On Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:04:26 -0400, Bert wrote:

** By static noises you mean the sound of heavy rain or surf - right ?

The noise sounds like holding a small DC motor with bad brushes next to
an AM radio.

There is an 8-wire ribbon cable going from the CD unit to the circuit board,
close to a Sony 7M01/CXA1081 chip. When holding my finger near the cable,
WITHOUT TOUCHING IT, the noise diminishes, and the audio/music starts to
crackle and break up.
Touching 4 of the insulated ribbon wires lightly will instantly stop the
player.

When I ground my hand and THEN touch the same insulated wires, the noise
stops also, but the audio - while continuing to play - becomes very
distorted,
and eventually stops as well.

Offhand, i would say that you have put your finger right on the problem.

?-)