Can I replace/repair a Phillips SACD transport?

For the line I represented, all but the flagship player used a Sony CD laser/transport. I'd never seen one of the Philips lasers fail, whereas the Sony's from 2007 had an 85% failure rate. Of course, as Rwwear says, at one time (most likely, when they were made in Japan), they made the best transports.

It is well documented, even Stereophile mentioned it in a recent article, Phillips transports have caused much embarrassment for many hi-end companies. I am sure Phillips has made a few decent transports at one time but I don't trust them because they don't support them. Sony has turned to crap too in recent years. But at one time Accuphase and McIntosh used Sony because of their quality. The transport used in the X707ES is considered the best transport ever made.
http://www.thevintageknob.org/SONY/sonyes/CDPX707ES/CDPX707ES.html

My experience over the past 2 years is having to fix approximately 60 Sonys, yet only one Philips. Today, the one with the Philips is the only one I recommend with no caveats. Another company makes a pretty well regarded player here, the cheaper one uses the Sony, the more expensive one, the Philips. Guess which one I'd buy?

But, you're right, Philips doesn't support them. My advice to the guy who brought me the aforementioned 5 year old player with the Philips transport, I can't get the part, so if you can't locate anyone else who is willing and able to help, trash can it.

I have an especially low opinion of stuff made in China these days from having to deal with it first hand. I also have had players with Sony transports that were as good as people in this thread have testified to. However, like a lot of companies, they've moved production to China. Things seemed to have stabilized somewhat about a year ago when we switched over to a different Sony factory there in Sanya, but the previous year was an utter disaster. During that time I once got a case of 10 Sony transports in to fix a few units that had come in for repair. Fully 10 of the 10 were defective. 10 out of bloody 10!!! I didn't think a company could do that if they tried.

GTfour45 has it right. I have a still working (knocking on wood) Trivista SACD from Jan 2003 when I was a dealer. Phillips did hose them. MF did offer an exchange or paid upgrade depending on age. I think its too late now.

I would pop the cover and at least make sure the lens is clean and the rails are lubed. If you are reading redbook but not DSD it may be something simple (knocking on wood for you)

Please follow up and let us know. email me if you need instruction to do this, it's pretty easy.

ET

2008 hasn't been my year. Just a few hours after my post above I went to listen to music on my Trivista and it didn't get through a whole disc. (add expletives)I will never bother to knock on wood again! I took off the cover and laser cover which requires a little T-6 torx and nothing looked odd or dirty. I cleaned some dust in the laser compartment with dry Q-tips and lubed the rails for the laser and the CD tray. I blew air over the laser which looked fine.

I also found the player wasn't level and corrected that. While apart I tried playing discs and they all played fine now! I played another disc for half an hour and used the remote to change tracks every few seconds. It seemed OK and I put the unit back together. I listened to a 45 minute disc and it cut off during the last song. Oh well, I sure have an above average DAC now. SACD's will be listed here soon. Bah humbug! I celebrated a year of being unemployed last week too, 2009 has to be better.

ET