On Wed, 12 Aug 2015 01:44:01 +0100, Arfa Daily wrote:

"Nick" wrote in message
...
I've got an Arcam Alpha 8 CD player with a somewhat tired laser, the
player has started to skip on occasion and checking the RF (eye
pattern) shows that the levels are a bit low. Cleaning hasn't improved
matters.

I understand that these laser units haven't been made for a number of
years but there are many 'clones' available. I've now tried two
different replacements and quite honestly they seem to be pretty poor,
in both cases the sled rack doesn't 'mesh' at all well with the drive
pinion which doesn't inspire much confidence!

In terms of electrical performance the first (labelled as NKS210A)
'sort of' worked but checking the RF showed gross distortion and the
player skipped in the presence of the slightest surface damage on the
CD. The second (labelled as KSS210A), gave a much better eye pattern
(levels 'OK' / clean and undistorted) and plays fine except for two CDs
where it has 'issues' (both of these played fine with the original
laser assembly!)

Looking on Ebay there are a multitude of different KSS240A lasers for
sale at differing prices, are there any known good ones to go for?

I also see some sellers have listings like: 'Laserpickup, Original Sony
KSS240A'. Is it possible (likely) that these could be genuine Sony
laser assemblies? Is there an easy way to tell a fake from an original?

Any ideas?

Nick


I'm a bit confused. You start off talking about a '240, and then
continue with the story of having tried two variants of a '210, before
returning to discussing the '240 again at the end. 210's and 240's are
quite different animals ...

As to replacing a KSS240A, I have to tell you that I have had pretty
much zero success with replacements for the last 5 years or so, and
these days don't even bother wasting my money getting one in for a job.
As to the places offering "Genuine" or "Original" Sony pickups, I
haven't found one yet that is. In fact, a while back, I had a long
argument with an eBay supplier who advertised an original Sony KSS240
and even had the photo on the listing of the genuine article, with the
Sony logo on the lens surround.
Because of this, and the experience I'd previously had, I chose this
supplier for the exact reason that they *were* offering a genuine
replacement. When it arrived, it was nothing of the sort. Just for
sport, I tried it in the player, and as expected, it behaved worse than
the one it was replacing.

I took it up with the supplier and eventually, after a lot of to-ing and
fro-ing got a refund, and got him to change the listing.

240's have, in my experience, always been a very fussy laser anyway, but
never more so than with the clones that you now get. In fact, the whole
laser replacement situation has taken a real nose-dive in regard to KSS
series ones over the last couple of years, and for the most part, I
don't even bother replacing 213s any more. Some work ok, some not so
well, so not worth the risk. Interestingly though, I have had no
problems with the replacement Sanyo ones (SFP101N both varieties, and
usually supplied as a complete deck) and Philips VAM 12 / CDM12
varieties.

As to telling 'fakes', the originals always had the Sony logo on the
lens surround, always had a small sticker indicating the laser diode
current that had been set to give the specified output, and always had
the pot - or pots in the case of a '240 - sealed with either white or
yellow paint.

Not very good news for getting your Arcam working, I'm afraid, but just
my experience changing lasers professionally for many years. I'm sure
that there are a few others on here that can add to what I've said with
their own experiences.

Arfa

Hi Arfa,

Sorry for the confusion - I did mean 'KSS240' (and NKS240), just a brain
fart when typing.

I looks like the Arcam is destined for the great recycling centre then :-
( A bit of a shame as in all other respects it works fine and I'm quite
happy with the sound. I didn't 'think' it was that old, but looking at the
transport it does have a date stamp of July 1998. As I purchased it from
new maybe it hasn't done so badly after all!

In the name of 'sport' I might just contact one of the Ebay sellers that
is claiming 'original' KSS240s and specifically ask if it is a real one or
not - certainly the picture looks 'right' (The adjustment pots are sealed
with yellow paint, and the main flexi socket looks the same as on my
original unit)

In the meantime I guess I'll start researching a suitable replacement for
the Alpha.

Many thanks again

Nick