Hi: I've searched for this particular symptom without much luck. Hoping for ideas.
This repeated sound suddenly appeared when playing a CD. Sound is a group of five (?) quick ticks that repeats when playing CD. It is quiet between tracks.
Affects all my commercial and home-recorded CDs.
I'm quite sure sound is electrical not mechanical.
Tick sound appears on all tracks and in both channels.
Player works properly, gets a TOC quickly, fidelity is normal.
Tick sound level is well below music level but easy to hear.
Tick sound appears in RCA and headphone output. I haven't tested optical output, I don't have a converter.
I replaced laser ~10 years ago.
Anything I can add? Thanks in advance,
dizmayed
This repeated sound suddenly appeared when playing a CD. Sound is a group of five (?) quick ticks that repeats when playing CD. It is quiet between tracks.
Affects all my commercial and home-recorded CDs.
I'm quite sure sound is electrical not mechanical.
Tick sound appears on all tracks and in both channels.
Player works properly, gets a TOC quickly, fidelity is normal.
Tick sound level is well below music level but easy to hear.
Tick sound appears in RCA and headphone output. I haven't tested optical output, I don't have a converter.
I replaced laser ~10 years ago.
Anything I can add? Thanks in advance,
dizmayed
One channel or both affected?
Given it is on the audio feed it is not something directly mechanical although some mechanical issues can cause mis tracking that can be heard as various click type noises.
If this is a very regular sound then is there any possibility it is something external radiating interference like a PC, mobile... anything at all you can think of.
Given it is on the audio feed it is not something directly mechanical although some mechanical issues can cause mis tracking that can be heard as various click type noises.
If this is a very regular sound then is there any possibility it is something external radiating interference like a PC, mobile... anything at all you can think of.
Thanks Mooly.
Both channels are affected. I moved the player to new location w/ no change.
I made a brief audio recording of music with the background ticking but I think sound files can't be attached?
Given what I've described, can I rule out the laser or other sections of the circuit?
dizmayed
Both channels are affected. I moved the player to new location w/ no change.
I made a brief audio recording of music with the background ticking but I think sound files can't be attached?
Given what I've described, can I rule out the laser or other sections of the circuit?
dizmayed
You can attach a file if its small enough. A lowish bit rate MP3 file can go in a Zipped folder... and the forum says 10Mb max file size so that should be plenty.
If you try and gently slow the disc while playing with a finger you will hear the error correction cut in. If the noise is anything like that then it could be mechanical/laser but such things tend not to be definite clicks, its much more intense and random than that.
The focus coils on the pickup can 'click' in response to a regular imperfection in a disc but that would not transfer to the audio output.
If you try and gently slow the disc while playing with a finger you will hear the error correction cut in. If the noise is anything like that then it could be mechanical/laser but such things tend not to be definite clicks, its much more intense and random than that.
The focus coils on the pickup can 'click' in response to a regular imperfection in a disc but that would not transfer to the audio output.
Thanks for the zip-tip.
Here's the zipped audio file. Maybe it will explain more than my weak written description.
diz
Here's the zipped audio file. Maybe it will explain more than my weak written description.
diz
That is very weird, its not like anything I've ever come across. Its so regular. I've just swiped that track into Audacity and you can see the noise as burst of high frequency noise superimposed on the audio, first on one channel, then the other but it is so regular.
Is the channel thing (first one, then the other) anything to do with a shared DAC... if it had a shared DAC.
If I was faced with that I would begin by looking with a scope at all the basics, all the rails certainly and see where it leads. Bad grounds (I'm thinking missing more screws and the like) can do odd things.
Dunno... have to think.
Is the channel thing (first one, then the other) anything to do with a shared DAC... if it had a shared DAC.
If I was faced with that I would begin by looking with a scope at all the basics, all the rails certainly and see where it leads. Bad grounds (I'm thinking missing more screws and the like) can do odd things.
Dunno... have to think.
I took a very careful look at the circuit boards top & bottom. Looking for visible component damage, solder problems "loose screws" etc. I noticed three ICs sitting below copper heat sinks. Especially IC 103 seemed hot to the touch. (Fluke temperature probe):
IC 102 Focus Tracking Coil Drive 137 deg F
IC 103 Sled Tracking Coil Drive 164 deg F
IC 104 Speindle Motor Drive 110 deg F
That doesn't look right.
My repair manual isn't a very good copy. Can't read voltages very well. I'll look for better. Fact is, my ability to troubleshoot this equip't is about zero.
In my youth I made some ham radio RF amps (tube, of course) powered by mercury vapor rect tubes. Since then I've learned the very rudiments of solid state osc and amps. Very rudimentary.
I was told the laser was shot (and unavailable) but that seems unlikely given the symptoms.
Perhaps here I can learn some "rule-outs" and hints to a repair path. Unfortunately here in SF Bay Area no one seems to work on CD players. However, these 90s era boat-anchors do have a following. Maybe I'll find some one.
dizmayed
IC 102 Focus Tracking Coil Drive 137 deg F
IC 103 Sled Tracking Coil Drive 164 deg F
IC 104 Speindle Motor Drive 110 deg F
That doesn't look right.
My repair manual isn't a very good copy. Can't read voltages very well. I'll look for better. Fact is, my ability to troubleshoot this equip't is about zero.
In my youth I made some ham radio RF amps (tube, of course) powered by mercury vapor rect tubes. Since then I've learned the very rudiments of solid state osc and amps. Very rudimentary.
I was told the laser was shot (and unavailable) but that seems unlikely given the symptoms.
Perhaps here I can learn some "rule-outs" and hints to a repair path. Unfortunately here in SF Bay Area no one seems to work on CD players. However, these 90s era boat-anchors do have a following. Maybe I'll find some one.
dizmayed
Attachments
The fault doesn't come across as a laser issue, they just don't fail in ways that would generate that kind of problem.
Those temperatures are warm to hot but that could be normal although 164F (so 73C) is getting up there, particularly when you factor in having the covers on.
I've no quick and easy answers I'm afraid. Unless you have a decent scope you are not going to be able to do much and a scope is the first thing I would throw at this by looking at all the rails and seeing if I could pick that noise up in some way and in some form somewhere in the circuitry whether that be a rail or drive signal to something. I would also look at all the grounds with a scope as well.
Those temperatures are warm to hot but that could be normal although 164F (so 73C) is getting up there, particularly when you factor in having the covers on.
I've no quick and easy answers I'm afraid. Unless you have a decent scope you are not going to be able to do much and a scope is the first thing I would throw at this by looking at all the rails and seeing if I could pick that noise up in some way and in some form somewhere in the circuitry whether that be a rail or drive signal to something. I would also look at all the grounds with a scope as well.
I don't remember if it affected the output but I had a strange issue on a X555ES, which turned out to be an easy fix. This thread reminded me of it. Check this out:
Rereading the thread I don't think it's the same issue, and you explicitly state you don't believe it's mechanical. Carry on.
Rereading the thread I don't think it's the same issue, and you explicitly state you don't believe it's mechanical. Carry on.
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