Sony D-250

Data

General

• Manufacturer: Sony
• Model: D-250
• Type: Discman - Portable CD-Player
• Years of manufacture: 1989 - 1991
• Made in: Japan
• Quality category: Top class
• Remote control: Yes (own remote connection)
• Original price approx.: 698 DM (356,88 Euro)
• Current value (2021) approx.: 212,50 Euro on average (25 - 400+ Euro depending on accessories and condition)

Technical Data

• Full metal housing
• Backlit multifunction display (backlight is only on with external power supply)

16 bit linear D/A converter

• 4 fold oversampling digital filter
• Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
• Outputs: 9mW (headphones), 0.7V (line out).
• Functions: Play, Pause, Stop, Track Search, Index, Search Function, Random, Program.
• Battery: BP-2 (Special Sony battery pack - alternatives available on the Internet)
• External power supply: 9V DC
• Dimensions: 127.3 x 24.1 x 136.2mm
• Weight: 380g

Highlights

• Very compact
• Excellent sound quality although this model has no DBB or Mega Bass function
• Very high quality workmanship and robust
• At that time the flagship of Sony
• Battery packs with modern LiPo technology available in enthusiast circles (can not be charged in the device)
• Still a very popular and stable value model
• Large community and large repair network on the Internet

Age-related defects'

• Original Sony battery packs no longer work, an operation with standard batteries is not possible

gumming up of the grease at the mechanics of the optical pickup (can be repaired without spare parts)

Information

This Discman comes from the high season of the portable CD players with which Sony invested still very much money and know-how. So no matter what class of player you bought, there was no such thing as a bad player. All models, from the entry level to the high end model, were top processed and had very good components built in.

With the D-250, Sony introduced the successor of the D-150 in 1989. It resembled the predecessor model practically 1:1 and was also offered in the same colors (black or titanium). The difference to the predecessor is that the D-250 has a 4-fold oversampling instead of a 2-fold oversampling digital filter. Sonically this is hardly audible but measurable. The 4-fold oversampling filter sounds a bit more precise and warmer.

The D-25ß was and still is a very popular, robust, compact portable CD player with an excellent sound and manufacturing quality.

Although it has no Mega Bass or Dynamic Bass Boost function, its sound is clear and convincing. It has a very balanced sound. While the bass is well and richly present, mid and high frequencies are also reproduced clearly and realistically. This is especially audible with classical music. But this Discman is also open to modern music. Be it pop, rock or even techno - any kind of music sounds excellent on this Discman.

Over the years it is of course more and more difficult to get a working device. In many advertisements you read "Optically good condition but no longer plays CDs".

However, this fault is very easy to explain and to fix. Sony meant well in the 80s and 90s and lubricated the plastic gears that move the optical pickup (laser of the CD player) with a special plastic grease. Exactly this grease hardens out over the many years and so blocks the laser servo mechanics. Typical errors are that the Discman plays for a few seconds but then stops or does not want to read a CD at all. You have to remove the middle gear, which is fixed by a plastic ring, and clean it thoroughly. A cleaning spray with a brush is excellent for this, and no other spare parts are needed. If you mount the gear again after cleaning (without grease), the CD player normally works like on the first day.

If the problem still exists after cleaning, there are two possibilities. The electrolytic capacitors (short "Elkos") are dried out or (in the rare case) the laser is already too weak. You can get electrolytic capacitors in electronics stores and they are not expensive. In general it must be said that with the D-250 electrolytic capacitor errors occur very rarely.

There are many enthusiasts of these CD players on the Internet who are happy to help you with words and deeds and have even specialized in a low-cost repair of these devices.

If you are now faced with the big question "Do I buy myself or my children a cheap new noname CD player or rather an old used one from a brand manufacturer like Sony?" my recommendation is clearly for the old used one. The old CD players were still built with quality. You can feel that when you hold them in your hand and you can hear them. If you take care of them, they will last for many more years and maybe even our grandchildren will enjoy them with many wonderful sound moments!

Notes

• Other models in the same series:
• D-22
• D-82
• D-88
• D-90
• D-250

Pictures

• Extract from brochure: Sony D-250