Arcam CD player - needs help reading discs
Discussion
Hi all
I have an Arcam Alpha one CD player which intermittently reads discs and has now stopped.
I've opened it up and under the tray where the laser sits needs me raise up to the tray before it'll read anything.
Anyone know if this is terminal or if there is anything I can do to fix?
For context, it has been sat unused for a number of years.
Thanks
I have an Arcam Alpha one CD player which intermittently reads discs and has now stopped.
I've opened it up and under the tray where the laser sits needs me raise up to the tray before it'll read anything.
Anyone know if this is terminal or if there is anything I can do to fix?
For context, it has been sat unused for a number of years.
Thanks
At the risk of insulting you, have you removed the brass transit screws from underneath? They hold the Cd mech completely still for transport whilst the mechanism is suspended freely once taken out..... Sorry just in case!!
They then live in a storage hole in the back near the power sockets etc.
It's an old Phillips Laser mech so no doubt getting parts might be tricky!
They then live in a storage hole in the back near the power sockets etc.
It's an old Phillips Laser mech so no doubt getting parts might be tricky!
Clean the laser, if it worked when you last used it then it will probably just be dirt on the laser. Fyi if you put it on ebay, even broken, it will sell almost instantly. The chinese go crazy for anything with the TDA1412 dac which the alpha one contains. Replacement lasers are also easily found.
The tray raising up is the last step in the CD loading process and if you're having to help it then the loading belt is worn out - nothing to do with the laser. The belts are about a fiver on eBay.
I can't remember if the Alpha One has the infamous loading cog which is made of plastic but eventually turns to the colour and consistency of caramel and then falls apart. If it does, then you'll need to replace this as well.
I can't remember if the Alpha One has the infamous loading cog which is made of plastic but eventually turns to the colour and consistency of caramel and then falls apart. If it does, then you'll need to replace this as well.
Had pretty much the same with a 20 year old Roksan Caspian CD player.
It started about 5 years ago - I took the case off and looked to see if there was anything obvious - gave up. Quotes to have it fixed/serviced by Roksan were in the many £hundreds. It continued on with intermittent playing.
Last year it completely gave up - won't load CDs at all now.
Sorry I cannot give advice on any fix, but I decided at this point it was terminal and have taken it out of service rather than invest a lot in a repair.
Only thing I can add is I replaced it with a Marantz CD5005 (bought for, IIRC, new for about £170 on discount last year) and I was very pleasantly suprised as to how this sounded. Things have moved on clearly. The Roksan cost me around £900 in 2001 but I have to say the Marantz CD5005 of today is comparable if not a bit better to my untrained ears. The Marantz CD Transport also has feeling of solidity which the Roksan never had, even when new.
It started about 5 years ago - I took the case off and looked to see if there was anything obvious - gave up. Quotes to have it fixed/serviced by Roksan were in the many £hundreds. It continued on with intermittent playing.
Last year it completely gave up - won't load CDs at all now.
Sorry I cannot give advice on any fix, but I decided at this point it was terminal and have taken it out of service rather than invest a lot in a repair.
Only thing I can add is I replaced it with a Marantz CD5005 (bought for, IIRC, new for about £170 on discount last year) and I was very pleasantly suprised as to how this sounded. Things have moved on clearly. The Roksan cost me around £900 in 2001 but I have to say the Marantz CD5005 of today is comparable if not a bit better to my untrained ears. The Marantz CD Transport also has feeling of solidity which the Roksan never had, even when new.
Dazaa said:
Clean the laser, if it worked when you last used it then it will probably just be dirt on the laser. Fyi if you put it on ebay, even broken, it will sell almost instantly. The chinese go crazy for anything with the TDA1412 dac which the alpha one contains. Replacement lasers are also easily found.
Just to help the OP if he does decide to sell... I think you mean TDA1541 (which I only know as I'm a 1541 nerd with a Marantz CD94, CDA94, Naim CD3 (with a double crown 
) and a Sony CDP-227ESD)I had exactly the same problem with an Alpha One that had been sat for a long time (and shipped around a lot) recently.
Took it apart and from memory there is a plastic cam wheel bit that had become worn and so had a bit of a step and was therefore sticking against the part of the tray it was meant to lift. A bit of gentle filing to smooth off and a bit of graphite grease got it all working again fine.
Took it apart and from memory there is a plastic cam wheel bit that had become worn and so had a bit of a step and was therefore sticking against the part of the tray it was meant to lift. A bit of gentle filing to smooth off and a bit of graphite grease got it all working again fine.
AndrewT1275 said:
I had exactly the same problem with an Alpha One that had been sat for a long time (and shipped around a lot) recently.
Took it apart and from memory there is a plastic cam wheel bit that had become worn and so had a bit of a step and was therefore sticking against the part of the tray it was meant to lift. A bit of gentle filing to smooth off and a bit of graphite grease got it all working again fine.
Thanks, I'll take a look. Took it apart and from memory there is a plastic cam wheel bit that had become worn and so had a bit of a step and was therefore sticking against the part of the tray it was meant to lift. A bit of gentle filing to smooth off and a bit of graphite grease got it all working again fine.
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