I had a similar problem with my Forsell transport, only with the first time I would play a disc. Scared the hell out of me, and I used to turn down the volume every time when starting up a disc. Had the thing completely refurbished when I upgraded it last year, including changing the laser, and haven't had the problem since. I fear you may have a problem in your laser assembly.
Static/scratchiness - driving me crazy!!
My system - Arcam 8SE cdp, Rogue 66 preamp, Bryston 4BST amp, Maggie 1.5's, ic's are Coincident CST and speaker cables are Analysis Plus 12 bi-wires. Recently, as in the last week, I have noticed that when I change my selections on the cdp (more with the remote) I get a static sound or scatchiness at the start of the cut. It does not continue and would appear to be evident at only the start of a song. I have so far done: - swapped out the cdp for an older Adcom unit, static went away so I thought it was the Arcam as I had kept everything the same. - plugged the Arcam into another system (much "lower end") but could not get the static to return. - brought the Arcam back into the system & swapped power cables, no difference as the static remained. - didn't matter if the cd was HDCD or not - powered the cdp from the wall by-passing the HTS-2000 (maybe a bad circuit in the unit???) and the static remains. Would the tube preamp be adversely affected somehow from the Arcam??? I believe I have exhausted all easy avenues (gear is in a wall unit so its a #&@%!@^@# to swap! I thought I had narrowed it down to the Arcam but I can't get it to replicate the static on another system (the wife's NAD L40 cdp/receiver run through the tape input). Arcam is still under warranty but Service center advises they will charge $75 to check it and if they find nothing its my bill to foot. Any thoughts as to what could be the cause???