Thread: SACD Layers won't play or skipping problems

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Post by Cherubino May 22, 2010 (41 of 85)
stvnharr said:

There is nothing unique about the two lasers in the 5400ES player. Repairing the SA11 is a far less expensive option than purchasing the Sony player.

I didn't say it was unique, but they're not all created equal, and Sony's implementation may be a factor in the unit's outstanding CD playback. Whatever the reason(s), the player delivers. Also, I wasn't recommending he not repair the Marantz, only that if he chose not to, and purchased the Sony instead, he may not miss the Marantz for CD playback.

Post by Andrew48 May 22, 2010 (42 of 85)
Cherubino said:

I didn't say it was unique, but they're not all created equal, and Sony's implementation may be a factor in the unit's outstanding CD playback. Whatever the reason(s), the player delivers. Also, I wasn't recommending he not repair the Marantz, only that if he chose not to, and purchased the Sony instead, he may not miss the Marantz for CD playback.

Yes, I am going to send the Marantz in on Monday. I suppose I was hoping the newer Sony was a worthwhile upgrade to justify a new purchase (who doesn't want new toys?) but I suspect it may not be. I remain somewhat conscious of how reliant I am on a single machine though. Maybe I need to convince my wife we need a new Oppo 83SE, for video :)

Post by stvnharr May 22, 2010 (43 of 85)
Andrew48 said:

I remain somewhat conscious of how reliant I am on a single machine though. Maybe I need to convince my wife we need a new Oppo 83SE, for video :)

Once you get the laser corrected/replaced on your SA-11, it should be good for a long time. Always nice to have a backup though. And the Oppo fits nicely.

Post by Andrew48 June 10, 2010 (44 of 85)
Final update -- player came back from service with report that the problem was largely dust related but they "installed a factory modification" (unspecified) which they claim improves SACD performance and updated the firmware. Only cost to me was shipping to the dealer who serviced it. It's back and playing so well that thoughts of an upgrade are banished for now. Dealer recommended using a disk-type cleaner for the lens on occasion but said he doesn't actually use them himself so could not recommend anything.

Post by stvnharr June 10, 2010 (45 of 85)
Andrew48 said:

Final update -- player came back from service with report that the problem was largely dust related.

Well, that was good. You were a bit lucky, but dust accumulation on the laser lens is not good. It sometimes does not take much dust, either.

Post by David Pritchard June 10, 2010 (46 of 85)
This dust may be a common problem with the Marantz SaCd players. This winter both my SA11-SA1 and my 8001 began to not read disc's. The players both have since returned to 100% reading after using the cd lens brush cleaning disc. This was after beginning to use an ultrasonic humidifier in the house. Do not use this type of humidifier! It will spread a very fine dust (the minerals you find in all household tap water) that will cover the laser lens and other electrical circuits. I am glad your player is back and working.

Post by Andrew48 June 17, 2010 (47 of 85)
I attribute the dust problem in my situation to an ongoing renovation of some adjacent rooms. Despite my cleaning schedule, I think I just could not protect the Marantz sufficiently, and may even have been putting dust into it by not cleaning all my CDs every time I played. Thankfully, the renovation is also over now and the players sounds mighty good. Thanks here for all the help.

Post by Beagle June 18, 2010 (48 of 85)
David Pritchard said...
Oh my stars and garters! --Would this be Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave PRIT!chard of 1970s Toronto radio?

Post by Claude September 19, 2010 (49 of 85)
My Sony XA777ES had developped increasing playback problems with hybrid SACDs over the last 3 years. It is the opinion of most experts that only a complete replacement of the laser pickup (Part No KHM-230AAA, used by all the earlier Sony players) would solve the problem.

Because this replacement would have cost over 300 Euro at the local Sony store and the problem was still limited to a few discs, I held off having it done, but recently the issue got worse, more than 30 of my hybrid hybrid SACDs skipped, and some wouldn't play at all (only the CD layer was readable).

After having read this excellent DIY guide on the Steve Hoffman forum

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=185565

and seeing replacement laser pickups being offered on Ebay for only $40, I decided to try it myself. I bought one from a Singapore seller, and with the illustrated instructions from the SH post, I managed to install it without much difficulty, although I'm not a DIY guy.

So far, all the previously problematic hybrid SACDs except one play fine.

Post by DSD September 19, 2010 (50 of 85)
Thanks for the information Claude.

I have owned two SACD players which in time would not read the SACD layers of hybrids: the Sony 9000ES and Xindak SCD-2. It always starts with just a couple of discs, then a few more and finally no hybrids would play or revert to the vastly inferior CD layer. Yet all would play single-layer SACDs perfectly. Indeed the Xindak SCD-2 had to be fixed three times during it's warranty period. When it happened again after the warranty expired I didn't get it fixed and I was able to play single-layer SACDs for about a year longer and then sold it as a CD and single-layer SACD player. I think hybrids require a more precise alignment to play properly, and thus cuts down the life expectancy of a transport considerably IMHO.

Even though the price of SHM-SACDs are too high for me maybe they will prove that single-layer SACDs are popular enough to sale and that the addition of a unlistened to CD layer is not necessary. My wish is that when all the Telarc SACDs are out of print that Concord Music Group (or someone else) reissues them as single-layer SACDs, then I will go all single-layer SACD. I know it's a wild unrealistic dream, but one never knows.

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