Sony D-250 specifications

Brand : Sony

General

Tech nical data

Highlights

Age-related defects

Information

This discman comes from the high season of portable CD players where Sony still invested a lot of money and know-how. Thus, no matter which device class you bought, there was no bad device. All models, from the entry-level to the high-end model, were top-quality and had very good components installed.

With the D-250, Sony introduced the successor model of the D-150 in 1989. It is practically the same as the predecessor model 1:1. The difference to the predecessor is that the D-250 has a 4-fold oversampling compared to a 2-fold oversampling digital filter. In terms of sound technology, this is hardly audible but measurable. The 4-fold oversampling filter sounds a little more precise and warmer. In addition, in the D-250, the color titanium replaced the color white of the D-150, and the design of the lid was changed.

The D-250 was and still is a very popular, robust, compact portable CD player among connoisseurs with an excellent sound and build quality.

Although it has no Mega Bass or Dynamic Bass Boost function, it is clearly convincing in sound. He has a very balanced sound. While the basses are well and fully present, medium and higher sound frequencies are also reproduced clearly and realistically. This is especially noticeable in classical music. But this discman is also open-minded to modern music. Whether it's pop, rock or even techno - any kind of music sounds excellent on this discman.

Over the years, of course, it has become increasingly difficult to get a working device. With many advertisements one reads "Optically good condition but no longer plays CDs".

However, this error is very easy to explain and fix. Sony meant it 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. It is precisely this grease that resinifies over the many years and thus blocks the laser servo mechanics. Typical errors are that the discman plays for a few seconds but then cancels or does not want to read a CD anymore. It is necessary 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, no other spare parts are needed either. If you reassemble the gear after cleaning (without grease), the CD player normally works as on the first day.

If the error still persists after cleaning, there are still two options. Electrolytic capacitors ("electrolytic capacitors" for short) have dried up or (in rare cases) the laser is already too weak. Electrolytic capacitors are available in electronics stores and are not expensive. In general, it must be said that errors occur very rarely with the D-250 Elko.

There are many lovers of these CD players on the Internet who are happy to help and advise you and have even specialized in a cost-effective repair of these devices.

Should one now be faced with the big question "Am I now buying myself or my children a cheap new Noname CD player or would I rather buy an old used one from a brand manufacturer like Sony ?" my recommendation is clear about the old used one. The old CD players were still built with quality. You can feel that when you have the devices in your hand and you can hear them too. If you take care of the devices, they will certainly last for many more years and may even delight our grandchildren with many wonderful sound moments!

Manufacturer: Sony
Model: D-250
Years of manufacture: 1989 - 1991
Manufactured in: Japan
Colors: Black, Titanium
Remote control: optional cable remote control RM-DM 2 or infrared remote control RM-DM 1 K.
Dimensions: 127.3 x 24.1 x 136.2mm
Weight: 380g without battery
New price approx.: 698 DM (356.88 euro)
Current value (2021) approx.: average 212.50 Euro (25 - 400+ Euro depending on accessories and condition)

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 principle, program
Battery: BP-2 (Special Sony battery pack alternatives available on the Internet) or optionally BP-100 and BP-200.
External power supply: 9V DC (positive pole outside!)

Very compact
Excel lent sound quality although this model has no DB B or mega bass function
Very high-quality workmanship and robust (lid and bottom made of metal, connecting housing made of plastic, however.
At that time the flagship of Sony
battery packs with modern LiPo technology available in amateur circles (can not be charged in the device)
Still a very popular and value-stable model
Large community and large repair network on the Internet

Original Sony battery packs no longer work, operation with commercially available batteries is only possible with the optional Battery housing EBP-360 is possible (not EBP-380! This has a different output voltage and dissipates the device! Both take up 8 AA batteries, with the EBP-360 the batteries are connected to 2 groups á 4, which gives an output voltage of 6 volts. With the EBP-380, the 1 group á 8 batteries are connected, which results in an output voltage of 12 volts). The EBP-360 was not available in Germany.
Resinification of the grease on the mechanics of the optical pickup (can be fixed without spare parts)