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Problem with my Sony SCD-777ES

My Sony has developed a problem. It generally refuses to play SACDs, and when it will play them, it does so with a very audible mechanical clicking sound. A bit temperamental with redbook CDs as well.

Here in the SF Bay Area, Sony no longer has a repair depot that accepts customer drop-offs. I would need to ship the unit to them, which I would prefer to avoid if possible. To get counter service, I need to go to a Sony authorized service provider, but I wonder if any of these shops really know what they are doing with a unit like the 777.

Any thoughts?
drubin

Showing 6 responses by drubin

drubin OP
3,277 posts
 
Thanks for you ideas, everybody. My unit is almost a year old and is fully broken in.

This morning, it seems to be playing SACDs, but the mechanical noise persists. It is both louder and more rapid at the lower-numbered tracks than towards the end of a disc. This should be a dead giveaway, I would think, to someone who knows how these things work. The noise is not present with redbook CDs nor with the CD layer of dual-layer discs.
drubin OP
3,277 posts
 
Yes, I powered down for two hours, re-leveled, and still have the clicking sound.
drubin OP
3,277 posts
 
I agree, and that's what I'll do. Just hoping there was an easier solution.
drubin OP
3,277 posts
 
Interesting! With SACD I get the NO DISC message and also a hang in TOC read mode. I also get a lot of skipping with redbook CDs, a problem I never had with my Levinson or the two JVC CDPs I had before. However, I have had no trouble reading the few CDRs I've tried.

JD, just in case this turns out to be a major problem (not likely, but who knows), I think I should let Sony handle it under warranty. But I sure hope it doesn't take several months!
drubin OP
3,277 posts
 
My unit is with Sony. Three weeks, they say. I will report back. -Dan
drubin OP
3,277 posts
 
Got the unit back yesterday, less than 4 weeks after I shipped it off. Not too bad. Paperwork is skimpy, but indicates they replaced a motor. Seems to be working just fine. No charge, of course.

Interestingly, I shipped it to Sony in Fremont, California. It was returned (UPS overnight) from Sony in Westwood, Mass. Like that garment bag of mine that once went from San Francisco to London by way of Bangkok.
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