I'm experiencing some issues with my DVL-700. At the start of a disc, you can hear a rattling sound. Picture is fine and not affected. If you skip a few tracks, the disc will spin slower and the rattling sound is gone. I read this could be a failing spindle motor?
Also, when a fast spinning disc is stopped, the disc will slip and I have to disconnect/reconnect the power to get the disc out.

Here is a recording of the sound:

Does this happen on all discs you have?

I ask this question because it’s not unusual to hear some discs rattling at the initial 1,800 RPM and then quiet down as the disc slows down (CLV). At least in my experience, some of my discs rattle more than others and the cause can be some warpage or even the spindle hole maybe a tad out of alignment. I had one disc that was excessively noisy because there was a noticeable bump at the centering hole and nothing could resolve it (I ended up giving the disc away to a friend).

Lastly, a player will make a difference in disc noise as well. The heavier and better insulated the player is makes for a lot less noise. In fact, I can barely hear the disc spin on my Pioneer, CLD-97 which is a beast of a machine.

Yeah, that just sounds like a Laserdisc player to me.

VERDICT: get soundproof shelves and isolation feet for the deck itself.

The stopping problem is just an old grip ring. You don’t have to pull the plug, and please don’t. It will let you open the door when the disc eventually stops…which can take several minutes. Clear or replace the grip ring and then do it again when it has the same problem in a year or two.

On many discs it does. Sometimes only on one side.

The most important question is: is this DVL-700 the first LD player you’ve ever seen in operation? If it is, then you may be surprised by how loud any LD player is. They are loud.

This is my third. I’m 6 months into LaserDiscs so I’m a newbie.
The rattling sound is new to me, it didn’t do that before.

Welcome to collecting LDs

What other players did you have?

Nearly all players rattle to some degree. Only the single sided 20kg JDM monsters were super super quiet. Even the really good stuff like CLD-97 and LD-W1 rattle a little. The later players usually do it worse. Often you’ll find that it’s highly dependent on exactly how it’s sitting. Sometimes making a little shim out of thick paper will make a huge difference. Either way, unless it’s a CAV disc it gets quieter as the side goes on and most people don’t care.


It may have something loose inside, but probably not.

Pioneer CLD-V250, I sold this one and got the DVL-700 instead.
Kenwood LVD-290, a bit noisy, some skipping issues at the and of a disc, I gave it to a family member.

Those are definitely older and heavier models than your DVL unit so it would make sense they would be a tad less noisy. So yeah, I don't see an issue w/ your current player w/ the exception of what Zeta recommended in respect to replacing the grip ring to fix the braking issue.

This is the main bearings in the motor. Whenever I've run into this, I replace the motor and throw the old one out (or keep it as an emergency spare). You can replace it with the motor from any DVL player. Although of all the DVL units, the 700 is my least favorite.

Well, I did buy a spare motor. If it gets worse I think I'll replace it.