What players use the VAM1250

[orbscure]

Many thanks... I did come across this seller and listing when I was searching yesterday... its a shame that the white Philips sticker on his isn't clearly visible as before spending yet more, it'd be good to see what the spec is...

 

[jpk73]

Mine says 1225412 PHILIPS VAM1250

 

[orbscure]

Many thanks again… can I ask one last favour, as I can’t seem to register for the eBay Marketplace from here in the UK, would be able to see if the seller is contactable away from that platform?

 

[jpk73]

...you have PM!

 

[orbscure]

Update time... its taken me a bit more time than planned, I tried to lift a 40kg power amp, the amp won and I've ended up in bed for a week with a nasty back strain... Anyway, with the help of jpk73, I made direct contact with the eBay Marketplace seller he mentioned, bought a drive, fitted it tonight... and it sounds gorgeous! Thanks again to jpk73 for his pointer

 

[orbscure]

One additional question/request... not too sure I should post it here, but does anybody have a CD tray from one of these VAM1250/VAL1250's? Just the single tray, nothing else. In removing the clear perspex fascia on the front of the old drive in my Maestro, I damaged the front of the tray. As I had a new drive to fit, it wouldn't normally be a problem, but I've managed to get the faulty VAM drive in a Philips CDR775 working, but using the damaged tray from the Maestro drive. I know the disk tray is hidden behind a flap on the CDR775, but it'd be nice for it to look good...

 

[orbscure]

This is interesting, when I close the drive without a disc on the NOS VAM1250 I recently fitted in my Maestro, it has started to spin fast up two to three times before saying "no disc"... does this happen to anybody else with a new drive?

 

[chris1999]

Hi Orbscure

I was wondering - did you resolve this "no disc" issue?

I too am thinking of buying a VAM1250 from this Seller.

Not sure if its new or been taken from an old CD player - but am tempted to order one for my CDX2.

...and JPK 73 - I take it that yours is working okay still?

Chris1999

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

I successfully tested the replacement mech I got from the seller in Germany: it's an original VAM1250 by Philips, he has it from a (closed) workshop stock, I wired it in and it played fine in my Naim CDS3 (the Naim is said to perform a special test routine and reject the drive unless specs are spot on). Not cheap, but I think worth. He has some more left, so if you want to buy one from him you can contact him here.

good advice
https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s...fuer-naim-cd5i-cd5x-cd5xs/2364011255-172-7547
I think, NOS Philips mechanism, made in Japan.

Laser head only isn't always cheaper - as long as it is Philips NOS from Japan - go to
http://www.ersatzteil.justone-schnepel.de/html/philips-6_lasereinheit.html
https://www.donberg.de/descript/v/vam_1250.htm
https://quickcycle.co.uk/products/softone-model-3-cd-laser-pickup-diode

Laser head from CD-pro2 resp. VAM1254 seems to be the same - go to
https://encosystems.net/product-category/optical-pick-up-units-opus/
most expensive offer - maybe yet better than those of VAM1250 mechanism

Description of CD-pro2 resp. VAM1254 (check also attached files):
https://web.archive.org/web/2009010...com/products/modules/cd/cdpro2lf/cdpro2lf.htm
VAL1250 (loader completely):
http://www.ersatzteil.justone-schnepel.de/html/vam1250_val1250_vae1250.html

in this thread is to find an image of various packages (of other Philips laser units - not VAM1250 head), which I have save here:
https://www.audiostereo.pl/topic/45746-napęd-philips-vam1250-gdzie-kupić/
It's probably about distinguishing which offers are original parts and which are cheap not reliable replicas.
Basically this should be the case with all packages of Philips parts - also with the VAM1250 head
Unfortunately I don't understand the Polish language.

additional suppliers of high quality parts
https://wurlitzer-shop.de/en/produkt-schlagwort/wurlitzer-cd-player/?products-per-page=all
https://www.tentlabs.com

P.S.: obviously there are at least two variants of laser hologram diode (Sharp) in use on this laser head - go to the last images. Which of them is most reliable and have long live character ?

 

[chris1999]

Hi Tief...

Thanks for all the information. Some interesting routes to look into. I really appreciate your help.

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

in post #38 I ask this:
What other features on the laser unit/mechanism (except "Made in") are there that tell you if you have a high quality NOS version or a cheap copy?
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...4-cdm12-4-compatib.148414/page-2#post-7326109

 

[chris1999]

Thanks again Tief!... I will let you know how I get on, once Ive worked out which way Im going with this.
I will be speaking to Naim on Monday to get the latest from them on replacement cd Mechs for the Cdx2.

 

[jpk73]

Yes, let us know what they say! BTW mine is still going strong in the CDS3...

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

according this paper under
http://radiocom.dn.ua/image/data/pdf/CDM12_24.pdf
https://manualzz.com/doc/7277300/cd-rom-block
saved in the attachment of #39 under
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...m12pro-vau1254-cdm12-4-compatib.148414/page-2
- the VAM versions obviously already successors of all CDM12 versions.
Who can upload this associated paper for all VAM versions or at least for VAM1250/VAM1252 ?

 

[shuval]

Yes, let us know what they say! BTW mine is still going strong in the CDS3...

Hello Jpk. Can you pm me the details of the seller from Germany where you bought the laser for your CDS3. The one in my CDS3 is going to die soon I think. It will play the first few tracks, but then skip like crazy on the remainder.