My Music Hall CD 25 just died

oppo take your pick

What are the symptoms of not working. Is it not reading a disc and not powering up, or? Its a possibility that it can be an easy cheap fix but most likely its the laser. I am not to familiar with PC based audio so I will leave that up to another.

Teac PD-H600. I had the Music Hall and the Teac was a very nice improvement.

Bury it.

Frankly, I'd make the move to computer audio. Lots of options, but I chose a Mac Mini, running Pure Music. Into a good DAC- of which there are many affordable examples available- it beats the sound of all my CD players. And I've had too many to list, from Sony SACD 1, to Electrocompanient, to Ayre, to Resolution Audio, and on and on.

You'll get lots of opinions of course, but I made the move and have been extremely happy.

This may be a lay-up for you ... Marantz cd6004 . It is well reviewed, made in Japan, and just reduced to $400 from its $500 list.

Rich

Used Rega Apollo R, the shoebox one. Very overlooked piece. Very good player, astonishingly good transport.

The Mac Mini is a good suggestion, however..... you will then need pieces to run it properly. Ipad or something to run it like a wireless keyboard and monitor, external HD for backup. If it's a wireless keyboard then a wireless mouse. It does go on.

Agree with the computer path, especially when you're talking $500.

Rusty -

keep us posted on which player you buy next.

Correct me if I am wrong lads ... but, a mac mini, back-up drive, standalone DAC, front end like an iPad ... aren't we past the $1k point and actually close to $1.5k by now. And you have to buy new as used pc equipment is a crap shoot and a half.

Rich

If you have any interest in a computer based system but don't want to deal with the complexity immediately a good path might be to get a decent DAC in the $300 range and pick up a used CD or DVD player to use as a transport.

There are always high-quality players from Pioneer, Sony,, Marantz, Arcam and others for sale here at a fraction of their original price.

Going for a DAC now means you don't have to start over completely when your transport fails, as they all eventually do, and gives you the flexibility to deal with multiple sources in the future.

In answer to your questions:
(1) Definitely do NOT repair it.
(2) Buy something used (but not too old) on Audiogon.
(3) Buy a universal player for CD, SACD and DVD-Audio.
Enjoy the current formats until something better comes along, and it could be awhile.

"Just died". Can you be more specific? Dead, as in no power, no display, no drawer, nothing? If so, it's the power supply, and any competent technician should be able to repair the switch mode supply used in this type of device for $30 or so (time included). Seems sad to toss a piece of gear because of a 30 cent capacitor.

As for the Mac Mini...you can run it headless quite easily (no monitor), and there are free apps available for both Apple and Android phones/devices that will manage the music playback. If you cant afford Pure Music(which runs Mac only), there are others free or nearly free that do a great job as well.

I wont go into a long list of DACS here, but there are many stand alone DACS under $500 that beat the pants off most CD players when fed uncompressed files from a Mac Mini or a PC.

I urge you to strongly consider a move to computer audio..it delivers great digital fidelity, return on investment, and ease of use.

Thanks for the responses so far.

Died: It powers up but it won't read the disc. Minimal interest in rolling the dice on repair, but I might try the scruffy fix-it shop that's nearby.

I've been wanting to plug an Ipod into my system for years. So I'm thinking about getting the Marantz cd6004. It has a USB port up front.

Also, I occasionally find my wife listening to Pandora using her Macbook and pukey Logitech speakers in the same room with our Gradient/Musical Fidelity system. With the Marantz- I can get ipad mini/ipod touch with Pandora app and plug it in for her enjoyment and my relief.

And the Ipad/Ipod route appeals to me because my system is stuffed tight into a cabinet. It won't fit a standard sized component to access interent radio.

Thanks again.

If it won't read the disc, I'd obviously suspect something in the optical/laser head assembly. At this point given its age, I wouldn't sink any crazy money into it - if you can have it evaluated cheaply, maybe clean the lens then I'd give it a whirl. If not, to the great recycling center in the sky (most likely China).

I agree with Rar1. The Marantz 6004 is an excellent cdp for the money and carries a 3 year warranty.

Rusty -

you could buy another Music Hall or Creek cd player?

I'll take it off your hands.  I do that kind of work all the time, problem is it can take more than a few hours and you'll be in it for more than you can find something much better these days but I'm 58, I got a shop full of projects and I love that stuff,  

If you're interested let me know I'll pay shipping and some extra.

Gfmckell@gmail.com

Also, consider a Wiim with an outboard dac. Even the wiim Pro plus has an ex ellent DAC on board. One thing people tend to overlook is that some of us still ha e a huge CD collection. Mark my words, CD's are worth pennies now but there will ba a CD revolution. Nostalgia.

pokee1016

Very cool that you repair CD players. And yes, CD and SACD are far from dead as a format.

 

Happy Listening!