I haven't looked into the problem yet but I have this revox B126 cd player which only reads (and very well) (TOC in less than 3sec) gold cds and doesn't even take the TOC of normal cds.
I know that Revox is of Swiss origin but I will not make shortcuts too easy. 🙄
I have NEVER encountered this "problem" on any CD player and am curious to know if anyone has had it.
I know that Revox is of Swiss origin but I will not make shortcuts too easy. 🙄
I have NEVER encountered this "problem" on any CD player and am curious to know if anyone has had it.
It has a standard CDM1 or 4 mechanism so should read all pre recorded discs without issues. It will however have problems with CD-Rs etc.
I have a few cds which I use especially for troubleshooting because they all have a certain defect that makes reading difficult and on this player it is really a pure coincidence that I came across THIS golden cd (Michael Jackson , Thriller gold edition, Japan 2001 edition) and as I have other gold CDs, I tried and it's a bingo every time, but it does nothing with a normal CD, or burned, or new.
it's probably the case of the laser slowly dying.
you may need to adjust the Tracking Gain / Tracking Balance / Focus Gain and so on.
you'll need a service manual and an oscilloscope to do that.
otherwise just experiment by marking the current position of the pots, then slowly move them one way and try, then in opposite direction and try. eventually you'll hit a spot when the laser will read problem CDs.
it's a crude method but it works.
if you find that this helps consider a laser replacement soon especially if you needed to increase TG / FG.
here are a few similar experiences, plenty more on the web if you search:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/how-to-adjust-your-pcdps-tracking-and-focus.27730/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/cd-player-focustracking-gain-adjustment/
http://lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/TRANSPORT/laser/Laserology.html
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Thank you Stanislav, I have a certain habit of cd player and even more based on CDM.
This is a symptom that I have never had on a player based on cdm or even another laser block, hence my question here.
I haven't done anything on it yet, I barely opened it to see if there was a dead mouse inside.
This is a symptom that I have never had on a player based on cdm or even another laser block, hence my question here.
I haven't done anything on it yet, I barely opened it to see if there was a dead mouse inside.
If this Revox has the famous C.D.M.-1 mechanism, it might be worth starting with the replacement of the five 33uF/16V blue axial electrolytic capacitors.
By the way, it's a B 226 1st gen and not 126, I didn't remember and as I just passed by, I looked
I own this CD player and what I have to do is level the plastic according to the instruction found on the net.
It is intended for spindle height.
After that you have to adjust height according the service manual instruction. This info helped me and my CD works well after this repair (no laser trouble as many people would like to tell).
On some USB stick maybe I have instruction, now is hard to remember where, so sorry I can't upload pictures.
It is intended for spindle height.
After that you have to adjust height according the service manual instruction. This info helped me and my CD works well after this repair (no laser trouble as many people would like to tell).
On some USB stick maybe I have instruction, now is hard to remember where, so sorry I can't upload pictures.
The player is now about 35 years old. As with all Revox gear this old, checking/replacing all electrolytic capacitors is advised. If the deck has seen a lot of use, then probably the spindle ate its way into the thrust bearing - altering height/focus. @pitbul is reffering to this: https://nanocamp.de/?cdm1-laser-service
You could try turning the bearing in for starters...but you don't know if the dimple is centered in the bearing. If it's not, it may put unnecessary radial strain to the spindle bearing - the dimple will end up in the same place only by a full rotation (which may be to much...or perhaps not).
AFAIK:
Don't mess with current of the laser diode, or with just about anything else - the CDM-1 seems to be immortal, not indestructable.
You could try turning the bearing in for starters...but you don't know if the dimple is centered in the bearing. If it's not, it may put unnecessary radial strain to the spindle bearing - the dimple will end up in the same place only by a full rotation (which may be to much...or perhaps not).
AFAIK:
- B225...CDM-0, later CDM-1
- B126...CDM-1, later CDM-4/27
- B226 mkI/mkII/The Signature were built with CDM-1 solely
- B226-S/-E...CDM-1 mkII, later CDM-4/26.
Don't mess with current of the laser diode, or with just about anything else - the CDM-1 seems to be immortal, not indestructable.
@ borchee and pitbul
Already, I have to thank you both.
as said above, I know radial arm cdms pretty well, enough to repair/adjust 99% of them and I opened this thread because I've never had THIS very particular symptom and haven't done anything about it yet CD player because I have two others on the bench.
On the other hand, I have never seen such a detailed page on the CDM1!! I read diagonally because I lack time these next days but I am impressed by the quality of work.
Again a big thank you to you.
Already, I have to thank you both.
as said above, I know radial arm cdms pretty well, enough to repair/adjust 99% of them and I opened this thread because I've never had THIS very particular symptom and haven't done anything about it yet CD player because I have two others on the bench.
On the other hand, I have never seen such a detailed page on the CDM1!! I read diagonally because I lack time these next days but I am impressed by the quality of work.
Again a big thank you to you.