CD player problems

[Duke of Prunes]

I have an old Sony CD player - model CDP 291. Probably 80% of the time I put a CD in, especially when first turning it on, it will do some frustrating things:
1) start playing disc, then suddenly start skipping through the entire CD, making the squealing sound it makes (what's with this re: laser, lens, etc??)
2) and/or spend far too long trying to read the disc when first inserting it, making the same squealing sound
3) at any moment in the disc, may suddenly skip through the restof the CD, as I said in 1 - any little vibration can also set that off (no anti-skip)...

Also, certain CDs are worse than others in this player for these things.

Any advice on what to do to fix it? Also, I want to be sure that my CDs won't be damaged/degraded at all!

Thanks for any help.
Rob

[mudbone]

Rob, sounds like its time for a new player. My last Sony (can't remember the model number) was doing the same things. I thought it was a cd I put in but, no, it did it with all cds. I cleaned the lens, etc. Nothing worked until I bought a new player.

Mud-

[Duke of Prunes]

Well, I knew Sonys (the old ones I suppose) are known for this... It wasn't mine originally, but it's wound up in my hands, so I'd like to use it.

Actually, I'm fine with the performance as long as this problem doesn't get worse until I get a new one (probably not too soon, considering $). What I really want to be sure about is that I cannot do any harm to or degrade any CD I play. Can someone comment on that?

[Dave]

Rob,

From what I understand about your problem is that the less expensive Sony CDP's use a plastic transport (gears and arms) for the lazer and eventually they wear out unlike their all metal transport bretheren ie the top end of the ES line.

I really don't know what to advise in CD preservation other than, has it marked any of your CD's yet? It's a tough one to answer simply because there is the possibility that it might do some damage eventually, but then again...maybe not. I'm sure you see my point.

Better to just lay out $150.00 and just get the bottom of the line Sony SACDP IMHO.

[Grant]

My current vintage 1993 Sony changer has lasted eight years under extremly heavy use.

[mudbone]

Originally posted by Dave

Better to just lay out $150.00 and just get the bottom of the line Sony SACDP IMHO.

I agree here. If no one knows if it's damaging the cds (and you may find this out too late) replace it. A couple of expensive, OOP cds and you'll spend that money anyhow.

Mud-

[Paul C.]

Duke, I had a Sony CDP-991 that lasted me about 10 years (it recently died completely on me, spindle motor gone, so I HAD to get a SACD player...)

A couple of years ago the Sony started skipping all over the place on every CD I put into it. I stopped using it, and used another even older model for a while, until that died. Then I thought I might as well try cleaning the laser lens on the 991, to see if it helped with the skipping problem - I had nothing to lose. I opened up the case - pretty simple - and was able to access the laser assembly quite easily. I could see what appeared to be a greasy coating on the laser lens. I cleaned it off with a cotton bud and some tape head cleaning solution - surgical alcohol would probably work just as well. Gave it a bit of a polish and -PRESTO - the player played all my CDs perfectly again.

I don't know what all that gunk on the laser lens was, but it caused the skipping problems. Give it a try.