Hope you can help, received the AA5 CD player through the post from France. When inserting a disc an awful racket is made and the disc is unreadable (err msg).
The mechanism itself moves smoothly and the drawer opens with no problem. Also the spinlde is constantly spinning when powered up.
The unit itself has been heavily and expensively upgraded so I would like to keep and fix it if possible.
My initial findings indicate a broken laser or the platter having moved on the motor spindle due to rough handling-any thoughts would be greatly appreciated-Martin.
The mechanism itself moves smoothly and the drawer opens with no problem. Also the spinlde is constantly spinning when powered up.
The unit itself has been heavily and expensively upgraded so I would like to keep and fix it if possible.
My initial findings indicate a broken laser or the platter having moved on the motor spindle due to rough handling-any thoughts would be greatly appreciated-Martin.
Don't be afraid - whip it off !!
2 screws on either side and 4 on the back - you'll probably see straight away what's wrong or post up your findings asap.
Andrew
2 screws on either side and 4 on the back - you'll probably see straight away what's wrong or post up your findings asap.
Andrew
Arcam A5 -Damage in transit
Hi Andrew-right the deed is done-nothing obviously loose or broken ? Martin.
Hi Andrew-right the deed is done-nothing obviously loose or broken ? Martin.
Martin
You'll find the transport on the left, a small green board with the DAC chip, filter chip, regulators and the rca output sockets attached to it. On the bottom ( underneath this ) is the big main board with the transformer attached to it on the right.
It could be a simple thing that's gone wrong like the small DAC board has dislodged itself from the main board and needs pressing back down - carefully !!
You can power it up with the lid off and watch what is going on. If it's clanking around at least you can see where or why.
Loads of experts here too - so you'll get some input. I own one of these A5's and whilst I'm not a techy I may be able to help a bit.
Andrew
You'll find the transport on the left, a small green board with the DAC chip, filter chip, regulators and the rca output sockets attached to it. On the bottom ( underneath this ) is the big main board with the transformer attached to it on the right.
It could be a simple thing that's gone wrong like the small DAC board has dislodged itself from the main board and needs pressing back down - carefully !!
You can power it up with the lid off and watch what is going on. If it's clanking around at least you can see where or why.
Loads of experts here too - so you'll get some input. I own one of these A5's and whilst I'm not a techy I may be able to help a bit.
Andrew
Arcam A5 -Damage in transit
Board seems secure and properly seated. Powered up and tried to play CD -whirrs away continuously at varying speeds. The racket seems to be coming from a white cardboard and gauze type thing which seems to sit directly over the centre of the cd mechanism-it's a kind of flat spindle but that wouldn't appear to stop it playing-the display on the front shows six dashes or "err"-Martin.
Board seems secure and properly seated. Powered up and tried to play CD -whirrs away continuously at varying speeds. The racket seems to be coming from a white cardboard and gauze type thing which seems to sit directly over the centre of the cd mechanism-it's a kind of flat spindle but that wouldn't appear to stop it playing-the display on the front shows six dashes or "err"-Martin.
Andrew-checked it out carefully in a darkened room and there doesn't seem to be any laser light at all. Not sure when this usually fires up but guessing it should be fairly early in the playing process-Martin.
Back
That's the wine taken care of !!
Checked all the wires yet ?
At the front ( display end ) there are two plugs and sockets adjacent to one another right next to the transport - can you see them ?
Press them down - assuming they are there !!
Andrew
That's the wine taken care of !!
Checked all the wires yet ?
At the front ( display end ) there are two plugs and sockets adjacent to one another right next to the transport - can you see them ?
Press them down - assuming they are there !!
Andrew
It's lovely actually and will certainly sound VERY... VERY nice.
The little blue transformer at the back left which powers the small DAC board.... is that OK ?
Like, are it's wires secure and is IT secure ?
Also - did you test the player since you've pressed the plugs down ?
When you press play does the white disc clamp spin out of control ?
The open / close function is OK ?
The little blue transformer at the back left which powers the small DAC board.... is that OK ?
Like, are it's wires secure and is IT secure ?
Also - did you test the player since you've pressed the plugs down ?
When you press play does the white disc clamp spin out of control ?
The open / close function is OK ?
OK Transformer secure and appears connected from what I can get at. When you press play the disc spins one way for a second the the other way continuously. If the white thimble-type thing(technical term) just keeps spinning and making a racket-seems a bit cheap and cheerful compared to the rest of it but I know nothing-Martin.
Hi
On the DAC board there's an 18 pin 50 mm wide ' thing ' or socket that actually connects to 18 vertically facing pins that are on the main board and likewise there's a smaller 4 pin socket next to the 4 smoothing caps on the top right hand side of the board. Can you see them ?
They don't look like sockets but you can see the pins clearly
You need to give them a good firm press down - if they are slightly lifted you'll feel them go down - don't go mad with the pressure - if you know what I mean.
The transport relies on signals that flow through the pins and the mad spinning in my humble opinion is related to the clock - which is an after market item that has been fitted - it can not be seen in the picture so I assume it's underneath the DAc board somewhere.
I'm going to attach the picture so everyone watching my pathetic attempt to help may be able to chip in - what an awful pun !!
On the DAC board there's an 18 pin 50 mm wide ' thing ' or socket that actually connects to 18 vertically facing pins that are on the main board and likewise there's a smaller 4 pin socket next to the 4 smoothing caps on the top right hand side of the board. Can you see them ?
They don't look like sockets but you can see the pins clearly
You need to give them a good firm press down - if they are slightly lifted you'll feel them go down - don't go mad with the pressure - if you know what I mean.
The transport relies on signals that flow through the pins and the mad spinning in my humble opinion is related to the clock - which is an after market item that has been fitted - it can not be seen in the picture so I assume it's underneath the DAc board somewhere.
I'm going to attach the picture so everyone watching my pathetic attempt to help may be able to chip in - what an awful pun !!
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