CD player question.....

[Boomyal]

....for all you technophiles out there. By the way, as I type this question I'm listening to a CD of Jackie Wilson, Lonely Teardrops. Ooooh, pure vocal honey. I feel sorry for kids today, with the music choices they have. <br /><br />Anyway, on to my question. I have this 10 y/o Aiwa Countertop combination receiver, double tape and CD. It has been a flawless gem but it has become particular in what CD's it will play. At first I thought that it just might be newer computer recorded music CD's. Sometimes they just would not play, sometimes if you let it spin long enough it would start playing.<br /><br />I just popped in an older factory recorded Roger Whitaker CD and it would not play. Just sat there and spun. I popped it out and put in this Jackie Wilson CD and it started right away.<br /><br />Any Ideas what might be going on???

 

[Pony]

Re: CD player question.....

Hey Boomy-<br />First thing you want to do is clean off your lens and see if that helps. A dirty lens can cause the problems you describe, and judging by the fact you mention that it is a countertop model there is plenty to make it dirty over 10yrs. Cooking grease, dirt, smoke etc can all cloud up that lens. A dirty lens can make a cd player very picky in what it will play. A slightly scratched cd may play in any other player, but may not in a player with a dirty lens.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: CD player question.....

Pony, I'll get the manual out and see how to do that. It sits about 18" from the cooktop burners. I know the lens faces up as you put the CD's face down on the platen to play them. A face up lens would allow a lot to settle on it.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: CD player question.....

Go down to your local electronic gadget store (radio shack?) and pick a cleaning CD. Cheap and easy. It's sort of like the cleaning tapes we used to use for tapedecks.

 

[Pony]

Re: CD player question.....

Dunaruna- a cleaning disk is essentialy worthless. It will only remove minor dust, but will not do a single thing for any cooking grease, grime or finger prints that may be on the lens. Also it is possible it may make the problem even worse by just moving the dust and other crud around some more.<br /><br />Boomy- Yeah I would definately check your manual, lens are very delicate. I think isopropal alchohol might work, but they do make special cleaners for them. Its important to remember that the lens is plastic.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: CD player question.....

O/K.

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: CD player question.....

isopropyl alcohol and a q-tip has always worked for me. Just be very gentle, the lenses are not usually hard mounted and will move around a bit in their seats.

 

[DaleT]

Re: CD player question.....

I had the a similar porblem with an older cd unit, never had any isuues with it until I started playing the burned discs. Eventually the whole thing just went. I don't know if the burned cds caused the problem or not but I've heard of others having nearly the same problems. Definetly try to clean the lense though, be mindful to not press to hard on it or you will cause more damage.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: CD player question.....

You do know that new CD players are about $1.50 these days, right? <br /><br />I had a similar vintage Aiwa that did a similar thing. Always skipped over things other CD players didn't. I emptied a 12 gauge into it.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: CD player question.....

Be very careful with the surface of the laser lens, it' 'floats' in it's carrier. Have a look here.. Link <br />Section #4 addresses the lens cleaning issue...

 

[timfromfc]

Re: CD player question.....

Funny, my CD player won't play that kind of music either! New ones are very inexpensive these days.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: CD player question.....

If you get into it up to your elbows, check out the repair FAQ:<br /> http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/cdfaq.htm <br />Me I don't bother anymore.

 

[Grant S]

Re: CD player question.....

Thanks for the links Xcusme and Paul.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: CD player question.....

Originally posted by Xcusme:<br /> Be very careful with the surface of the laser lens, it' 'floats' in it's carrier. Have a look here.. Link <br />Section #4 addresses the lens cleaning issue...

Xcusme, I'm feeling dumb, especially after looking at Paul Moir's link-shudder, shudder!!<br />What do you mean re "Section 4"?<br /><br />I know, CD players are cheap today, but this one fits good, sounds good and generally works well with all of it's other functions. Being a bit old school, I just cannot write these things off that easily.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: CD player question.....

Ooops!

 

[Xcusme]

Re: CD player question.....

Originally posted by Boomyal:<br />

Originally posted by Xcusme:<br /> Be very careful with the surface of the laser lens, it' 'floats' in it's carrier. Have a look here.. Link <br />Section #4 addresses the lens cleaning issue...

Xcusme, I'm feeling dumb, especially after looking at Paul Moir's link-shudder, shudder!!<br />What do you mean re "Section 4"?<br /><br />I know, CD players are cheap today, but this one fits good, sounds good and generally works well with all of it's other functions. Being a bit old school, I just cannot write these things off that easily.

I too have a bit of a problem tossing stuff, especially the older vintage equipment. At least you could 'see' the electronic parts, unlike some of the more recent SMT stuff...<br />Anyway, in the link I posted above, if you scan down the page a bit, you'll find an article I wrote addressing a model of Apex CD player. Item #4 addresses the cleaning of the laser lens on the player with a pic of what to look for. Nothing really big deal or anything, just info to consider.<br />BTW, Paul's link is awesome , very good info!.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: CD player question.....

Gotcha, Xcusme, on #4-Thanks