WM-D6Daddy

WML ID #6

Manufacturer: Sony

Model: WM-D6

Nick: Daddy

Series: DD Professional

Year: 1982

Made in: Japan

Technical details, specifications

Battery: 4AA

Battery life: 6h (with 3)

Colors: black

Dimensions: 181*40*95 mm (688 cm³)3D size

Weight: 600 gr

Window: yes

Frame: plastic

Case: metal

Carry: belt

Expandable: no

External compartment: no

Head: Amorphous

Drive: DiscDrive, Quarz locked

Tape selector: Manual switch

Waterproof: no

Speaker: no

Frequency range: 40-15000 Hz

FMax output: 2x30 mW

Functions

DC in: yes

Record by input: yes

Record by int mic: no

Hotline mode: yes

Cue: yes

Balance (L/R): no

Phone type: 1

Equalizer: no

Auto volume no

Auto reverse: no

Anti rolling: yes

AMS no

Blank skip no

Logic control: no

Hold lock: no

Noise reduction: Dolby B NR

Radio: no

Remote control: no

Wireless headphone: no

Indicator: led

Description

The WM-D6 at first looks like a rather large personal stereo, but is really more like a miniaturised TC-D5 portable cassette deck.

Although the WM-D6 was not the first Walkman model that could record, it was the first that could do so to such high standards that it was suitable for professional use.

Mechanically it is very similar to the TCM-600 and the TPS-L2. This is evident in the layout of the controls and tape transport components. To raise the quality to the high level demanded, the mechanism was upgraded by fitting a disc drive capstan servo similar to the TC-D5. Inevitably all the parts had to be made smaller, but the principles remained the same. One would have thought that this would be enough, but the designers took the disc drive concept one stage further and made it quartz controlled. At a stroke, this removed any possibility of drift or error, and gave the WM-D6 perfect speed accuracy under all conditions. The system worked by comparing the output of the capstan tacho sensor with the divided-down output of a quartz crystal oscillator. The servo ensured that the two signals were locked together by varying the motor speed. As the quartz crystal frequency never altered, neither did the tape speed. The user could bypass and setthe tape speed manually by up to 4% using a small dial at the rear of the machine. In this mode, the servo operated as it did in the TC-D5. The variable speed switch was mechanically interlocked to the record key; it was automatically returned to the quartz locked fixed speed mode whenever a recording was made.

Other features carried over from the TC-D5 included the ferrite heads and the DC-DC converter, which enabled the electronics to operate at a higher voltage than the batteries would normally provide, improving the sound quality. There was no room to accommodate the TC-D5’s large moving-coil meters so the WM-D6 used a single LED bar graph display instead. This could also be used to give an indication of battery condition. An input was provided for a microphone, though using the switchable attenuator this could also accept signals from an amplifier or second recorder. The limiter function from the TC-D5 was not carried over, so recording level control was manual only. Two pairs of headphones could be connected. A three position tape selector switch allowed normal, chrome and metal tapes to be used for both recording and playback, though the selection was manual, not automatic as it had been with the TC-D5.

Power was usually provided by 4 AA sized cells, and the battery compartment was designed to fit the standard Sony Ni-Cd pack too. This could be recharged in situ from the DC input socket.

The WM-D6 was expensive but was also capable of outstanding performance, better than many full-sized cassette decks. It was quickly adopted by radio stations and news organisations for their reporters. It also became a favourite for making high quality but discreet “bootleg” recordings at concerts. It was replaced by the improved WM-D6C.Via Walkman Central (edited)