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Technics SL-PG100 has issues reading some CDs

L

Late Boomer

Super Member
I knew it could not be THIS good when I picked it up on a garage sale for $15.

  • It does not read some CDs. Out of the CDs I tried it could not read probably 20-25% It just sits with 00:00, making grinding sounds.
  • This is not related to CD duration, it did read a 79 minute CD, but did not read a 56 minute one, for example.
  • Scratches and dirt are not applicable, most CDs look brand new.
  • Sometimes it reads it from a second or third time.
  • When it plays, it plays, and I just love it for the sound and for the buttons and for the display. Also, the OPPO DVD player cannot do program play, while the Technics CD player can, obviously. So I want to fix it and keep it.
  • Sometimes it cannot read it, but if I skip to the 2nd song, it would play it. Often, I can rewind back to the beginning of the 1st song, and it still would play!
  • All CDs that it could not read were accepted and played without a hitch with other players, both standalone DVD and BD players as well as a portable one.

So, it looks like it cannot read TOC on some CDs, and these are not 80+ minute CDs and are not scratched. What is at fault, and what to do?

By the way, I have a similar problem on another CD player, hmm it is also Panasonic, but a portable one. Sometimes it would not read TOC, but would play if I skip to the second song. It did not read a pristine CD, but played a 25-old very scratched one. Is this a Panasonic-only issue?
 
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KentTeffeteller said:
Your laser unit may be about to go. Or slide rails need cleaning and lubrication. Try the latter first.
Click to expand...
Thanks, will try! Will Molykote EM-30L work?

Can you explain what exactly may be happening, if it plays the first track when skipped back from the 2nd? The laser cannot position itself on the beginning of the disc? Or the rails prevent moving the lens? Just curious.
 
I think your player's slide rails are getting gummy. Clean them with alcohol, and use a light lubrication. The carriage which moves the laser is likely getting sticky. After doing the cleaning and lubrication, advance the tracks through the disc. Then you should likely be OK.
 
The other obvious thing to check is a dirty laser lens. Try a wipe with a dry cotton bud first, and see if it comes away dirty. If it does, lightly dampen the bud and wipe again.
 
I watched some YT videos.

  • Cleaning up a lens may help in the simplest cases.
  • It seems that dirty rails cause skipping when a disc already plays. Mine does not skip if it starts playing.
  • A possible cause is diminished output from the laser, which can be increased by the variable resistor at the risk of burning out the laser diode. I think this is what I need to do.
  • Some commented that simply disconnecting and connecting back the ribbon cable that connects main drive unit with the carriage often helps... Probably because of oxidation, and removing/re-attaching mechanically removes this oxidation.
 
I agree with the others -- clean the lens and lubricate the rails as necessary first. Then report back.

Your CD player is 30 years old with unknown provenance. It's not surprising that a little cleaning and lubrication might be in order. Good luck.
 
Do not use any kind of grease on the rails. Use a light oil. Dupont Silicone Oil With Teflon is great. Put a couple drops of light machine oil (NOT silicone) on the top bearing of the disc motor.
 
dr*audio said:
Do not use any kind of grease on the rails. Use a light oil. Dupont Silicone Oil With Teflon is great. Put a couple drops of light machine oil (NOT silicone) on the top bearing of the disc motor.
Click to expand...
Teflon definitely seems to be the magic key -- I don't pretend to understand chemistry, but I was recommended LaBelle Lubricant for model trains with Teflon in it, and it's worked like a charm on a number of sticky CD drives over the years.
 
Late Boomer said:
I knew it could not be THIS good when I picked it up on a garage sale for $15.

  • It does not read some CDs. Out of the CDs I tried it could not read probably 20-25% It just sits with 00:00, making grinding sounds.
  • This is not related to CD duration, it did read a 79 minute CD, but did not read a 56 minute one, for example.
  • Scratches and dirt are not applicable, most CDs look brand new.
  • Sometimes it reads it from a second or third time.
  • When it plays, it plays, and I just love it for the sound and for the buttons and for the display. Also, the OPPO DVD player cannot do program play, while the Technics CD player can, obviously. So I want to fix it and keep it.
  • Sometimes it cannot read it, but if I skip to the 2nd song, it would play it. Often, I can rewind back to the beginning of the 1st song, and it still would play!
  • All CDs that it could not read were accepted and played without a hitch with other players, both standalone DVD and BD players as well as a portable one.

So, it looks like it cannot read TOC on some CDs, and these are not 80+ minute CDs and are not scratched. What is at fault, and what to do?

By the way, I have a similar problem on another CD player, hmm it is also Panasonic, but a portable one. Sometimes it would not read TOC, but would play if I skip to the second song. It did not read a pristine CD, but played a 25-old very scratched one. Is this a Panasonic-only issue?
Click to expand...
The player uses the cdm4 and usually it's the 33uF capacitor for the laser supply that needs to be replaced with a new 47uF. I have done it several times and it usually works fine after the swap(I use Panasonic FC or FM). Actually you should recap the whole machine- and try to install a totx174 or 176 for external dac connection. Use the Yamaha cdx-730e service manual for the 2 resistors and the one capacitor and a little noise coil for the power supply.
This works great with my Bifrost,TA-e86,RB980-BX and Dali 8008's all signal path optimized.:beatnik:
 
Late Boomer said:
I knew it could not be THIS good when I picked it up on a garage sale for $15.

  • It does not read some CDs. Out of the CDs I tried it could not read probably 20-25% It just sits with 00:00, making grinding sounds.
  • This is not related to CD duration, it did read a 79 minute CD, but did not read a 56 minute one, for example.
  • Scratches and dirt are not applicable, most CDs look brand new.
  • Sometimes it reads it from a second or third time.
  • When it plays, it plays, and I just love it for the sound and for the buttons and for the display. Also, the OPPO DVD player cannot do program play, while the Technics CD player can, obviously. So I want to fix it and keep it.
  • Sometimes it cannot read it, but if I skip to the 2nd song, it would play it. Often, I can rewind back to the beginning of the 1st song, and it still would play!
  • All CDs that it could not read were accepted and played without a hitch with other players, both standalone DVD and BD players as well as a portable one.

So, it looks like it cannot read TOC on some CDs, and these are not 80+ minute CDs and are not scratched. What is at fault, and what to do?

By the way, I have a similar problem on another CD player, hmm it is also Panasonic, but a portable one. Sometimes it would not read TOC, but would play if I skip to the second song. It did not read a pristine CD, but played a 25-old very scratched one. Is this a Panasonic-only issue?
Click to expand...
I've just wrote a reply but had the 100a in mind and wrote about the cdm4 drive. Don't know if the 100 model uses it as well? But I can recommend it anyway since the cdm4 swing arm drive is very good and the Technics incorporation works very well even in the cheap 100a. The pcb is the same as the bigger 400a and 500a and ready for the toslink option. You need to make the hole for the optical transmitter though but that's an easy fix.
 
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