netmduser Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 I bought one of these used recently and recording (I tried from SS in both LP2 and LP4 mode) I can hear occasional dropouts. I verified it is the unit and not the disc as recording with another unit was flawless. Is there any "laser power" adjustments someone can walk me through here, if you think this is the issue. I am willing to try as it was a gamble buying it used. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfbp Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Not without the tools. Jim'll fix it, I am sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netmduser Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 What could the problem be? Ribbon? Laser? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfbp Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Could be power supply even. Specifically the power to the VBus (USB). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.hoggarth Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Hi. Can you expand on the drop-outs? Do you mean recording carries on, but the volume drops, or does recording and/or playback randomly stop and restart with blank spaces? Most parts are readily available, by the way. The S1 uses many of the same components as the N505 or N510, if I remember correctly. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netmduser Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Recording carries on but the volume drops. Playback is fine (for a non dropout recording). Strangely I can minimize the dropouts before recording by first playing a full disc in SS and exercise the pickup. Play first track then jump to last track using SS play mode. The pickup moves along the entire sled. This seems to make the recording afterward on a blank disc with the fewest of dropouts. I happen to have a 505 with the same problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.hoggarth Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 Very strange and uncommon type of fault. Normally sounds just cut out completely, either due to a bad connection or a problem with the optics/alignment. Reduction in signal implies an analogue fault, but of course there is very few analogue signal paths in an MD recorder. But then, I have come across some really weird problems before now. One thought - could it be that the audio drops low and with a strange, ethereal far-away effect, and do vocals almost disappear? That would indicate a bad earth connection on the earphone output. And the fact you have an N505 with the same symptoms leads me to think it may be bad joints or solder pads on the output chip. However, that would also affect all discs, even those recorded on another machine. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netmduser Posted September 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 I should clarify the volume drops off completely but its only for a millisecond there are no long pauses of silence just short droputs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.hoggarth Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 I have a gut feeling here that it's the famous IC302 problem - the headphone amplifier IC. Probably needs resoldering. Not much more advice I can give, other than post them off to me and I can fix them for you. Parts not a problem if required. Decent price for regular customers! Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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