CED VideoDisc and Player Discussion

[Firthy2002]

Hi there.

Watching some CED demonstration videos on YouTube has got me interested in this short-lived but technically interesting format. Looking on eBay yielded discs but no players being sold in the UK right now.

However, looking at the FAQ and doing a search I still have a couple of questions.

1) Do players only play CEDs that are specifically PAL/NTSC format? Any players that can handle both video formats?
2) Any particular models of player to look out for/avoid like the plague?
3) Best place to obtain replacement styli?

Many thanks!
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-=Firthy2002=-

[RT9342]

Hopefully other people can provide more help, as I'm not an expert on PAL models, but maybe I can help some.

With CED, NTSC discs will not work on PAL players and vice-versa. And as far as I know, there were no dual-format players. Devices that are capable of playing both NTSC and PAL (whether it be a VCR, TV, video game system, etc.) switch between different video circuits to decode NTSC or PAL, but more is needed for a CED player. The two versions of CED players also use different resonators in the stylus arm and different turntable speeds, and the way many players are built, you really can't change the turntable speed without adding frequency converters or doing other changes. I'm not saying it would be impossible to have built a dual-format CED player, but it wouldn't have been cost effective until they came up with cheaper players.....but sadly, the format didn't last long enough to see those days.

As far as players to avoid, that would probably be more of a matter of preference. Many people say to avoid RCA's SFT and SGT models, due to the fact that they're "more difficult to work on." However, in my case, I have more experience working on those models than RCA's later models, and I personally find the older ones easier to deal with. I used to advise against buying players made by Toshiba, because they use a sub-standard belt size that's almost impossible to find, and when you use the next closest belt size, it will keep slipping off the pulley. However, this site has a link to where you can buy replacement pulleys to solve that problem. Hitachi-built players may not be a good choice. I've heard complaints about them being unable to play slightly warped discs, due to the fact that they have a tiny turntable. Also, replacement styli for Hitachi players are real hard to come by, so if you have a bad Hitachi stylus, you will probably have to have it repaired by CEDatum than replaced.

Speaking of CEDatum, they are a good source for replacement styli. And as I mentioned before, they refurbish them too. And they carry a number of replacement parts, schematics and service manuals, and they can even install audio/video jacks in older players that do not have them. Their website is cedatum.net.

[cbertra2]

I have had styli repaired by CEDatum and they are just as good as a new one. They are more than just refurbished they have a brand new needle installed.

The Toshiba players work fine but you must use the round belt option and new pulley as described by CED Magic. I have repaired more than ten Toshiba players and they are a very robust player, I highly recommend them.

Having repaired many Hitachi players, they also work very well and you only have to replace two belts, the load belt and drive belt. When Hitachi styli go bad you have to have them rebuilt by CEDatum as there are no more NOS available.

I always recommend a rebuilt stylus over a new one just to keep the number of styli in circulation. Never throw away a worn stylus. Have them rebuilt or put them up for bid on Ebay. Even a worn stylus has value because they can be repaired.