Hi All, I'm looking for some knowledge on an old CDP-X707ES I finally pulled out of the attic to try and repair.
This is one of the old 'Solidly Built' ES range, with very over-engineered electronics. Intention was to see how good it sounds in stock form, then convert it to a transport only. Last links below are a couple of photographs of the outside and inside.
Machine was skipping badly at the outside edge of longer CD's - applying a bit of outward pressure against the laser assy was enough for it to track properly. I tried stripping, cleaning and re-lubing the sled assembly, and this improved things but not resolved them.
Looking at the rubber suspension, this was pretty much bottomed out and had no spring in it - I stripped this and cleaned the rubbers plus re-lubed the poles the rubbers and mounting cups screw into. Things are now much better - but it still has tracking issues on the outside edge of older long discs. New ones are fine.
So, I guess both the whole mech assembly has sunk a bit over time, plus the flexible plastic lens arm has sagged on the KSS-272A laser unit.
Mech suspension system (there are springs under each of these - different rates in each position)
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235396.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235391.html
Laser lens suspension system (white plastic arm);
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235387.html
Does anyone have a working Sony player with the same mech? I took some measurements to understand where the issue really lies;
- for the whole mech on the rubber grommets I measured between top of spindle platform (where disc sits) and the CD tray "smalll CD single" part. It is 6mm.
- for the lens suspension (my guess on the biggest issue) I measure between the top of the lens, and the metal base below it (as per photo above). That's 7mm.
I'm guessing it needs to be raised a mm or 2 - any ideas on how best to try this? I'm wondering about applying some flexible glue on the joints, but I first need to know what the static height should be. Either that or I go and buy a new laser unit...but they're €139! Would rather fix on the cheap.
I'm going to try it as is for now; it plays new short and long plus old short CD's fine. But I wonder how much error correction is going on as a result of the worn suspension, and ultimately what impact that will have on sound quality (error correction means it will be extrapolating between several data points at a time - even more info lost compared to analogue!).
Thanks - below are a few links of the machine overall. I love the over-engineering. Damn thing weighs ~40lbs (17KG?)! Retail price in mid-90's was 1800 $'s or £'s I believe - can anyone say for sure?
Cheers, Richard
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235392.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235388.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235394.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235389.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235390.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235393.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235395.html
This is one of the old 'Solidly Built' ES range, with very over-engineered electronics. Intention was to see how good it sounds in stock form, then convert it to a transport only. Last links below are a couple of photographs of the outside and inside.
Machine was skipping badly at the outside edge of longer CD's - applying a bit of outward pressure against the laser assy was enough for it to track properly. I tried stripping, cleaning and re-lubing the sled assembly, and this improved things but not resolved them.
Looking at the rubber suspension, this was pretty much bottomed out and had no spring in it - I stripped this and cleaned the rubbers plus re-lubed the poles the rubbers and mounting cups screw into. Things are now much better - but it still has tracking issues on the outside edge of older long discs. New ones are fine.
So, I guess both the whole mech assembly has sunk a bit over time, plus the flexible plastic lens arm has sagged on the KSS-272A laser unit.
Mech suspension system (there are springs under each of these - different rates in each position)
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235396.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235391.html
Laser lens suspension system (white plastic arm);
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235387.html
Does anyone have a working Sony player with the same mech? I took some measurements to understand where the issue really lies;
- for the whole mech on the rubber grommets I measured between top of spindle platform (where disc sits) and the CD tray "smalll CD single" part. It is 6mm.
- for the lens suspension (my guess on the biggest issue) I measure between the top of the lens, and the metal base below it (as per photo above). That's 7mm.
I'm guessing it needs to be raised a mm or 2 - any ideas on how best to try this? I'm wondering about applying some flexible glue on the joints, but I first need to know what the static height should be. Either that or I go and buy a new laser unit...but they're €139! Would rather fix on the cheap.
I'm going to try it as is for now; it plays new short and long plus old short CD's fine. But I wonder how much error correction is going on as a result of the worn suspension, and ultimately what impact that will have on sound quality (error correction means it will be extrapolating between several data points at a time - even more info lost compared to analogue!).
Thanks - below are a few links of the machine overall. I love the over-engineering. Damn thing weighs ~40lbs (17KG?)! Retail price in mid-90's was 1800 $'s or £'s I believe - can anyone say for sure?
Cheers, Richard
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235392.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235388.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235394.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235389.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235390.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235393.html
http://richard-dowsett.fotopic.net/p39235395.html
I have the same...! (only black)
The lens suspension(plastic) is the weak point.
It will need a BIG handfull of new caps & op-amps to sound ok...
(And I would like to buy your Sony, or trade for a Denon DCD-2560 with new laser... 😉 )
Arne K
The lens suspension(plastic) is the weak point.
It will need a BIG handfull of new caps & op-amps to sound ok...
(And I would like to buy your Sony, or trade for a Denon DCD-2560 with new laser... 😉 )
Arne K
Thanks Arne,
But sod off 😉
I posted this on AudioKarma too - they gave me a link to http://www.thevintageknob.org/SONY/sonyes/CDPX707ES/CDPX707ES.html
On this page there's a picture of the mech with the rubber suspension grommets installed the other way round! The manual I have (707ES manual is small, only showing changes to predecessor 779ES) shows the grommets the way they are in mine. I've never changed them...but the unit was in a repair shop back in 1999 according to sticker on back.
You don't fancy popping yours open do you? You just need to remove top, open drawer, turn off power and remove rear right white plastic cup. Tell me which way the grommet goes...please! I could lie and tell you I sell it to you...
Cheers, Richard
But sod off 😉
I posted this on AudioKarma too - they gave me a link to http://www.thevintageknob.org/SONY/sonyes/CDPX707ES/CDPX707ES.html
On this page there's a picture of the mech with the rubber suspension grommets installed the other way round! The manual I have (707ES manual is small, only showing changes to predecessor 779ES) shows the grommets the way they are in mine. I've never changed them...but the unit was in a repair shop back in 1999 according to sticker on back.
You don't fancy popping yours open do you? You just need to remove top, open drawer, turn off power and remove rear right white plastic cup. Tell me which way the grommet goes...please! I could lie and tell you I sell it to you...
Cheers, Richard
I tried swapping the rubber grommet orientation last night - makes the laser assy sit too high and fouls the disc tray, so the Sony photo is incorrect.
I'm going to order a new laser assy today if I can find one - I'll then measure static lens height differences and try to address if that is the issue.
I listened to it for the first time last night too; big fat bassy presentation and very laid back (at low volumes, anyhow). Very precise soundstage. But I'm not sure I like it compared to my old cheap Yamaha with the anaologue stage ripped out and replaced with discrete components. More listening required, and at higher volume levels.
Thanks, Richard
I'm going to order a new laser assy today if I can find one - I'll then measure static lens height differences and try to address if that is the issue.
I listened to it for the first time last night too; big fat bassy presentation and very laid back (at low volumes, anyhow). Very precise soundstage. But I'm not sure I like it compared to my old cheap Yamaha with the anaologue stage ripped out and replaced with discrete components. More listening required, and at higher volume levels.
Thanks, Richard
Thread Overview and Gallery arround KSS Series from Sony
in this case this thread could be of interest (include a little gallery and some schematic samples):
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ailable-optical-pickups-sonys-kss-series.html
in this case this thread could be of interest (include a little gallery and some schematic samples):
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ailable-optical-pickups-sonys-kss-series.html
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