MZ-R90 playback after recording problem.

[Guest Anonymous]

I've had my MZ-R90 for over 3 years now. Around the last 6 months or so, I've experienced random problems in playing back disks that have just been recorded.

I record off internet radio from my PC using analog cable from my soundcard in stereo.

When playing back disks, the player randomly stops at certain points and takes random amounts of time to get past them. While in this situation, the read head (motor) sounds like its doing something. The same disks stops in the same places when I play it back in my car on a Pioneer MD deck. Obviously, very frustrating.

This effect is totally random ranging from not happening to corrupting roughly 5% of the recorded content. Even more recently, after recording and trying to playback, BLANK DISC or DISC ERR would appear and the disk would be totally unplayable. Recording on the same affected disk (after a full erase) sometimes works, which rules out faulty disks, it must be the MD unit itself, but the random nature makes it difficult to isolate.

Its worth noting that no strange behaviour occurs during the recording process. The disks I am having problems with have been recorded on a small number of times before and I always do a full erase before re-recording, I have not tried it with new disks and use varying brands (all brands are affected).

Just wondering if this is a problem with my MD recorder and if anyone knows how to get it fixed if its fixable or what the cause of the problem may be.

Thanks in advance.

Nick S.

spiropou@rlmsystems.com.au

[Guest Anonymous]

I have that exact problem when I use the new discs that say something about shock absorbing coating on them. So I have to use old ones.

[MDX-400]

Try cleaning both the lens and over write head (OWH). This can be done either with cleaner discs (usually one for lens cleaning and one for head cleaning), or by simply using a cotton swab (Q-tip) and some isopropyl alcohol. However if you do the latter you should know what you are doing before attempting it. The pickup block is very sensitive and you must clean them gently.

If after cleaning the problems are still present then you might have either a ailing (weak) laser or an out of alignment over write head, or maybe a combination of both.

If the unit playsback discs recorded on another unit without any problems, then I'd suspect the OWH to be the problem.

It could actually be neither the OWH or the laser but those are the two I'd suspect first. Clean them and see what happens. (It is always better to at least try a cleaning before paying for an expensive repair/diagnosis that you may not need.)

Roland M.

[Guest Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions MDX400, they are very much appreciated. I will look into getting myself an MD cleaning kit and running it over the affected unit to see if it solves the problem. I'll post a response back here once I've established the results.

Thanks,

Nick S.