My son's Rega Saturn has quit reading and thus obviously playing CD's. I am planing to replace the laser mechanism when I visit him but would like to replace the whole transport/laser system. The only replacement I can find is on AliExpress and it doesn't say which Rega player it works for. I believe someone said it is actually a Sanyo transport/laser. Can anyone tell me if the laser assembly is basically identical for the original Rega Apollo's and Saturn's? Otherwise what else I might check. The internet seems to show that the Saturn has problems reading certain CD's but mine has never had a problem and his started to glitch a little and finally won't initialize the CD when inserted. Thanks you in advance for any help you can offer.
According to the Dutch Audio Classiscs site, The D/A list, lists DAC and laser used, says it's the Sanyo SFP-101
Absolutely loads on eBay.
Just make sure whether you need the 15 or 16 pin version.
Also, I've had on some ebay bought ones, the PCB attached to the laser sits lower than the original and on some models, Apollo mainly, can foul on what's below.
P
Absolutely loads on eBay.
Just make sure whether you need the 15 or 16 pin version.
Also, I've had on some ebay bought ones, the PCB attached to the laser sits lower than the original and on some models, Apollo mainly, can foul on what's below.
P
Thanks percival007 that is indeed valuable information and as I look at it, it is definitely very similar but I don't have his CD player and won't until I visit him later so I will have to see about the 15 vs 16 pin version. Hopefully they come with a new connector as some talk about the flexible cable as a common cause of failure since it moves a lot.
It seems to have taken forever to get my sons Rega Saturn to my house as he has been busy moving and so we have not seen him in some time. So I have his player now and it indeed seems to be the Sanyo SFP-101 transport and laser, identical to mine in fact. I see that it is the 16 pin version and can order a replacement laser transport but would also like to replace the ribbon cable. Which in his machine is a Sumitomo AWM 2986 80C VW-1 cable with 16 pins and a 1.0mm pitch that is 11cm long. I have not been able to source for this cable, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I finally was able to get to his player and replaced the transport and laser with 2 different laser units and it still does not work. The CD spins and it says initializing but a long pauses comes up with no disc in all cases. I am pretty limited in what I know electronically but have built a number od Dynakits back in the day so know my way around a circuit board etc. So with this limitation I was hoping someone else has run into this issue with a the Rega Apollo or Saturn and might give me some suggestions as to why this is happening and what might be a remedy. Unfortunately we are extremely limited in reliable service repair in these parts. Thanks for any help offered.
Yes I did desolder the short point on the laser. Sure thought that would cure the problem but not so much. I am unfamiliar with any way to calibrate the laser however as that hasn’t been needed in any other laser I have replaced, but as I said I am not great at electronics, but pretty good and mechanical repair. Thanks for the possibility though.
I guess this is not an easy fix and my electronics knowledge is too limited to delve into this deeper so can someone recommend a possible place to have the Saturn repaired? We have only one local repairperson who is trustworthy and he doesn’t typically work on CD players as he doesn’t have the calibration CD’s etc. He thinks it is likely a possible adjustment of the laser power feed or possibly the tracking but without the proper equipment doesn’t want to probe. Thanks for any help you can offer. FYI I live on the east side of Washington state.