Any Hi Fi Buffs In?

[Hugh Manatee]

On a whim, I decided to recommision our rather elderly hifi. After a mighty struggle I managed to get all the cables connected and the speakers in the right place with an equal amount of speaker cable behind each one.

After all that, the CD player, (a Marantz CD-67 MK II SE) doesn't work! I have Sussed how to get it to display the error codes and the problem seems to be a laser focussing problem. The old unit is obsolete it appears and didn't have a good reputation back when it was new.

The new part is a Philips VAM1202/12: http://www.amazon.co.uk/VAM1202-Philips-Mechanism-Complete-Traverse-Black/dp/B00F94SW7A

My question is, how tricky would this be to fit? I have no electronics experience but like to think my brain works in a logical manner. I have a fine tipped soldering iron and other basic tools. I know the rest of the system works as the tuner plays through the old MS speakers in a grand fashion!

One other question, would a cable exist that would connect the amp (Arcam Alpha 7R) to an iPod?

Thanks to any experts out there!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Mmmmm Arcam

 

[midliferider]

Connecting the iPad to amp, I connect my BlackBerry and Moto G to my Kenwood amp in the following way.
Connect headphone socket of the phone to one to two devider piece. Then connect those two ends with an ordinary HiFi cable to the amp. I assume your amp has plenty other inputs. You can use CD or tape.
Did that make sense?

 

[Profpointy]

Connecting the iPad to amp, I connect my BlackBerry and Moto G to my Kenwood amp in the following way.
Connect headphone socket of the phone to one to two devider piece. Then connect those two ends with an ordinary HiFi cable to the amp. I assume your amp has plenty other inputs. You can use CD or tape.
Did that make sense?

Further to midlife's suggestion - it is said you get better sound using a cable that is Ipod docking / charging one end and two phono connectors the other. The headphone socket to phono plug suggestion above will also work.

Regarding the new CD transport - I'd be inclined to take the old unit apart first - if, as is likely, it's just a connector inside, then buy a new transport, but if it's a complex ribbon cable to be soldered, unless you've a very good eye for such things - well it'll take more patience and skill than I have.
I've now put all my CDs on my computer, and just plug the audio output of that to the stereo - use lossless format though - FLAC being a good choice, or Apple-lossless an alternative. MP3 format is slightly inferior. Although I have a professional studio quality sound card in my PC, it's only a bit better than the cheap on-board sound

 

[Profpointy]

PS - you want something like this

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/ipod-to-rca-retractable-cable-a65cl

Make sure the ipod end is the right type for your device as latest Ipads aren't same as the old iphones & ipods.

 

[ufkacbln]

I am not a HiFi Buff, but......

There are a number of "docks" that will connect the Ipod to a HiFi system

 

[accountantpete]

You need to Google a bit more about the replacement part - it is not exactly the same as the old unit, leading to a bit more work after fitting.

Youtube should have plenty of laser replacement videos or see

http://www.iangclark.net/projects/CD63/CD63.html

You can also check whether it is just the focusing bit that has dropped out of focus


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7iV-LvQMec

 

[raleighnut]

I'd take it apart (well cover off at least) and have a look, most transports simply plug in with 2 connectors, one for the power supply to the motor and one that connects the electronics to the circuit board of the player. generally there are 4 screws and rubber gromits/feet that hold the transport in. If it does require the ribbon to be soldered (and yours looks like it does) any electronic repair shop should be able to fit it easily in half an hour or so for £50-60
Mind you often just cleaning the laser lens with a cotton bud and isopropyl alcohol can get em working again.

 

[swee'pea99]

I wouldn't invest time, money and effort in an attempted repair when you can get a good old cd player off ebay for £20 or so.

 

[mr messy]

Should be able to pick up similar working cd player for £0-20. Dvd players do same job, if not better, with better electronics. Last dvd player i lifted from a skip sounded at least as good as my CD67SE and sony units.
Obviously try cleaning first, that only costs you time but not really worth any more effort than that...unless you're bored

 

[speccy1]

Have you cleaned the lazer? May just be dust stopping it from reading. I`ve got exactly the same cd player and thats what I had to do, along with applying some fresh grease to the runners that the lazer itself runs on - the old grease gets hard and makes it jumpy. It`s as solid as a rock now, reads every disk quickly and never,ever skips, even with old or scratched cd`s. Just a couple of ideas for you............

 

[Profpointy]

as others have said, and slightly contradicting my suggestion, I'd take it apart, clean it with Isopropyl alcohol or some such then if it doesn't work, bin it as it'll likely not be worth spending money on, nor much time. I'm guessing it wasn't a super dooper one, but don't know the models, so if it's something special above might not be right.

As also mentioned above, a DVD player also plays CDs, so just plug that into the back of the rest of your stereo - which'll also improve DVD sound as presumably a good bit better than your telly speakers.

I've put all my CDs on the PC, so never use a CD player per se, just playback off the PC - into a proper hi fi I might add - so that could be a better option than buying a CD player as such. Although I've now got a very high quality professional studio sound card in mine, even the old built in sound wasn't at all bad - not that much in it to be honest.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

You cant beat great Hi Fi, get it working and enjoy mate!

 

[mustang1]

Sorry! Im not expert enough to give advise but just want to say I love these old HiFi systems and glad you made the effort to bring it back into action.

(I suppose its the same for bikes).