Theta Miles CD player

handymann OP

Your Theata Miles is classic old school R2R Multibit (PCM63 dacs) this is why you still like it for Redbook.

Trouble you've got is the laser (Pinoneer  PEA1343), it's almost unobtainium, and the ones around demand huge prices.
If you love the sound as you say and you want to keep it, get one for a spare before they disappear and you end up with a door stop.
 
 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PIONEER-PEA1343-Laser-head-For-PD-S06-WADIA-301-830-ADVANTAGE-CD1-THETA-...

Cheers George

Thanks for the suggestion.  I need to do that.

WOW! Didn't expect to run across this thread. I don't get around here much anymore. But I've considered investing in a new CDP, mainly because my Miles is getting old. I've had it around 18 yrs and it still sounds good to me. I've considered a used Esoteric. But maybe the laser head is the way to go......or another Miles for backup. Considering the comments, i decided to research the PCM63 dac and found a lot of good talk about it. Apparently the Miles may be a keeper....with the right backup parts

My Theta Miles is 13 years old and still going... I'm also looking to replace it for fear that it will die soon... I've done a ton of research and haven't come up with a cost-efficient alternative, unless one considers a Macintosh MCD350 at $5,500 cost-efficient (I don't.)  Now add in my desire to put all my 1,000 plus CD collection on a hard drive, some 6 months ago, I bought the Bluesound Vault 2i. I was disappointed because the sound was not up to the Theta Miles, so I returned it. Fast forward to now, I talked to one tech who swears that if I combine the Bluesound Vault with a really good DAC, like the Chord Electronics Quest DAC it will sound every bit as good as the Theta, if not better.  Trying to find anyone out there with that set up to see how good it is, I failed. I'm now thinking of getting both the Vault and the DAC and testing it out. I can always return it. Total for both is $3K about what the Theta costs back in the day. If I do that, I'll post my results here. Meanwhile, long live the Theta Miles!

llarry, do you have a spare laser?  See the link, above.

The Miles is a great performer, especially with first rate
cables and isolation.  

Suggestion: Remove and freeze the batteries of the remote
in a zip lock bag for 24 hours.
Then transfer to the refrigerator for 12 hours.
Take out of the bag and wrap in a sweatshirt and bring
slowly to room temperature, for another 12 hours. 
Return to the remote.

Keep the faith!