I am looking at a used Parasound cdp. I know that it is based on amount of use , but on average how long should a unit last, and what amount of maintance is required? I read in other threats about the laser having to be serviced in some units. Gary
So we should continue filling landfills with our outdated toys in order to continually propagate the development cycle? Our economy seems to be based on: 1. Filling landfills with the old so everyone will run out to the store and buy the latest gadgets with our low APR credit cards. 2. Cycling the old through Ebay and Flea Markets in the secondary economy. 3. Filling up U-Stor-It garages until we stop making the monthly rent payments thereby the contents are seized and end up back at nos. 1 and 2.
I know from talking to service guys that a problem that drives 'em crazy is getting a unit in for service ( disc skiping,won't read -whatever) and realizing that it's the same mechanism they are already familiar with on a hate and despise basis from other co.'s products. DVD recorders suffered from this bigtime a year or so ago - apparently almost everyone bought their laser plus spin n tray from the same OEM in Taiwan (Funai) - none of 'em worked. Frankly - from my point of view - the major problem is that CDP's last too long - people are still playing what were once pretty good for the time players - better and cheaper things have come along since and they just won't give up on that 20 year old treasure.
OK, now I see where you're coming from, Grant. Yes, we're saying the same thing. Previously, the Philips units were inferior to Sony. The Audio Aero Primas with the Philips part were really bad. Now, it's the other way around - I have very little confidence in the Sonys from the past couple of years.
Here's the management design cycle of a product: 1. Manager starts new project and pushes engineers to develop the product on time and on budget. 2. Manager transfers to a new project before the testing is completed which will require redesigns and cost increases. 3. New manager takes over the project and pressures engineers and manufacturing to reduce costs in the design, the parts and the manufacturing process. Manufacturing is outsourced overseas to maximize profitability. 4. Manager transfers to a new project before the warranty costs start coming in . 5. New manager takes over the project and pressures engineers and manufacturing to improve quality of the product without adding cost. 6. Product sales drop off due to poor reputation. Management starts the product design cycle over using the previous bad design as the starting point.
The Droplet is the only Consonance to currently use the Philips. Along those lines, it is the only Consonance player not to have laser assembly worries. The first generation of Droplets used the Sony, and had LOTS of problems. What is interesting is that if you read the review, you can see that even the review sample that won the 6moons.com Blue Moon Award was having issues during the review. Truly a harbinger of the future.
Apart from the Reference 2.0 SACD player which used a Sony SACD assembly (good thing, as I hear the Philips SACD assemblies are as just as horrible as the Sony CD assemblies), the older Consonance players, including the initial iteration of the CD120 Balanced, were Philips. They fail once in a great while. Since they are front loaders with a drawer, once they fail, you have a nice doorstop as the company does not support them. All CD120 Linear players use the Sony CD transport.
Sony 608es from 1989 stills works perfect in my secondary system. Sony X77es still works perfect, used as a transport average use would be in excess of 3000 hrs per year.
I think the consonance now uses philips transports. Mine played up in the consonance cd120 linear after 6 months. They replaced the transport with I think a philips no problems since. Cheers, Steve.
Grant, actually, it's the other way around - the Philips is far better than the Sony.
From what I understand, that wasn't the case more than 5 years ago. However, since Sony shifted production to China, the quality of its laser assembly has really fallen off the cliff. In the case of a bunch of the Consonance players that used the Sony that I imported in 2007, you were lucky to have the laser work when you opened the box and took the player out. That's quality control for you. I've never had to repair a Philips, the number of Sonys I've fixed in a 2 year period was somewhere between 75 and 80.
The first CD player I ever bought, a Pioneer PD5100 in 1987 for $99 has played flawlessly multiple times a week since I brought it home that day. So, as has been said, there's little correlation between time and use and reliability. Sometimes I've wondered if a player or transport built several years ago is a good option for an audiophile in the market, as if you have a laser that was built in Japan and is working soundly, there's no reason it won't continue to do so far into the future.
Back in 1988 I bought a Denon DCD-1500 CD Player. Keep it for about 10 years then gave it to my daughter. She still uses it to this day. Trouble free, never serviced.
Gary Never mind I checked the archives myself,according to Elizabeth,her Sony cd changer was used on avearage 70 hours a week for 10 years.That's 36000 hours! George
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
