1. is; Sony Walkman Professional ( Capstan Servo Amorphous Head ) Stereo Cassette-Corder WM-D3

a. What are other model Number's and their Distinctive difference's from One model to the Next?

b. Which Model is the Best?

c. Which Model is the Worst?

d. Which Model is the TOTL = Top of the Line ; "recording or not"?

e. Which Model is the Cheapest ? - when first marketed ( not interested in present day price )

f. Which model is the Most Expensive ? - when first marketed ( not interested in present day price )

2. WM-DC2

Early units have amorphous heads which are markedly more pointed than later revisions.

Dolby B/C model.

Playback only.

No Radio.

Line out.

http://www.sonyvintage.com ..

for me, there is no "best" walkman. it depends on your personal needs and taste .... which can change every day ...

Does this Model

SONY WM-DD33

operate with No belts and have the clicking gear ?

Mine had the clicking issue, unsure about the belts.

Sony models with cracked center gear problems.

ALL WM-DDx,xx,xxx models excluding DD9

WM-R2 ( different from WM-2 which is belt driven)

WM-F5

The Sony WM-F2? 

true, mine clicks.

Nicole I had said it was the WM-R2 not F2.   Yes it has a center gear and a belt I believe have not had mine apart because I cant repair center gears.

AO can confirm he has repaired this model.  I am unsure about the F2 believe it is a belt only model like the WM-2.

Topic on WM-R2 and F2

index.php?board_oid=193392314111653483&content_oid=193392314111883229

Thanks for the message John.  This is an interesting issue.

We all know the WM2 uses a belt rather than direct drive (Direct drive meaning that the motor ran straight onto rubber edge of flywheel).  Don't forget that the 'click' was caused by a crack in the teeth of this flywheel causing a click when engaging with the smaller cog wheel.  The WM-2 despite not having a flywheel, does have the same cogs (large and small) but because the larger cog doesn't need to act as a flywheel it doesn't need the central metal section to support it (it was the plastic cog sitting around the metal of the DD models over time that caused the plastic part of the cog to split).  Don't forget that the WM-2 can suffer this fate too if there is any damage to the two cogs, it doesn't take much to cause a click.  Of the 50 or so WM-2s I've owned over the years, around 4 or 5 had click or 'grind' issues caused by issues with these wheels.  Sometimes the smaller cog gets gunked up.

So, do the R2 & F2 models have belts or DD?  Well, they have belts, both were based around the WM-2 platform.  These models came out in 81 and the big fanfare for the DD1 was a year later. 

Any model with a 'DD' in it's name is a Direct Drive servo assisted model and therefore suffers the click.  Except of course the DD9 which despite being a direct drive model it does in fact use a totally unique platform, which of course we all know.

WM-5 and F5 are belt driven, too...

I list my times to know what clicks and what does not .. (And that is rich in experience)

Rarely Klicking with belt:

WM-2

Mostly klicking with belt:

WM-5,WM-F2,WM-R2

Mostly klicking with discdrive:

WM-F5,-DD,-DD2,-DC2,-D3,DD100,-DD3,-DD30,-DD33

Never klicking with discdrive:

WM-DD9,-D6,D6C,-DD1,-DD10,-DD11,-DD22,

And yes, the WM-F5 is a DD

Renato My impression is the DD10, DD11 and DD22 are cheaper mostly plastic parts DD players not considered higher quality is that correct?  You say the DD1 never has cracked center gear.... I thought that model was one of the worst as its the oldest DD player ?

Hey there AUTOREVERSER fantastic to see you posting again.... Grand to have an "olde Guard" member seen again.   

John,

The WM-DD1 is the same design as the WM-DD10.
You mean the first WM-DD. The "WM-DD"

Gruss Renato

And yes, the series WM-DD1,-DD10, DD11-,-DD22 are cheap with a lot of plastic.
But still sound like a real SONY!

Not really a Walkman by name, but it is more or less portable. The TC-D5 has a non clicking DD drive similar to the DD & D6 design 

Thanks Renato , my bad your right was meaning the WM-DD.  Thank you for the clarification and your adding comments with your superb DD collection

Like boombox's having a pinnacle of the year 1983 best model and downhill in quality and performance ever since that date,

What is the Walkmans 'Pinnacle' year of? and make or model?

Did the price increase with quality or price go up and quality go down at the same time?

In the Sony DD Series I am trying to find out this information?