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CD player - skips and static pops ... related?

Over the last 5,6 months or so, my Meridian 506.24 has started skipping. Initially, it was just once every couple of weeks, but recently its been once a day. Also, recently, I hear a static pop coming through the speakers usually accompanied by a skip but NOT always. Are these two issues related? Is this typical behavior for a dying cd player? Ugh ... I love my Meridian and don't want to start auditioning players again.

I'm reasonably sure that the pops are not related to my amps. Both power(SS)and pre (tube) have been upgraded recently and the problem existed before the change. I'm also sure that it's not a tube issue, replacing with new tubes has no effect. This popping occurs at low volumes and normal volumes so I don't think I'm clipping the amp. I'm reasonably sure the speakers are fine, they went back for a refinish job a couple of months back and were also checked out and given a clean bill of health.

Other than the skipping & popping everything sounds great, no obvious distortion of any kind.

The Meridian is getting up there in age. This static popping has me worried that maybe there is another issue involved here. Could electrical surges being causing this?

Thanks in advance for any advice.
tooter

Showing 4 responses by tooter

tooter OP
85 posts
 
Thanks for the responses.

Elizabeth - what constitutes a "abit of soft material" Would a q-tip do the trick? I'm afraid to scratch the lens.

Is it safe to use the compressed air on the lens?
tooter OP
85 posts
 
I think I will try the compressed air first. If that doesn't work then the q-tip/alcohol route. Hopefully that will do the trick.

Gs5556 - my first hunch was what you are describing - arcing. Hopefully we're wrong, and a lens cleaning will do the job. The thought of putting significant $ into repairing an older CD player isn't particularly appealing ... hopefully it's an easily repairable issue.
tooter OP
85 posts
 
Somebody just posted a thread about occasional pops heard through his/her speakers thinking that maybe static electricity could be causing this. A fellow a'goner responded supporting this. I wonder if I am experiencing this also. I live in NYC where we have very dry winters. I am going to try a humidifer and see if that helps the popping. Hopefully the air/q-tips will alleviate the skipping!

Thanks everyone!
tooter OP
85 posts
 
In case anyone is still following this thread ... I tried some compressed air on the lens and it seems to have done the trick, no skipping for a week, fingers crossed, knock on wood.

The popping also has abated since moving a humidifier into my listening/living room. I don't really understand the science behind this one but go figure.

Thanks everyone.
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