Marantz Laser Pick-up for SACD/DVD question

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Hi,
Does somebody know the difference between a HOP1200-R and HOP1200-S (Hitachi) laser pick-up? I have a Marantz SA8400 with a build in HOP 1200 S but the service manual says it should be a 1200R. What is the difference?

I want to buy one as spare part as they seem to fail quite often. I have two SACDs I can't play already.

Cheers,
Joe
 
The HOP1200S is a drop-in replacement for the HOP1200R. The only one that's different at all is the HOP1200W, which simply has different plastic moldings that interfere with the tracking works of a HOP1200S or earlier equipped mech, unless you do some plastic cutting. No matter which letter is at the end, it is the same horrible pickup in essence. The HOP1200 is, in my opinion, the second worst dvd/cd pickup EVER made, next to the first gen Panasonic's VED0378, which failed every six months instead of every year. If I were you, and were committed to keeping a player with the HOP1200, I'd go to dalbani.com & buy ten of them, at the least. They certainly are cheap enough. But, to me, just having that laser totally disqualifies any player from inclusion on my want list.
 
Thank you for your very helpful reply, Stephen.
I like the Marantz and try to keep it. Apart form the SA-7 all Marantz players use this pick-up. I guess I have to buy some more...

Just to be sure, this is a plug and play replacement - no further adjustment required, right?

Joe
 
Correct. Just don't forget to remove the static damage protection solder bridge jumper(s) is it has them. Been a month or two since I replaced Hop1200 for a client, so don't quite remember, but pretty sure it had one or two solder jumpers. Other than that, a HOP1200 lasers up to & including the S version are drop-in replacements to each other.
 
Upgrade: Just changed the pick-up and everthing works fine.
I realised that the different suffixes indicate the different mechanisms or frames incl disc motor.

I bougth the HOP1200s mechanism (because it was just 1.5€ more than the pick-up alone) but it was not compatible with the 1200R. So I just changed the laser pick-up itself which worked fine. The pick-up is a bit tricky to remove form the frame of the 1200S without changing the adjustment of the bearing rods. For the 1200R the pick-up is much easier to access.

So from my experience: If you have a 1200S change the whole mechanism, if you have the 1200R you can get away with just a new pick-up .

Joe

btw: It has two solder jumpers
 
solder jumpers

Exactly where are these solder jumpers on the 1200R ? I am getting ready to replace the laser pickup in my Marantz SA-11s1 SACD player.

I bought a replacement HOP-1200R as well as the entire mechanism from Marantz.

(note: the new mechanism from marantz uses a 1200W laser pickup - no idea why they switched).
 
Just found that on my HD. Hope this helps.
The pic is not taken by me - found this somewhere on the net. So credits go to the unknow creator.
 

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laser Pick-up

Just found that on my HD. Hope this helps.
The pic is not taken by me - found this somewhere on the net. So credits go to the unknow creator.

Sure does! I think this matches pretty well:

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/mjz_3348/IMG_0933.jpg


Your picture is upside down from mine, but I can see the two blobs line up.

(I wonder if I should remove them now or wait until I am close to installation)
 
MJZ3348
I also will be up to the task shortly with my SA11S1. Please inform us of your journey with the replacement. On the Dalbony site I also noticed the Hop 1200 without any suffice, anyone know the difference?

Regards, Jacq.

I have both the HOP-1200R laser pickup replacement and the Marantz supplied mechanical/traverse part replacement which includes the laser pickup.

The Marantz replacement uses the HOP-1200W, however. I am curious if the 1200W is a better laser pickup or just similar.

My intent is to replace the laser in my existing Marantz player and keep the other part as a spare. But if the 1200W is indeed better - then I might as well use it now and keep the 1200R as backup.

One way or another I am intending to get to it this weekend.
 
I would remove the solder blobs after the installation - esp. the cable should be already attached. This way you can handle and mount the pick up without the risk of damaging it by electrostatic discharge. In my case the solder blobs were easy to access after installation. The transport of the SA11 should be the same but with some nice metal plates added on top.

btw: I think it is important not to change the adjustment of the bearing rods when changing the pick up.
 
I would remove the solder blobs after the installation - esp. the cable should be already attached. This way you can handle and mount the pick up without the risk of damaging it by electrostatic discharge. In my case the solder blobs were easy to access after installation. The transport of the SA11 should be the same but with some nice metal plates added on top.

btw: I think it is important not to change the adjustment of the bearing rods when changing the pick up.

Will do !
 
Marantz SA11-S1 Laser Pick-up Module Transplant

I have with success completed the replacement of the HOP1200R with the Hop1200S. As mentioned earlier in this tread it's strait forward, just remember to carefully reposition the screws where they originally belonged. The only tricky part is perhaps with the handling of locking system for the flat cable on the module that is quite fragile.

And don't forget to open the cd drawer before removing the power cord.

Regards,
Jacq.
 
Bummer ....

I finally got around to replacing my laser pickup in my SA-11s1 Marantz with the marantz supplied replacement part (which is the entire mechanical unit which includes the laser pickup).

It doesn't work.

Every thing connected up fine, but the SACD or CD disc doesn't read at all - just says "no disc".

I re-connected the original drive I was trying to replace and it works fine (like it always did - it still needs replacing, but it works mostly).

The only thing I can tell is that the model numbers of the parts are slightly different: TD-5HP-D9 is the original.

I paid $80.00 for the part and now its junk to me.
 
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I finally got around to replacing my laser pickup in my SA-11s1 Marantz with the marantz supplied replacement part (which is the entire mechanical unit which includes the laser pickup).

It doesn't work.

Every thing connected up fine, but the SACD or CD disc doesn't read at all - just says "no disc".

I re-connected the original drive I was trying to replace and it works fine (like it always did - it still needs replacing, but it works mostly).

The only thing I can tell is that the model numbers of the parts are slightly different: TD-5HP-D9 is the original.

I paid $80.00 for the part and now its junk to me.

Did you remember to remove the solder blob?
 
Bummer - maybe not ??

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/mjz_3348/laser_pickup.jpg

Is it possible I have to remove a solder blob on this new mechanical / laser unit?
(see picture with the yellow arrow).

I just assumed that since I bought the entire mechanical unit, drawer, motor and laser pickup already installed, I wouldn't have to de-solder anything...just install.

Anyone have insight to this before I mess with it again?

Thanks
 
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