Can anyone in the UK repair my CD player - seriously

[kenworthy100]

Hi John

Thanks for your post.

Yes, Accuphase have stripped my machine and given it a good test. Your experience with the Marantz SA15 is similar to mine though. The approach seems to be one of replacing all parts around the problem area. Some of the parts needed for my machine are no longer available hence its return in an unfixed state.

As someone who is staring into the abyss, so to speak, with a 5 year old CD player worth £2200 that may have to be scrapped I can't help but ponder over why manufacturers of these machines don't make enough spares? Still at least when my wife finds me with a pair of underpants on my head and a pencil in each nostril she will know where it all started!

What a mess...

Who replaced your laser?

My previous posts concerning my Accuphase DP-500 problems barely touched the surface so to speak. When it is all over I will do more posts. There is much to learn from my expensive nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

Steve

Hi Steve,

I replaced these myself, however, prior to doing this I was fortunate to find an online service manual for the SA15 which had a diagram of the disassembled transport, as luck would have it on a different forum I also found a set of instructions and details from a member who had experienced the same type of problem.

Sadly I had a search online for your Accuphase but have not been able to locate this type of data.

John

[The Black Adder]

Yes that has happened to me where I forked out for a new laser when it was just a ribbon connector. As well as Audiocom you could try Tony C of this parish if you haven't already.

Yep, ribbons and good old dust on the rails can stop a cd player dead in it's tracks and lots of other reasons too.

I too am very surprised that nobody isn't making a living mending high end kit like this. But I suppose someone is making a living in selling replacement lasers for stupido money. And then there are the ones selling on duff stock lasers too.

Then let's not forget about the 'special kit' you might need to actually replace a laser (for example) - The old Pioneers' PD Reference range are one of those that need some special bench equipment to fit a new laser. You would think that it would just plug in and off you go but apparently this is simply not the case.

[Stratmangler]

The most important bit in Naim's mission statement is one word, and that word is attempt!
They do not say that they will be able to repair all equipment they have made over the last 40 years!

The issue is unfortunately one of parts no longer being made, and whatever reserve of service spares that were once available being used up.
If an optical drive in a computer ceases to work then you just go out and buy another one, and there's little in the way of compatability issues.
The manufacture of optical drives became pointed at the computer market, because that was the only worthwhile market for them, and it's the reason why CDPs started using computer optical drives.

My comments aren't of much help to the OP, but they are pointing out a couple of home truths.
I sincerely hope the OP can get his problem sorted out.

[julesd68]

The most important bit in Naim's mission statement is one word, and that word is attempt!
They do not say that they will be able to repair all equipment they have made over the last 40 years!

Thanks for making all that clear ...

Given the number of units that Naim shift every year in the UK, if they were failing to repair 5 year old cdps, I'm pretty sure that their business would go down the pan very quickly, so they must be doing something right. Whether that is due to build quality / reliability / stockpiling, who knows ...

[Stratmangler]

Thanks for making all that clear ...

Given the number of units that Naim shift every year in the UK, if they were failing to repair 5 year old cdps, I'm pretty sure that their business would go down the pan very quickly, so they must be doing something right. Whether that is due to build quality / reliability / stockpiling, who knows ...

If Naim depended solely on the UK market they'd have gone tits up years ago.
Your point about long term serviceability is relevant though.

[The Black Adder]

Even if someone was out there who specialised in the Sony BU-1/E drive that would be superb... lol.. except nobody would buy new sony cd players then... lol

Getting back to your lovely Accuphase though, I really hope it's something that can be fixed as it's a beauty of a machine.

[The Barbarian]

What the facia is a beauty?

[The Black Adder]

What the facia is a beauty?

Big and bouncy.

[Accudazed]

The problem there Bev is that the retailer concerned happens to be a brokerage firm based in Holland and as such the issue is moot as it is only enforceable under UK law AFAIK...

I reckon Accuphase could and should do more to help here...

Hi Dave

Right on both counts! Accuphase should do a lot more to help. Sending the CD player to them for testing has cost me £132. In my opinion, companies should not commit their customers to this level of expense without seeing the job through. I'm £132 out of pocket for nothing. Not good.

Cheers

Steve

[Accudazed]

Hmm.. they sound just like Sony... Sony have made some stonking decks but if the laser fooks a few years after, your generally snotted. A real shame indeed.

The reality of the matter could NOT be the laser anyway, there are lot's of reasons why a cd player stops reading discs so get it checked out by someone who know their onions.

Try Audiocom international... maybe they might be able to help.

Hi Joe

Finding someone who knows their onions is the hard part at the moment! I'll try Audiocom.

"but if the laser fooks a few years after, your generally snotted. A real shame indeed". I've been guilty as anyone of tolerating this scenario but frankly isn't it is a disgrace? Imagine if turntables had to be scrapped when the stylus wore out? It is a laughable prospect but with CD players that is the basis of most manufacturer's business model for them.

Who can say whether in 10 years from now the planet's billions of CDs will be at the mercy of the last 100 or so CD players that still work?

It's all a bloody disgrace.

Cheers

Steve