Conference hips::uk_audioo

How do you feel about taking the transport out of the player?

First, use whatever means you have to clean the laser lense. That is the most 
likely cultrit.

However if that doesnt do it you have one of two probable situations.

1) the electrical alignment of the laser focus or positioning servo is off.
	This is a trip-to-the-shop thing unless you have the manuals, proper 
	test CD and n O'scope.

2) the flex-print cable to the laser assembly is hanging up on something. You 
 	can tell this without removing the transport by removing the players 
	cover (power off and unplugged from the AC mains) and gently moving
	the laser assemply through its complete arc.  I use a mechanical pencil 
	or plastic stick - holding one end and pushing the laser with the other
	because the mechanical dis-advantage of this helps magnify any change 
	in drag of the assembly.  If you can feel any drag or momentary sticky 
	spots - toward the inside of the lasers arc - it is probably because 
	an edge of the flex-print is dragging on the transport casting. If you
	are mechanically adept you can dis-assemble the transport, locate the 
	point where it hangs and adjust the flex-print pressure clamp to 
	eliminate it.


As you can probably tell I have experienced this. It was as a result of me 
adding some transport casting damping material, not an error on the part of 
Philips, but I could see where it could happen with a new unit. I am not sure 
why a unit with such a mis-alignment would work for 2-3 years before it became 
a problem, but anything is possible.

Walt

    
    I've been having a bad skipping problem on my old Sony CD player for
    the past year (worsening each week).  I called the local Sony shop up -
    they do repairs - 20 quid for a quote, this goes towards the cost of
    the repair if you agree for them to go ahead and fix it.  He said "it
    could just need cleaning, but in 95% of cases it needs a new laser,
    which could cost well over 100 quid..."
    
    What is this "new laser" thing he's on about?  I've heard that things
    can go wrong and it's expensive to fix on CD's, but never really
    understood what can go wrong with the laser/lens themselves other than
    the lens getting dusty.  Any information gratefully accepted.
    
    Chris.
    

    The Laser is Silicon and does indeed wear out (After somewhere between
    1,000 and 10,000 hours - I can't remember) It sounds more like your
    player could do with a general clean up though - I would have thought
    you could do this yourself Chris.
    
    	Rik

    
    Cheers Rik, the player is about 8.5 years old so I suppose it could be
    either problem.  I've tried taking the thing to bits, but didn't want
    to get too involved only to find I couldn't put the bits back together
    again (also it wasn't too life-threatening as I had a personal CD as 
    well).
    
    Chris.

    Surely if this player is 8.5 years old it is now relatively 'low tech'.
    CD technology has moved in leaps and bounds and your 100 quid would be
    better put towards a new player. Although your player may have been
    expensive at the time a much cheaper player now will sound better.
    You may also be throwing good money after bad as the overall
    reliability will be suspect on such an old player - what else is worn
    out. Have you tried one of those lens cleaning kits..
    
    
    Colin

    
    Good point Colin, I think I'll have to PX it next time I buy
    something...!
    
    Chris.

Lasers are specified as having a specified minimum output for at least 10,000 
hours at XmW power.  Most in CR ROM/playback are used WAY below the rated 
power but they do decrease output with useage.  Most transports cannot 
compensate for the decreases beyond a certain point.  Some use a combo of 
automatic gain control and a manual adjustment so can be adjusted a bit, but 
how much depends on the manufacturer.

Walt

I also had a skipping problem with my Cd50se.I thought was my laser but 
turned out to be part of cd clamp mechanism stick