Sony WM-D6C ...Lacking Bass?

[brianjrealto]

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?

 

[Jon_Logan]

Head bumps?

I used to work on a lot of Sony stuff, including the WM-D6C. At that time, We used a spot check frequency PB tape and it didn't have the ability to see real frequency response. We didn't have Audio Precision or the Sound Technology 1500 system around to get fast frequency response plots. ... and we weren't going to sit there and graph frequency response by punching in frequencies.

The WM-D6's always had great upper frequency response, if the heads were in good shape.

Something that occurs with all analog tape decks is jagged low frequency response. Perhaps the D6's have a different head bump profile that's causing the perceived bass difference?

 

[jazzgene]

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?

I am a big fan of the WM-D6Cs. I have a bunch of them and none of them ever came across as lacking in bass. If anything, they sound punchier than my fleet of Nak decks.

Some people confuse a muffled sound to more bass. This can be due to azimuth problems on the unit or the tape.

I am actually listening to a brand new NOS WM-D6C that I was fortunate to get this week and it sounds really really good.

 

[Jon_Logan]

Something else that might cause this symptom is if the ground connection has broken away from the 3.5mm output jack.

 

[jazzgene]

Something else that might cause this symptom is if the ground connection has broken away from the 3.5mm output jack.

+1 I've heard this. Gives it a very thin sound along with low volume.

Check out the line out and see if the sound is better.

 

[Robie]

Off thread, but I'm an owner of a WM-D6 (the model prior to the WM-D6C). It just started buzzing audibly when not in use but plugged into the charger/power supply wall wart. As a result, I'm interested in where you sent it and what a basic overhaul will cost (I suspect mine will require much more than an overhaul, though).

Thanks for any replies.

 

[Robie]

Found Pro Digital Inc's website (and several others) but it appears that work on the WM-D6 is very expensive and parts are no longer available. It appears I now have a Sony paperweight as it no longer turns on with either AC or battery power. Evidently parts are still available for the WM-D6C but not the WM-D6.

This is a tough one for me as the little Sony is perhaps my favorite hi fi component. I've used it lots since purchasing it new from MusiCraft in Skokie, IL in 1984. RIP little Sony.

 

[dr*audio]

Found Pro Digital Inc's website (and several others) but it appears that work on the WM-D6 is very expensive and parts are no longer available. It appears I now have a Sony paperweight as it no longer turns on with either AC or battery power. Evidently parts are still available for the WM-D6C but not the WM-D6.

This is a tough one for me as the little Sony is perhaps my favorite hi fi component. I've used it lots since purchasing it new from MusiCraft in Skokie, IL in 1984. RIP little Sony.

I am sure someone here would buy it.

 

[dr*audio]

As to the OP's problem, it is possible the repair shop is using the line outputs to test it and are not listening with headphones. You might ask them that.
I have used the WM-D6 (can't remember if it was a "C") and it is not bass shy. In fact it makes recordings as good as a stand alone deck.

 

[jazzgene]

Found Pro Digital Inc's website (and several others) but it appears that work on the WM-D6 is very expensive and parts are no longer available. It appears I now have a Sony paperweight as it no longer turns on with either AC or battery power. Evidently parts are still available for the WM-D6C but not the WM-D6.

This is a tough one for me as the little Sony is perhaps my favorite hi fi component. I've used it lots since purchasing it new from MusiCraft in Skokie, IL in 1984. RIP little Sony.

You're most practical solution if you don't have the skill or the patience to repair these units is to retire it and buy another one. I recently purchased a WM-D6C in pristine condition for much less that a repair would cost.

 

[Robie]

Thanks Jazzgene and dr*audio for the advice. Again, sorry for taking the OP off thread.

Now back to the original post.

 

[brianjrealto]

As to the OP's problem, it is possible the repair shop is using the line outputs to test it and are not listening with headphones. You might ask them that.
I have used the WM-D6 (can't remember if it was a "C") and it is not bass shy. In fact it makes recordings as good as a stand alone deck.

could the problem be with PRO DIGITAL INC...?

to add to my frustration with this problem, I need to vent on my bad experience with Pro Digital Inc. in Pennsylvania that did the work on this unit. I'm not happy with these guys and I'll explain why to give everybody a heads up...

1) my WM-D6C worked great before sending it to these guys for a "tune up". I bought it used on Ebay in excellent condition and imediately changed the drive belt after it first arrive to ensure it played tapes correctly. It sounded light-years better than any other walkman in my collection and I used it alot listening to cassettes through my grado's...what a heavenly experience before all this mess started...

(I'm Anal retentive about all my vintage analog gear and thought it might be a good idea to have it serviced for maximum performance, even though it didn't seem to have any problems...) What did I know? I thought it may sound even better after a tune up as old as the unit is...

2) for the first time, I sent it to Pro Digital Inc. for the tune up as they came highly recommended and perform service on these units alot. Cost for the tune up was $125.

3) after the tune was complete, Paul at Pro Digital Inc. said the unit is working great and is sending it back to me (for the first time). I get it back and am very excited to hear it. I pop in a cassette and notice the unit is now noisier than before and lacks low-end, it just didn't sound the same as I remembered it. I became disappointed...(at this point, I now preferred the sound of my Sony WM-1 walkman over my WM-D6C)

4) I called Paul at Pro Digital Inc. and told him of my concerns. He said he could't understand why I felt this way after the tune up, but happily asked me to return it for him to inspect to see if there was a problem. I spent the $20 for shipping and sent it back.

5) Paul contacts me to inform me that there was a lose wire that needed to be fixed. (I can't remember exactly what he described, all I know is it was a loose wire of some sorts). He was still looking into the noise problem..

6) after I waited patently for a month, he sends it back (free of charge and no shipping costs to me) and says everything is fixed and checks out great on the test tapes and that the unit works like it should. He sends it back to me as I am excited again to hear it..

7) After I get this unit for the second time, upon first hearing it It seems to sound good and send a reply to Paul by email that it seems to sounds good. But further listening and I get frustrated again. it is still noisy (almost like a grinding noise from the inside when playing a cassette) and lacks low-end compared to any of my other walkmans from Sony, toshiba, Sanyo and Aiwa. It has the least amount of bass for my collection of portable cassette players. I am so frustrated at that point that I don't even bother to give Paul a call and go through this for a third time. I considered it a loss and put the unit in the closet...

I wonder what the problem is- could it be a loose wire again?, Is the grinding something I could fix on my own? Is the lack of low-end due to worn caps?

I am at a loss with this and would like to have this unit sounding like the rave reviews it gets...but for me, my other walkmans still sound better....

 

[jazzgene]

could the problem be with PRO DIGITAL INC...?

to add to my frustration with this problem, I need to vent on my bad experience with Pro Digital Inc. in Pennsylvania that did the work on this unit. I'm not happy with these guys and I'll explain why to give everybody a heads up...

1) my WM-D6C worked great before sending it to these guys for a "tune up". I bought it used on Ebay in excellent condition and imediately changed the drive belt after it first arrive to ensure it played tapes correctly. It sounded light-years better than any other walkman in my collection and I used it alot listening to cassettes through my grado's...what a heavenly experience before all this mess started...

(I'm Anal retentive about all my vintage analog gear and thought it might be a good idea to have it serviced for maximum performance, even though it didn't seem to have any problems...) What did I know? I thought it may sound even better after a tune up as old as the unit is...

2) for the first time, I sent it to Pro Digital Inc. for the tune up as they came highly recommended and perform service on these units alot. Cost for the tune up was $125.

3) after the tune was complete, Paul at Pro Digital Inc. said the unit is working great and is sending it back to me (for the first time). I get it back and am very excited to hear it. I pop in a cassette and notice the unit is now noisier than before and lacks low-end, it just didn't sound the same as I remembered it. I became disappointed...(at this point, I now preferred the sound of my Sony WM-1 walkman over my WM-D6C)

4) I called Paul at Pro Digital Inc. and told him of my concerns. He said he could't understand why I felt this way after the tune up, but happily asked me to return it for him to inspect to see if there was a problem. I spent the $20 for shipping and sent it back.

5) Paul contacts me to inform me that there was a lose wire that needed to be fixed. (I can't remember exactly what he described, all I know is it was a loose wire of some sorts). He was still looking into the noise problem..

6) after I waited patently for a month, he sends it back (free of charge and no shipping costs to me) and says everything is fixed and checks out great on the test tapes and that the unit works like it should. He sends it back to me as I am excited again to hear it..

7) After I get this unit for the second time, upon first hearing it It seems to sound good and send a reply to Paul by email that it seems to sounds good. But further listening and I get frustrated again. it is still noisy (almost like a grinding noise from the inside when playing a cassette) and lacks low-end compared to any of my other walkmans from Sony, toshiba, Sanyo and Aiwa. It has the least amount of bass for my collection of portable cassette players. I am so frustrated at that point that I don't even bother to give Paul a call and go through this for a third time. I considered it a loss and put the unit in the closet...

I wonder what the problem is- could it be a loose wire again?, Is the grinding something I could fix on my own? Is the lack of low-end due to worn caps?

I am at a loss with this and would like to have this unit sounding like the rave reviews it gets...but for me, my other walkmans still sound better....

Yes, the problem is with the repair shop. It is not unknown that where you sent the unit is not competent with WM-D6C repair.

There is really no one left that does the perfect job necessary. I know of a tech that can do it but is out of parts these days. As I posted somewhere earlier, if you can't repair it yourself, then retire it and buy another one. It will be much cheaper and easier. You can keep the broken one for a parts unit.

I just purchased a NOS WM-D6C. Never ever used and it sounds fantastic!

 

[Lapis]

WM-1 have better HF response compared to D6C.

WM-1: 40hz to 16khz
D6C: 40hz to 15khz