1. Home
  2. digital
  3. 164561-70778

CD player reliability.... good and bad.

Since the mid late 80’s I have gone through probably 15 + CD players, some lasted me many many years, some were non working out of box, some lasted a week, some months, and as said some lasted years.
Is the shipping process causing some jolting of the unit, and innards get jolted and the tray or a small piece gets damaged? Or just the way they are made?

We take great care of our CD players, dust cover when not in use, don’t drop them, hit them, shake them.....yet they just stop working or things go bad, skipping, display goes out prematurely, tray rubs on something, or any number of issues...!! ??

BUT,....my cheap pickup truck CD player still works after 13+ years , dust, bumps, filth, exploding pops, lots of dust in my truck from my profession, dash, floor, everywhere, years of dust, caked all over, yet I put in a cd, and the darn thing still works.

But , recently it has started to act up, it plays everything I put in it, but sometimes won’t eject,...


anyway, why is it most CD players have a reliability problem. NOT all of them, but there seems to be a %10-15 of new players that arrive in non-working, or only last a short time.

Any thoughts......
arcticdeth
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 


CD player reliability.... good and bad.


Very good reliability, better than amplifiers. I still have 80’s 90’s transports coming through here that are still 100%. But there are some do’s and don’ts to keeping them good.

Never leave them powered up with a cd in them, this actives the laser and chews up it’s life expectancy very quickly.

If ever a new laser is installed, good idea to change any belts and lube all plastic tray sliders and any plastic gears, but ONLY" with "non petroleum" based lubes.

I like the blue coloured PBR (Rubber Grease) or similar made from castor bean oil myself, from auto supply shops.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PBR-RUBBER-GREASE-FOR-LUBRICATING-RUBBER-BRAKE-PISTON-BOOTS-CUPS-17-5ML-/12...

Cheers George



ericsch
777 posts
 
Yes, what roxy said. I've had $500 NAD CDP's that have lasted over 10 years. I have one in my office system and another in the garage. I also have a Rega Apollo-R that's been in service over 5 years. I have a feeling that top loaders might be more dependable, however, no data to prove it. There are many more expensive players like Bryston, Marantz, etc. that should last for many years.
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,924 posts
 
i have two sony es grade players from the 2000's... never ever an issue

then more recently got a modwright-modded top of line marantz unit ... laser is getting iffy... sometimes won't read properly
mahler123
4,001 posts
 
My experience could not be more different than the OP.  All my players over the last 35 years have been ultra reliable
Post removed 
More to discover