Recieved this one in for service for several issues, wasn't recording on one channel and motor was loud during playback and can be heard, plus is just overall worn and dirty over the years of being used. Sample of how it looked before inside.

Some picture of starting to rebuilt transport, lucky I have spare parts as rubber is in bad condition as seen above and going to replace belts counter and drive with new belts. Removed all old lubrication and dirt and dust it collected over the years and reoil and lube the top side of the transport, also realign the head for head height and amuzith and use thread lock to keep screw in place and rejuvenate and cleaned pinch roller.

Now going to work on the underside, have to remove most part clean realign and change the rubber, lucky found one in much better condition, that actual real rubber, that not melted or hard as a rock!! Will update with more picture later this week as waiting for capacitors SMD resistors and a couple of IC, which is need to do upgrade, also will be changing BIAS for TDK SA tape, by changing the jumper pads using a B&K VTVM meter, to get bias dead on and set record level for each channel. Did fix the issue with the other channel as it was cause by a eated trace, due to way to much flux on the board.

Clean and reoil the bearings on the motor and clean it up, notice less vibration.

Now to change the op-amp which I received today the IC, replace IC301 (NJM4558M) with a Philips NE5532 in SOIC8 package and yes the 5532 consumes about 7-8mA vs 2.5-3mA for 4558, nothing really to worry about,  will increase the total current consumption of the player by about 5% compared to the stock opamp, and sound quality is noticeably improved.

Old op-amp is still good and will be sent back to it's owner in a anti-static bag.

Going to replaced the IC302 (the recording amplifier) and SMD resistors which still waiting on and upgrade capacitors later.

Have you tried this mod on the DC2?

Can you do a comparison sound recording? I'm really interested in the results.

Its good to be able to see my walkman progressing. I can't wait for it.

Once I finish the other upgrades I will, as waiting for more parts. But differences is already noticeable, as before it recorded dull, with lack of detail using TDK SA, as Sony bias it for Sony stock from factory, but now sound close to the source, alot more detail, as far as the op-amp goes, everyone that has a d6c sure do this, as it a world differences, much improved sound quality overall.  

As far as how to set bias jumper pads, it various from machine to machine, as components tolerate and age and stock tape you are using, you need a VTVM for this. 

Received my fixed, serviced and upgraded D6C today. Very impressed with the workmanship and service. I used this daily and I guess I have a D6C that will last me well into the future. Thank you so much retrodos.

Late reply... anyone knows if there's a big difference between the Philips and the Texas Instruments versions of the op amp?

greetings

The Philips is better, because it's Dutch