Loud bad noises

Celtic66 -
Thanks for the response. The Cambridge does have some years on it. Do you think a laser failing is more likely than a malfunction of the DAC? The noise is centered, coming from both channels simulaneously. I was concerned the DAC wasn't processing properly and was sending an unconverted digital stream to the amp.

To better describe the noise, I'll hear an occasional snap, then a few more in rapid succession and finally a continuous stream of very close spaced snaps...like a ripping or buzzing noise from both channels. If I stop play, and then restart, things are OK for a little bit...but the problem soon returns. This happened on a few widely separated occasions over the last weeks. I thought the Herbies Black Hole CD mat I'd been using was losing its grip so stopped using it. Last night, unlike other occasions, the problem did not go away. Thanks for any other comments you might have.
GH

Try listening to the player's analog output. If that is OK the problem is with the DAC. However, it does sound like a transport problem.

Lasers are a little like light bulbs in tnat they evetnually wear out and need to be replaced.

Will do Eldatford. I almost hope it is the CDP. Just bought the DAC used and don't want to think it was faulty or is now faulty.

>>"If I'd been listening to an LP I'd describe it as "skipping". It's extremely random. The CDs are not scratched"<<

Here is a long shot ... When the lubricant on the guide rails that the laser assy. rides on dries and cakes up, it can cause the laser assy. to bind/stick and lose lock momentarily with the CD's flags and skips, sometimes emitting some strange noises

Pop the top, and clean, and lubricate the laser's guide rails ... if this doesn't help ... the capacitor that charges the laser's power supply may be on it's way out and causing this intermittent problem

Once this cap fails totally ... the laser (no power) will not be able to read the Cd and you will get a "NO DISC" or "ERROR" message in the CD display

HTH Dave