NAD CD problem.
 

I've got a real head-scratcher. I've got an older NAD 5340 cdplayer
that aside from a little more hunting and tracking than newer cd
players it has a great sound EXCEPT for a few select cds.

On some cdroms (Peter Gabriel's 'Shaking the Tree' for instance) the
sound makes me think the DAC is losing it's place or something because
the sound is almost scratchy. (didn't think that was possible with a
cdrom drive) The disc is in GREAT shape with no visible scratches.

Now here is where things get weird, when I copy the cd and play the
copy, it sounds fantastic. (confused enough already?)

I downloaded a repair guide (for the 5420 and 5425) but there is
nothing that even mentions 'scratchy sound'.

The only things I can think of is that either the laser is going
(wouldn't explain why CDRs work though) or a combination of a worn
transport with an unbalanced disc?


cheers
antony

"Lex" wrote in message ups.com...
I've got a real head-scratcher. I've got an older NAD 5340 cdplayer
that aside from a little more hunting and tracking than newer cd
players it has a great sound EXCEPT for a few select cds.

On some cdroms (Peter Gabriel's 'Shaking the Tree' for instance) the
sound makes me think the DAC is losing it's place or something because
the sound is almost scratchy. (didn't think that was possible with a
cdrom drive) The disc is in GREAT shape with no visible scratches.

Now here is where things get weird, when I copy the cd and play the
copy, it sounds fantastic. (confused enough already?)

I downloaded a repair guide (for the 5420 and 5425) but there is
nothing that even mentions 'scratchy sound'.

The only things I can think of is that either the laser is going
(wouldn't explain why CDRs work though) or a combination of a worn
transport with an unbalanced disc?

Sounds like a bad CD. If it's producing lots of read errors,
the player can correct only a portion of them.

But I can copy and play the copy fine? If the computer cd reader has
XX oversampling and corrects for the errors I'd understand but it just
seems odd.

It's almost like the NAD had a problem translating the bits on cd to
the DAC. I guess the only way to isolate if it's the transport is to
use the Coax and pipe the binary into another DAC, like a newer amp
with PCM coax inputs (Panasonic XRs?)

Lex:
It is all a matter of numbers....
If you have 100 CDs and ALL of them play OK on your NAD except for 2 or
3 ...... the problem is most likely the disks. It is possible that
another CD player will play them fine, but it is also possible that
your old NAD CD player will play a disk or two that other players
won't.
The very FIRST procedure that should be done is to have your NAD CD
player cleaned.... and also your CD burner. Inspect the suspect
disks carefully for smudges, scratches, warped, etc.
electricitym
..
..
..



Lex wrote:
I've got a real head-scratcher. I've got an older NAD 5340 cdplayer
that aside from a little more hunting and tracking than newer cd
players it has a great sound EXCEPT for a few select cds.

On some cdroms (Peter Gabriel's 'Shaking the Tree' for instance)
the
sound makes me think the DAC is losing it's place or something
because
the sound is almost scratchy. (didn't think that was possible with a
cdrom drive) The disc is in GREAT shape with no visible scratches.

Now here is where things get weird, when I copy the cd and play the
copy, it sounds fantastic. (confused enough already?)

I downloaded a repair guide (for the 5420 and 5425) but there is
nothing that even mentions 'scratchy sound'.

The only things I can think of is that either the laser is going
(wouldn't explain why CDRs work though) or a combination of a worn
transport with an unbalanced disc?


cheers
antony

"Lex" wrote in message
ups.com...
I've got a real head-scratcher. I've got an older NAD 5340 cdplayer
that aside from a little more hunting and tracking than newer cd
players it has a great sound EXCEPT for a few select cds.

On some cdroms (Peter Gabriel's 'Shaking the Tree' for instance) the
sound makes me think the DAC is losing it's place or something because
the sound is almost scratchy. (didn't think that was possible with a
cdrom drive) The disc is in GREAT shape with no visible scratches.

Now here is where things get weird, when I copy the cd and play the
copy, it sounds fantastic. (confused enough already?)

I downloaded a repair guide (for the 5420 and 5425) but there is
nothing that even mentions 'scratchy sound'.

The only things I can think of is that either the laser is going
(wouldn't explain why CDRs work though) or a combination of a worn
transport with an unbalanced disc?


cheers
antony


Maybe it could be something to do with copy protection, or video extras,
or something like that on the discs? I don't have any of the mentioned cds
so I can't say for certain.

Andrew Howard

On 20 May 2005 11:57:42 -0700, "Lex" wrote:

I've got a real head-scratcher. I've got an older NAD 5340 cdplayer
that aside from a little more hunting and tracking than newer cd
players it has a great sound EXCEPT for a few select cds.

On some cdroms (Peter Gabriel's 'Shaking the Tree' for instance) the
sound makes me think the DAC is losing it's place or something because
the sound is almost scratchy. (didn't think that was possible with a
cdrom drive) The disc is in GREAT shape with no visible scratches.

Now here is where things get weird, when I copy the cd and play the
copy, it sounds fantastic. (confused enough already?)

I downloaded a repair guide (for the 5420 and 5425) but there is
nothing that even mentions 'scratchy sound'.

The only things I can think of is that either the laser is going
(wouldn't explain why CDRs work though) or a combination of a worn
transport with an unbalanced disc?


cheers
antony

I have the NAD 5100 and have experienced the same problem with it.
It'll play some cd-r's just fine and others will just make a high
pitched screeching sound on the NAD.
The non-playing ones work fine in later model players.
I'd assumed that since these NAD's are older model that that might be
the problem. I havven't really sweated it since I have two other
players in my racks.
Anyone here who could educate us old timers on why this is?

The very FIRST procedure that should be done is to have your NAD
CD
player cleaned.... and also your CD burner. Inspect the suspect
disks carefully for smudges, scratches, warped, etc.

I'll clean the rails and the lens in the player but the cd was
spotless. (I keep a clean microfibre cloth in the stereo stand just for
cds.) The ratio appears to be about 1 in 20 (rather frustrating).
I've heard of a 'focus coil transistor' problems but I'm not sure which
trannys are in question.

Dear sir,

We have this service manual in stock.
kindly contect us on or

thanking you
Darshan shah