AVM MP 5.2 Transport Problem

12 years is not bad for a transport IMO.  Discontinuation of transports has always been an issue with CD/SACD drives and something we just have to accept as audiophiles that prefer physical media. Many companies have experienced the same issue. If I were in your position, I would bite the bullet for the 899 euros. A good separate transport would run you quite a bit more, especially if you want SACD playback. 

That's not an option as far as I'm concerned. I'm not going to fall into the same trap twice. How can I be sure that other parts in this machine that have no replacement won’t fail in the near future?

@taviran - fair point. I believe Linn had this issue with the CD12. They stocked up on transports, but, as I recall, one owner had a faulty internal ribbon cable, which could not be replaced. At least that’s what I remember about the situation. In your case, it appears that buying a separate transport is the only option and use the player as a dac.  Unless you want to convert to streaming, of course. 

taviran 

... How can I be sure that other parts in this machine that have no replacement won’t fail ...

But the company does have a replacement for the failed part. It’s just that you don’t like the price.

Teac makes a large percentage of the world's optical drives.   It can happen with any device ,  it's too bad AVM didn't maintain a stockpile.   

I would also get it repaired,  it's 10% of the price new...    

You don't have many options for CD transports these days.  

I think some of you guys are missing the point. A new laser pickup assembly usually costs around 50 dollars. A new transport about 300 dollars. 899 Euro is to change the transport and the supporting electronics that fits their newer model. Now, is 12 years a reasonable time to expect to reinvest 10% in your player because you need to change a part that costs 0.5%? I don't think so.      

Sounds like you are lucky and 899 Euros sounds like a great deal. 

Twelve years is a decent run for a transport. I had a Sonic Frontiers CD player that needs a new transport every three years. 

CD players are on the way out as a main stream platform. Streaming is taking over fast... there simply isn't much of a case for them... so transports will become less available and more expensive. 

I hear you. Many have had that experience with various lasers. Hence when I purchased the Jay's cdt2-mk3, I also bought the Philips replacement laser. At 71 years old, that should carry me through.

I just replaced the Philips CD Pro 2 drive in my 2003 Accustic Arts transport. I should note that the drive had not failed but I wanted to try out the new Volpe audio drop in replacement drive for the CD Pro 2 they have just introduced as I felt it would offer an uptick in performance over the original (it did), Anyway the cost of the CD Pro V, as it is called, was 1500 euros for the part.

@OP - I think you are fortunate that the manufacturer has a replacement part available. Any electronic component can fail. Your Cary transport could have failed at 12 years and the an AVM Teac part could have gone to 20 years.