Topic: tcd-d3 vs. tcd-d7/d8

[charles]

Just wondering what the benefits are of using a d7 or d8 over a d3.

[jpschust]

better transports, for some reason i remember the d3 as being playback only, but i could be wrong.  also the d8s are the newest out of that bunch so age wise probably going to be in better shape- that doesn't mean the owner has taken care of it, but that's another issue entirely.

[dnsacks]

d3 does record.

Biggest disadvantage of the d3 is its age -- it was officially introduced in the US in 1990 (though I believe it was available in japan as early as 1987).  Although I don't know when it was discontinued, it likely wasn't produced for long after the d7's introduction in 1993.  Thus, you're likely looking at a 12 to 15 year old deck. 

Another factor, it's my understanding that both the d7 and d8 are still covered by Sony's flat rate repair policy (i.e. $1xx.xx to fix anything wrong with the deck, including head replacement) -- the D3 is not covered by this and I'm not even sure if parts remain available.

[admkrk]

d3 does record.

Biggest disadvantage of the d3 is its age -- it was officially introduced in the US in 1990 (though I believe it was available in japan as early as 1987).  Although I don't know when it was discontinued, it likely wasn't produced for long after the d7's introduction in 1993.  Thus, you're likely looking at a 12 to 15 year old deck. 

Another factor, it's my understanding that both the d7 and d8 are still covered by Sony's flat rate repair policy (i.e. $1xx.xx to fix anything wrong with the deck, including head replacement) -- the D3 is not covered by this and I'm not even sure if parts remain available.

not sure how the warrenty deal works. my d8 has had multiple owners so i don't think i'd be covered anyway. my d3 records just fine. i don't  have a batt. for it and if i could find one, i dought it would hold a charge. new one? probly only if i make one. maybe some day. it seems a pretty tough unit, but i'd spend a few extra $s and get a d8. or double your money(?) and get a tascam. full size heads vs. 1/2 size. not sure but the m1 and d100 might have full sized heads also.

[charles]

We are talking about (at least from my recent investigation) a huge price difference here. The units I looked at differed in price by at least $300 to $400. Ususally more. These d3's are being sold cheap. And I'm talking about units that are  reported to be  in perfect operating condition from reputable long time ebay sellers. This extremely low price, in comparison to d7's and d8's, is what sparked my interest.

[admkrk]

right, "double yor $" .  d8s are around $300.  i wouldn't invest in a d3 as your main unit though, no matter what the price. if you're gonna run tape, and keep the price down, go for a d8. you'ld be better off w/ a jb3 if you want to go down to that price range. d3s might be a lot less theese days, but then there's a reason for that  .

[Bubb Rubb]

D3's are out of control!  I love to see people running them

[Nick Graham]

http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/sonypor.htm

[leegeddy]

if i were you, i would get a Sony M1, D100 then D8, in that order.  you can still find great deals on M1s from time to time.

marc

[Stumptown Matt]

I have a D3 and a D100 and I usually end up using the D3 more.  It will take a signal from any deck if I'm patching and I like the fact that it has an actual power button and is not always on like other models.  If you can get one for cheap that is in good shape I'd say go for it.  There are lots of external power solutions for it as the input is 6v same as the D7/8.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

Something I would consider before buying a 10-12yo D3 as your only DAT deck, you are going to need to rewind and play back the tape at least once to transfer it and most likely you are going to be using it to listen to tapes to.  That amounts to alot of head wear and time on the motor for rewind and cuing.   One reason that my D7 has lasted 10 years is that I have multiple home decks for cloning/transfers, so the D7 gets used to record only and some light rewinding of the recorded leader. 

If you can find a decent working D3 for less than $50, then no real loss if it fails.  But if you are spending a couple hundred, I think that you would be better off with a nomad or going the extra to get a deck that was manufactured in this century.

[dnsacks]

Note, the sony flat rate repair deal that I mentioned above is not a warranty/etc.  It's basically an arrangement provided by Sony to anybody with a d7 or d8 or d100 (but not an M1 since it's not a consumer deck) that provides whatever repairs are necessary for a fixed price, including head replacement, etc.

Thus, a very real advantage to a d7 or d8 over a d3 is that with a d7/d8 sony will, for a little over $100, rebuild your deck to working condition (as long as it wasn't abused). 

[hexyjones]

Note, the sony flat rate repair deal that I mentioned above is not a warranty/etc.  It's basically an arrangement provided by Sony to anybody with a d7 or d8 or d100 (but not an M1 since it's not a consumer deck) that provides whatever repairs are necessary for a fixed price, including head replacement, etc.

Thus, a very real advantage to a d7 or d8 over a d3 is that with a d7/d8 sony will, for a little over $100, rebuild your deck to working condition (as long as it wasn't abused). 

Are you sure they are still doing the flat rate repair for those models?...I thought I heard they had stopped. But, that may have been a dream.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

Are you sure they are still doing the flat rate repair for those models?...I thought I heard they had stopped. But, that may have been a dream.

I head the same thing, that D7s were too old to qualify.  I've also heard stories where flat rate repair had to be applied multiple times before they finally did the full head/board replacement.

[dnsacks]

I'd heard they stopped and heard the d7 was too old, but then heard they still were doing this for the d8 and d7-- I'd also heard they'd discontinued the d8, but doug oade sez it's still in production.