CD player at around US$500-600

[Jennice]

Hi Everyone,

I know this may not be the perfect place to ask this, but I don't know where else to put it...

My trusty old Onkyo DX-706 seems to suffer from a slowly dying laser diode, and since it's as old as it is, I thought that repair (if at all possible?) may be unreasonably expensive. Therefore I am on the look-out for a good replacement in the range of US$500-600.
(It is starting to have trouble reading CD-R discs, and the last tracks (!?) of some origial (pressed) CD's.

Any ideas are welcome, but please don't get too exotic, as I doubt that it'll be available in Denmark.

I have thought of DIY'ing with a CD-PRO drive (which I found to be available in from home-optics in the netherlands (?), but I have two points of doubt.
First is: Is it going to be that much better?
Second: My time is limited, and realizing how slow I get on with my amp project, I don't thing DIY'ing for the CD is the right thing to do...

Hoping for good suggestions - (except for CD-ROM drives & such, which will NOT meet the Spouse Acceptance Factor criteria. )

Jennice

[Audiofanatic]

Hi Jannice,

I don't want to be rude, but....
Do I understand you correctly?
Are you looking for a secondhand player?
If that's the case than you can get yourself a good player for the money.

Regards,

Audiofanatic

[Jennice]

Nope,

I was hoping to find something decent, but new for the money...

[Jennice]

For the last 11 years I have the Onkyo DX-706 which I'm quite pleased with.
Unfortunately, it's starting to show signs of old age...

Mechanical arthritis and near-sightedness, so to speak
Therefore I'm looking for a replacement, as I learned that the laser unit is no longer available as replacement part, even though the mechanics are build to last forever

It'll be hard to part with that player but I guess it can't be long

Jennice

[Audiofanatic]

Hi Janicce,

Can't you buy an other player with the samp transport build in and use that transport for your loved Onkyo DX-706 CD-Player?

I have a VRDS 7 CD-Player that I used for a few months.
My partner gave it to me for my birth day a few years ago and afterwards I bought a Wadia 8/15 combination and never used the TEAC player again.

I don't have the Wadia set anymore, the TEAC VRDS 25X Is Much better than the Wadia 8/15 comb, after some tremendus modifications that is.

If you are interested, send me a mail and I'll see what i can do for you.

If you can put a pic of the Onkyo DX-706 transport on the forum, than maybe we can do something for you. Send me the transport number and I'll do my best to help you with your Onkyo DX-706!

All the best,

Audiofanatic

[Henrik]

Hi Jennice

I have just lubricated the motor in my DX706, that cured everything. DX706 is a very butifull CDP, specially if you change the analog stage, I have tried it with a suprisingly good result. When I have finished this mod I will post it. You can buy an used DX706 for about 1000 dk kr (140$) or less at dba.dk.

Regards

[Jennice]

Hej Henrik,

Could you please explain what you used and where you applied the lubrication?

Why the motor, when it affects the outter tracks only?
My guess is that it would have to do with the laser sled (the moving part with the laser bits on)...?!

Jennice

[Henrik]

Originally posted by Jennice
Hej Henrik,
Could you please explain what you used and where you applied the lubrication?

I know it sounds odd, I had problems like yours, but only at the inner tracks, and everything went okay after lubricicating.
You just apply a few drops of oil on the spindle just where it goes into the bearing of the motor, just under neath the plate on which you place the CD. It´s simple so it should be worth a try.

I can reccomend you to read this page: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/cdfaq.htm which is a nice site about CD-repair.

Good luck!

[KevinLee]

Audiofanatic,

If you are still interested in selling your VRDS7, please e-mail me.

Thanks

KevinLee