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Hi folks,A friend of a friend has an Arcam Alpha CD player. As far as I know it does not have a number suffix.
Can anyone tell me a few facts about it?
What DAC? (TDA1541?)
What transport? (Probably Philips but need model).
How old are they?
Anyone have a schematic? Searching is hard because there are so many Arcam Alpha players with number suffixes.They want me to have a go at fixing it, which I can probably do but I need some info before I give them any hope.
BTW, it apparently sounds permanently distorted, although the fault first appeared only at the ends of CDs and only after the player warmed up. I'm hoping it has a digital out so at least I can isolate the problem to transport or DAC sections.
Any titbits of knowledge on this digital dinosaur would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Glenn.
Hi Glenn,Can't help you in identifying the player. However, once you've figured that part out, it's pretty easy to get the schematics. Just email tech support at Arcam and kindly ask them for the service manual. They were very helpful in providing me the service manual for the FMJ CD23. I see know reason why they wouldn't give you the schematic for the older products.
Cheers,
David ParryPS. I used the support@arcam.co.uk e-mail address at the attached URL
Hi Glenn,I sold my Arcam without open it, so not very helpful. It needs to have a number suffix, as they don't have the same parts used.
You'll need to investigate a bit more. You should use a sinewave encoded demo disc. Very usefull when troubleshooting in the analog area. Then go directly at the I/V output and check the wave form. If it's good looking and sound bad, it's further in the analog circuit.
Once you know a bit more where the trouble is and it still do it when warmed up, you can play freezer/heatgun party. Beware of plastic!
And as the end of the disk is when the player is warmed up, you'll need to try reading the end of the CD when the unit is cold.
Regards,
Daniel Trudeau
Thanks Daniel,
My friend (who is not the owner - the owner is HIS friend) believes the player is just called an Arcam Alpha, not an Arcam Alpha 8 or 7se or anything like that. Maybe it was the first Alpha they made and as such didn't have a suffix?? Unless they are mistaken and that isn't its full title.
The problem has developed further now and it won't read a disc. Sounds to me like the laser has perished. I expect the transport is Philips and I know you can still buy replacements for CDM12 but I don't know about the older ones. It's too old to be CDM12.
Glenn.
Glenn,If it's right, the player is old enough that you should be able to find a lightly used newer model for not much more money and it'll sound way much better. Troubleshooting may be fun, but sometimes doesn't warrant the hassles of finding schematic and obsolete parts. Right now, I have a case: a fine working AKAI integrated amp that need new output relays. But it dated of more than 20 years ago and they are scarce.
Regards,
Daniel Trudeau
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