[BikeFi10]

This seems to be closest Circle for cd/dvd player. If not someone please redirect me.
So my Toshiba SD9200 cd/dvd player is not sounding too good. History, this unit is 24 years old and was $2k in its day. It has been in service maybe 75% of its life. I recently pulled it out of 1 1/2 storage in a hvac controlled room.
When playing something like Radiohead Rainbows the higher frequencys and louder passages  rock songs sound bad. Very brittle and harsh yet the quieter/ mellower songs sound pretty good.
I streamed a few of the same songs from this cd and they sound much better so the rest of my system should be ok.
Is there some kind of cleaning that may help or has this unit reached the end of its life.

[FullRangeMan]

It seems like a mispressed CD disc IMO.
I already had this prob with poor made CDs.
With time the laser transport tracking become sensitive.

[BikeFi10]

Thanks FRM. I should have noted that this problem occured with 3 other cds that Im ptetty sure were well recorded from what I remember. I have not played cds in 1 1/2 years.
Funny thing, as I was listening, I was thinking does this sound bad or are my older ears getting worse?
Then my wife came in room and said "What is wrong with the stereo"?

[rollo]

Cleaning the laser will help regardless. Use Photo lens cleaner and lens paper. WORKS wonders on older players.

charles

[JakeJ]

If you are going to open it up then I'll make a few basic recommendations.

SAFETY ALERT: Unplug unit from wall power first.

1. After the cover has been removed take multiple photos.  This way you can share them here in your thread and we can get a much better idea of what you are dealing with.  Take a full gut shot and some closeups of what look like major areas of circuitry.

2. Pay close attention to all the electrolytic caps used as they are all 24 years old and very tired.  If any look puffed up or you see any whitish residue around one on the board that's a good indication.  However a cap can be bad without any outward sign.  Also, it was retired for a period of time which may have contributed.  It could be that simply replacing all of them will resurrect both operation and sound.

3. Look carefully at the PCB(s) for burn marks or components that have discoloration

If nothing is visibly wrong then you need to take it to a repair tech.  Dunno if that's even an option.  Look forward to your findings.

[max190]

BikeFi10,
I say you got your moneys worth after 24 years.
Let it go.

You could pickup a new Blu Ray player for under $100 and be happy, or you could buy a CD player that has a built in dac, or you could go with a transport and external dac.

How much do you want to invest?

[BikeFi10]

Very good ideas everyone. Ill try the lens cleaning 1st.

Yes, Im sure caps could use replacing. Kind of odd that it sounded fine before it went in storage. Had my 42 year old Bob Carver amp and preamp recapped. Made a huge differance. My board level soldering skill is shot so it may be a no brainer if a tech wants $300 or more for recapping. Time for new if cheap as max190 posted.

This unit is built like a tank. Very heavy and from a past inside peak it looks well made, but yes everything has its time.

I do use an external dac so Id go with a transport if I replace it. Never even looked at such units. I guess its just laser, motor, DO circuit. Ill check them out.

Vinyl is my 1st choice, streaming 2nd and cds 3rd so its low on totem pole, but nice to have.

Thanks again for comments.

[Doublej]

It's even less expensive than max190 indicated. You can get a DVD player with digital coax output for under $50. No need for a Blu-Ray player. Both choices will be slower and likely mechanically noisier than a CD player or CD transport and not have an on unit display. They are designed for use with with a screen.

[FullRangeMan]

Thanks FRM. I should have noted that this problem occured with 3 other cds that Im ptetty sure were well recorded from what I remember. I have not played cds in 1 1/2 years.
Funny thing, as I was listening, I was thinking does this sound bad or are my older ears getting worse?
Then my wife came in room and said "What is wrong with the stereo"?

I mean said poor made CDs, bad pressing in the CD factory, the sound recording can be good or bad. I call these discs defective.

[S Clark]

What if it's the DAC in the cd player?   You can get an outboard for peanuts to check.  Almost any outboard would be an upgrade to anything as old as the cd player.   Here's one for about $15.   
https://www.amazon.com/PROZOR-Digital-Converter-Optical-Toslink/dp/B00KNNSKV0/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14APTBJJFGHF5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QBNZVjFPZozjiLgkT86uxr-o0iCSP4CR7_gPP5xEYJxC9Hf_TJqXd-_MSbEesmsk.GZASoGi20Xg6XvauYbjyZpbJ38kgsUPSWkN5Go8oyjY&dib_tag=se&keywords=signstek%2Bdac&qid=1730231153&sprefix=signstek%2Bdac%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-1&th=1

[BikeFi10]

Doublej...  A slower, noisier componet, lol. No offense, but not sure why that would be a consideration. Also, it is only used for cds no video or screen nearby.


S Clark.. I do use an external dac. Geshelli J2 with an external Keces lps. Also run a Bluesound Node 2i through the dac which sounds fine so Im quite sure the cd player is the problem. Again, 24 years old it is highly suspect.

Been to busy to dig into cd unit, but will clean lens when I get a minute.

Thanks again for suggestions.

[FullRangeMan]

If you can get this old machine repaired, you could keep it for use as a transport along with a DAC.

[BikeFi10]

Cleaned laser lens which looked fine to start. As seen in attached pix, not a speck of dust, no burn marks or bad "looking" caps.
Sound kind of seems better after cleaning, maybe my imagination

, but somethings not right. As mentioned in 1st post, lower level, quieter songs sound pretty good but rocking songs and harder singing sound harsh and fatigueing.
I do realize electronic componets can look ok yet be bad.

Also as mentioned earlier, this integrated cd player runs thru an external dac so dac ciruitry is bypassed.  It is basically a cd transport. External dac is fine as my streamer also runs thru it and that sounds good.

Sorry if pix are sideways. That seems to be a problem for me here.