud unit. But, it isn't as loud as it used to be. I just noticed that over the weekend. I had to really turn the volume up more now to drive the Grado's. 

The caps may be leaking and getting old. poor bass response and lack of volume are the problems I seem to be having. 

any thoughts??

You can do a visual inspection of the caps if you want, the D6C is amazingly simple to open up and service (no desoldering required/flexible cables). Just use the service manual.

What level do you have to turn up to now compared to last time?

Ok...I've replaced the belt before on my own. so, i know how to pull the chip board back. I'm a novice when looking at a chip board in knowing which electronic parts are called and how the appear.

where and what should i look for on the caps? what do the caps look like?

any description would be great!

I have to turn up the volume to 9 to get the same volume at 7 on my WM-1...I think the WM-1 is underated because of the plastic casing. But, Mine sounds great through Grado's.

I also have a Sanyo M5550 that doesn;t have any sound. Got it off Ebay thinking I could look inside for a simple problem...I heard those units sound great too. Know anything about those classic units? very cool looking metal chassis Sanyo...

Volume up to 9?! I'd go deaf instantly! Sounds like something is definitely wrong with your machine.

Simply put, Surface mount caps look like little metal cylinders with a black semicircle stripe on top, together with its value. Look for signs of leakage/corrosion around the cap.

Your sanyo may have capacitor problems, but it can be many other things.

yes, the d6c is lacking bass. the mids and highs are very good. but bass and body are bad, lacking. the d5 is a better one in the low regions and makes you smile. perhaps when the d5 has the correct settings, it's the better player overall. bass is far more difficult to produce than the higher tones.

in all, the d5 makes music sounds real= it makes you smile..!!@!@!@!!!!!

very important, it's the reason why i made this journey.

not to collect, but to smile..

 for home use, if portable=d5>d6c>dc2>dd9>etc

d6 is detail, d5 is smile...

Funny thing...

Was at a thrift store and bought an old Sanyo C4 boombox for $10. Was in rough shape, but I thought I would fool with it at home and check it out. I pulled it apart and cleaned all components and controls from top to bottom. Adjusted and cleaned the tape head, cleaned the drive belt and put it back together. (Belts will need to be replaced, but I can get by for a while with the shape they are in.) It was worth the couple hours I put into it.

To my amazement through Grado headphones, this C4 tape section sounds better than the WM-D6C or the WM-1 and all the other walkmans I have. I have a few Nakamichi home decks, so I know what cassettes should sound like. the C4 has alot of range and more bass like my tastes desire. Can get really loud since it uses more power than standard walkmans. (I need more "juice" since i have bad ears from playing in bands in my early 20's) 

to see a pic-

http://www.shizaudio.ru/audio/details.php?image_id=92

Sanyo made great walkmans back in the day. I had a sportster back then that I bought new after comparing side by side to the all the other brands. I remember it sounding great. The C4 has the 5 band EQ, feather touch buttons, detachable speakers and alot of volume!

I like to listen to tapes on the weekends while having coffee and working on my laptop. I'm a nerd when it comes to sound and it looks funny sitting next to me in a chair while at the coffee shop. But, it has great sound and worth the effort lugging it around. after detaching the speakers, it is about a 1ft cubed box. Not too big, but enough to raise a few eyebrows. Who cares!...nothing better than listening to a few analog tapes to get the morning started...  

call me crazy...

I have to agree most of my boomboxes blow away any walkman by far on my rs1's but at the end of the day it's not a walkman...and my stack system put simply it's one of the best sounds I have ever heard on headphone..my sony xb 1000 headphones should be here in a couple of days...I can't wait...I want them now lol...

perhaps it's the amp. the more power it needs, the more bass and range you will have.

The reason why the WM-D6C is perceived to lack bass is down to the design of it. The D6C has within it's design a pair of weedy DC blocking capacitors rated at 100uF. This in it's own is not an oversight by Sony, rather it is to do with situation where Sony thought the D6C would see itself the most ie in a professional environment and is an intentional selection. A lot of pro headphones have impedance much greater than consumer phones. Typical values of 250 Ohm and 600 Ohm would not be uncommon. This is why to a lot of consumer headphones the D6C would appear to lack any low bass.

(Shameless link below)

Further reading can be sought from my thread below and what you'd need to do to correct this for consumer headphones. Or you could just use a pair of 600 Ohm professional headphones like the Beyer Dynamic DT770 or Sennheiser HD25-13 to listen with.

index.php?board_oid=193392314111653483&content_oid=250534712784490528

I have the DC2 and the DC6 - and I use Senny HD25's

I have no problem with bass - it's there as recorded and not this horrible 90's overdriven bass that most people seem to be used to now.

I use tapes only recorded from records - and they are traditionally scooped in the mid - so it maybe your source is eq'd in a detrimental way

but I reckon change your headphones - or recording practises - these are GREAT decks

The Sennheiser HD25 is perfect for listening to the D6C, as are many of the Beyer Dynamics headphones also rated with ultra high impedance. When you consider the prices commanded nowadays for some consumer headphones, the pro studio ones don't seem too much out of reach.

The D6C is perfect for driving 600 Ohm headphones given how much more power it has to offer from the power amp (30mW/Ch) compared to some "ear guard" models with a wimpy 2.5mW/Ch.

For me, bass is a subjective thing and depending on my mood I either want loads or just the default amount as proscribed by the recording engineer. However listening to music for long periods of time I'd rather tone down the bass than have it blasting at my ear drums. Some music though is just so badly mixed these days with hyper-loud bass thrown in, you wonder why they even bothered to compile that remix. Perhaps they are deaf in that range of their hearing?

The long term solution would to listening on the D6C is to pair up the headphones (and it's impedance) to the level of bass you want to hear from it, but for folks who are set on using a favorite consumer grade pair there is a way out if more bass is wanted.

It's funny you say that regarding price -

I thought the Sennheisers were priced just right (around120-150) - but the plain look puts a lot of "joes" off

and as for this review (about the admittedly shockingly bad brand tie in Adidas model)

It show how LITTLE reviewers know

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/head...als-review-50002999/

I'm amazed at how much these "Skull Candy" or "Dr Dre" bins cost these days - and people accept that 180 is a fair price to pay for these things

I am deeply disturbed by the Adidas branded version. Even moreso by the comments at the bottom of the article by reviewers defending this hideously coloured and badly designed item.

Yes, big can 'phones can look dull but what has happened to the Adidas version of the HD25 is like applying day glo windscreen wiper boots, jazzy colour fabrics and go faster stripes to an Audi A6. A cheap visual trick to get the "kids" to think it's hip and cool.

Marketing at it's finest when it comes to selling trash like Skull Kandy 'phones. I've seen them and I've heard them and think the prices commanded for them are outrageous. For 180 in notes I'd expect more than just a length of fancy coloured wire and a pair of gaudy metal like blobs to stick inside my ears. The final insult when wearing them then is the lack of music fidelity delivered.

Absolutely agree on the overpriced junk like skullcandys. Heard that the Dr.dre are way overpriced as well, style over substance (but I have to admit, it's a rather nice looking product).

As for the D6C, I find it very close to the source it records from and not lacking on bass, however it is good to know that this modification could be done. Personally I feel that the D6C could use a separate bias control, which will improve performance on some blanks.

@bub

This mod would only affect the output from the headphone jack and bring the output back in line with levels expected for consumer grade headphones. The line out jack is not affected at all.

I am contemplating how best it is to modify the bias on the D6C. But from what I have read, the bias is adjusted at the Type I position and then it is assumed that Type II and Type IV are set multiples of that adjustment. This might be fine for Sony cassettes, but for TDK I am not so sure.

I am not a Skull Kandy fan but before you guys dismiss them all as bad, you should have a listen to the Aviators. The Aviators are better than anything by Monster and Dr Dre.

Someone here just said the Dr Dre headphones look good, I think they look bad and only deaf people would by them and that HD Solo is the second worse headphones I have ever heard in my life. The worst one was brought in by a girl I work with and those cost £5. £180 for the HD Solo’s is day light robbery, I can get better headphones for £30 hey even the free ones with the ipod is better than that.

Maybe I am old fashioned, but when I hand over a lot of money for something I expect a decent return for my hard earned cash. Paying that sort of money for not a great deal of anything (a piece of wire and tiny earbuds) seems to smell of a scam to me. The Skull Kandys only get the mention they deserve as they are the choice of the sheeple at the moment. Next time round it could be another popular craptastic brand.

The iPod phones may sound slightly better than crap, but at least they were bundled free with the iPod. Heck even my Creative Labs ear buds that came bundled with my laptop sounded ok for "free" despite having terrible cable noise.

I suppose the point I am trying to make is that I'd rather spend that price range of money for something substantial and quality made ie closed cup headphones. The hefty price hike is not justified from the bill of materials for those bling bling tiny ear buds.

I am a walking ambassador for HD25's - anyone who tries them is converted as well

been made for 15+ years

And every component is replaceable - my type of utilitarian function over form product I agree with

I've seen people buy these not because of claimed sound quality but as a "fashion accessory", they don't even seem to care about the sound at all...