Like the D6C the DC2 has also seen some changes during its manufacture. One easy to identify difference is the door latch. changing from a metal silver one on early units to a black plastic one on later examples. Although not an exact science, is a good indication it is an earlier unit. Oldest units seem to have metal door latches unlike newer ones with plastic in either black or more rarer silver.

The most easy to notice change of course on the D6C is the head. The DC2 also had a different head on later units.

This is a photo from a DC2 c.1985. The head is labelled with the word 'JAPAN', most likely the country of manufacture. The shape of this head is more angular than that of standard heads, with a noticeable central protuberance . There is a grub screw to the right hand side just visible left of the azimuth screw. Anyone know its purpose?

This is a photo taken from that of a DC2 with a production stamp of 1989. No country of origin is now present, instead there is a part number in blue that simply reads '35611'. The head profile is more rounded than the previous one and thus similar to standard heads.

It wasn't just the head that was changed out on the later DC2s. There were a few other changes as well at board level too.

Here are the PCBs from the same two units. The one on the left is the newer example and the one on the right the older example

Notice on the older board there are a number of additional parts particularly around the Dolby IC chips. On the new board the 47uF tantalum has been replaced with a cheaper electrolytic capacitor. Also the green coloured full sized diode has now been removed from the older board and a SMD resistor added.

The Dolby IC chips are also changed. On the older unit they are Sony type 20068 and on the newer unit Sony type 20218.

Close up of the older board

Close up of the newer board

Mine has the earlier head, aka the "laser amorphous" one. it seems that the newer one also replaced the amorphous head witha permalloy model.

Good topic plop

I also wondered , for what is this grub screw.

I have two U.S. version with the US- Star.
Both are with the older head  and black door latch.
Serial No.19079 and No.15885

With all of my other DC2 does the formula

silver door latch = older head
black door latch = modern head

I am puzzled, so are you saying that the US ones with the US star have black door latches even with low serial numbers? If so, then that must have been a conscious decision by Sony America to distinguish them from other areas. Are they made from metal or plastic though?

I quite like the silver door latch, it gives the DC2 an extra bit of character.

Did you know  that there give ,silver door latch from plastic and very rarely from real metal?
I've only seen once a real metal.
It was a DC2 from a friend here. I had this unit to repair for him.

Yes, my DC2 has an aluminium metal door latch. The silver plastic ones are later.

I hope I do not drive you crazy.

Think there is no rule without exceptions

I have also a  DC2  "U.S. Star" with Serial No.11982

This has  a silver latch.

But is also a lower serial-number than other two "US-Stars"

That is crazy. Either that is a replaced part, or if it is original then Sony America must have been experimenting with using different materials to try and reduce cost and eventually rejecting the silver latches in favour of the black ones? This in itself would make the above unit very rare too!

Now here is a conundrum, my DC2 with the metal door latch has a relatively high serial number of 18xxx. Perhaps Sony's serial numbering was dealt out in batches according to the region and therefore not completely sequential, with older units appearing to have newer serials where they were in fact much earlier units anyway.

Given what I know about the history of this particular DC2 that I have from the seller, I know it was a UK model and that it would have been one of the earlier batches that came to the UK made late 1984 possibly early 1985.

Are you able to comment as to whether yours has the silver door latch (plastic or metal), and if possible the serial number range?

Plastic black latch. Correction, just checked the head again it is the more modern one. Probably not a permalloy head as it has barely detectable wear, thus my earlier conclusion. Serial 52052. First time i looked at the serial, quite a nice number.

Despite finding it in very poor exterior condition I still believe I am incredibly lucky to get it for $3.

Could the later heads really be permalloy? Do they still mention the amorphous head on the body? I have a dc2 with the parabolic amorphous head and the metal latch with the serial 36792. 

Sony did the head change to the DC2 to, wonder if it true amorphous head?

Only real way to know is if either someone from Sony comes forward with information to confirm for sure that they are, or a metalurgical test is performed on the newer head proving it one way or the other.

Haven't read many reports of DC2s with worn heads so maybe the newer ones are amorphous heads too or perhaps permalloy since not many original owners of DC2s coming forward to say that their DC2 has a worn out head from heavy use.

If it is a major concern, then at least there is a fair chance that the older type is more likely amorphous head.

Agree on plop on this as Sony may have kept the same "downgrade" path as the D6C.

Have the early version to and didn't get the metal latch, just the normal black plastic one. with serial serial number 28*** and year that was on receipt is 1986. Unless they only did it for a couple of batches?