Audio Aero Prima 24-bit/192kHz Should I fix it?

I just acquired a Audio Aero Prima CD Player. It uses a Philips CDM12 transport and a 24-bit/192kHz Burr-Brown chip-set. It skips badly. I opened it up and everything looks really clean. There have been some mods:

There is a 3 lead ribbon that runs from the PC bord on the transport and delivers the digital out signal to the digital out section of the main PC board. The connector was removed from the transport end and was soldered directly to the mating connector pins. Then one of the wires was snipped.

The skipping does not seem to be affected by this mod. It behaves the same when using the digital out as when using the audio out with this ribbon disconnected.

I removed the PC board from the transport and it looks like 2 each IC chips have been removed and a wire soldered to jumper from a pin on one to a pin on the other. This can't be good! Does this mod sound familiar to anyone?

I've been thinking of replacing the transport. It is my understanding that a Philips VAM1252 is a direct replacement for the CDM12.

I looked on Ebay and there are several VAM1252 transports for sale. They all seem to be in the $17.00 to $30.00 range and come from sellers in China.

Is it safe to buy from these sources? Does anyone have any experience to share?