Sony CDP-C505 Below the Radar Gem!

[dr*audio]

About a year ago a friend gave me a CDP-C505 5 disc CD player he found in the garbage. I didn't take a good look at it, other than to determine the laser was shot. Great, I figured, I can pick up another KSS-240A pickup for around $20 and have a spare player or sell it to someone who needs a player. Finally I got around to replacing the laser, and I also replaced the final opamp with a OPA2228P opamp, a very, very good sounding opamp. Fired her up and the sound was remarkable. Nice, solid bass, warm sweet sounding highs. I think it sounds as good as my Integra DX-5700. It has 18 bit, 8X oversampling, dual D-A converters. Since this is a fairly old unit, (early '90's) and not an ES unit, you should be able to find them dirt cheap. Maybe not as cheap as I got it, but close.
The only issue with this model is the plastic chassis sometimes warps over time, and the magnet in the chucking arm (that holds the CD down when it's playing) isn't centered over the spindle that turns the CD. It's a simple fix, you remove the arm and take the magnet off (by turning the 3 pieces of the magnet so they come apart) and file or cut the hole in the arm a bit larger so the magnet has some clearance. Mine didn't need this, but it's pretty common. You might get one cheap or free because it skips. If it makes a scraping sound as the CD turns, fix the arm and you're done.

[dr*audio]

Bump!

[Rotoplooker]

I have an old CDP-C705 that I put away once it started skipping and almost threw it out. Now you have me thinking. First, perhaps I should check the chucking arm to see if that might be the cause. Would there be any evidence like scratching/scoring on the parts? Otherwise, is it actually still possible to pickup a laser assembly for this? And where? I was under the impression that they were no longer available. Also, is it a simple proceedure to install or are there calibrations, etc?
I'd love to revive it. Bought it new in 1990 and it worked up until a year or so back.

Thanks-Appreciate any input.

[dr*audio]

The way to tell if the chucking arm needs adjusting or modification is to open the top and put a disc in. If you hear a ticking or scraping sound as the disc turns, look at the metal disc on the top of the chuck. See if it is centered in the chuck. If not, move the chucking arm sideways a bit so the chuck is centered. If the ticking sound stops, you have to enlarge the opening in the arm as detailed above. Yes you can get a laser pickup at several places. The part number is KSS240A. The cheapest is at
http://www.electronix.com/ for $23.95. It is not a bona Fide Sony pickup, but a knockoff. I have one in my player and it is working perfectly, though I don't know if it will last as long as the original. However, www.mcmelectronics has the Sony pickup on sale for around the same price. You have to add it to your cart, and enter a source code: 8SC108, then it will come up as $27.25.

[Rotoplooker]

Thanks D*A,
I guess it's time to crack the cabinet. I think the 505 and 705 are pretty much the same (18 bit 8x os)except this one has the cd programming feature where you can label the cd's and program them-one of the first of the custom file feature. Only memorizes up to 180 cd's(I have around 500)
Dunno if the 505 has the digital out. Maybe it's time to consider an outboard DAC if I can get it running again. Wish me luck, I'm goin' in....

Cheers,
Rotoplooker

[Nakdoc]

Use the genuine pickup. The ASTI generics have terrible QC.

[Duffinator]

I have a Sony CDP-C535 that I purchased new in 1993. It's been in daily use since and I've never had a problem with it. Not sure how closely related my 535 is to your 505 but it's a solid player and changes discs quickly and quietly.

[dr*audio]

If you replace the opamps you won't need an external DAC. The improvement in sound will amaze you!

The 535 is a newer player with a better mechanism.

[Rotoplooker]

My apologies for hijacking your 505 thread, D*A, looking on the bright side though, you might have saved yet another old Sony CDP from the trash heap.

Cheers!

[dr*audio]

Apologies not needed. These Sony 5 disc players have untapped potential. Change the opamps and voila, audiophile sound. You can probably do that with yours as well.

[jbrainey]

I've had the Sony CDP-C725 for about 15 years. Never a problem and I can't complain about the sound. I wonder if the opamp swap would be worth the time and $ ?

[Duffinator]

Change the opamps and voila, audiophile sound. You can probably do that with yours as well.Can that be done in my 535 as well? How much do opamps cost?

[dr*audio]

Yes, it can be done, yes it's worth it. and they are cheap.
LM833N $.94 each at Digikey. Make sure you buy either the National Semiconductor or the OnSemi part. National made the original so I would use that.

OPA2228PA $3.96 each at Digikey. this is a newer part that is very good. I can't decide if there is a difference in the sound between this one and the 833. I just had 2 identical players on the bench, I had replaced the opamps; one player had each part in it, and I couldn't hear the difference.

[Rotoplooker]

Dear dr*audio;

Pulled the unit apart last night and it looks a bit more complicated. The tray looks like it will need to be completely removed to even access the pc board to start. Additionally, I spoke to my tech friend who said you need to calibrate the pickup once installed and most shops use some kind of jig.

I have a keen sense of adventure but I doubt I'm that technically inclined.

PS: the CDC-705 has a full metal chassis so might be a little different in terms of construction and layout compared to the 505.

What do you think, not for the faint of heart?

[dr*audio]

You do not have to calibrate the KSS240 pickup. The adjustments are on the pickup and are factory calibrated. If you can post some pictures I might be able to advise.

[Rotoplooker]

Thanks Warren, I'll take another look.

[Fletch]

I have a Sony CDP-CE545 and did not care for ir one bit. I would assume the units you are referring to are of a different make.

[dr*audio]

Different models and older. But you can improve the sound on almost any of them by changing the opamps.

[outbackdave]

Dear Doctor and others,
I just bought a used Sony CDP-C505 and it had the same problem as described by others. Besides the "chucking arm" thing though, I found a broken spring mount which is located by removing the bottom panel. The spring gives extra force upward to the laser/disk motor assembly. The spring attaches to plastic at both ends and the plastic had failed. I repaired it with a small metal rod which I glued across the opening. Used Devcon 2 ton plastic epoxy which has a slow setting time. Also, I put a small groove in the rod so the spring would stay centered.

But, I have 2 questions: where can I access free manuals (owners or service type) if possible and doesn't the disk driving lower "platter" have a rubber ring on it? This one has a clear, flexible, kind of plastic on it but I think possibly it was the adhesive coated interface between the rubber ring and the "platter" (I know it's not called a platter but don't know the correct term)?

Thanks, Dave