I've been in the market for a high end portable player for a while now. I've kept my eyes out for a dd33 and dc2. Recently a dd33 popped up. However I'm not sure if I'm gonna go for it. I don't know much about other brands of walkmans. However I've heard that AIWA had some very nice ones (before they became lower case aiwa). I've heard that the pc202 is very nice. However this is a belt driven system and I think I want a quartz locked DD, but, I might just have to go with a belt driven system maybe. This is the dd33 i have been debating. It is re-capped and basically restored other than the cosmetic wear. https://www.ebay.de/itm/Restored-recapped-nice-Sony-Walkman-WM-DD33-Bass-Enhance-super-sounding-unit/254127900090?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20131017132637&meid=437e4f52931943199560c9e14796b322&pid=100033&rk=3&rkt=8&sd=123665123312&itm=254127900090&_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042 And this is the pc202. https://www.ebay.com/itm/AIWA-HS-PC-202-M-III-Walkman-Neu-Original-verpackt-Das-Erfolgsmodell/123665123312?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20160908105057&meid=9c875479cebb4b43ab953ff95acbf75b&pid=100675&rk=1&rkt=15&sd=123665123312&itm=123665123312&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci:d04446b5-3bb7-11e9-a834-74dbd1805920|parentrq:369fa91a1690ab6b73d4efe4ffff19f7|iid:1 Although the dd33 is a liiitle too much for me. That is why I'm debating something like the px202. As I have no experience with these machines can someone please let me know how they compare. Thanks,
I think the DD series recapped and gear fixed will be worth the money. They offer good sound and if the problem areas have been fixed should last well. Its worth bearing in mind that although the Aiwa is boxed I can almost guarantee the belt will need replacing as it will have deteriorated beyond usable life now or failed completely, they are difficult on some of these old Aiwa to change also. Secondly Aiwas of this age are known to have used a certain brand of caps that are almost always failed by now so most of their walkmans of this age need a recap, indeed i have two here that work fine in that the play correctly but both have screeching noises where caps need replacing. Thats what your paying for with the Sony, the work has been done.
For collectors DD line walkmans are good choices, there is no doubt that these walkmans are great and very durable with appropriate maintenance. but still I would go for AIWA brand new in the box.
Good deal there, great restoration from @MagneticBlood and it will keep on working for a good while longer. Having restored one myself, I can say that the price you paid is a very fair market value for the amount of effort involved in getting a WM-DD33 back into good shape. I've done it quite recently, without the extensive experience of Sergiu, and clearly not to his standards of excellence and knowledge. Technician fees are justifiaby, about 45GBP per hour, and a full recap and tune-up would easily take several hours, with efficient time use. I took far, far longer. Sergiu is probably one of the best in his area, along with a few others on this forum, and on Tapeheads.net. Pay for the experience and peace of mind, it's absolutely worth it with a good technician behind the restoration. GB
Yeah it came in the mail a couple days ago, and I am very happy with it. I cant stop listening to it! It was well worth the money and I think it was the best thing I could have possibly gotten for that price. Especially for a dd-33. @MagneticBlood did an excellent job. I will be sure to keep an eye out for other walkmen restored by him.
