Sony CDP-38

Hello all...

This single disc CD player wandered in today with a 5 disc changer included.
The changer works fine after some very minor repair, but the CDP-38 will not
play discs at all. I found the first problem to be that the disc tray was
not closing fully because of weak springs. This was easily fixed but still
the unit will not play discs. I can see the laser lens try to focus and
tests with a camcorder displaying on a TV screen show there is some laser
light being produced. It does not appear particularly clear or sharp on the
TV screen, but the beam from several functional players looks very similar
so I cannot be sure. The laser pickup used in this model appears to be a
KSS-150A model.

The only thing I can readily see that might make me wonder is a missing case
screw...makes me wonder what the former owner may have tried to "adjust" to
fix the player. Since there is still some laser light I have a faint hope
that it may be fixed.

This is a nice looking player and I'd really like to have a shot at fixing
it myself. I'd really like to know if there is any sort of a test mode I
could engage or any known failures I should possibly be checking for with
this model. Can anyone advise?

William

 

I have seen the KSS-150 fail this way. I would replace it. A new pickup can
be had these days for 20.00 or less. A KSS-210 or 212 would sub. Remember
there is a "solder short" , 2 adjacent solder pads, bridged with solder,
which must be cleared (unsoldered) before the new pickup will function.

Mark Z.

 

Hi!

Thanks for the help! The player cost less than the cost of a new pickup, so
I'm going to keep an eye for units with scrap electronics and maybe a good
laser. I've got an Aiwa disc changer here that I know to use some kind of
Sony pickup. The mechanicals are dead, but I'm going to see if its pickup
would be compatible.

William