• 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

Sony DVP NS900V does not recognize hybrid SACD HD layer

xchg.ca

xchg.ca

Active Member
Hi guys, got Sony DVP NS900V player for cheap in thrift store. Main idea is to use it as SACD player and ppl also mentioned that audio qualities are pretty good as well as it is quite tweakable.

BUT after testing it at home I've discovered that it plays CD, DVD, DVD-R, DVD-DL and DVD-R DL well
But in same time it fails to recognize HD layer in hybrid SACD
Unfortunately I do not have HD only SACD to test all my SACDs are hybrid.

I have performed an aliment/calibration procedure with CD, DVD-SL, DVD-DL successfully in service menu
- still no success! Calibration with hybrid SACD as DVD-DL failed though ( not sure if this supposed to work at first place )

I am a bit puzzled, as I thought that if DVD-DL is works fine - SACD should as well - as it uses same laser!? Right ?

Any ideas and suggestions I can try?
Thank you
 
Register to hide this ad
The typical failure mechanism is the laser pickup. An SACD machine has two lasers. One is infrared and reds the CD and one with a higher spectrum for the SACD - that's the one that burns out over time. (Real old CD lasers also burnout but newer one seem to last much longer.)

The replacement laser assembly can usually be had on eBay or from Sony. Swapping is not too difficult for a reasonably competent tech.
 
FauxHall said:
An SACD machine has two lasers. One is infrared and reds the CD and one with a higher spectrum for the SACD
Click to expand...

The OP points out that DVD is working, and that also uses the 'higher spectrum' (650nm wavelength, vs 780nm for CD, or 405nm for BRD) laser. So it does seem a bit odd that DVDs play, but SACDs do not.

https://volga.eng.yale.edu/teaching-resources/cds-and-dvds/methods-and-materials

I think I would go digging in the menus, as there is often a setting to force CD playback in hybrid discs.
Also need to consider which output is being used: SACD will not appear on SPDIF, for copy protection reasons; HDMI or analogue output only.
 
Last edited:
Reading the manual, you apparently use the 'scroll' button on the remote to select between CD and SACD for hybrid discs. It should show SACD or CD on the display, as appropriate.
 
Thank you guys for the responses !

FauxHall said:
The typical failure mechanism is the laser pickup. An SACD machine has two lasers. One is infrared and reds the CD and one with a higher spectrum for the SACD - that's the one that burns out over time. (Real old CD lasers also burnout but newer one seem to last much longer.)

The replacement laser assembly can usually be had on eBay or from Sony. Swapping is not too difficult for a reasonably competent tech.
Click to expand...

I though about this but DVD and even DVD Dual Layer works fine..... So Red laser probably OK.
The only BUT - It could be that level needed for SACDs 2nd HD layer is higher then for DVD-DL second layer !

cpt_paranoia said:
Reading the manual, you apparently use the 'scroll' button on the remote to select between CD and SACD for hybrid discs. It should show SACD or CD on the display, as appropriate.
Click to expand...
I have done that, it does not react, when Hybrid SACD inserted pressing SACD/CD just being ignored
When tray is opened, front display indicates that unit switches between SACD<->CD, but at the moment I load Hybrid SACD (detected as CD ) this button getting ignored and well as MultiCH/2CH option.

I have read somewhere that for calibration you need to have proper Sony Calibration CD, DVDs. These are probably unobtainable these days :(
 
This is a common problem with Sony SACD players from this period, not just the 900V. I owned one of those as well as several other Sony models and eventually the same symptom appeared on all of them. The laser assembly is no longer available and it’s best to move on from it. The more recent Sony 4K players have so far performed well and sound very good.
 
An Oppo player from that era is a much better option than the 900V. I had a BDP-83 that was a big improvement in every aspect.
 
Interesting that DVD seems less susceptible to dust and hair than SACD. But at least it is reassuring that the 650nm laser is used for SACD and DVD.
 
A few weeks ago, I found a Sony DVP-NS900V at the local garbage station. It was in perfect condition but also refused to read hybrid CDs/SACDs as SACD.

So I followed the instructions (can also be found here: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...dvp-9000es-dvd-sacd-i-have-a-question.782842/, #10) to clean the lens and to activate the diagnostic mode. Found out that the machine had only played 190 hrs of movies / DVDs and 70 hrs of music / CDs. The only thing I did then was to recalibrate the drive for CDs. That alone perfectly did the trick—since then it plays all my hybrid CDs/SACDs instantly in SACD mode!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom