cd player jumps occasionally

[silvestrione]

This may be old hat to the more technically-minded amongst you, but what does it mean if a CD player starts to jump occasionally? I thought it was the CD at first but it has now done it it with 3 different CDs. It's not a new machine! An Arcam CD93, a number given it by the factory which did an upgrade on it a few years back. Does it mean the CD player is beyond it, or is there something that can be done (I am not, though, very technically minded, e.g. will not take it apart.)?

I'd be grateful for any advice.

[Dave2002]

This may be old hat to the more technically-minded amongst you, but what does it mean if a CD player starts to jump occasionally? I thought it was the CD at first but it has now done it it with 3 different CDs. It's not a new machine! An Arcam CD93, a number given it by the factory which did an upgrade on it a few years back. Does it mean the CD player is beyond it, or is there something that can be done (I am not, though, very technically minded, e.g. will not take it apart.)?

I'd be grateful for any advice.

If you love it, then it might be worth sending it back for a repair. That might be expensive though - depends how much you want to get that done.

Probably try a laser cleaner first - a disc which you put in for a short while to clear the lens. I once had a brand new player which wouldn't play until I tilted it at a rather large angle - (try 45 degrees), and eventually a piece of paper or card fell out. It was really good after that. My first player lasted about 15 years (can't remember exactly) and then went really erratic. I think the arm which tracks the spiral on the CD came loose - and we had another one which was like that. In one case a local repair man was able to fit a new CD drive inside the case, and it was really quite cheap.

After that I can't make any more suggestions. Allegedly "proper" CD drives are better, but most units now use DVD or Blu Ray drives as components, or so I've heard. CD units aren't a very profitable market for equipment manufacturers. Other people here may have a more up to date view on this.

[jayne lee wilson]

This may be old hat to the more technically-minded amongst you, but what does it mean if a CD player starts to jump occasionally? I thought it was the CD at first but it has now done it it with 3 different CDs. It's not a new machine! An Arcam CD93, a number given it by the factory which did an upgrade on it a few years back. Does it mean the CD player is beyond it, or is there something that can be done (I am not, though, very technically minded, e.g. will not take it apart.)?

I'd be grateful for any advice.

In normal times I'd say: contact Arcam for advice, perhaps requesting a laser service at the factory.... but with the lockdown.... still, try emailing/phoning them and see what happens.

Best laser-cleaning method is to take a deep breath and go in lid-off with the cotton buds/isopropyl, but I'm not sure how accessible the lens would be in the Sony mech. Arcam would probably tell you not to, even if you were willing...)
If Arcam aren't manning the office or accepting this for now, perhaps try a cleaning disc. Fairly crude devices, they often don't improve things but.... they might....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Allsop-59147-ProLens-Diagnostic-Cleaner/dp/B000CM47KU/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

The CD93 is a very good player - I had the Alpha 9 and (foolishly briefly, what was I thinking of...) the CD23t, and was very fond of them...very musical, very precisely detailed. Great to live with.
The 93 has 4 Dacs per channel, an arrangement I've always found very rewarding (I have two dac/player models which have this feature now).
So stick with it - its probably not a great problem & soon fixed - probably by Arcam themselves (they have excellent backup for models going back decades). I guess you have something to listen on while its away?

So - always best to contact Arcam first...
You may just need to be a little patient right now.....

[Petrushka]

I'm no more technically minded than the OP, probably less if anything, but sometimes the simplest solution is the best. I'd agree with Dave2002 that a lens cleaning disc will almost certainly clear the problem. There may be a speck of dust or a hair on the lens which can make the disc jump or stick in the player.

I got my cleaning disc decades ago from HMV and it still works just fine.

[silvestrione]

I've ordered a cleaner, and submitted a form to Arcam! I'll take it from there, many thanks.

Yes, I'm very fond of this CD93. My only alternative is an old Yamaha CD Recorder and hard disc player, which has a CD player built in. Makes you realise just how good the 93 is!

[Oakapple]

That happened with my Ruark CD player.

In fact it was my third player in about 8 years, which is quite something. The first one couldn't play certain CDs and it was explained to me that they had underestimated how much data the machine would have to read initially when playing one and so the unit could not cope. So I sent it back and a received a new one. However, the second was exactly the same and that had to go back. The third did work but after about 8 years CDs started jumping about and making a rattling sound. So it went back to be repaired and it's fine now.

I have to say the people at Ruark are very polite and helpful and it is easy to speak to someone knowledgeable on the phone. I like my Ruark. All I would criticize is the controls, which are clunky - a triumph of design over function.

[Constantbee]

Thanks for this advice Never even heard of a lens cleaning disc

[Bryn]

Thanks for this advice Never even heard of a lens cleaning disc

Perfectly serviceable examples can often be found in 'pound shops', replete with small bottles of isopropyl alcohol.

[Dave2002]

Perfectly serviceable examples can often be found in 'pound shops', replete with small bottles of isopropyl alcohol.

Very probably - if you can get to them!

[Bryn]

Very probably - if you can get to them!

Not a problem where I live. Indeed, both Poundland stores here are open and I only had to queue outside for a few minutes when I visited one of them last week.

[Dave2002]

Not a problem where I live. Indeed, both Poundland stores here are open and I only had to queue outside for a few minutes when I visited one of them last week.

I am trying to avoid going into any stores for the foreseeable future. Perhaps that's ultra cautious. Also, apart from the fact that Poundland do sell some food and kitchen paper, toilet paper and bleach, don't they mainly sell what might be considered to be non-essentials. I'm surprised that they are still open - but I've not been out to check.

[LMcD]

I am trying to avoid going into any stores for the foreseeable future. Perhaps that's ultra cautious. Also, apart from the fact that Poundland do sell some food and kitchen paper, toilet paper and bleach, don't they mainly sell what might be considered to be non-essentials. I'm surprised that they are still open - but I've not been out to check.

They also sell a fairly wide range of health-related products, including an Ibuprofen gel which I use regularly. Less essential, but useful, is a range of items with which I replenish the bird-feeding station! I would say that 'some food' is something of an understatement. Our local branch also seems to have sold quite a lot of books recently, and gardeners are also well catered for.

[Dave2002]

They also sell a fairly wide range of health-related products, including an Ibuprofen gel which I use regularly. Less essential, but useful, is a range of items with which I replenish the bird-feeding station! I would say that 'some food' is something of an understatement. Our local branch also seems to have sold quite a lot of books recently, and gardeners are also well catered for.

In normal times I probably go into those shops maybe 2 or 3 times a month. These are not normal times so I keep well away.

Poundland has loads of really handy tools, even some paint IIRC, and some basic household kit, such as light bulbs, mugs, and cups, trays etc. Also plant pots, I think. A good shop, normally.

[jayne lee wilson]

That happened with my Ruark CD player.

In fact it was my third player in about 8 years, which is quite something. The first one couldn't play certain CDs and it was explained to me that they had underestimated how much data the machine would have to read initially when playing one and so the unit could not cope. So I sent it back and a received a new one. However, the second was exactly the same and that had to go back. The third did work but after about 8 years CDs started jumping about and making a rattling sound. So it went back to be repaired and it's fine now.

I have to say the people at Ruark are very polite and helpful and it is easy to speak to someone knowledgeable on the phone. I like my Ruark. All I would criticize is the controls, which are clunky - a triumph of design over function.

Underlines the vital importance of transports.... some are better built than others, more reliable and/or less fussy about rejection and - yes, they do all sound different, even playing through the same DAC.....

D'you know what mech is in the Ruark? Is it their own design, or...? I'd love to know which model you got too...

[Oakapple]

D'you know what mech is in the Ruark? Is it their own design, or...? I'd love to know which model you got too...

I actually sold the third unit a couple of months ago and replaced it with an R4i Mk3. I'm afraid the instruction book does not say what the mechanism is. I also have a Ruark radio R1 Mk3.