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The-Bullet 
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 Topic: Tech Head help please
Posted: January 03 2006 at 14:22 |
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I have just got an Arcam CD73 cd player (new). It skips several times during the first 15-20 mins of listening. It happens across a range of cd's. All the cd's are originals in perfect and clean condition and they all play fine on other systems. After the first 20 or so mins the player performs perfectly. I took the cd player back to the store today (Sevenoaks, Peterborough UK). They tested it and (Sod's law) it didn't jump. Despite my protestations they refused to exchange it. I got it home, set it back up, and 7 mins into the Minstrel in the Gallery it skipped again. I backed tracked the cd and it didn't skip. I then tried another cd and it skipped again several times. I have definately ruled out the cd's as a problem. Something is causing this cd player to skip. The player is on a flat vibration free surface. Anyone out there have any ideas as to what the problem could be that could cause a cd player to jump early on, but play fine afterwards ?...Thanks
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"Why say it cannot be done.....they'd be better doing pop songs?"
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goose
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Posted: January 03 2006 at 16:11 |
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It could be the power supply not being quite right, although the only reason I can see for it being better after twenty minutes is a capacitor charging inside the machine - I don't know if there's likely to be anything taking that long to charge inside it, but I guess it's possible.
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Tony R
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Posted: January 03 2006 at 17:57 |
Have you got anything resting on top of it?
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The-Bullet
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Posted: January 03 2006 at 18:02 |
Thanks for the reply. I've been racking my brains trying to think what it might be. The same thing happens whether the machine has just been switched on or if it has been left powered on overnight, and with and without headphones. The room is relatively cool (64f or 18c) but well within acceptable limits. I'm going to have to try returning it again and see what happens 
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"Why say it cannot be done.....they'd be better doing pop songs?"
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GoldenSpiral
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Posted: January 03 2006 at 18:17 |
Wow, sounds like a bad player to me... but I wouldnt rule out power supply or poor ventilation. It could be you have sloppy power in your house (which is not your fault, it has to do with your neighborhood power grid). I had problems like this living in college dorms which always have abominable power issues... the CD player would sometimes skip or turn off or go into power protect mode without notice. Also, make sure it has proper ventilation, although in a cool room this doesnt seem to be your problem. I would take it back and get it checked out again, and if you decide not to exchange it, perhaps try using a special power strip that cleans up the current before it enters your devices. they can run on the expensive side, but it might solve your problem (though i provide no guarantees!  )
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The-Bullet
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Posted: January 03 2006 at 18:46 |
Thanks all. No Tony nothing is resting on it, nor is it on top of anything else. As for the power supply - if this was the cause my uneducated guess would be that it would continue to skip throughout at various intervals rather than play flawlessly after the first 20 mins or so.
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"Why say it cannot be done.....they'd be better doing pop songs?"
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oliverstoned
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Posted: January 04 2006 at 03:01 |
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Quite strange issue. I was thinking about a potential power issue, like the others, but considering that devices are designed to stand power variations and that CD players use very few power, it's not very expectable.
Of course, i was also thinking of a dirty lens, but it's also unlikly as the device is new and the problem would not be random. You can try anyway to clean with a dry lens cleaner (avoid cleaning liquids that may let a layer on the lens).
Let us know if your pb is solved.
BTW, Arcam is a good choice on a musical level.
Edited by oliverstoned
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The-Bullet
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Posted: January 04 2006 at 23:45 |
I took it back in today (wedneday). This time when they tested it, it wouldn't scan to track 1, which was a relief to say the least. The guy wasn't pleased about it, but he had no choice but to replace it. He did moan that he would have trouble getting credited for it by Arcam. I said I couldn't care less and that was his problem. I won't be using that particular dealer again. I went to an "upmarket" dealer for peace of mind that if I had problems then they would sort it. I was obviously mistaken I will be documenting this episode and sending it to Arcam for all the good it will do. BTW the new one is great (touch wood)
Thanks all...
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"Why say it cannot be done.....they'd be better doing pop songs?"
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oliverstoned
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Posted: January 05 2006 at 01:05 |
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Good news...it was almost sure that it was a manufacture default...It's musical, isn't it?
And BTW, what's your system's made of?
Edited by oliverstoned
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oliverstoned
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Posted: January 05 2006 at 02:52 |
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The-Bullet
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Posted: January 05 2006 at 16:48 |
Hi Olly. Not sure what you mean by "musical". It has a well defined sound - all instruments appear clear and seperate, but in regards to audiophile type descriptive adjectives I wouldn't have a clue. All I can say is I am more than happy with what I have. It sounds great. My other components are :
Pro-ject 2 turntable with project phono stage amp, Arcam CD73T cd player, Nad c352 amp, Sony tape deck and tuner, Quad 11L speakers connected with QED Silver anniversary speaker cables (Bi-wired), Van den Hul The Source Hybrid interconnects.
One thing I can say is that the Nad amp drives Quad speakers very nicely.
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"Why say it cannot be done.....they'd be better doing pop songs?"
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oliverstoned
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Posted: January 06 2006 at 07:03 |
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Try vib cancelling and power optimization to upgrade!
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The-Bullet
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Posted: January 06 2006 at 12:27 |
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Yep, looking into getting some sorbothane or similar isolation feet - keeping it low cost. As regards power optimization - not sure my system warrants high price power cords, and power filtering, not yet anyway. Thanks for the tips..
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"Why say it cannot be done.....they'd be better doing pop songs?"
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oliverstoned
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Posted: January 06 2006 at 12:44 |
Forget the sorbothane feets, it's crap.
Better turn on cheap -but good- steel cones.
I will look for some cheap ones, if you're interested in.
But the good deal are ceramic "Golden sound" cones.
You can put it below the Cd and below the amp, for sure and maybe the turntable.(CD first)
It's not a little upgrade, but a Dramatic one!!!
And your system deserves it!!
When you have your vib cancellers, put your CD perfectly horizontal in the two dimensions using a plumb level and thin steel pieces to adjust it, if needeed.
Dramatic upgrade also. Then, put a heavy object (-like a big encyclopedia i.e-) on top of your CD player. It will calm down vibes.
The horizontalty tip must be also done on turntable and Speakers, for a huge -but free- upgrade.
There are cheap power cords which work, like the Eupen IMU13, but i'm not sure it's available in the UK.
A good power cable is essential as it removes half of the harshness.
A few basic but essentials tips about power optimization:
-Use differents wall plugs for each device. Better use plugs with ground. To use differents wall plugs will also enables you to separate digital from the rest of the system (cause digital pollutes much).
-Avoid multiplugs -even audiophile ones which are mostly crap- cause it ruins the sound and make you loose half of the dynamic.
-Check the power phase. Ultra simple, but essential, check with an electric screwdriver that you're in the good phase sense (ask for details if you don't know).
Also check that the power cable is in the good sense.
If the wall plug is reversed, you can reverse the cable and it's good.A reversed phase completely ruins the sound.
-To go further, use power isolation filters and separate dedicated electric lines.
Edited by oliverstoned
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Tony R
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Posted: January 07 2006 at 07:00 |
I've a similar set up to you Bullet Man:
Arcam CD72,Nad 350 amp but with B&W DM 602 S2's (the system is at least 5 yrs old..).
If you burn CDs on your PC make sure you add text (display artist,album,track etc) because the CD73T will display this stuff and it looks cool...
Edited by Tony R
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oliverstoned
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Posted: January 07 2006 at 09:59 |
Nice little english set-up Tony. Cables?
Better use a good burner
Edited by oliverstoned
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The-Bullet
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Posted: January 07 2006 at 19:25 |
Yes Tony, I noticed the text thing, it does add to the coolness factor. How do you like your speakers ?. I note that B&W are very well thought of generally. I scoured some audiophile forums in search for help a week or so ago. These forums are quite amusing to read sometimes, with guys extoling the virtues of speaker cable that costs £3500 .
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"Why say it cannot be done.....they'd be better doing pop songs?"
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Tony R
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Posted: January 08 2006 at 08:22 |
Yeah,your Silver Anniversary cables are fine (won best buy in What HiFi for a number of years).
The B&Ws a great-sounding for the money but are too big for my room really,dimensions (!!)
Height: 490mm (19.3in)
Width: 236mm (9.3in)
Depth: 306mm (12in)
Net Weight 9.8kg / 22lb
These are the babies I would buy now,at that price point,if I was going to replace the B&W (which I am not)
EPOS M12.2 SPEAKERS
They retail for around £400 and I have auditioned them a number of times (with Rush,Yes and Porcupine Tree).
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Tony R
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Posted: January 08 2006 at 08:23 |
 oliverstoned wrote:
Nice little english set-up Tony. Cables?
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Chord Odyssey 2 cables...
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oliverstoned
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Posted: January 25 2006 at 08:05 |
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Chord is a nice brand in entry-level products.
I used some Chord cable inside my Jolida amp, to transform it from an integrated to a power amp.
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Tech Head help please
