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Help With Audiomeca Mephisto 1 CD Transport Top Lid Clamp Platter Replacement

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Posted on May 9, 2023 at 23:46:11
Mikey8811
Audiophile

Posts: 188
Joined: June 4, 2011
 Hi

I have been using an Audiomeca Mephisto 1 CD transport for some years now and lately the clamp platter at the top lid has been problematic. Does anybody know where I may be able to source this part?

Alternatively, if someone has a non working Mephisto 1 and can sell the platter as a part, that would be of great help.



Thanks and regards

 

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RE: Help With Audiomeca Mephisto 1 CD Transport Top Lid Clamp Platter Replacement, posted on May 11, 2023 at 23:04:12
Mikey8811
Audiophile

Posts: 188
Joined: June 4, 2011
 Yes, it would be just the spinning clamp portion and not the entire lid. It looks like it attaches to the lid

 

I Can Only Wish You Luck......., posted on May 11, 2023 at 17:28:54
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37333
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
 I once had an Audiomeca Mephisto transport a long time ago...... This top-loader was the best sounding transport I've ever had..... (And maybe the best looking too... ) The problem was it had "skipping" problems, especially toward the end of CDs..... I ended up getting rid of it because the company no longer existed and there was no knowledge base on maintaining these units.

 

RE: I Can Only Wish You Luck......., posted on May 11, 2023 at 23:05:27
Mikey8811
Audiophile

Posts: 188
Joined: June 4, 2011
 Mine seems to be fine with discs at the end - even long ones.

Did these problems develop or were they there to begin with?

 

RE: I Can Only Wish You Luck......., posted on May 11, 2023 at 23:46:48
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37333
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
 "Did these problems develop or were they there to begin with?"

Kind of both..... At first the skipping at the end of discs was infrequent..... But gradually, the problem got worse..... (The person who bought my unit did tell me he didn't have the problem that I had, but the unit died completely about a year later... But I never knew what he then did with it.)

Nobody knew how to repair these units..... It's not like the CDC-935 players I use now, which I could probably maintain for another 20 years.

 

RE: I Can Only Wish You Luck......., posted on May 12, 2023 at 00:52:05
Mikey8811
Audiophile

Posts: 188
Joined: June 4, 2011
 I have seen images of units with the top clamp removed from the lid and a regular (small) CDM 9 magnetic puck just placed on top of the spindle.

I am wondering if I should go that route if I cannot find the part.

I wonder how much that affects the sound ie. if the heavy clamp platter at the lid contributes a lot to the sound quality.

 

Is That Integrated Clamp Broken?, posted on May 12, 2023 at 18:57:18
Jonesy
Audiophile

Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018
 Can you describe the actual issue?

All CD players have a spinning clamping mechanism or friction fit spindle of some sort to hold the cd in place. Sometimes the clamping ones where the integrated platter spins either start to rub or wobble and get out of alignment. Sometimes taking the clamping assembly apart and cleaning it will help.

There are some other things you can try but best to know what the symptoms are that you would like to fix. Sometimes you get lucky and a simple fix.

Edit: again, I can't tell from available pics, but are there tiny pads on the bottom of the clamp? If they become worn down or even fall off the clamp can slip. The pads can actually become a bit oily-like over the years just from handling discs/finger prints/airbourn dirt/etc and can lose their grip. Rejuvenating by cleaning them using Isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab/Q-tip sometimes helps.

By all means take some pics and upload. Curious to see what is holding the spinning platter in place.

Jonesy


"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

RE: Is That Integrated Clamp Broken?, posted on May 14, 2023 at 01:09:14
Mikey8811
Audiophile

Posts: 188
Joined: June 4, 2011
Basically, my issue is when I lower the lid it doesn't always red the disc on the first try. On subsequent tries it does. Sometimes when it doesn't I reopen the lid. When I do that and reopen it, the platter is occasionally still spinning. Then when I close it again, it will read the contents.

So my guess is the clamp has become less "tight" in fit so to speak.

I sent it to the local tech guy. He says he has repaired and replaced a few of these over time. In the last year, he did one where he could not repair nor replace the attached clamp. He modified it by removing the clamping mechanism attached to the lid and then used a separate magnetic puck (as pictured below).

I guess that is a possible route except I do not know if a separate clamp defeats the purpose of the original design of the lid with the attached clamp. I also do not know the effect on the sound. He says the difference in sound is miniscule - slightly faster and less warm because the magnetic puck is less heavy than the attached clamp.



 

RE: Is That Integrated Clamp Broken?, posted on May 14, 2023 at 05:13:09
Jonesy
Audiophile

Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018



Sounds like your top platter has definitely lost it's clamping integrity. Clamped properly the top platter would stop when the disc stops. If it's not working properly then your CD may slip when the servo motor is trying to spin and sync with the laser. Hence the reading errors.

In this other pic I found a better view of what I believe are the small round pads I mentioned. They appear to be felt or rubber of some type. If they have worn down or fallen off, the clamp platter will lose some friction and thickness, thereby allowing it to slip as you describe.

Did your tech say anything about them? I would think they were replaceable, cleanable, or even supplemented with additional pad material of some sort.

Jonesy

PS You can use "preview" for each time you want to upload an additional pic. That's how I do it. Might be another way?



"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

RE: Is That Integrated Clamp Broken?, posted on May 14, 2023 at 01:12:33
Mikey8811
Audiophile

Posts: 188
Joined: June 4, 2011
No, the integrated clamp is not broken - just the issue I mentioned above.

How do you insert more than one image here?

Below are images of the magnetic puck he used on the last repair he made to someone else's unit



 

RE: Is That Integrated Clamp Broken?, posted on May 14, 2023 at 01:14:14
Mikey8811
Audiophile

Posts: 188
Joined: June 4, 2011
As above, with another image



 

Just a thought--, posted on May 12, 2023 at 18:22:09
Des
Audiophile

Posts: 2110
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Joined: August 3, 2000
Contributor
  Since: August 2, 2000
 Firstly let me say that is one super player/Transport--I have friend with one also--still going strong!

If you just can get by with the magnetic/puck piece /etc give these folks a call--they saved my drive with a genuine factory spare part.

Cost from them $70-- the designated one ex the Player Mfg $1430--they would NOT
supply the puck seperate !

Good luck with your search.



 

RE: Just a thought--, posted on May 14, 2023 at 01:17:19
Mikey8811
Audiophile

Posts: 188
Joined: June 4, 2011
 Thanks Des

The parts in the link they are not for the Mephisto right?

You are just linking to the store correct?

I am not sure if any magnetic clamp will work as it has to fit the size of the lid.

The one I pictured does I presume because it looks like a flat disc. I have seen other clamps which look more solid but they are larger and the sellers do not list the measurements

 

Fine no problem, posted on May 14, 2023 at 21:51:46
Des
Audiophile

Posts: 2110
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Joined: August 3, 2000
Contributor
  Since: August 2, 2000
 I thought maybe that site may have had other spares available --hope you can sort it.

Did you see the near mint Mephisto on Agon?

Good luck,

Des

 

RE: Fine no problem, posted on May 14, 2023 at 21:59:05
Mikey8811
Audiophile

Posts: 188
Joined: June 4, 2011
 Thanks.

I emailed them. They replied to say they don;t have the parts.

Yes, I saw the one on Agon. That is the newer IIx.

 

RE: Fine no problem, posted on May 14, 2023 at 22:05:25
Des
Audiophile

Posts: 2110
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Joined: August 3, 2000
Contributor
  Since: August 2, 2000
The Naim Players under the 555 use the CDM-9 Drive also--Naim sell a magnetic puck for the drive

maybe your tech can adapt one of those?

Des

 

RE: Help With Audiomeca Mephisto 1 CD Transport Top Lid Clamp Platter Replacement, posted on May 11, 2023 at 07:03:00
Mikey8811
Audiophile

Posts: 188
Joined: June 4, 2011
 Thanks Jonesy

Unfortunately, it isn't as simple as that. The lid has the clamp attached and built in so it isn't a generic CDM 9 clamp.

 

RE: Help With Audiomeca Mephisto 1 CD Transport Top Lid Clamp Platter Replacement, posted on May 11, 2023 at 15:09:17
Jonesy
Audiophile

Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018



Ah. I thought it was a sliding lid but see now what you mean after finding a pic. Hopefully you can find that part.

So would it just be the spinning clamp portion and not the entire lid assembly?

Also am assuming the spinning portion can be removed. Can't quite make out if there is a screw or nut there. Sometimes those screws or nuts have to be undone counter to normal so they don't come loose while playing.

Stunning unit by the way.

Jonesy


"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

RE: Help With Audiomeca Mephisto 1 CD Transport Top Lid Clamp Platter Replacement, posted on May 10, 2023 at 18:48:01
Jonesy
Audiophile

Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018
 Do you mean the separate clamp weight that you place on top of the cd in a top load transport?

Just do a search for Philips CDM9 transport clamp. eBay has some available in various styles. Maybe not exact but should work.

Jonesy


"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

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