The Official LaserDisc Thread

[Takeshi666]

I still think the DTS LD prices are a complete joke. I mean, I thought the whole appeal of them was that you could just hook your player up straight to a receiver without the need for an expensive demodulator, but now the DTS discs cost so much that for the price of two you could just buy the demodulator and the AC-3 versions of those same titles!

Also aren't DTS tracks on LDs remixes where AC-3 ones are not?

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Retroj23

$5? Holy crap. Did you happen to score a copy at a Goodwill Marine?

Friend of mine was moving and clearing out his collection for a bargain. He gave me first dibs before he sold the entire lot for like $1500 along with a lovely x9.

[danny24]

Finally got a working Mcintosh 7020 and it was brand new in box. Walked into a resale shop and they had it for $700. Did not hesitate one bit to buy it my jaw literally dropped. Box is a little dirty on inside and out and I asked where did they get it and they said storage locker auction. The drawer though was really loud and noisy (maybe needs grease on it likely dried out a little) but it spun up and played LD's flawlessly. Gorgeous machine, love it.

[danny24]

Well glad to own a Mcintosh 7020 but it was working perfectly until I ejected the disc and put another one in. After that it wouldn't play an LD but it spun up perfectly. There was a sound coming from inside and I opened it up and it turns out the laser lens is now malfunctioning. It has moments where it won't stop going up and down in one place. So I put in another LD and quickly pressed play on front of machine and it's playing an LD again. So yeah I think the laser lens is malfunctioning and it probably wasn't new. So I likely will have to replace the laser lens at some point. Still these things go for parts for what I paid are hard to come by and I got the manual, remote and box so I can't complain. These machines are getting old now (almost 30 years old) and stuff is just going bad on them I guess. Except for the loud drawer it seems to be in ok working order.

but yeah, not new. anyone know where to buy a replacement laser lens for these?

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by danny24

but yeah, not new. anyone know where to buy a replacement laser lens for these?

What a find! And they are indeed gorgeous. If you ever need more bulbs for the front lights, let me know. I ordered a bunch from McIntosh and have some leftover.

Is it the newer model with AC3? Can we get some pictures? Video of your issue would also be helpful as well. So it spins but it's getting stuck in certain spots? It could be a case of needing lithium grease. Are you able to track back/forth, and skip chapters? Try a CD as well and confirm it reads that on the display panel.

If it's spinning and tracking with no issue then that's good news. The door/drive gear could be a broken cog on the wheel that opens the tray. Hopefully yours doesn't suffer what I call phantom drawer. I've had it happen on two of my 7020s. Basically the door loves to close on its own which can wreck havoc on your discs. It's like a daggone venus flytrap!

So it came in the factory double box? It's a tough call on parts-let alone getting someone to work on ‘em--unless you decide to tackle it yourself. These machines are a pain to work on as they have the two audio boards on top which u have to prop up and open to even access the laser assembly. I've got photos of mine stripped and gutted a few pages back.

The 7020 is a clone of the CLD-97 which I'm sure you're aware of by now. They unfortunately go for a high premium as well these days but if you can find a parts machine it could probably help you out. I'm still trying to track down a spindle motor for my broken 7020.

[danny24]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

What a find! And they are indeed gorgeous. If you ever need more bulbs for the front lights, let me know. I ordered a bunch from McIntosh and have some leftover.

Is it the newer model with AC3? Can we get some pictures? Video of your issue would also be helpful as well. So it spins but it's getting stuck in certain spots? It could be a case of needing lithium grease. Are you able to track back/forth, and skip chapters? Try a CD as well and confirm it reads that on the display panel.

If it's spinning and tracking with no issue then that's good news. The door/drive gear could be a broken cog on the wheel that opens the tray. Hopefully yours doesn't suffer what I call phantom drawer. I've had it happen on two of my 7020s. Basically the door loves to close on its own which can wreck havoc on your discs. It's like a daggone venus flytrap!

So it came in the factory double box? It's a tough call on parts-let alone getting someone to work on ‘em--unless you decide to tackle it yourself. These machines are a pain to work on as they have the two audio boards on top which u have to prop up and open to even access the laser assembly. I've got photos of mine stripped and gutted a few pages back.

The 7020 is a clone of the CLD-97 which I'm sure you're aware of by now. They unfortunately go for a high premium as well these days but if you can find a parts machine it could probably help you out. I'm still trying to track down a spindle motor for my broken 7020.

I actually brought the machine back to the resale shop and showed them the issue with an LD from my collection and got $200 back so I got one for $500 but with a laser lens issue. They wanted to give me $350 back and I was tempted but I told them it's still worth $500 in parts they appreciated the honesty. The laser lens shakes up and down and prevents the disc from being read and the drawer ejecting and closing. It does eventually but only after the laser lens chills out. I still got a good deal on it came with the box, manual, paperwork and remote. It will play a Laserdisc but only if you let it stay off for a few minutes put LD in and quickly press play on the front of the unit. So something mechanical could be stuck on the laser lens because it does function when it wants to. Out of the box when I first used it worked perfectly it only happened after I stopped an LD while playing.

These are amazing looking LD players and yes I know about the CLD-97 both of them are the same except for the front and back. The unit though I got is pristine looking so it likely wasn't new but really well taken care of by original owner.

It's the one with the tan or bronze look on front of unit. does AC3.

[sfmarine]

That is a sweet score for sure! The tan/bronze you're referring to is actually considered gold by LD enthusiasts. You've got a unicorn because the gold edition was only made from '95-'96, and it's rare to see one with the AC3 as they came standard later with the full black models which were produced through '98. I have two black models- A '97 and '98.


What are your plans for the player to get it functioning properly again?

[danny24]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

That is a sweet score for sure! The tan/bronze you're referring to is actually considered gold by LD enthusiasts. You've got a unicorn because the gold edition was only made from '95-'96, and it's rare to see one with the AC3 as they came standard later with the full black models which were produced through '98. I have two black models- A '97 and '98.


What are your plans for the player to get it functioning properly again?

Nice. I will eventually have to try and hunt down a new laser lens and I can open it up and do the repair myself. I also will eventually have a closer look at the unit and what was the grease you mentioned I would need? since the tray is noisy maybe there isn't enough grease someplace or it dried up. It all could be connected. It does work when it wants to though.

[danny24]

I messed around with it for like four hours today. Greased the plastic parts that move in the laser lens cleaned the laser lens. Reassembled, popped an LD in and it played the first time. Still noisy. All the gears looked fine nothing broken and the belts were in place it's just noisy.These things though are exhausting to work on with those two boards on top. Had trouble getting the lens off the back servo mechanism. Likely still need to replace the laser lens though but it worked first time after repair attempt.

[Waboman]

[sfmarine]

Finally picked up the Titanic DTS LD and spun it up last night. Got some nasty feedback with the audio...almost like a distorted chirp.

So I popped in Jurassic Park DTS and it played flawlessly. Then I popped in Lost World DTS and got that same distorted chirping sound. So I feel like this is some sort of processing issue with my receiver.

Anyone have any ideas? Freaking weird to have it happen on some discs and not others.

[Pondosinatra]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

Finally picked up the Titanic DTS LD and spun it up last night. Got some nasty feedback with the audio...almost like a distorted chirp.

So I popped in Jurassic Park DTS and it played flawlessly. Then I popped in Lost World DTS and got that same distorted chirping sound. So I feel like this is some sort of processing issue with my receiver.

Anyone have any ideas? Freaking weird to have it happen on some discs and not others.

Is there such thing as audio rot??

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

Is there such thing as audio rot??

Anything is possible. Lost World side 3 has no sound at all! I even swapped the optical wire just for the hell of it.

My receiver shows DTS on the screen but the signal comes in and out. So bizarre that Jurassic Park plays flawlessly. I wish I had another machine that had AC3. I'm thinking it's my receiver but it's brand new.

[denvertrakker]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

Is there such thing as audio rot??

It certainly sounds like it. Although I would expect there to be problems with the video as well.

I suppose it's possible for the signal to be just enough off to make the digital audio mistrack; it's also possible for the laser to be just enough out of alignment to mistrack on dts where it doesn't otherwise.

I'd say take it in for alignment, but these days...

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by denvertrakker

It certainly sounds like it. Although I would expect there to be problems with the video as well.

I suppose it's possible for the signal to be just enough off to make the digital audio mistrack; it's also possible for the laser to be just enough out of alignment to mistrack on dts where it doesn't otherwise.

I'd say take it in for alignment, but these days...

Right...the video plays fine and the LD player shows it's tracking fine. It really boggles my mind.

Made a short video for ya'll.

Laserdisc DTS problem - YouTube

Lost World played fine with my previous receiver which is why I'm starting to think it's a receiver issue. Just so strange that it plays Jurassic Park with no issue. Someone said it's disc rot but i agree it's more like audio rot but it's oddly strange to have it occur on all the discs.

[danny24]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

Right...the video plays fine and the LD player shows it's tracking fine. It really boggles my mind.

Made a short video for ya'll.
Laserdisc DTS problem - YouTube

Lost World played fine with my previous receiver which is why I'm starting to think it's a receiver issue. Just so strange that it plays Jurassic Park with no issue. Someone said it's disc rot but i agree it's more like audio rot but it's oddly strange to have it occur on all the discs.

It's likely a receiver issue imo. It is possible it's also the 7020 being out of alignment. Do you still have your previous receiever? plug it back in and see.

[Pondosinatra]

Originally Posted by danny24

It's likely a receiver issue imo. It is possible it's also the 7020 being out of alignment. Do you still have your previous receiever? plug it back in and see.

Ya, when in doubt, try another LD player to rule out your receiver.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

Ya, when in doubt, try another LD player to rule out your receiver.

Yeah I wish I had another working player with that capability to try it. It really blows.

Originally Posted by danny24

It's likely a receiver issue imo. It is possible it's also the 7020 being out of alignment. Do you still have your previous receiever? plug it back in and see.

Negative. I just got this receiver so it’s hard to believe that’s the culprit.

Doubt the 7020 is out of alignment because it spun up the Jurassic Park DTS disc perfectly. I’ve also played a bunch of non-DTS discs and no issues.

I also played a DTS CD with no issue.

I swapped multiple cables as well just to rule things out but it still does it.

[danny24]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

Yeah I wish I had another working player with that capability to try it. It really blows.



Negative. I just got this receiver so it’s hard to believe that’s the culprit.

Doubt the 7020 is out of alignment because it spun up the Jurassic Park DTS disc perfectly. I’ve also played a bunch of non-DTS discs and no issues.

I also played a DTS CD with no issue.

I swapped multiple cables as well just to rule things out but it still does it.

You could always buy Titanic on Blu-ray it would take care of a lot of your issues and would look way better. I know though I love LD's to.

sounds like your Titanic disc could actually be bad going by that you tried other discs with this receiver.

edit: just checked your collection you already have the BD for it. I love that LD artwork to I hope they do a UHD with it.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by danny24

You could always buy Titanic on Blu-ray it would take care of a lot of your issues and would look way better. I know though I love LD's to. .

Now you know better not to say Blu-ray>LD’s in a Laserdisc thread.

In all seriousness…I just wanted to experience the film on LD in DTS. It goes for around $100 these days and the DTS tracks are known to give your system a workout-especially the earlier pressings like Jurassic Park. The LD community knows how impressive the audio can be with the right setup.

After several hours of troubleshooting…I determined it was the disc but the only sure way to know is to test it on a different receiver which I do not have access to. So I returned Titanic to the seller. It just made no sense that Jurassic Park played perfectly all the way through and Titanic started having issues immediately.

I’ll just kindly warn my fellow LD enthusiasts to be extra careful these days especially with the DTS titles which fetch a higher premium. Make sure you can verify they’re working and free of rot otherwise you could be out a lot of money.

Definitely looking forward to the Titanic 4K, but who knows when that’ll be. It was the perfect opportunity as this year is the 25th anniversary.