Has anyone had a laser replaced in a Audio Research CD-3 MKII


Audio Research wants 1806.00 to repair the laser in my CD-3 player.........There's got to be a better way ???   W
autospec
Beware of some of the ebay replacement parts.  I've replaced the laser drive in my Cary 303/300 three times now over 15 yrs or so.  Instead of buying the part from Cary I tried an ebay seller and the part was DOA.  Tried the same laser drive out of a used DVD player and it didn't fit just right even though it worked and was a noisy POS.  You'll like this - Cary wouldn't warranty the part if I did it myself claiming folks ruined them trying to do the install.  Good luck...is this Will the renoun ST70 builder?  Should be a piece of cake for you.
autospec OP
Has anyone had a laser replaced in a Audio Research CD-3 MKII
Audio Research wants 1806.00 to repair the laser
 That's a ripoff!!!!!!!! 2hr labour at $120 per hr and $150 for the laser $390.

Your  Audio Research CD-3 MKII uses a Philips CD pro 2 mechanism, which has a VAU1254 laser head in it.
If you have patience, are handy using tools and have a bit of electrical skills you can do it your self, in a couple of hours.
Get the laser here
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=VAU1254&_sacat=0

Cheers George
Penhare:    It is me the amplifier builder person......I figured I could do it if I could buy the correct part.....And now George has come along with the people with the correct part.........I hope it all works.............W
George:  Have you done this laser replacing yourself ??   If so I would love to talk to you about it......Knowledge is a great thing..........Will
I’ve done many lasers, not yet on an Audio Research, shouldn’t be any problems from what I saw inside on the net.

Some lasers have a "shorting " ESL protection solder blob on the ribbon connector strip, or sometimes on the sub-board, this needs to be removed, (open circuited) the reason so many diy'er say their new laser they just put in is no good, and blame eBay

https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1AXjgKpXXXXckaXXXq6xXFXXXl/205634546/HTB1AXjgKpXXXXckaXXXq6xXFXXXl.jpg...

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7asQ30f-l1g/hqdefault.jpg

blob:https://www.youtube.com/054f6c13-7f09-4619-9137-1cd53c4da8e9

Cheers George