Fixing A CD Player That Doesn't Read Discs - Laser Power Adjustment Tweak - Repair Guide
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ก.ย. 2020
- In this video I repair a faulty CD player that doesn't read discs anymore, instead it just makes ticking sounds. This is caused by the laser being unable to read the discs over time. You can normally do this little adjustment trick to fix the problem for a while at no cost. All you require to try this repair is a few screwdrivers and a little bit of your time for some trial and error.
You will sometimes find the player will intermittently read CDs, only read certain types of disc, or even skip and jump while playing. Almost all of these type issues are usually caused by the laser alignment which you can easily adjust internally in most cases.
This may well not last forever and the ideal option is always to replace the laser diode/module itself, but this guide is a quick way to get more time out of your CD player at no cost. While the player is open then you should also take note of any model/part numbers on the laser assembly so you can source a replacement for future. That being said I have done this many times and had players go on to last multiple years without further issue.
Most CD player mechanisms are almost identical so this guide should cover most common units.
In this video I show you the repair on a KAM KCD 960 Twin Professional Rack-Mounted Unit.
It should also be a very similar process for a DVD player that is misbehaving and not reading discs properly.
You may also have a different message like No CD Error or Disc Read Error depending on your unit.
This repair will usually last a good while the first time - providing the laser is not defective and well worn-out/dying. In this case you would need to look for a replacement laser assembly and replace that part of the mechanism, which is also fairly straight-forward but out of the scope of this video.
I will cover this replacement process in a future video.
I have also made a quick video guide on fixing CD or DVD players with sticky trays that won't open or intermittently stick. You can watch that video here: • Fixing A CD Player Wit...
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will this work on my pioneer dvj x1
When I put the cd in it said reading for a while then it said no disc
Thanks so much from a fellow Northerner! I managed to give myself an electric shock but fixed my son's cd player! Feel a massive sense of accomplishment!!
lol I don't mean to laugh at you like this, but this really made me chuckle! Hope the shock wasn't too bad! haha
Phenomenal! It worked on my Technics SL-P1200. If you ever visit Florida, I’ll buy you a beer, or two.
You're an absolute star, thanks for this video. I was just about to tip my CD player until I found this and fixed it in seconds!
You're very welcome, Glad to have helped save another unit from the landfill!
--Nathan.
Until this day I couldn't think I could ever use my Sony MHC-501 the way I wanted to, then I saw your video, and it got up spinnin' again! Thanks a lot, I really appreciate your video !!!
Thanks man! You helped me fix a 20 year old undercounter Kitchen CD player that I had given up for trash! Back in working condition!
That's great to hear! Glad you got it going again.
--Nathan
Wow, reading the comments you have certainly saved people a lot of money. Well done👍
Just did this to an old technics cd player that I shelved a few years back. Works perfectly now. Thanks ever so much.
Just wanted to say thank you. You just saved my old radio from the trash bin. Adjusted the laser and it works like never before 👍
Thank you, not done it yet but this might have just saved me a small fortune in buying a new player. I always thought when this issue happened the player was borked for good. Cheers.
I revive my 20 year old Yamaha CD player with this hack. Thank you!! 😊
Dude, just fixed my CD player using this - thank you so much!
this may come in handy...someone is shipping me a Copland cd player and he wasn't going to ship because he was afraid the laser might come out of alignment… and this video i might be needed...👍🏼
You made this look really simple! I'm going to give it a go. Wish me luck. Thanks
Both videos very good, my CD draw not opening moved on to not reading CD later. brilliant thanks.
One thousand thanks, my friend ! Though I'm not able to do it by myself, now I can show your precious video to a technician and hope they can save my new Pioneer, bought just 2 years ago. It often fails on reading some discs, intermitently. A technician opened it, cleansed the lens ( that was pretty clean ), but didn't discover anything else. So, I was ready to keep the player aside and get another one, though not of the same quality as an original Pioneer that came from Japan. Once again, thank you very much !
You make it look so easy! Thank you!
Thanks so much for this video! It has helped me fix an annoying issue with my Onkyo DX-CD390 reading and not starting to play discs. 👍🏻
Absolute legend...took me about 50 attempts, and on my last attempt it worked 😂👍👊
Nathan, you are awesome!. My denon dn2000f mkII cd1 had this exact problem. For years i used a seperate cdj to act as my cd1 and and the denons cd2 for mixing but always hated having to place the seperate cdj on top of a turntable. I seen this video and thought " no way" it cant be that ez. So i tried it anyway and guess what. "WAY"! ....
it worked! I can't thank you enough for putting out this video. I only wish i had seen this yesrs earlier. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Albert Ramirez
Well F me! Have a similar unit doing the same, but never trashed it. I’m going straight to the workshop today to fix it (hopefully)! THANKS!!!
Thank you for a great tip. Can’t wait to try it tomorrow.
Nice and simple explanation. 👍
Best tip ever, you explained it by step by step, easy to follow instructions, thank you... I also adjusted my sticking drawer too by watching your other video.. THUMBS UP all is working fine now I've got noise haha.. :)
Awesome!! I'm glad to have been of help.
--Nathan
I bought a 5 disc cd player at auction for cheap but it wouldn't read CD's. I had to find the adjustment screw because it wasn't as clear as in the video but I found it and it works! Thank you!
That's great to hear. Yes changers definitely definitely are a little more awkward and no two are alike! Glad you got it going again though!
Great video i have a similar all in one unit that is practically brand new and has developed this fault. Will try this and see if i can revive it👍🏼
Thank you soooo much! You have made a very useful video. God bless you!
If the laser doesn't read discs that means it's dying. By raising the curreent, it may starts to read discs, but it will degrade even faster. This isn't a repair, you gave the player a few more months befor you can throw it away. The repair would replacing the laser...
Great video. This is exactly what mine needed
Thanks a lot man! I did what you did with my lil philips soundmachine and it worked for me also. Couldn't play any CD on it and was sad haha
Very good sir! I have this small all in one boom box and I was going to give it to this old lady for her jazz CD’s. When I tested it. It would only play for 00:48 seconds. I opened it up and hoped something mechanical might I be able to fix. I found a large chunk of glue like wax that was in the CD part. Actually it found me when it fell out. Hell maybe that was what kept it from playing further. So I tried it after sticking all the screws in it. Pretty much the same as before.
I really didn’t plan on messing with it anymore but for some brilliant idea I decided to try a search for a fix. Damn if your video didn’t pop up.
It was already a pain in my ass but what the hell. One more time, I’ll open it again and if it’s not going to work it will be in the next trash pickup. I just wish I had done the search in the beginning.
So I been tweaking it and it played all 13 songs. But it is very sensitive to any type of vibration. It will freeze and then eventually it picks back up, I think right in the same place it stops. I tried messing with some more but haven’t been able to get it dialed in. The screw I adjusted is buried and I’m just able to get the screwdriver to it. The screw seems kinda loose and I was wondering if a drop of thread lock would be in order? Or and is there anything I can do about it being so damn sensitive?
I have had a few CD players in my possession and I’ve trashed for the same reason. I’m going to give this a go on my Sony multiplayer. I have been having problems with playing consistently without skipping a whole lot.
I’m going to throw a couple bucks your way every time I can fix a CD player.
Thank you so much for this. Finally got my arcam 7se playing anything I through at it.
Thanks Nathan! Your info is great. Knowing that most players are built similarly, I may try this procedure on my 1988 JVC XL-M300bk unit w/6-disc magazine. I hope I can just pull the case off, find the adjustment screw and fix it. Wish I had seen your video before I ordered another 'old' one. I imagine if all goes well, I have a back up plan.
Update: As I thought, the six disc set up is hard to get access to the adjustment whereever it is. The real problem is the disc is spinng fine but not reading. I guess the laser burnt out. Any suggestions appreciated.
Thanks Nathan - Arcam CD player working again!
Excellent tip
Thanks for the video, I'm going to try this with my JB Systems Twin CD System - CD500. I hope it works !!!
It still reads discs, but only after 3 or 4 tries
Problem solved. Thank you very much!!
You are a universe legend sir
Yes on point. Was about to buy a new double cd dj component and I fixed it.
Nice clip, thanks. Can you please explain why, over time, the laser shifts out of position. Also, would this same technique work on an errant DVD player?
Thank you Nathan. Another save from the landfill. 🙂
Glad to have helped you out, and thanks so much for the super-thanks! It's really appreciated. 😀
--Nathan
Hi Nathan, I have an old Technics cd player that takes quite a bit of persuading to play cd's. I watched your video to see if I can find the adjustment screw to turn. But with the tray in or out, I couldn't see any adjustment screw at all.
The CD player is a Technics SL-PJ22 that I purchased second hand, along with the stack system. Is the adjustment screw in the Technics unit buried within the works beyond where you have shown in the video
thanks! that saved my son's cd player...
Just purchased a ' Kenwood XD-981 MD .. Midi Hi fi and it won't read discs so tomorrow I'm going to follow your advice and hope it works .. 😊
it worked!
My Sony CDP-XB920 its now working again with cd-r type cd's thanks for this tip :)
Thats great to hear! Glad you got it going again properly.
--Nathan
This worked! Thanks!
Hi Nathan. Ive got an old panasonic RX DT530 which has a lift up lid type Cd Player tray,. Its stopped working years ago but basically when you put a Cd in, it whirs and then the display shows two lines instead of the number of tracks, so its not reading the disc. Ive watched your video her and taken the thing apart but i cannot see an adjustment screw anywhere on this one. Can you give any pointers on what to try if theres no adjustment on it? Ive tried cleaning the lens with alcohol and a cotton bud but still can't get it to do anything.
thank you my dude!
Wow thanks Nathan pH I am going to try an fix my DVD player by following yr steps been a plsure watching yr video 😂😮 from Ivan Rooplal in South Africa Durban phoenix kzn thank 👍👍💯
Thanks man that was good advise. Do you turn it clockwise? Or it doesn't matter? Can you damage it instantly if you go too far?
Thank you. I will try this. I have a model that holds 100 cd's. I will have to dig it out of my shed first!. It spins but won't read.
Thank you very much indeed
Going to try this on my Sony radio. Thank you!
Thanks so muchNathan for the info -does that apply to my yamaha carousel 697 whihcsuddenly wont read any discs? Before iI take the casing off and break it completely...😊
I have a Sony esoteric SACD player that does not read both CD and SACD layer. It spins continuously but no clicking sound like in this video. Should I try adjusting laser alignment? Cleaning the lense did work for a while but now it won't even read the cleaning disc
That looks like my NAD 521Bee laser unit. it is very inconsistent reading discs. I will give this ago. When it plays it is great but OH the inconsistency is so aggravating. Thanks for the video.
Great video. I have an old boombox panasonic rx d10. It identifies some discs but wont play any. CD just spins. Laser cleaned. Any ideas would be great. Thank you
This did help my nad c521bee. Only trouble is it doesn't read copy discs and the odd redbook ones (originals). It may play them but there's a crackling/distorted back ground noise which makes the cd unlistenable. Any suggestions would be helpful
I’ve got a Denon DCD-625 that will only read certain CDs and it will just click away on others so I’ll try this!
Thanks for the video. I tried this on my Karaoke machine cd which was not playing the first couple of tracks. The laser had a very small pot which I turned ccw. Now it spins and shows the number of tracks but won't play at all. The track number blinks but goes back to the number of tracks. Do you have any suggestions?
I have a portable stereo with CD, and it will read the tracks but still won't play. Do you know if your fix can help me with it?
Cheers much appreciated
Looking forward to trying this! How many CD players have gone to landfill but for the twist of a screwdriver??
Nathan, thank you for making and posting this video. Question(s), kindly. I have a Magnavox (16 bit) CD player that I'm trying to get running correctly (for some time now). ¿Do you think you may help me, please? Purchased new (~1985-87) and in the last ~10 yrs, will not track to the end of a music CD. After the 1st or 2nd song, it begins to emit a high pitch whine, but not loud at all (need to have it on mute to hear it), and it seems to have something to do with the mis-tracking. (It's quiet on 1st two songs/tracks). ¿Do you think what you've explained may have something to do with the problem, and may help? Any/all comments much appreciated. Thank you. tonyd\.
I have National SL-PS05 model cd player which was not detecting cd but now with your technique it start rotating and detecting menu on screen but not playing sound out what would be reason
Thank you!!! so much. My problem is that it stocks in Reading.... Reading... but not playing.. how can I fix it! thank you in advance!!
I am having problems with my Stanton C500.
It is so similar to your KAM, that I bet it came off of the same production line.
Two days ago, I plugged it in for the first time in 2 years.
It read the CD and played the first 3 songs on the disc.
Then there were reading errors, and now it will not spin at all.
I tried the adjustment that you suggested, but I get no movement at all.
I must have retried at 90 different settings, going from one end of the pot adjustment to the other in as small of increments that I can manage.
Still, I have no movement at all.
Any suggestions as to what I should do next?
I love your video. Very helpful. But I don’t see the spot on my CD player to use a flathead screwdriver ever so slightly. I have a Yamaha CDC-565.
I have a sharp mini component set the cd won't play, can I do the same thing to get the disc working?
I came across your video I tried to correct my problem still doesn't read the CD I have PYLE pro PDCD -4000 I can use like turntables any ideas how did it get it to read CD
I have an Hitachi dw-w1u dvd-cd recorder,Its playing on both sides,but when i am trying to make a copy,on the screen appears INVALID DISC.Even i used different inputs ,the message is the same.I inserted cd-r,cd-rw but nothing.Any solution to fix that?Thank you!
So you increased the voltage on the potentiometer right?
Hello, my Denon dn-4500 doesn't start properly on one side, it plays like the first sound then stops immediately. Is that the start button or a problem with the head aleignment? Cheers
Some of the CD's from a certain manufacturer BIS will not read - so not sure the laser adjustment is the right fix. Any suggestions?
my Copland CDA 288 laser is not reading the disc...your video shows only only 1 screw adjustment...in that same place mine has 3 and I don't see any screw adjustments unless the are resest a little more...what one do i try to adjust and are the to be screws inside those holes for me to adjust❓
Awesome!
Do you know how to solve squeaky CD players, mine operates fine except sometimes on some cds I get a squeaky sound causing the track to skip
Does this fix work for a DVD player as well?
How is it working today and would this work on a Philips Mcb25 micro system?
Can anyone comment on whether these procedures are likely to be similar and/or effective on an old NAD 5325 CD player?
I dont know what the laser looks like, I have the warning label, mine is a lid CD player not one that slides out? Omg I just found a tiny screw and adjusted it and it works!! Thanks
Glad you found it and got it going again. Yes some players are a little different but the control will be there somewhere! :)
--Nathan
Thanks
Thank you so much! Glad I could help you out. 😎
Hi will this work on a car 6 cd changer? Thanks
I have got my Sony gnv 111 d CD casserole not opening, not reading, problem. This problem arose due to non operating the system for six months. Kindly advise what may be problem
Any ideas on a child’s CD player please?
Thanks for the tip, my CDP has 3 different potentiometers, EF Balance, Focus Bias and laser power, I noticed yours has only one of them, you know which pot is the one you moved ? Thanks !
Just to say that if you play computer burned discs them you need to VERY fine tune for both the glass mastered and computer burned cds.
Also play the last track, ie the outer one, and disc wobble will sometimes cause the focus to miss track.
Glass mastered cds have the information up through the plastic just u see the label. Computer burned ones have the active surface on the bottom of the cd. So the thickness of the plastic can make quite a difference to the amount of focus travel required.
This is the reason some cd players will not play computer burned discs.
I hope this is useful.
The read surface isn't on the bottom of a CD-R, though seemingly is a bit lower(I couldn't find any info on how much) than on a pressed CD, due to needing a reflective layer and a dye layer.
My DVD player turns the CD but says no disk, I think mine one's not reading it because there's no light coming from the laser/reader. I wanted to know if the light is necessary or it works without light
This video save a CD player from my wrath..👹
Most of my cd's load and play just fine. However, there is one CD that will not load. Is this fixed the same way?
I have a cd recorder it plays disc but when I try to record it won't read the blank disc , can you help me ?
Bravissimo. Ma quanto durerà??
Unrelated question: I broke a really old home theatre player that I didn't like anyway. I opened it up to see if there are any interesting parts I could salvage before tossing. I took out some fuses and will keep the screws of course. Is there anything else you suggest that I salvage? Also, any alternative suggestions for the speakers that came with it? Thank you
Mine is a Sharp bought in 1993 everything else works the CD was playing Two weeks ago but not reading now at all
Potentiometers, switches, heatsinks, display, transformator
I just repair my pioneer cdj-800 that was lagging to load cd's. Thank you
It was very hard to get too. But just a hair clockwise and it worked first try
Hi, can I ask you if this would work as well for a car mp3/cd player (cd 30 vauxhall). Mine doesn't read not even track audio anymore. I don't want to buy a used one worst than this.
This should indeed be possible but it will probably be more of a pain to test as you'd likely have to re-assemble the unit after each "tweak" to test it. Of course that depends on the assembly of the unit, you may be lucky.
I've not much experience with the CD mechanisms of car stereo units so all I could suggest is that if it isn't currently working you've probably not got a lot to lose from opening it and taking a look.
Let me know how you get on, if you decide to take a peek inside and try it.
--Nathan
@@NathanPH I would probably replace it with a genuine one from scrap yard. Sometimes it runs tracks without any problem. But rarely it spit out the cd and the "cd error" appears even if I try several times to insert it back. I want to sell my Vauxhall convertible this spring and buy a BMW X1. Thank you.
How can i fix mine cd player. Yesterday i putted a cd and it read and all of a sudden the laser stopped and it kept ''CD READ'' and then no disc i tried every cd and there is no sound of the cd being read its just ''CD READ'' and after a while ''NO DISC''. I tried lifting up the cd player and it read the cd but when i wanted to put a different cd in it again the same problem occured. I dont know what to do. Last month it worked perfectly fine when i close the cd lid i hear a little click or some movement and thats it.
My Sony CDP-CE375 is in MINT condition and i keeps searching for a disc then says "no disc" I eventually opened it up this morning (upon looking closely at the laser from the side between the electronics) and I noticed that the laser is just going up and down, touching the disc multiple times then going to the next disc until it cycles through all 5 discs then says "No Disc" PLEASE HELP! Should i adjust this laser knob as well?
Yes, adjust it
I don't see the screw you're adjusting in my player. An Onkyo C-7030. There is a circuit board above that came, but no screw or knob to adjust. 😢
Does anyone know where the pot is on an Onkyo C7030?
Sadly, inside my JB Systems Twin CD System - CD500, there's nothing I can turn to adjust, like there is in yours.