CED VideoDisc and Player Discussion

[Justin]

I finally got a laser disc player after having ced for about 2 years,
The player doesnt spin up, you put a disc in, the laser tries to read and it ejects it. the model is a pioneer CLD-v2400. any help

[7jlong]

Hate to say this, but: kick it to the curb and wait for a better model to come along. Spend a little if you want to get into it, because the later models are miles beyond some of these earlier ones - and parts are still available for a lot of them.

The problem with LaserDisc players is that they are sometimes tougher to work on because of the laser. CED players seem fairly resilient and are quite used to having things somewhat out of alignment. LaserDisc depends on extremely fine tolerances, and I dare suggest that what you are seeing may be some kind of failure in this regard.

Additionally, it would be a frustrating player to start with because it lacks the digital audio channels. Doesn't matter most of the time, but some of the cooler discs - much of the Criterion work, for example - made very full use of the analog tracks for commentaries and such-like. On this player you would never be able to access the actual movie soundtrack, only the extras!

Less than ideal.

On the other hand, if you're attached to this player, I would hand it over to a professional. They do still exist, as a search on "laserdisc repair" shall reveal.

As per usual, not trying to demean anyone's skill with a soldering iron, but in some cases it just seems wiser to cut your losses (since my guess is you're looking at replacing the laser assembly).

[jgantert]

That's not true, according to the specs http://www.dragons-lair-project.com/tech/manuals/cld-v2400Specifications.pdf , it does "auto digital", so it should pick up the digital tracks of the movie. (95 dB SnR, which is ok, I guess.)

As for how to fix it, I have no clue. I have two laserdisc players (CLD-504 and CLD-3070) , neither are high end. I never really got into laserdisc so I never searched out a high end player.

-John

[7jlong]

Whoops!

My mistake. Apologies. Must have been thinking of some other player.

[RT9342]

It's probably the grating, or one of the mirrors is out of alignment. But I don't know exactly how to adjust it on that model. I've done a lot of laserdisc repairs, and have even taken players that won't read discs and gotten them to play...but I'm pretty much only familiar with the really old models, like the PR-7820, PR-8210, VP-1000, LD-660, etc. Yours probably has an infrared laser - that could make alignment difficult if that's the case. Keep an eye out - I've seen laserdisc players pop up quite often, even at pawn shops and thrift stores, sometimes even with a free movie that someone forgot to take out. (I'd sell you one of mine, but all I have right now to spare are PR-7820's that are not yet fully calibrated, and they're expensive to ship, as well as a Hitchi that works nice, but it has no pause, rewind, or fast-forward buttons, since it was used in a tank simulator.)

[Rixrex]

As both a CED collector and big Laserdisc collector, I'd have to agree that you should put that player aside and purchase a model that's got more features and newer as well. If it has sentimental value, that's okay, but those particular models don't bring much more than $10-$20, and being non-working, well you get the idea. Plus LDs do have widescreen titles.

Also, yours could be a problem with the disc not being grabbed tightly enough by the spindle pads to actually spin up to speed because it slips, and when that happens, the disc often gets ejected. But why toss expensive repair money on a player that is so limited, when that same money can buy you something super?

You can actually purchase an excellent LD player now for cheap (relatively speaking), and have one that plays both sides and has optical and/or coaxial sound output. Unless it's a really special high-end player like Pioneer Elite model, you can get them for less than $100 easy, even much less. The Pioneers alway seem to bring in the most bucks, and I have had many Pioneers, but I've found that the best player for the value is Panasonic.

I would not trade any of my Panasonic LX1000U's, of which I have 6, for any Pioneer, except perhaps a DVL series DVD/LD combo player. I believe from seeing with my own eyes, that the Panasonic LX1000U models outperform the Pioneers in video performance, and including a comparison with a Pioneer Elite model. The Panasonic model won't cost as much, and I'd suggest either the LX900U or LX 1000U, one which recently sold on ebay for only $25!

I also find that the Sony models compare favorably to the Pioneer, even though folks have told me they break-down. I personally have not seen this happen, and in fact the side-B turn mechanism that Sony uses is better in my opinion than the common Pioneer mechanism. Also Sony has one of the rare gray-colored US sold models that will play both sides, most others you get in the US are black. There's lots of players that are Pioneer 'clones' with another brand name on them too. Check out the LD player database at http://www.laserdiscarchive.co.uk/

If you look for another player, look for one that plays both sides, has either optical or coaxial sound output, hopefully seen little use, and preferably has the remote and manual too.

[Justin]

sorry it took so long to reply. no im not attached to it , it was an eBay special $25 any way the laser works it comes on and scans back and forth, but the moter does nothing no spin up, no movement whatsoever.

[Rixrex]

[Rixrex]

Hi again, Justin, Here's a website that I just found that will help to explain the various types of good quality LD players:

http://www.moesrealm.com/hometheater/laserdisc-guide.html

It's a decent review, but unfortunately leaves out Sony, which are as good as the above average Pioneer in my opinion. Does complement Panasonic and I agree with that.

It also leaves out the Pioneer DVL series of LD/DVD combo players, which I feel have superb quality on both the LD and DVD playback, as good as any Elite series and usually cost less. In fact I just repaired a DVL 700 I got for $25 because it had a stuck drawer. Turned out something weighty had bent the top downward on the case and so it was pressure on the drawer not allowing it to open. Now it is perfect. Also just got a DVL 909 for less than $50. If you want LD/DVD playback on the same unit, they are great,

Sorry CED fans to be taking up space with LD matter!