Sony CD - Laser replacement/Availability

[Henrik Juhl]

Evening all,

I’ll admit that I have a soft spot for (mechanically) well-constructed components. As a result of this I have picked up 2 used and defunct CD players. One being a 1991 CDP-X555ES, and the other a similar ‘well built’ CDP-X505ES. These are the well esteemed (at that time at least) Sony units sporting dark wooden side panels i.e. the little sisters of the CDP-X777ES/707ES which even today seems to have some merit when used as CD drive with separate DAC (my next DIY project if I can get either of them fixed). I have peeked the inards and the mechanical/electrical built quality is excellent although the exterior design is typical for the period - dark and dull.

Both units has been diagnosed with worn out laser pick-ups, which brings me to my questions:

1) Do you guys have any suggestions as to which unit I should try to fix? They are built quite alike, but some differences seems to exist on both the servo and analogue sections. My own vote goes to the newer 505 unit (but this may all be dependant on the answer to my next question)

2) Where to find the appropriate replacement laser unit (laser pick-up - if you prefer) in Europe? (Elsewhere?) The older 555 uses the KSS-271A (Sony part # ??) which now seems to be history and hard to come by. Does anyone have knowledge of a compatible substitute? The newer 505 has the KSS-272A unit (Sony part #884824411) which I have been able to track down as also being the unit used in the CDP-X779 and CDP-X707ES. Where to buy? - at what price?

3) I have acquainted myself of the actual replacement operation with what I have been able to find on the net (The DIYAudio archives/ Google), but does anyone have specific experience is replacing these laser units?

4) Does anyone have a repair manual for any of these nice old players? (If you have and would like to make it available to the community - I would gladly offer the space on www.juhlweb.dk for everyone else to download. If not - I would still like a copy )

Thanking you all in advance
Henrik (who will now hurry back to the OL Opening - on TV)

[Netlist]

I'll give the Sony guys a call on Monday.
Will keep you informed

/Hugo

[Henrik Juhl]

Thanks Hugo - I will await you results. Here in Denmark Sony declines to answer queries/do business with private individuals

Henrik

[Nisbeth]

Henrik, have you tried calling the people from www.highendmusik.dk? AFAIK they don't do sony repairs but the repair other brands which might use Sony parts.

Just a thought...


/U.

[johnnyx]

Companies that supply TV & Video repair shops sell spare laser pick - up assemblies. I've seen them in Grandata (near London, England). I don't know if they have the right one but have a look.

There may be a similar company near you.

Look here

Edit, BTW they're good people to deal with, I've bought a few things from them

[Henrik Juhl]

I have in my search located a few sources that supply laser pick-ups:

Hinkel (Germany): http://www.hinkel-elektronik.de/index.html
N-tronics (NL: http://www.n-tronics.com/
Dalbani (UK): http://www.dalbani.co.uk/index.php

The only problem with the above vendors is that neither of them (including Grandata as mentioned by johnnyx above) stocks the KSS-271A or KSS-272A. But perhaps others may find what they are looking for.........

Nisbeth - I have previously send them an E-mail, which the have not answered - maybe I should give them a call next week

[Magura]

Another option would be to make a few phonecalls to the local workshops that repairs consumer electronics....I'v frequently been positively surprised by the stock of spares they have laying around for older models. In many cases such old spareparts can be had for a crate of beer, since they don't have anything to use them for anymore.

Magura

[Nisbeth]

Originally posted by Henrik Juhl
Nisbeth - I have previously send them an E-mail, which the have not answered - maybe I should give them a call next week

I think you should, that usually works


/U.

[Netlist]

Everything is available, mail me if you like.

/Hugo

[djcl.ear]

"I'll give the Sony guys a call on Monday.
Will keep you informed"

Maybe, you could trace from Sony, where the some of the laser KSS family info is.

It has not yet been answered in this forum.
Thank you.