Bookshelf MD - TOC error

[sfbp]

Woo hoo! I got me a bookshelf unit with optical input that plays MDLP and CD.

The Sony DHC-MD595, otherwise known as the CMT-PX3 (it has one designation on the back and one on the front) cost me all of $20. Not bad for something originally priced at Y60,000. It's a Japanese unit. I plan to hook it to the optical out on my computer, for playback in the computer room. Nice little speakers. All made in Japan.

However there are a few problems:

1. The MD won't play - error C13 reading TOC. COULD THIS BE BECAUSE OF THE 100V model? Would it be worth getting a stepdown transformer (120->100) first before trying to get the drive fixed?

2. There's no connecting gear with it. I understand that there's a USB dongle/thingummy that will control the unit from the PC. No big deal, I would just like to know what I am looking for and maybe I can find one on the internet. There's a second socket, strange in appearance, that the manual says is for a tape deck, this I probably don't care about. The USB socket is round and has (i think) 6 pins. UPDATE: it appears to be a PC keyboard connector. Nothing much happens when I plug a keyboard in, though.

3. The FM is 76-90. Not much use here in Canada. I don't care that much, just wondered if there is a commonly available fix to change the range, as it looks like this unit is identical to the north-american-marketed one.

Hope someone out there knows something about this unit (or one similar). Thanks!

[bluecrab]

Nice pick-up!

1. The MD won't play - error C13 reading TOC. COULD THIS BE BECAUSE OF THE 100V model? Would it be worth getting a stepdown transformer (120->100) first before trying to get the drive fixed?

I had the C13 Read Error on two of my decks, (480, 940), both 120V units. In both cases I had to go into Service Mode. Since neither deck was working correctly, I felt like there was nothing to lose. I took the cover off the 940, went into SM, inserted an MD, and at some point, IIRC, hit the >> button. I watched as the head moved - and read the disc! When I left SM, it still worked. I did the same for the the 480 (although didn't remove cover) and that started working, too. I tried this only after trying a few suggested solutions I found on the web, which failed. I also had tried some stuff from the Service Manual, also failed. I have not used the 940 since, so I don't know how successful the "fix" was for it. The unit has a long history of flakiness, including prior C13 errors. The 480, OTOH, is being used by my brother, who so far has reported no problems.

It has been said that the 100V units will work OK on 120V current, and it also has been said to not do this. I have a 100V MD deck (MXD-D400) for which I use a step-down. I think perhaps ONCE I powered it on without the transformer, and it did power up, but I never actually used it that way. It works fine now with the step-down, although it does do a couple of flaky things not exhibited by the 120V model of the same unit that I have. My gut feeling is that the C13 isn't caused by the 100/120V issue, but really, that's just my hunch, I have nothing really on which to base it.

3. The FM is 76-90. Not much use here in Canada. I don't care that much, just wondered if there is a commonly available fix to change the range, as it looks like this unit is identical to the north-american-marketed one.

Most of the FM converters seem to be for cars. But here's an interesting take on one:

http://userpages.bright.net/~geary/fm/fmconverter.html

Good luck with it all, hope the unit becomes functional!

[sfbp]

Nice pick-up!

1. The MD won't play - error C13 reading TOC. COULD THIS BE BECAUSE OF THE 100V model? Would it be worth getting a stepdown transformer (120->100) first before trying to get the drive fixed?

I had the C13 Read Error on two of my decks, (480, 940), both 120V units. In both cases I had to go into Service Mode. Since neither deck was working correctly, I felt like there was nothing to lose. I took the cover off the 940, went into SM, inserted an MD, and at some point, IIRC, hit the >> button. I watched as the head moved - and read the disc! When I left SM, it still worked. I did the same for the the 480 (although didn't remove cover) and that started working, too. I tried this only after trying a few suggested solutions I found on the web, which failed. I also had tried some stuff from the Service Manual, also failed. I have not used the 940 since, so I don't know how successful the "fix" was for it. The unit has a long history of flakiness, including prior C13 errors. The 480, OTOH, is being used by my brother, who so far has reported no problems.

It has been said that the 100V units will work OK on 120V current, and it also has been said to not do this. I have a 100V MD deck (MXD-D400) for which I use a step-down. I think perhaps ONCE I powered it on without the transformer, and it did power up, but I never actually used it that way. It works fine now with the step-down, although it does do a couple of flaky things not exhibited by the 120V model of the same unit that I have. My gut feeling is that the C13 isn't caused by the 100/120V issue, but really, that's just my hunch, I have nothing really on which to base it.

3. The FM is 76-90. Not much use here in Canada. I don't care that much, just wondered if there is a commonly available fix to change the range, as it looks like this unit is identical to the north-american-marketed one.

Most of the FM converters seem to be for cars. But here's an interesting take on one:

http://userpages.bright.net/~geary/fm/fmconverter.html

Good luck with it all, hope the unit becomes functional!

Well......

1. I took it into a guy I (unexpectedly) found on Friday who actually has someone who might for minimal charge fix it. If he wants vast amounts of $$$ I will refuse it and try my luck at your trick.

2. I'd love to know how to get this one into Service Mode, anyway but have no manual at this point. Maybe worth it to pay for a manual....

3. Someone mentioned somewhere on the web they had another (unrelated) unit come up into 76-90 mode by mistake one time. Makes me think there's a way and no need to modify crystals etc as has been done for some car tuners.

4. In the store (of the guy selling the converters who might get it fixed) the unit started out OK in 100V, but eventually crashed. It would not revive until I set it back to 120. Again, makes me think it might be some NVRAM setting rather than a hardware change, as the back says "DHC-MD595" suggesting the unit might be common to Japan and here.

If all else fails it will still be a nice unit for 'puter (via optical), or I might even pinch the speakers and use for surround sound in the main room!

[sfbp]

Update:

1. The guy didn't fix it.

2. He charged me $25 (as agreed) for diagnosis saying I would have to pay $150+ to replace the entire MD mechanism (BD board).

3. The diagnosis was wrong, manifestly.

I have figured out what is wrong. Very simple. The motor that turns the MD is not turning well enough to spin up to speed. I actually got it to read one TOC, quite serendipitously, so I know the laser works (his wrong diagnosis was dead laser). I also did a number of checks that all reported OK.

So - what to do about this duff motor?

I don't think much alignment if any, is involved. Unless its an electrical supply problem.

Any and all suggestions gratefully received.

Stephen