All Diyaudio Threads about not available Optical Pickup's from Sony's KSS-Series

[tiefbassuebertr]

There are many threads about SONY's laser heads (optical pick up's) from the KSS-Series. I have started also some threads in this case. The reasons are clear. First the no longer availability of most of them and second the big error rate sometimes after a short time of use. In general - from all laser units that I know, Sony's laser heads above KSS-120 by far the worst of all (life time, reliability), even the models for the ESPRIT series like KSS-272A. Two main reasons are therefore responsible:
1) the suspension of the collimator lens (plastic leaf spring instead spring wire)
2) the diode itself
Obviously it can happen sometimes (fortunately not often) that other laser head manufacturers than Sony also used such worse Sony diodes. If by such older CD players the RF level very low, you can assume, that a Sony diode is inside.

By JVC-, Pioneer- and Hitachi laser heads after more than 20 years in use there are still virgin light power (after lens cleaning) and thus good level by RF signal. Also the tracking behaviour isn't impaired due collimator lens suspension without plastic.Unfortunately for most brands SONY was the main supplier of optical pick up's.

After a certain time this threads are relatively hard to find. Therefore at bottom an URL overview of all threads from diyaudio about SONY's KSS series.
If one of you discover additional threads that I have overlooked, you can add here

Basic subjects regarded KSS Series from Sony
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ter-laser-death-great-vintage-cd-players.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ser-pickups-why-not-replacing-diode-only.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/25540-sony-cd-head-repairs.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/88928-electrical-adjustment-laser-pickup.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...uccessor-sld-104u-sony-esprit-kss-series.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ick-up-cd-player-wholesaler-manufacturer.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...k-about-sonys-kss-optical-pick-up-series.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/38894-full-range-sony-cd-laser-pick-ups-photos.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/vendors-bazaar/108098-new-optical-pickup-spare-parts-arrive.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/133261-whining-kss210a-after-replacement.html (adjustments)

Threads about KSS120C / KSS123A / KSS-152A
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/158651-kss-122a-kss-123a-they-interchabgeable.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ns-magnetic-linear-rails-laser-transport.html (KSS-123A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/155077-revive-heavy-weight-denon-dcd3300.html (KSS-123A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/96953-disc-table-height-kss-laser-units.html (KSS-123A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ichi-oms-5eii-7eii-weak-error-correction.html (KSS-123A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/67783-test-cd-cd-player-adjustment.html (KSS-123A-151A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/109082-trying-repair-old-onkyo-dx-1500-a.html (KSS-152A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/79903-luxman-d-105u-transport-identification.html (KSS-152A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/158453-sony-kss-152-replacement.html

Threads about KSS-151A
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/153347-laser-sony-kss-151-fore-denon-cd-s1.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/157687-kss151a-kss-151a-10-x-new.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/147776-laser-replacement-teac-vrds-10-a.html (KSS-151A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/27647-kss151a-laser-replacement.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/88594-how-evaluate-laser-pick-up-remaining-life.html (KSS-151A in CDP338ESD)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/89000-laser-diode-current-kss-151a.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/91184-denon-dcd-1520-not-recognise-some-disc.html (KSS-151A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-meet/127868-fs-kss-151a-laser-pick-up.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-meet/119113-fs-sony-kss-151-laser-mechanism.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/67783-test-cd-cd-player-adjustment.html (KSS-123A-151A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/27376-laser-replacement.html (KSS-151A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/53874-kss-151a-pickup-wanted.html (KSS-151A needed)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-meet/134760-fs-sony-kss-151a-laser-head.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/75337-wadia-drive-8-laser-unit.html (KSS-151A needed)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/135202-sony-cdp-950-vs-m95-vs-222esd.html (KSS-150A-151A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/100420-teac-p10-transport-what-laser.html (KSS151 or KSS213 ?)

Threads about KSS-272A
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-meet/99773-wanted-laser-pick-up-kss-272-a-3.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/132147-kss272a-working-not.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...er-pickup-adjustment-accuphase-cd-player.html (KSS-272A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/89220-accuphase-dp-90-laser-head.html (KSS-272A needed)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/43349-sony-cdp-x779es.html (KSS-272A needed)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/97681-sony-cdp-x707es-diy.html (KSS-272A needed)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-meet/122407-wtb-new-sony-khm-230aaa-kss-272a.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-meet/85287-wtb-sony-kss-272a-laser.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/99774-hard-find-laser-pick-up-kss-272-a.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/132147-kss272a-working-not.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/39405-sony-cd-laser-replacement-availability.html (KSS270A-KSS272A)

Threads about KSS-270A / KSS-271A / KSS-273A-B / KSS-281A
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ble-use-kss240a-cdpx55es-instead-kss270a.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/154699-cdp-x333es-kss-271a-tracking-offset-probs.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/154669-cdp333es-skips.html (KSS-271A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ter-laser-death-great-vintage-cd-players.html (KSS-273A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/82754-sony-optical-pick-up-kss-273-a.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/105295-laser-kss-273-b-hard-find.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/100577-need-help.html (KSS-273B)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/30585-sony-cdp-x777es.html (KSS-281A needed)

Threads about KSS-240A / KSS-213A-V / KSS-210A / KSS-150A
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/81103-broken-arcam-alpha-8-trichord.html (Sony CDM-14/KSS-240A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/82612-troubleshooting-pick-up.html (KSS-240A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/101935-denon-dcds10-cd-player.html (KSS-240A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/32730-teac-vrds-t1-cd-transport.html (KSS-240A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/39473-sony-mhc1600-hcd-h1600.html (KSS-240A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/139605-kss-240a-based-transport-diy-player.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/100978-cdp-591-a.html (Solder bridge KSS-240)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/108381-sony-laser-arcam-mcd.html (KSS-213-240)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/26399-kss-213-laser-family.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/85363-taking-apart-rega-planet.html (Rega Planet 2000-KSS213B)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/126608-sony-mhc-rv22-cd-section-problem.html (KSS-213B)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/59654-tascam-cd-302-modifications.html (KSS-213B to C)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/107257-cd-player.html (MHZS33-KSS213Q)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/95276-sony-cd-player-optical-pickups.html (KSS-213A-V/KSS-210A-C)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/96961-rotel-rcd930ax-help.html (KSS-210A-D)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/94694-naming-conventions-sony-drives.html (KSS-210-KSM2101)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/77734-sony-laser-alignment-kss-nad-cd.html (NAD502/512-KSS-210A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...8-based-sony-philips-need-service-manual.html (KSS-150A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/107757-comments-onkyo-dx-703-a-2.html (KSS-150A)

Threads about other KSS models
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/74910-sony-bu-1e-laser.html (Laser head without type No - BU = Base Unit = transport mechanism)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/140856-heavyweight-sony-laser-loader.html (KSS-100A)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/46796-laser-mechanism-sony-ex7esd.html (KSS-190A needed)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/car-audio/141649-kenwood-kdc-m9021se-laser-unit-problem.html (KSS 24430 Car Hifi)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/21016-anyone-knows-where-can-i-buy-sony-cd-pick-up.html (KSS-331C needed)

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

Gallery of various "hard to find" SONY KSS pickup's

Comparison of Sony's Solution for Plastic Collimator Lens Suspension to Other

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

Gallery of various "hard to find" SONY KSS pickup's KSS-151A

Kss151a kss151 a kss 151
electric parts arround the APC circuit and collimator lens accutator identical than KSS-150A (no active Mitsubishi OPIC unit present like used by KSS-240A or KSS-27x-A/B)

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

Gallery of various "hard to find" SONY KSS pickup's X49150331 + KSS-190A

X49150331 from BU-1C and successor KSS190A KSS190 A KSS 190

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

Gallery of various "hard to find" SONY KSS pickup's KSS-270A

KSS270a kSS270 A KSS 270

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

Gallery of various "hard to find" SONY KSS pickup's KSS-271A

KSS271a kSS271 A KSS 271

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

Gallery of various "hard to find" SONY KSS pickup's KSS-272A

KSS272a kSS272 A KSS 272

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

Gallery of various "hard to find" SONY KSS pickup's KSS-273A

KSS273a kSS273 A KSS 273

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

KSS273B kSS273 B KSS 273

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

Gallery of various "hard to find" SONY KSS pickup's KSS-274A

KSS274a kSS274 A KSS 274

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

Gallery of various "hard to find" SONY KSS pickup's KSS-281A

and now probably the hardest find KSS device at all (except the KSS-280A): KSS281a kSS281 A KSS 281
By the way, where can I get a data sheet about Mitsubishi's active OPIC "M52103FP" (see schematic here)? The only helpful advice about this type is to find py page 73 of the book
"Understanding & Servicing CD Players" - go to
http://books.google.de/books?id=QHK...&ved=0CB8Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=M52103FP&f=false
so as some supplier URLs

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

Gallery of various "hard to find" SONY KSS pickup's KSS-280A

and now also probably one of the hardest find KSS device at all (except the KSS-281A): KSS280a kSS280 A KSS 280
Here is Mitsubishi's active OPIC "M52102" in use - also from this device data sheet wanted.

 

[Salar]

Congratulations! Great work!!!!

 

[dowser]

Nice, thank you. I finally found a 2nd hand player (303ES from memory) with a good 272A laser unit that I transplanted into my 707ES. I always figured the plastic suspension was to blame, but never proved it.

Richard

 

[MRupp]

And once you bought a new laser you should read this, or better still before you spend money 😉

Laserology

 

[mlloyd1]

thanks, that was interesting.

what i'd really like to find is some info on identifying a good spindle motor to use in place of those cheap mabuchi motors i've had to replace.

mlloyd1

And once you bought a new laser you should read this, or better still before you spend money 😉

Laserology

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

thanks, that was interesting.

what i'd really like to find is some info on identifying a good spindle motor to use in place of those cheap mabuchi motors i've had to replace.
mlloyd1

perhaps this is helpful (try to translate about language tools):
?PHILIPS???????????CDM9????_jjjjjj1_????
and
eBay.ph: New DVD player laser pickup motor replacement (item 300376505160 end time Feb 09, 2010 01:46:40 PHT)
if don't goes open search follow ebay Item number: 300376505160

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

continue post #1

Threads about KSS-152A

Interchange of different optical pick up brands:
Toshiba TOPH7833 - SONY KSS-152A - NEC/Olympus (?) DLBA2Z002B - Samsung SOH-OT3 (SOHOT3)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/111364-looking-laser-unit-kenwood-dp-x9010.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/101021-onkyo-laser-pickup.html

 

[mlloyd1]

thanks again.

first link looks interesting and potentially promising.
second link is the usual mabuchi motors.

mlloyd1

perhaps this is helpful (try to translate about language tools):
?PHILIPS???????????CDM9????_jjjjjj1_????
and
eBay.ph: New DVD player laser pickup motor replacement (item 300376505160 end time Feb 09, 2010 01:46:40 PHT)
if don't goes open search follow ebay Item number: 300376505160

 

[bear]

Kss151a kss151 a kss 151
electric parts arround the APC circuit and collimator lens accutator identical than KSS-150A (no active Mitsubishi OPIC unit present like used by KSS-240A or KSS-27x-A/B)

So, what are we saying, this unit is now obsolete unavailable, unrepairable junk?

Someone else in a post suggested that what dies in these is the photodiodes, not the laser itself!

Ok, can this unit be repaired by any means other than an exact replacement being transplanted in??

Inquiring minds would like to know...

_-_-bear