MD4ME Posted November 17, 2010 Report Share Posted November 17, 2010 Hi, I've just purchased a MZ-RH1 from ebay, cosmetically in excellent conditon with some of the boxed items still in their original packaging, but my excitement was tempered when the player showed up 'Read Error' on the screen. I could of course return the item, but having read on this forum that the problem may be solved by accessing the service manual and activating the 'Test Mode', i feel i have nothing to lose. I'm not particularly well versed in minidisc repairs so would appreciate any tips/hints as to how i go about bringing the machine back to life. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungerdunger Posted November 18, 2010 Report Share Posted November 18, 2010 Other people may disagree, but my advice is (assuming you've tried more than one disc and get the same result every time): if it isn't working, send it back. There's obviously something not right with it, which you may be able to fix or you may not. There are still plenty of RH1s around, so hold out for one which works straight out of the box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD4ME Posted November 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2010 Thanks for your post Hungerdunger. I guess i'm a little reluctant to send it back, as it was such a 'bargain' price, which i'll struggle to see again anytime soon, so i feel i've nothing to lose by trying to fix it. The seller deals in all types of electicals, so wont know if i've tried fixing it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THIS SUCKS Posted November 18, 2010 Report Share Posted November 18, 2010 how much did you pay for it?> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfbp Posted November 18, 2010 Report Share Posted November 18, 2010 Failure to READ is most likely the laser power adjustment. This is done in service mode, but is (potentially) very complicated, though in practice probably just tweaking a couple of settings. Before you junk the unit, stop a moment and consider some different things: 1. recording (and playback, of course) of LP2 on a std (80m) disk through line in or optical 2. playback of LP2 made on another (nonHiMD?) unit 3. recording of HiSP on a std (80m) disk 4. recording of HiSP on a 1GB disk 5. playback of HiSP on a 1GB disk made by another unit. When and if you get failure, put the disk that failed on one side and use a fresh one (preferably shrink-wrapped) for the next test. I have a dodgy RH910 and the results of these are not what you would expect. The 80m disk performs flawlessly at all times. Playback of all disks made by other machines is flawless. But playback of 1GB disks made in the RH910 itself fails where the disk is OK to playback in another unit. Record WORKS but playback FAILS (not always, before I played around record used to fail often too). I see someone has reported the inverse on an RH910, viz. playback fails only on 80m disks but works with 1GB. I have also seen an MDLP unit (my CMT-PX3) fail to read a disk it had just written because of the laser adjustment (I adjusted it and it now works). As I am discovering, this is a pain. I finally broke down and ordered a laser power meter. Watch this space for my adventures! Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD4ME Posted November 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 Hi Stephen, thanks for your response. I've just been trying a 1GB disc in the recorder and sometimes get quite different results than with a standard 80 min minidisc. After inserting a 1GB disc, the RH1 straight away comes up with 'No Disc', whilst when inserting a 80 min disc the RH1 usually tries to read the disc for 30secs before showing 'Read Error', and if i try and record, it goes through the motions of recording, giving the recording levels etc. Then once recording stops gives up the message 'Data Save' followed by 'Rec Error'. It's yet to read any disc inserted into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfbp Posted November 21, 2010 Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 Ok that's a lot more information. It does indeed sound like "bust" is a possibility. Have you tried to clean the laser? All of the above can/could be caused by one of those very narrow sticky labels designed for the side of a MD getting literally stuck to the inside of the player. Getting an RH1 apart is quite tricky. It depends on how determined and/or skillful you think you are.... "no disc" sounds quite a bit like the microswitches that read if a disk is there, are stuck. Can you find them and push with a pencil or other sharp object? If the machine has not been used at all, that may be all that is wrong. Also the "going through the motions" thing sounds like a dead overwrite head. But could still be laser power if nothing else works at all. I think that Sony would probably fix it (for a price). But you should go back to the vendor... it's his problem. That's what paypal buyer protection is all about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD4ME Posted November 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 Thanks again for your help. Overall the results are inconsistant, sometimes you can hear (what i presume to be) the laser scanning the disc before recording 'Read Error', other times the 'No Disc' message is shown straight away. I phoned Sony on Friday for a quote, and their standard charge is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfbp Posted November 21, 2010 Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 The microswitches are on the left of the player as you open it towards you. Easily accessible. Give them a poke with a pencil rubber. Use a flashlight to see what you are doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD4ME Posted November 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 I've just pressed them both down a few times with a pencil rubber, but still no joy. One microswitch appears higher than the other, i assume thats normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfbp Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Yeah the one nearer to you should be a little bit higher. One last stupid thing before you give up. Try running the unit using the charger plugged into the mains and supplying power to the unit. It sounds like it's never been used. Wondering what on earth might have gone wrong with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD4ME Posted November 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Just tried running it off the mains without success i'm afraid. Just checked the serial number against the one on the box, in case it was a 'ringer', but everything's in order. As i say, all the accessories are sealed up and the latest paperwork in the box is '2008', just feel the need to get it fixed, as it would be such a waste to bin it. I think i'll make the seller a minimal offer/partial refund and see if i can get it fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfbp Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 I've seen my own RH1 do weird things when the battery was misbehaving, for whatever reason. You don't have a battery to hand, to swap in perchance? Did you let it charge the full 3 hours? If it stops charging very shortly after plugging it into the wall charger, that's a sign the battery is dead. Could it be that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD4ME Posted November 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 I've seen my own RH1 do weird things when the battery was misbehaving, for whatever reason. You don't have a battery to hand, to swap in perchance? Did you let it charge the full 3 hours? If it stops charging very shortly after plugging it into the wall charger, that's a sign the battery is dead. Could it be that? Replaced the battery with the one in my NH1. Now on charge !...watch this space...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD4ME Posted November 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Still nothing doing i'm afraid, just the same whirring and clicking noises as previous.. I've sent the trader an email, so we'll see what he has to say for himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD4ME Posted November 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Alas, i've had to admit defeat with this maddening piece of electronics wizardry, and have instructed to vender to collect the MZ-RH1 on Wednesday. Better news on my appeal for a cradle for my MZ-DH10P.....i'll give the forum an update on that one in a couple of days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD4ME Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 Oh well, after some bargaining with the seller i've kept the MZ-RH1 !....am i nuts ?.... He gave me a partial refund, which means the player has cost me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelBeardy Posted December 12, 2010 Report Share Posted December 12, 2010 Oh well, after some bargaining with the seller i've kept the MZ-RH1 !....am i nuts ?.... He gave me a partial refund, which means the player has cost me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD4ME Posted December 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Thanks for your support . I've posted it off today, so I'll let you know what happens ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD4ME Posted January 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Hoooorraaaay..... finally got my MZ-RH1 back from Sony and it actually works now ! ..... Sent it off before Christmas and was returned early January having had a new laser fitted, but they hadn't fixed the fault, and it even came back with the plastic trim alongside the battery compartment hanging off, as the plastic retaining lugs were broken.... so much for quality control ! Returned it to Sony again, and this time they fitted a new Main Board, and replaced the plastic trim, and hey presto... i'm back in action....rest assured i'll be working it hard over the next 3 months whilst it's still under warranty ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelBeardy Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Really gald you got your MZ-RH1 fixed. They really are a fabulous bit of kit. Get some discs compiled and enjoy the wonderful sound quality. I bought 5 HiMD discs off ebay from one of the Hong-Kong sellers for about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JG98258 Posted August 18, 2015 Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 got the same problem with my 8 year old RH1. . . . no disc error, std or hi-md. will try above suggestions. does sony still repair these in '15? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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