Sony CDP-508ESD CD Player Back In Action
bcwsrt
Posts: 1,878
in Electronics
I’ve got a 90’s-era Sony CDP-508ESD CD player that I’ve had since new. Like my RTA 15TLs, this thing was out of commission for a number of years. The last time I tried to fire it up 3, or so, years ago and another time a year or two before that, the drawer occasionally stuck and would need to be coaxed out by hand and it tended to skip routinely on the last track or two of longer CDs.
I pulled it out again earlier this week, mainly because I have an unused shelf or two on my rack that would look better with something on it! To my surprise, the drawer has so far miraculously healed itself and has been working perfectly!
On the playback, though, it didn’t even want to begin playing a disc at first. So, I let it sit there powered up for an hour or so and tried it again and off it went. But, then I tried the “shuffle” mode and that totally threw it off again. It would just sit and spin like it was trying to find a track it wanted to play. A few times it would finally start playing again, but somewhere in the middle of whatever track it landed on.
We went out to eat and I left it powered up while we were gone and when I returned the shuffle playback started working somewhat better, thought still had issues acting confused at times. That night, I left it playing in "continue" (non-shuffle) mode, on repeat all night long.
By the next morning (yesterday), shuffle mode began working flawlessly. So, I let it go a good part of the next day playing Dire Straits "Brothers In Arms," which takes up a good part of an entire disc in shuffle mode just let it get some exercise. It now seems as if it's back to its former glory. It'll go from track 1 to track 10 and back again in a near instant and play either one without any fuss. It'll fast forward or rewind and begin playing normally. No skipping or weird searching noises coming from inside like before.
I just put it on the rack and am listening to it again for the first time in years. Still sounding good! Actually, really good!
Is there some cleaning or lubrication I can do myself that might help this from happening again, or is it enough to just keep using it more regularly and then all should be well?
Also, how is this player regarded in today’s world? I've been researching the past couple of days and sound like the DAC is showing its age, which one would expect. Last week when I still thought this thing was toast, I just about bit on the Rega Apollo that a member had for sale. I'm glad I didn't, now, but not sure how much this vintage player leaves on the table vs. newer technology. It does have an optical output, so suppose there's an option to just use it as a transport if an outboard DAC would make a big enough difference and I decided to go that route.
I pulled it out again earlier this week, mainly because I have an unused shelf or two on my rack that would look better with something on it! To my surprise, the drawer has so far miraculously healed itself and has been working perfectly!
On the playback, though, it didn’t even want to begin playing a disc at first. So, I let it sit there powered up for an hour or so and tried it again and off it went. But, then I tried the “shuffle” mode and that totally threw it off again. It would just sit and spin like it was trying to find a track it wanted to play. A few times it would finally start playing again, but somewhere in the middle of whatever track it landed on.
We went out to eat and I left it powered up while we were gone and when I returned the shuffle playback started working somewhat better, thought still had issues acting confused at times. That night, I left it playing in "continue" (non-shuffle) mode, on repeat all night long.
By the next morning (yesterday), shuffle mode began working flawlessly. So, I let it go a good part of the next day playing Dire Straits "Brothers In Arms," which takes up a good part of an entire disc in shuffle mode just let it get some exercise. It now seems as if it's back to its former glory. It'll go from track 1 to track 10 and back again in a near instant and play either one without any fuss. It'll fast forward or rewind and begin playing normally. No skipping or weird searching noises coming from inside like before.
I just put it on the rack and am listening to it again for the first time in years. Still sounding good! Actually, really good!
Is there some cleaning or lubrication I can do myself that might help this from happening again, or is it enough to just keep using it more regularly and then all should be well?
Also, how is this player regarded in today’s world? I've been researching the past couple of days and sound like the DAC is showing its age, which one would expect. Last week when I still thought this thing was toast, I just about bit on the Rega Apollo that a member had for sale. I'm glad I didn't, now, but not sure how much this vintage player leaves on the table vs. newer technology. It does have an optical output, so suppose there's an option to just use it as a transport if an outboard DAC would make a big enough difference and I decided to go that route.
Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM
Comments
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Use it. Leave it plugged in to keep caps energized.
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You can clean the optical pickup lens with denatured alcohol. Use a Q-tip damp, not soaked, to very gently rub the lens. The player should be unplugged when doing that.
You can wipe clean the sled rails and re-lube with M-Kote EM-30L. A little bit goes a very long way.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Thanks for the cleaning and lubricant tips!
I’ll have to take the cover off of it and see what it looks like in there after I enjoy it for awhile longer as-is. I’m honestly a little shocked it’s running so nicely again at the moment.
Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM -
Never look at the optical pickup laser when powered up as that will cause permanent damage to your eyes.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Definitely not. I wouldn’t even pull the cover off unless it was unplugged. 👍Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM -
This guy made wall art out of one.
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
OK, that is BA! The next drawer stick or skip outta mine and it’s on! 😂
I kinda wish I hadn’t thrown my very first receiver away right now! 🤨😀 Love the creativity.Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM -
OK, that is BA! The next drawer stick or skip outta mine and it’s on! 😂
I kinda wish I hadn’t thrown my very first receiver away right now! 🤨😀 Love the creativity.
Wait? What?! You can throw this stuff away?!?!
I... I think I have some work to do...
