[rcarlton]

How to fix a Cambridge Audio Azur 640C (or any other CD player)

Two weeks ago I got the dreaded "no disc" message when inserting either a burned disc or a Redbook CD. No warranty, only have $300 in the thing. What to do?

Tear it apart and see if it can be fixed! Better yet...find a website that will walk me through the ordeal! Here is the website.

Looks like I still gotta tear it apart.

Here it is with the hood off. Picture 1.

Two screws to remove to get to the lens. Could have easily moved the lens by turning the plastic gear. What is the fun in that? Picture 2.

The lens assembly. Used a Q-tip to make sure it moved freely, brushed all the dust off of it (really didn't see any).
Picture 3.

Close up of the lens. Note that it is manufactured by Sony. Used some magic cleaner (Isopropyl alcohol would have worked I bet) I picked up at Lonestar Audio Fest yesterday, sprayed a Q-tip and wiped the lens down. Reassembled....it works:bigsmile: .
Picture 4.

Tried a lens cleaning CD; complete waste of time. Looks like you have got to get right on the lens to clean it. Did not see any dirt or grime on the lens. Used a magnifying glass. Must be real sensitive.

The magic cleaner. Thanks to MaxxHorn speakers:jump: .
Picture 5.

 

[htaddikt]

Re: How to fix a Cambridge Audio Azur 640C (or any other CD player)

That's great info! I have 740C and will remember that. These players are very proprietary and I would hesitate to attempt any repairs beyond a lens cleaning, etc.

 

[rcarlton]

Oops...got the dreaded no disc message again. Could the lens be dirty? Took the cover off, cleaned and cleaned the lens with no results. Looked closely at the wiring and made sure each connection was tight. Pushed connection, tested. Finally started working when I pushed the connection in the red circle. The ribbon cable is the only one from the transport mechanism, only tested two other connections on the transport before I tried the other end of this cable. Sprayed it with DeoxIT, put it back together and it is playing in the background as I type.

 

[lcaillo]

Likely the pickup is going bad. Look on the side of the pickup assy and get the number. This looks like one of the cheap Sony pickups that you can get a replacement for easily. Just remember to remove the solder bridge before installing the new one.

 

[rcarlton]

Like this one:

 

[lcaillo]

Well, given my experience with that vendor and the reputation that they have among servicers, I don't think I would use that source for such a part. There are numerous vendors that have them, however. Just match the KSS number on the white tag and look to the parts suppliers listed here:

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/manufacturer-vendor-reference-information/4396-parts-distributors.html

Also, you might refer to the information in Sam Goldwasser's FAQ referenced in this list:

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/manufacturer-vendor-reference-information/4531-repair-tips-service-manuals-assorted-useful-links.html

 

[rcarlton]

lcaillo,
Thanks for the heads up. I hope never to have to replace the pickup. Fingers crossed.

 

[rcarlton]

Looks like the pickup has finally given up the ghost. New one on order.

 

[rcarlton]

Got the new part, simple to replace...but...it don't work:foottap:. Correct part number, checked all connections, no luck:sweat:. Put the old laser pickup in...works fine. :scratchhead: Still suspect the laser assembly is going bad, hope I can get a replacement.raying:

 

[lcaillo]

Did you remove the solder bridge like I said above?

 

[rcarlton]

Nope...found the note in the box:doh:. Removed solder bridge. All is working:bigsmile:. Took 18 minutes from start to finish once I removed the solder bridge:jump:.

Just saw your note about the solder short...it was 8 months ago after all.:surrender:

 

[kavaljit]

Hi,

I also have Azur 640C (version 1) for the past 4 years.

Lately, it is having problems in reading the disks.

perhaps time for lens replacement.

But i don't have the exact screw driver to open the CD player. So I am unable to read the exact Sony Lens number (KSS). The KSS213 series has many products starting from B,C, D to Q.

Could any owner of version 1 please tell me the exact number of sony lens (KSS) so that I could find out the exact replacement.

thanks in advance

cbs

 

[rcarlton]

cbs,
My 640C is version 1. The screw driver to open the unit was purchased at Radio Shack, it has a small star shaped head. Should be able to pick one up at most electronics stores or on the web.

Mine required a KSS-213c. I ordered from B&D Enterprises.

 

[rcarlton]

Remove hood from unit. Open tray drawer. Unplug...drawer stays open and out of the way.

To remove the pickup unscrew the brass screws at 1 & 2. The assembly has 2 pins that were held in place by the brass screws. On the other end of the assembly is a small post which fits under the black gear (partly shown in next picture at the bottom).

Notice the white plastic rail the laser rides on. There is a small piece of plastic below the lens assembly that fits on the underside of the plastic rail. You can see it on the third picture, directly above the number 8.

Slide plastic stop at 3 back to allow rod to slide part way. Remove plastic gear at 4 (best to remove it from the backside, see 8).

Close up of plastic clip at 3 which stops the metal bar. Move it aside to allow bar to slide partway.

Remove flat wire from old pickup and turn assembly over. Should be enough slack in the wires.

Remove screw, washer and spring from 5 & 6. Slide bar out at 7. Push plastic gear out at 8 to remove the old pickup.

9. Remove solder short on PC board on the new laser pickup. Forgot to do that initially, caused some concern for awhile when nothing worked. Use a soldering iron and solder sucker. They use a solder short as electrostatic protection.

10. Here are the part numbers (KSS-213C) and the flat wire connection. Fairly easy to snap in place. Reverse all of the previous steps to put it back together, test it, if it passes put the hood back on.

Total time...18 minutes. This should be similar to the process for a broken DVD player.

 

[kavaljit]

Thanks so so much Ron for your tutorials with photos.

Now it is very clear to me on how to go about it.

No need for spending money and time seeking a technician as you have potentially made me one.

Once again, a big thank you.

CBS

 

[donhearl]

Dear Forum,

I know that I'm reviving an old thread, but I read the thread with great interest. I have a Azur 640C and I was experiencing a "grinding" noise last night after pushing the standby button (no CD in tray). I did not insert a CD until this evening and I received the "no disc" message. I opened the top and checked the gearing and everything appeared ok. I also ordered a new pickup, just in case.

Would you have any other ideas as to the grinding noise. Now when I place a CD into the tray and push play, the carriage closes and the CD spins twice then stops and displays the error message. I sometimes get a message that says "no play".

I really like the way this unit is put together and I'm comfortable with working on it. I appreciate any ideas as to what I can do to fix the unit.

Best regards,

Don

 

[tester]

hi, i have this azur 640c to and is no mor working :-(.
If i put in a cd i hear nothing its only close the door but not rotate the cd.
it is the laser demaged?


thank u for help

greetz
oliver:thud:

 

[rcarlton]

Dear Forum,

I know that I'm reviving an old thread, but I read the thread with great interest. I have a Azur 640C and I was experiencing a "grinding" noise last night after pushing the standby button (no CD in tray). I did not insert a CD until this evening and I received the "no disc" message. I opened the top and checked the gearing and everything appeared ok. I also ordered a new pickup, just in case.

Would you have any other ideas as to the grinding noise. Now when I place a CD into the tray and push play, the carriage closes and the CD spins twice then stops and displays the error message. I sometimes get a message that says "no play".

I really like the way this unit is put together and I'm comfortable with working on it. I appreciate any ideas as to what I can do to fix the unit.

Best regards,

Don

Sounds very much like the problem I had. The new laser pickup fixed it.

Ron

 

[rcarlton]

hi, i have this azur 640c to and is no mor working :-(.
If i put in a cd i hear nothing its only close the door but not rotate the cd.
it is the laser demaged?


thank u for help

greetz
oliver:thud:

Not sure. Mine spun a couple of times and gave me a No Disc message.

Ron

 

[sjain2411]

Hi Ron,

I have been looking for a place to help me change laser pick-up for my Sony MHC-555 which uses 213DH. Finally I landed here and got 213C from the local repair shop (that was the only available in 213 series). System worked perfectly fine after putting new laser but after a while things were back to where I started.

Problem with my system is it read disks intermittently. To elaborate further, as per my observation when you load disk to the tray it first rotates disk slowly and you can hear laser softly hitting the disk. The moment laser is able to read the disk, probably first track, the disk spins real fast and you hear a burst of laser hits to the disk. And finally disk stops spinning unless you press "Play" button.

Now in my case disk starts spinning with initial slow speed and laser hitting disk softly. But beyond that behavior is intermittent even after changing laser. At times it reads the disk and disk starts spinning real fast with loud laser burst heard, but fails on other instances on same disk and just keep spinning the disk at slow speed with soft laser hits unless you power cycle the system. I even burned new disk at 8x to ensure it is not the disk which is causing this behavior but to no avail.

Can you please suggest me a solution to this problem as I have already changes laser pick-up. Other components that one can suspect are disk motor and one switch that senses inner end of disk (it is a small switch with a long level where laser assembly hits as in old DMP printers to sense home position).

Thanks
Sanjay Jain