Old school CD Mechs - Can they be fixed?

[The Black Adder]

Hi all.

I've been looking again at getting an olde school cd player. I'd love a sony or maybe a Studer but mechs like the CDM3 for example can fail and an investment in my eyes has to be something that can be maintained or else it's just a big expensive paper weight.

So, can these olde laser units be fixed? If so, who by and if not... (As Ringo said just before the cow had a Garibaldi)...Why? :scratch:

[Yomanze]

CDM9 has calibration circuitry, so you can just swap out laser heads.

CDM1 to CDM4 is calibrated using trimpots, which is nigh impossible without a test disc & scope.

However, I've never had a CDM4 fail... CDM1 is also supremely reliable. CDM2 hasn't as solid a reputation... CDM3 is just too rare to even bother thinking about.

[UV101]

It really depends on the fault.

The early philps CDMs tend to suffer due to caps failing rather than the actual optics.

I think they can be a gamble and a labour of love. Having a Functioning CDM1 player that just needed caps and a couple of CDM2 players that I just cannot make stable I'd say its definitely less painful to go with something newer if a little less interesting!!!

[Rare Bird]

Yeh early mechs don't seem to really break down as such. A couple of caps got my CDM-1 running again..

[UV101]

Yeh early mechs don't seem to really break down as such. A couple of caps got my CDM-1 running again..

Yep!!!!! Forgot I'd uploaded this a few years ago!

http://theartofsound.net/forum/album.php?albumid=41&pictureid=196

http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/CD960%20Mods/0953f8dbb9ea67b299680eb98e118b33_zpse810dde9.jpg

[The Black Adder]

Yeh early mechs don't seem to really break down as such. A couple of caps got my CDM-1 running again..

Is that the BIBA logo? LOL...

Thanks guys, most helpful. I suppose it's a total gamble with the CDM3 then... So I'll have a think.

[Rare Bird]

Is that the BIBA logo? LOL...



:D

[Alex_UK]

Is that the BIBA logo? LOL...

British Insurance Brokers Association? I'm a member!

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTxdoVTxSqxP9T3eLzJ5TOYKnZK0CivN 3Zyw58LL40vt-UJ-4bO