Sony D-303

Data

General

• Manufacturer: Sony
• Model: D-303
• Type: Discman - Portable CD Player
• Years of manufacture: 1991 - 1993
• Made in: Japan
• Quality category: Top class
• Remote control: Yes (own remote connection and via headphone jack)
• Color: Black, Titanium
• Remote control: yes
• Original price approx.: 699 DM (approx. 357 Euro)
• Value currently (2021) average about 438.67 euros - reference Ebay, depending on accessories and condition)

Technical Data

• Full metal housing
• Backlit multifunctional display (Is only illuminated when Discman is operated with power supply)

1 bit D/A converter

• Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
• Outputs Analog: 5mW (Headphone), 1,5V (Line Out)
• Digital output: Yes (optical)
• Functions: Play, Pause, Stop, Track Search, Index, Search Function, Random, Program, Resume, Megabass (2-Stage).
• Battery: BP-2 (Special Sony battery pack - alternatives available on the Internet)
• Batteries: Yes 2pcs AA LR6
• External power supply: 9V DC (There has been a change here compared to the older models! The + pole is now on the inner pin, wrong power supplies can damage the Discman!)
• Dimensions: 126 x 27,4 x 135,5mm
• Weight: 450g

Highlights

• Very compact
• High-quality workmanship and robust metal housing
• 1991 the second best Discman beside the D-Z555

The D-303 had one of the best headphone amplifiers ever built into a Discman and is therefore considered by many experts as a reference. The Megabass function is automatically throttled at higher volume levels to avoid overloading the headphones. Optical digital output makes the Discman suitable for virtually lossless dubbing to DAT, DCC and MiniDisc recorders.

• Standard power supply with 2 AA batteries is possible - a special battery pack is not needed but still available in enthusiast circles.

Age-related and known defects Some models need to have their electrolytic capacitors replaced due to their age - this may result in playback and/or sound problems.

• On many models the spindle motor bearings are worn out. This is a known problem with many D-303 as well as D-350 and leads sooner or later to the typical problem that the Discman jumps in horizontal position.

With the CDM-350 pickup mechanics it can happen that the worm shaft jumps over during operation.

This error causes playback to stop suddenly and without reason, and the Discman will no longer read CDs. When the CD tray is open and the switch is bypassed, you can see that the Discman also no longer focuses. The display shows the message "No Disc" even if a CD was inserted. In this case the electronics obviously loses the reference point of the laser pickup and does not move it back to the "zero point" completely - the limit switch is not activated! The laser or the lens only focuses when the limit switch is activated! If this error occurs, there is no reason to panic, it can be easily and quickly corrected by yourself. Open the CD compartment and carefully push the pickup towards the middle with a screwdriver until it stops. Attention! Do not touch the lens! You will be able to move the pickup 1 - 2 notches. Once the pickup is back in its "home position" the Discman should work as usual!

Information

The D-303 was like the D-99 one of the first Discman with 1-Bit D/A converter technology and at the same time also one of the last models which still had the robust metal housing known from Sony until then. Later Discman models were unfortunately mostly made of plastic.

Due to the particularly good headphone amplifier, it is especially popular with audiophiles who like to listen to classical music, and is considered a reference in terms of sound. Since this Discman also has an analog and digital (optical) line out connection, it can also be used as a high-quality stationary CD player but also as an excellent dubbing device for digital sound carriers such as DAT, DCC and MD.

Sony gave the D-303 the same reading mechanism that was developed for the D-350 about 1 year before (CDM-350). Unlike the other Discman models, this mechanism uses an optical pickup from Sanyo and not from Sony. The type designation of the pickup is "SF-89". Why Sony did not use their own pickup is unfortunately unknown.

Although Sony generally used very high-quality components for this Discman, there was a big weak point in the D-303 as well as in the D-350, which was certainly not planned that way.

The Mabuchi spindle motors used in these models seemed to have a design flaw, as the upper bearings wore out so quickly that the CD players started to "jump" when played in a horizontal position. The models affected by this defect were the D-303 and the D-350. However, if you put the affected Discman in an inclined position of about 45°, they will play CDs without any problems.

There are similar replacement motors available on the Internet, such as the "RF-410CA" type, which would be a perfect replacement in terms of size and technical data, but unfortunately their shafts are about 2mm too short. The disc platter can be mounted on these motors, but due to the 2mm shorter shaft it is not tight enough and the inclination can be easily influenced. Thus, it can happen that the CD during playback, if you change the angle of inclination of the Discman, due to centrifugal forces on the housing and thus sound dropouts occur.

Devices that have been repaired with an RF-410CA motor are therefore only suitable as stationary devices.

However, there is a service center in America that specializes in the motor defects of the D-303 and D-350 and can repair them at a relatively low price.

Functioning models are currently traded on the Internet for an average of about 440 Euros and are, like the other high-end models (D-150, D-250), very much in demand. With a bit of luck, you can get a good model for less than 100 euros, but you should definitely check it for the engine failure described above before buying it.

Remarks

• Other models in the same series:
• Sony D-32
• Sony D-111
• Sony D-113 CR
• Sony D-211
• Sony D-303
• Sony D-311
• Sony D-515
• Sony D-808 K
• Sony D-J 50
• Sony D-T 115
• Sony D-Z 555

Pictures

• Extract from brochure: Sony D-303

Reports

• Report at "Hifi-Classic": [1]