Phllips CDM 12.4 transport compatible replacement

tiefbassuebertr · 2010-09-27 12:28 pm

phi70 said:
No DISC messages from SFT1 or SF-CD1 or Micromega...

Over the past several years I have collected 2 SF-CD1s and went through numerous laser heads.

Whenever they act up, one will not read anything (NO DISC)
and the other one reads intermittently and absolutely will not read any copied CD-Rs.

A unit with a newly replaced laser will not survive a short road trip to a friend's house... NO DISC upon arrival and it happens everytime.

Yes. It's just Philips CDM12.4, you can find them everywhere on EBay but most of them are "cannibalized parts" sold as new.

The CD1s seem to "chew through laser heads one every few months so I thought. Lately it got so bad I thought its more likely the board underneath the transport that is getting too old to read anything.

Spent the weekend trying to fix my them and after fiddling with just about everything it turns out the lasers are still fine. The heads need manual adj despite all the docs floating around stating otherwise.

Tweaked the alignment of the heads with a torx screwdriver using purely trial and error gets rid of the "no disc" error and the "skipping track" and "not able to read copied CDs" problem. Once roughly aligned you will see the CDs spin again after door closes. Then its a challeneg to get them tweaked till they read CD-Rs and the higher-numbered tracks.

The SF-CD1, unlike Levinson and Wadia, does not have a locking screw to secure the head.

The damn silicon stud mounts give way during transportation and causes the heads to be misaligned. They were probably marginally aligned in the first place or aligned for some other bracket than your particular model.

phi70 · 2010-09-27 5:32 pm

Both the SF-CD1 and SF-T1 are the same

12.4 mechanism. The CD1 is a player whereas the T1 is a transport only model.

The trial and error alignment process was a real pain. As you said its impossible to adjust while the CD is there.

How do we know whether a seller is selling a ripoff laser head or a real original? I know from the whole pickup assembly with the small motor and mount you can see from the stickers whats cannibalized and whats new but laser pickup only? I guess it's all luck of the draw unless buying direct from Marantz.

tiefbassuebertr · 2010-09-27 7:17 pm

phi70 said:
12.4 mechanism. The CD1 is a player whereas the T1 is a transport only model.

The trial and error alignment process was a real pain. As you said its impossible to adjust while the CD is there.

How do we know whether a seller is selling a ripoff laser head or a real original? I know from the whole pickup assembly with the small motor and mount you can see from the stickers whats cannibalized and whats new but laser pickup only? I guess it's all luck of the draw unless buying direct from Marantz.

...or unless buying direct from a jukebox spare part supplier like
Jukebox repair restoration and servicing of Wurlitzer Rockola
or
Jukebox Manufacturer and Repairs
ckeck also out this:
????CDP 506 ?? ?? CDM12.4 - ?? KS Audio ?????? ??? 010-2929-8432 - ??! ???

tiefbassuebertr · 2014-09-06 5:20 pm

new advices at post #8 about
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...se-replacement-laser-problem.html#post4049904

tiefbassuebertr · 2015-09-14 1:05 pm

Here are a supplier of CDM12.4 and VAE1250 head (optical pickup) in an expensive version, discover by chance.
Optical Pick-up Units (OPUs) | Enco Systems
Maybe NOS devices from Philips, made in Japan, no cheap China copies in bad quality.
Are there any experiences?

audioq · 2015-12-13 9:56 pm

Enco's Chris mentioned to me that these are not Philips heads but far east replacements although he noted that he was satisfied with the quality of this lot as opposed to others he had seen. Might give them a go myself.

artificialmustaches · 2016-08-31 9:35 am

Hi All, i've been here as i've start the restauration of a micromega stage 2 -i've bought cdm 12.4 from a good source supplier in germany, belt, lubrificated the tray etc.) now i'd like to take the unit to a pro service as i need to change the old head that always shows -NO DISC-. In post #20 phi70 is saying that "A unit with a newly replaced laser will not survive a short road trip to a friend's house... NO DISC upon arrival and it happens everytime."
Does this means that i've to change in my place the new head

? Or simply that it's a waste of time (period)? I guess i could let the micromega stage 2 "live twice". Any info is welcome, cheers!

Mooly · 2016-08-31 8:00 pm

There should be NO problem in transporting the player. A CDM12.4 head should survive being thrown across a room...

The pickups that have been on offer for the last decade or more have been generally appalling in quality. If you have secured a good one then you are lucky. Fit it and enjoy.

The tray and the gears on the Micro mega tray should run 'dry'. The only points to apply a plastic/metal compatible grease are the spindles for the two tray gears.

See also:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/118902-stripdown-clean-cdm12-4-a.html

artificialmustaches · 2016-08-31 8:14 pm

Thanks Mooly, much appreciated!

Mooly · 2016-08-31 8:21 pm

You're welcome, and good luck

artificialmustaches · 2016-09-01 9:24 am

Thanks Mooly, i double checked the old head in my micromega and i realized that the assembly is easier to work with: just remove the holding plastic holdings from the drive and snap again (with all connectors). Is it correct? So i will do it by myself instead to bring it to the service, as i've unmounted the tray and the mechanisms of my micromega many times. Thanks again for your help.

Mooly · 2016-09-01 11:56 am

It all comes apart very easily. Just be careful not to damage the neoprene suspension units as you gently prise/slide them off the CDM12.4 base.

artificialmustaches · 2016-09-07 11:05 am

Mooly, i've received the cdm12.4 and already mounted: i needed only to bring to the new unit the old cables as the new one has got a different connector. Now the work is doine and my micromega stage 2 is reborn! It plays marvellous sound as i totally forgot it. Thanks again for your help, without it i couldn't succeed!

Mooly · 2016-09-07 2:44 pm

That's great to hear :up:

well done.

Rafaello · 2017-08-02 10:09 am

Mechanizm in T+A CD

In T+A CD I have 12.4 transport but in modified version. Is it possible to buy such versions elsewhere ? How to move this gold part to a new transport ?

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

tiefbassuebertr · 2020-05-14 3:43 pm

Best possibility for getting CDM12.4 head is to find a burner from Philips with two decks, model cdr765 - in used condition with with a small number of operating hours - go to
Philips CDR765 Service manual anyone?
under ebay currently this offers:
https://www.ebay.com/p/66751572
Philips CDR765 CD Recorder USED Good Condition (T1) | eBay
In this device are integrated a burner mechanism so as a playback only mechanism equipped with CDM12.4 laserhead.
Service-Manual is here:
PHILIPS CDR760 CDR765 SM2. Service Manual download, schematics, eeprom, repair info for electronics experts
PHILIPS CDR765-00-11S-13S-17 SM Service Manual download, schematics, eeprom, repair info for electronics experts
https://www.electronica-pt.com/esquema/esquemas-dvd/philips-dvd-ht-schematics/philips-cdr-765-51442/
or in genuine print version here
https://www.ebay.de/itm/Service-Manual-Anleitung-fuer-Philips-CDR-765-/362740295032

The CDR-765 and its service manual is helpful for service at follow top class models:
- Tag McLaren CD20R + CDT20R
- Cyrus DAD3
- NAD s500
- T+A CD 1210 R, CD1220 R
- Quad 77 and Quad 99,
- Creek various models
- Micromega Stage I newer versions
- Audiolab 8000CD
- Primare D20 and D30
- Thule Spirit
- SONIC FRONTIERS SFCD-1

tiefbassuebertr · 2022-05-26 6:48 pm

Where is today's best delivery source resp. ordering address for CDM12.4 laser head and CDM12.4 mechanism include spindle and sleed motor and suspensions ?
on ebay there are to find a lot of so called "nice price" offers, unfortunately mostly out of specification. This means mostly no totally black out, but with any unwanted and not expected effects like drop outs due faulty sled motor or burned CD or mechanical brake effects of disc motor pulley (plastic turntable of spindle motor not fixed etc.).

I have heard, only the use of NOS parts for CDM12 professional versions avoid such issues after the replace procedure.
What are the currently experiences ? Thank you for comments.

This suppliers could be of interest:
http://encosystems.net/product-category/optical-pick-up-units-opus/
https://av-repairs.com/juke-box-laser-repairs
https://www.ebay.com/itm/273755787236
https://www.ebay.de/itm/174760559831?hash=item28b08a84d7:g:f~QAAOSwV79glP2x
https://www.newbecca.com/product/536393576190

NareshBrd · 2022-05-26 6:57 pm

No stocks here, too little demand and too many similar parts were a headache for the sellers.

Best find a burner of Sony, LG or Samsung makes, LG DVD writers were the ones I liked.
Used from around $4 here, new are within $15, SATA, the IDE ones are not available new.
Conic used to sell DVD players with built in USB and amp, now not easy to get, it is a local brand in India.

Phllips CDM 12.4 transport compatible replacement

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