Sony D-10 was the second and also the last Sony Discman with belt-drive CD platter, as in famous C.E.C. CD players. Unlike all other Sonys with Mabuchi and Sanwa toy-motors, you won't find any wobbling in Discman's CD platter, Ever!! D-10 has one of the best R-2R/multibit DAC: PCM55 from Burr-Brown. D-10 also has the most powerful headphone amplifier ever found in a Discman: 30mW into 30 Ohm! Does D-10 sound any better than The King, Sony D-Z555? D-10 does not have Digital-Out option so unlike D-555 it can Not be used as a transport. But if used as originally intended, by plugging-in decent headphones, then D-10 gives much more powerful and more articulate sound. D-555 needs a headphone amplifier to sound its best, D-10 sounds perfectly splendid as-is
D-10 Discman was fully disassembled, laser mechanism cleaned and re-lubed, new sled motor gear and middle gear installed. Original KSS-160A laser was substituted for KSS-220A, Sony's best, Discman re-calibrated for the new laser. Headphone coupling capacitors were upgraded to 200uF Rubycon ZLJ electrolytics
AC-930A adapter was recapped with fresh Nichicon FineGold smoothing capacitor
BP-100 battery. Dead lead-acid 6V 1,000mAh BP-100 battery was restored with 7.4V 3,000mAh LiPo cells, Discman's charging circuit was modified accordingly. Battery provides over 8(eight) hours of play, battery charges when DC adapter is plugged in, both in Play mode and when Discman is Off. As with all other Discmans that I have in my collection, the best sound quality is achieved when D-10 plays off the battery; just re-attach the adapter when done listening
Antivibration plate. In mid-nineties, when Stereophile reviewed a Discman which their team recommended as a "giant killer", they described a stand which makes any Discman sound its best. No photo was ever provided, but it was described as a glass plate with metal cones and Sorbothane dots between the plate and the Discman. This set includes ceramic plate with metal cones, it does the job pretty well and looks decent too
Please consider photos as part of description, ask questions BEFORE placing a bid. Functionally 10/10, cosmetically 8/10 because of a missing decorative triangle around OPEN button. The piece was precision-cut from metal (salvaged from another Sony Discman) and laminated with satin-black vinyl
Sony RM-DM1 infrared remote is available for this kit for extra $75, see my other listing