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Help With Misbehaving Rega Planet, Please

99.121.10.73
Posted on November 27, 2024 at 16:30:33
FoldedNapkin
 Hello Everyone,

I've got an original (admittedly ancient) Rega Planet MK1 that is starting to skip several times within a song, while playing a disc, no matter how perfect the disc is.

One other thing I'm noticing is that the display doesn't quite light up as brightly as it once did, but obviously that's not as important as the main issue.

Can anyone tell me if this is usually a sign of a bad laser, bad transport, etc.? And if so, where do I buy genuine replacements for these?

Any suggestions/advice will be most appreciated!

 

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RE: Help With Misbehaving Rega Planet, Please, posted on November 27, 2024 at 20:03:05
Leo loves music
Audiophile

Posts: 749
Location: NJ/NY
Joined: October 14, 2021
 I don't have a Rega CD player so my experience may be not appliable to you.

One of my Rotel RCD-855 CD players used to skip (repeat in my case) like crazy. Here is how I fixed it.

There is a ball bearing on the CD clamping assembly. I removed the ball and greased it. Much better. I also have big speakers (B&W 801, JBL dual 15"). If I played music loud, it would skip. But if I put it on the floor, no skip. So I put some Vibrapods underneath. No skip ever since. Anyway in my case it was not caused by a bad laser.

 

Tried dusting, wiping the laser down w/ cotton swab and cleaning fluid yet ?, posted on November 29, 2024 at 14:41:39
peppy m.
Audiophile

Posts: 5002
Joined: February 19, 2021
 If that does not help, your laser assembly might need replacing. Contact Rega for parts replacement info and/or check on ebay.

BTW, there are no rails to grease in the Rega Planet player because it is a top loading design. It is not a mechanized "transport". It does not depend on a moving platform or a slot mechanism the way most other CD players do...

 

RE: Tried dusting, wiping the laser down w/ cotton swab and cleaning fluid yet ?, posted on November 30, 2024 at 17:43:04
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3511
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000
 Looks like replacement laser assemblies are available on both eBay and AliEx IF the OP up to the task. If not, one might consider shopping for a new transport/DAC combination. Good luck either way.

 

RE: Help With Misbehaving Rega Planet, Please, posted on December 2, 2024 at 09:55:14
zacster
Audiophile

Posts: 2223
Location: NYC
Joined: November 22, 2003
 I know you probably value your CD collection and want to keep playing them but consider looking into streaming as your main source of music. For $10-15/mo you can get most of your CDs online, and tens of thousands more. For those few CDs you can't find online get an inexpensive new transport. Put money into a higher end DAC and use whatever streamer is convenient to you. The DAC can serve both a new transport and the streamer.

I get that you want to keep using what you have and think it is probably the best sound you can get but I think a failing component is just a sign to move on. Things have improved. Would you use a 20-30 year old computer? Would you use a 2mp point and shoot camera, or even an early DSLR? Would you use an iPhone 1?

The thing I would still use though is the analog the digital replaced. My LPs are still regularly played, I just obtained a medium format 120 film camera that will blow away any digital when done right. But I really enjoy Qobuz over my streamer and get to play all those albums I never bought and all the new stuff that appears every Friday, and my iPhone 14 pro takes phenomenal shots and is always with me. There is still a place for both.

 

RE: Help With Misbehaving Rega Planet, Please, posted on December 3, 2024 at 14:03:00
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15942
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Keep me posted if you decide to repair this Player.

 

Unfold the napkin..., posted on December 3, 2024 at 23:52:13
peppy m.
Audiophile

Posts: 5002
Joined: February 19, 2021
 Dip the pointed corner of the napkin in alcohol, give the laser a swipe or two...

Blow-dry the laser with a can of compressed air, try to play a CD...

What happens then ?

And btw, there are no rails to grease in the Rega planet CD player. s a top loader, it has no moving parts that require lubrication.

 

suggestion, posted on December 9, 2024 at 04:56:35
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 11550
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 the grease the factory uses is garden variety grease - cheap stuff

Clean the rails of the cheap stuff and anything in contact with grease, use alcohol and Q-tips. Sometimes it's hard to see the film it leaves because it's not obvious and it hardens with time.

Clean the rails with alcohol, then apply a film of new grease in anything in contact with it. I use "Dupont Krytox" which is 100% Teflon, ANYTHING in CONTACT with the old grease.

If this doesn't work maybe it's replacement time, give it a shot



 

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