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[CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
https://forum.lddb.com/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=10361		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  doublecee [ 30 Apr 2022, 14:42 ]
Post subject:  [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
Hi all

After a twenty year hiatus, I’m back to my laserdiscs!

I have two regrets. Selling my original CLD-2950 and MLD-7020. I was (like many other) convinced the format is dead.

I also regret that the CLD - 925 does not live up to the then hype of the day.

With a vast collection of LD’s, I dipped my toes into the format during lockdown. I work in Visual FX and also own a record shop. Film production slowed down considerably and my record shop was deemed to be non essential retail here in the UK (I beg to differ), so spent most of the first lockdown in my screening room and watching all my faves. Now I’m hooked again. But the 925 through a Lumagen has always felt like it fell short.

This week I took a punt on a working but troubled 2950. The last owner was it’s 2nd, and he freely admitted he’d been inside after being given some advice on a forum to adjust the RF level pot (by eye). Obviously, not the best solution.

Whilst I have a workbench to service reel to reel machines and cassette decks (recapping, calibration etc for my own stuff - not as a chargeable service), video is where I draw the line. Whilst there are similarities between CD, DAT and LD with regards to RF, I’m not jumping into this one.

I have emailed videotext in Oxford and await an answer.

However, have you experienced similar?



Whilst the image isn’t suffering from the lacklustre DVP on the 925, it is noisy.

I’m guessing either
Alignment
Out of spec calibration
Out of spec caps (video)
Out of spec filter caps (PSU)
Out of spec Laser focus.

I’ve had a look inside. There is evidence of dirt. Smoker maybe?
Laser lens cleaned just in case.

The hook up in the video isn’t via the Lumagen, just a straight composite patch into the cx -5100 with image processing bypassed.

I’m fairly confident this cheap eBay punt can be resolved, and she’s in dire need of an AC3 mod.

If you have any experience with similar fault please let me know. I will of course grab the service manual and hook the oscilloscope up to the test points on Monday just to dial everything in just in case. But looks like a drive to Oxford may be on the cards if it’s more involved than a recap.

Thanks

Doublecee
(Craig Crane)
Author:  laserfanhld-gb [ 01 May 2022, 09:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back on the bandwagon! Noisy 2950 question.
Hi and welcome to the forum :thumbup:

You surprised me regarding Videotec as I sent my very first 2950 down to them back in the late 90s for an AC3 mod and the fitting of a coaxial digital out which they were offering back then, thought they gave up on LD 20 years ago and focused only on Pioneer DJ gear these days?

Regarding the video both my 925s and 2950 really don’t show anything like on the clip you provided and that’s via a Sony 4K VW500ES projector so something clearly amiss with that 2950 it seems and I’m sure someone better qualified than I will come along and advise shortly. Is it the Lumagen Radiance 2144 you own btw? I do find that the 925 running via this VP gives a really decent performance on PAL discs.
Author:  doublecee [ 01 May 2022, 09:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back on the bandwagon! Noisy 2950 question.
I emailed them on the off chance they still can service LD. I may just get an answer that says they stopped years ago.

It’s a Lumagen XD into a Sony 65-es in a dedicated room. Will post pics later this week to introduce myself properly.

Don’t get me wrong, the 925 looks great, but the DVP circuit in that unit gives the image a slightly over processed look. PAL looks great but more evident on NTSC.

Fingers crossed for videotec. If it’s a firm “no”, then I’ll be looking for some UK based recommendations, for sure.

The 2144 is on my list for later in the year. But for now, my main priority is getting the 2950 up to spec (and hopefully beyond) so I can start to use. But the 925 is doing a great job in the mean time, despite its obvious processed look.
Author:  laserfanhld-gb [ 01 May 2022, 10:12 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back on the bandwagon! Noisy 2950 question.
Ah right, it would be excellent to learn that they did still have an interest in the format although I’m not confident, please keep us informed on that one!

If you are lucky enough to source a 2144 then you’ll likely see a far uplift in video performance over the earlier model I think; and I totally agree with your comments regarding the look of the 925s video output, It can work well on a lot of material but on certain discs I can think of, the 2950s more analog look reproduces it somewhat better.

If you don’t have any luck with Videtec I may be able to help regarding finding a reputable LD tech to service the 2950, look forward to the pics!
Author:  rein-o [ 01 May 2022, 14:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back on the bandwagon! Noisy 2950 question.
doublecee wrote:
I was (like many other) convinced the format is dead.



What has changed your though about this now????
They haven't made any parts, new discs or players since it was killed off, you are now into zombie territory.
Author:  doublecee [ 01 May 2022, 16:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back on the bandwagon! Noisy 2950 question.
Good question…. If you check out the links in my signature you’ll see that I live a very digital life in the day job and a very analogue life with the side job.

As someone who has worked in film for many years, laserdisc was a great research tool back in the day. But even as DVD took hold, I refused to get rid of my LD collection just like I never got rid of my vinyl.

A few years back after an exhaustive period of back to back Marvel films, I decided to open up a record shop as a side project and fully embrace the digital detox.

My original 2950 and MLD-7020 were long since sold off so I found a 925 a couple of years back to see a few films that were not widely available and fell back in love with the format.

But as mentioned above, the 925 is a solid machine but it’s DVP is very obvious on a 8ft screen. And I knew the 2950 was a better picture. So the hunt was on to find one. Just need to get it back to spec.

So that’s how I came back. I was very active on the AVS and HomeTheater forum from the very beginning, but as with all things, life gets in the way and last time I took a look at both, it was evident that the old days where Faroudja, Dscaler and HTPC’s are long gone and they’re almost talking a different language.

I love my LD collection. And happy to spend an evening trawling the web for bargains yet again. Obviously now though, some 25 years later, rot is an issue but only a few so far have become an issue.
Criterion Forbidden planet (A real shame!)
Warners US release of Eraser (no big loss to be fair)
Definitive collection copy of TESB (worrying!!)
Author:  cplusplus [ 02 May 2022, 14:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
If you gently tilt the mechanism (large silver metal piece) further back or forward, does it get better or worse?
Author:  doublecee [ 02 May 2022, 14:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
The previous owner suggested it improves / goes away completely by doing so. I gave it a go but lost picture completely. However, I did not explore further as my recollection of the conversation was him saying apply pressure to the rail.

But if we are just talking about the complete mechanism assy, I’ll open her up and give that a gentle move in either direction and feedback to this thread.
Author:  cplusplus [ 02 May 2022, 15:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
Yeah, the entire thing tilts.

Might be easier just to put it into test mode and check/perform mechanical adjustment step 1. You don't need any special tooling.
Author:  doublecee [ 02 May 2022, 15:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
Good to know. I have a service bench for my audio, so fairly confident I have the tools.
I’ll grab the SM (if it’s up on hifi engine) and look up the test mode.

Thanks
Author:  cplusplus [ 02 May 2022, 15:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
It RRV1153: https://manuals.lddb.com/LD_Players/Pioneer/CLD/CLD-2950/
Author:  doublecee [ 02 May 2022, 16:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
Thanks for that.

Previous owner said the only mechanical adjustment he made was the RF level (by eye - no scope etc)

But looking at the SM I see there are a few points I shall explore before touching RF.

I did ask if the machine has had a knock or bump, to which I was told no.
Author:  doublecee [ 06 May 2022, 11:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
Absolute dead end with Videotec. Spoke on the phone and he passed my details to his now retired engineer who did all the LD work. He’s retired and not able.

Is there anyone else in the UK that is is recommended.
Author:  teddanson [ 06 May 2022, 12:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
doublecee wrote:
Absolute dead end with Videotec. Spoke on the phone and he passed my details to his now retired engineer who did all the LD work. He’s retired and not able.

Is there anyone else in the UK that is is recommended.


I imagine someone here will perhaps be in touch with you. :thumbup:

if they do get in touch with you, the person they recommended to me was excellent. They repaired and serviced my 925 after i broke the M Holder by playing a warped disc.

Best of luck. :thumbup:
Author:  siutakkei [ 06 May 2022, 18:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
I've got a very similar situation as yours. Before recapping the power supply for my CLD-HF7G, the picture was very noisy and skipped occasionally. After recapping PSU (excluding the biggest one in the primary which seems OK), the picture becomes clean except the random horizontal herringbone pattern like yours. Should I consider replacing the caps (47uf/100uf) surrounding the IC's of the RF demodulator and Video DVP? I think I'll follow cplusplus' suggestion to tilt the unit and perform mechanical adjustment step 1. Thanks!

Attachments:
CLD-HF7G #1.jpg
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CLD-HF7G #2.jpg
CLD-HF7G #2.jpg [ 382.84 KiB | Viewed 2348 times ]
Author:  laserfanhld-gb [ 06 May 2022, 19:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
teddanson wrote:
doublecee wrote:
Absolute dead end with Videotec. Spoke on the phone and he passed my details to his now retired engineer who did all the LD work. He’s retired and not able.

Is there anyone else in the UK that is is recommended.


I imagine someone here will perhaps be in touch with you. :thumbup:

if they do get in touch with you, the person they recommended to me was excellent. They repaired and serviced my 925 after i broke the M Holder by playing a warped disc.

Best of luck. :thumbup:

Yes, will be happy to advise if the OP wishes Ted :thumbup:
Author:  doublecee [ 06 May 2022, 20:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
The OP certainly wishes ;-)
Author:  laserfanhld-gb [ 06 May 2022, 20:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
doublecee wrote:
The OP certainly wishes ;-)

Will PM you shortly.
Author:  doublecee [ 06 May 2022, 21:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
Message received with thanks.

Have reached out. Updates soon I hope.
Author:  laserfanhld-gb [ 07 May 2022, 07:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: [CLD-2950] Back on the bandwagon! Noisy player question.
Hoping its positive news, good luck :thumbup:
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