Hi All

My compact Aiwa system (all-in-one CD / tape & tuner) has developed
an annoying 'ticking' sound when it is playing CDs.

If I was listening at normal levels I guess it wouldn't be such a
problem - but the setup is used to provide low-level background music
during spiritual healing sessions.... and it's a bit distracting

The ticking seems to go away about 15 minutes into the CD - and seems
common to all CDs - as in a mechanical sound rather than something on
a particular cd.

Any ideas ? I'm OK on general electronics but not clued up on these
new-fangled CD devices g. This particular unit is probably 6 years
old....

Thanks
Adrian
Suffolk UK

Adrian,
Funny we just transfered our Aiwa LCX-100U to the kitchen because it
kept skipping and needed to be reprogrammed each time to "repeat"
during massage therapy sessions. It turned out the lens just needed to
be cleaned.

As to your problem I've had this happen before when either the spindle
got pushed in too far (those that are press fit ) causing the CD to
touch part of the mechanism or the shock mount got moved. Usually from
being dropped. They are rubber grommets that mount the motor and would
require some disassembly to get to. That it goes away after 15 min
might be because the optical head is in a different position?
BTW we replaced the Aiwa with a Sony CMT-EX1 we got on eBay and have
been very happy with it.

Richard

HI Richard

On 23 Dec 2004 15:32:00 -0800, wrote:

Adrian,
Funny we just transfered our Aiwa LCX-100U to the kitchen because it
kept skipping and needed to be reprogrammed each time to "repeat"
during massage therapy sessions. It turned out the lens just needed to
be cleaned.

Same model as I have here.
Have just had a quick 'play' with it - can't see the cd touching any
part of the mechanism, but, of course, you can't see a great deal with
the lid closed anyway g....

Annoying.....



As to your problem I've had this happen before when either the spindle
got pushed in too far (those that are press fit ) causing the CD to
touch part of the mechanism or the shock mount got moved. Usually from
being dropped. They are rubber grommets that mount the motor and would
require some disassembly to get to. That it goes away after 15 min
might be because the optical head is in a different position?

Could be - or perhaps I just get used to it.....? - or 'absorbed' in
the healing work and end up ignoring it....

It wasn't what I'd call 'cheap' - about £100 a few years back....

I guess it'll probably end up in the stained glass 'studio' instead.
Trouble is, the other (Sharp - courtesy of my late Dad) all-in-one
unit has a fault in that the display doesn't...... so that's nice &
quiet - but you can't see what it thinks it's doing....

Took the Sharp apart - but couldn't see anything obviously
disconnected inside - does everything it should but the flourescent
display is blank....

BTW we replaced the Aiwa with a Sony CMT-EX1 we got on eBay and have
been very happy with it.

Richard

Perhaps I should bite the bullet and buy another unit ??

Thanks for the comments
Adrian
Suffolk UK

So Adrian,
Is this a fast click click at the same speed that the CD is spinning
and not in the speakers (something with the motor or drive) or a
slower random click in the speakers (something possibly in the power
supply)

Took the Sharp apart - but couldn't see anything obviously
disconnected inside - does everything it should but the flourescent
display is blank...

Is it a flourescent glowing display ( check voltage on the display
module itself often marked on the pc board.) or back lit LCD display (
possible blown bulb)

Richard

Hi Richard

On 23 Dec 2004 20:09:32 -0800, wrote:

So Adrian,
Is this a fast click click at the same speed that the CD is spinning
and not in the speakers (something with the motor or drive) or a
slower random click in the speakers (something possibly in the power
supply)

The first one g - it's regular - perhaps a little bit faster than
the 'once-a-second' tick from a clock.

All I've done so far is to investigate the problem without removing
the case...... I'm not sure that one could operate the thing with the
case off as the lid appears to be a fairly integral part of the
mechanism - though prehaps the case comes off leaving the lid in situ
- dunno....

Took the Sharp apart - but couldn't see anything obviously
disconnected inside - does everything it should but the flourescent
display is blank...

Is it a flourescent glowing display ( check voltage on the display
module itself often marked on the pc board.) or back lit LCD display (
possible blown bulb)

I'm pretty sure it's a flourescent display. The inside of the unit
looked like a 'science fair' project - lots of pcb's held together
with blind faith, witchcraft and hot-melt glue. I gave the various
interconnecting plugs & sockets a tentative wiggle - but nothing
exciting happened.

Trouble is - life's a bit short for spending lots of time on either of
these units. The Sharp (CD-S370E) is a nicer unit - has a 'real'
volume control rather than a digital one, and better eq adjustment -
but it's a bit bigger (and has no display, at the moment....g)
In a way, that probably doesn't matter, as, during healing, you don't
sit & watch the display - so perhaps it's actually ideal for this
application ....?

OTOH the little Aiwa could go out into the glass workshop - where
ambient is usually noisy enough that you'd not notice the ticking
sound......

Anyway - the priority Christmas project is to hook up my old electric
organ to the PC and record some hymns for Church, then build Elektor's
CD Controller (= Pandora's Box) so that I don't have to site & play
organ every Saturday in 2005......

Busy life - innit ?

Happy Christmas & thanks for your comments
Adrian
Suffolk UK