• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Is it possible to repair dead and dying vintage CD players??

bergun

bergun

Well-Known Member
I have several vintage CD players from Yamaha and DBX that either dead or dying and I was wondering if its even worth effort, time and cost in saving them.

The models are;

A) Yamaha CDX-1100 x2
B) Yamaha CD-2000 x1
C) DBX DX5 x1
D) Akai CD-D1 x1

The main issues with the above players are that the laser pick-ups are not reading the discs or skipping straight across the disc. Also, the drawers drawers are sticking, which I believe is an easy fix.

Since I'm moving in a few months, I just want to know if it worth even packing them up for shipping since the two Yamaha CDX-1100 players weigh a ton if there isn't a chance that they can be fixed... I'm also using this time to basically trash items that I've been sitting on for years without repairing or having any luck with the repairs.

Thanks!!
 
Register to hide this ad
At least the CDX-1100 has a laser slid that appears to be driven by a linear magnetic field array.

I cannot say much about the others, but if the laser skips and a magnetic sled is used, you can with a pretty high chance fix the problem by applying new oil to the sliding rods of the mechanism the laser assembly sits on (make sure to remove any sticky grease with a dry cloth and, if needed, a bit of alcohol beforehand).
In fact, I would do this at least once or twice a year.
I myself have a Technics SL-P770 which has just about the same principle, and it keeps going strong since 1989.


Other than that it also makes sense to clean the laser lens with a q-tip and alcohol from time to time (don't put too much pressure on it as the tiny mechanism moving the lens up and down for focusing may get damaged).


Finally, also a caveat: do not attempt to increase the laser power by hand! While it sometimes may help reading CDs (in particular CDRs), it will shorten the lifespan of the laser. Do this only if you have experience, equipment and service manuals.



Oh, and about whether they are worth shipping: the CDX-1100 looks like a good unit, I would definitely keep at least one of them (and sell the other if you want, but heck don't trash them)! The CD-2000, although simpler, also does not appear to be a bad unit; same goes for the DBX (might even be the one with the highest build quality).
The Akai is one of the very early units from when the CD was just about to take off (around 1982/83). These vertical players are known to, once failing, hardly be repairable. It is your choice if you want to keep it (for the glory of sat, eh, first generation CD players of course), or sell it to somebody who is seeking for such a unit. Once again: don't junk any of the mentioned players; especially in case of the Akai I am sure there will be collectors who are looking for a unit just like this.
 
Last edited:
Do NOT use alcohol on the lens. Glass Plus or Windex or some such.

While most plastic lenses tolerate alcohol well, some do not. Finding out the hard way that your player is one of the minority units is a hard lesson.
 
Repair as a labor of Love.
Fix them cuz you love the things?
Economically it's imo pointless .
The units mentioned can be audibly outclassed with a 50$ new DVD player.
 
Yup ... fix em if you like em, labor of love sort of thing, but don't expect anything spectacular. MAJOR advances in DACs since those were built, and as mentioned, a cheepo from the big box store can run audible rings around them.

I suppose the same can't be said about the transport, but error correction is vastly improved as well, so as long as it ain't slingin' discs, you should be fine.

Slightly off topic ... just watched I Come In Peace the other day ... an '80's alien slasher movie with killer compact discs ... wotta hoot, eh!

51pKVY8ng%2BL._SY355_.jpg


PS ... easiest possible fix for the drawer doors is to try putting a blank CDR in the tray when parking it. A lot of the drives use a magnetic clamp to hold the disc in place when playing, and those don't release properly. Keeping media in the tray prevents those from getting stuck. If you can release the drawer and it moves smoothly when you manually cycle it, I bet that's your problem. I got one like that - I also keep a paper clip handy because I'm always forgetting to load the blank ... <G>

Oh. Why a blank CDR? In my case, the "sticky drawer" is on an HTPC, and WinDohs! will ignore the blank instead of trying to fire it up.
 
Last edited:
bare said:
Repair as a labor of Love.
Fix them cuz you love the things?
Economically it's imo pointless .
The units mentioned can be audibly outclassed with a 50$ new DVD player.
Click to expand...

Yet another debbie-downer post from bare. :thumbsdn:

The Yamaha CDX-1100u I own sounds wonderful. I've compared it to an Oppo my doctor let me borrow, modded out the wazoo. It held its own.

Dr.Audio here has posted a thread about servicing these older cdp's. I know my Yamaha doesn't like being cold. Greasing the rails, cleaning the laser, all can help.

Good luck.
 
EchoWars said:
Do NOT use alcohol on the lens.

(…)

While most plastic lenses tolerate alcohol well, some do not.
Click to expand...
Thank you! It's always good if you have multiple users replying to a topic.

I actually meant window cleaner but mistakenly wrote alcohol. Sorry about that.
 
Spend a lot of time for nothing...

I recently tried and failed to rehab an old Yamaha Cd player. It ended when my neighbor asked if I wanted her old Sony CD/DVD/Blueray player that will play any disk.

The Yamaha is now resting in my barn with little hope of working again. Time to decide if I want to keep it.

Paul
 
bare said:
Repair as a labor of Love.
Fix them cuz you love the things?
Economically it's imo pointless .
The units mentioned can be audibly outclassed with a 50$ new DVD player.
Click to expand...




You obviously haven't ever listened to a 1986 NEC CD-903 that weighs in at 22 kg :thmbsp:
 
The drawer in CDX-1100U is driven by a easy-to-change rubber band. Laser and tracking problems are something else. As others have already mentioned, clean the lens and drive mechanism and hope that clears it.
 
Great CD playback is more than a D/A chip. It's a combination of the power supply, transport, analog section, components used, ect. To say that a $50 Chinese DVD player can outclass a Japanese TOTL late 80's early 90's player does not compute to me. I've tried, no luck. :no:
 
vincei said:
Great CD playback is more than a D/A chip. It's a combination of the power supply, transport, analog section, components used, ect. To say that a $50 Chinese DVD player can outclass a Japanese TOTL late 80's early 90's player does not compute to me. I've tried, no luck. :no:
Click to expand...

Kind of depends on where you need the bits to go, doesn't it?

If you're sending them to a remote location for DACing (elsewhere in the rack, elsewhere in the house, another dimension(?)...) then all you need are the bits, all the bits (at least a buffer's worth). Disk readers, transports, digital transmission, and network protocols are DESIGNED to do this. They manage even given really bad power supplies, physical bouncing and jouncing, scratched and out-of-round media, crappy plastic optical cables, horribly busy and noisy networks, and EMI from various and sundry sources. Through it all, they deliver the bits - in total, in sequence, and in time - every time. No magic to it at all.
 
vincei said:
Great CD playback is more than a D/A chip. It's a combination of the power supply, transport, analog section, components used, ect. To say that a $50 Chinese DVD player can outclass a Japanese TOTL late 80's early 90's player does not compute to me. I've tried, no luck. :no:
Click to expand...

As a current owner of several TOTL Japanese CDP's including the CDX-1100U, I agree they stand the test of time. OTOH, I've run a cheapo digital output through an optical cable into the DA input in my Onkyo HT preamp and it sounds damn close.
 
bergun said:
I have several vintage CD players from Yamaha and DBX that either dead or dying and I was wondering if its even worth effort, time and cost in saving them.
Click to expand...
Yes it's possible, and it's worth doing.

Total Yamaha CD players from the late 1980's such as the CDX-1100, CDX-1120, and CDX-2020 outclass many modern CD & DVD players. These CD players have superb power supplies and analog sections. The DAC's are also very good.
 
Last edited:
I'm no expert,but surely if your old CDP is equipped with 4 (quad) separate DAC's all runnin' together and/or in parallel wouldn't this be better than just one newer DAC chip.
 
SoCal Sam said:
As a current owner of several TOTL Japanese CDP's including the CDX-1100U, I agree they stand the test of time. OTOH, I've run a cheapo digital output through an optical cable into the DA input in my Onkyo HT preamp and it sounds damn close.
Click to expand...

Pretty much my experience as well. I have a craptastic 8 ounce Sony SACD/DVD I bought in 2000, ran thru the toslink to my very nice Sony JA20ES md player, and the sound was wonderful.

But by itself, the Yammie is a very nice sound as well.
 
Thank you for the replies... I'm now more twisted in this matter!! I' will admit that "I" love these CD players and the period they are from. Yes, my Oppo Blu-Ray sounds pretty good, but there is something about these older CD Players that hit the sweet spot over the newer stuff.

I'm now leaning to saving them from the trash bin for the next few months and give it one more shot with repairs. Currently, I'm in Anchorage, Alaska and will be moving down to Seattle, Washington. With that being said, shipping options and cost are more responsible.

Can anybody give me the name or P/M me the name of a very good tech that specializes in repairing older CD players?

AGAIN!! Thank you for all the advice!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom