Sony ES CD players.

[Macca]

) The 552 doesn't want to read discs but only cost me £10.

I had that issue with a Sony 761E - replaced the laser then found out the problem was actually just a little ribbon connector.

[Gromit]

My 303 occasionally 'spits' ie a very short, intermittent buzz which lasts less than half a second. The music behind the noise remains completely undisturbed though so it's probably not laser/disc mistracking. Discs are read very quickly after insertion, less than a couple of seconds.

Leave the player running for half an hour or so and all this goes quiet, as though it's been warming up.