Reviving an old FOTM...the CD-E5

[Thaddy]

I just snagged up an Eastsound CD-E5 for pretty cheap and I'm crossing my fingers I won't have to replace the transport the day it arrives. Anyone still using this CDP?

[swt61]

Not sure anyone here is still using one. Aside from the transport issue, it's a decent cd spinner IMO. I like it better than the Cambridge 840 C.

[Thaddy]

I'm interested to see how it compares to my DL III DAC, which has been a pretty good combination with my WA2.

[nikongod]

I still have mine. I dont use it much though.

Per the advice of E-sound (or whoever it was I spoke with from China) I fixed my transport by cleaning connectors and their mating surfaces on the cables.

[guzziguy]

I have mine and use it for my speaker setup. It was modded by SACDmods and sounds better than stock. I've had to replace the transport one time so far. It was easy to do working with Dr. Art.

[morphsci]

I had a modified one (zap filter plus a few other mods) for quite a while. It supplanted a Meridian G-08 but was itself supplanted by a Cambridge 840c. I guess I disagree with Steve. Nevertheless it is a solid player except for the transport issues, which I never experienced.

[Thaddy]

The original owner said he's never had a single transport problem, but I did find a write-up on how to replace it if/when it dies. I'm not sure where to get the mechanism, but hopefully I'll never have to cross that bridge.

[deepak]

Don't forget to pair a Bada amp and K701 with it

[deepak]

now that's a blast from the past.

Ha didn't think most people would get that reference

[morphsci]

He was so ridiculous he always made me laugh.

[Voltron]

Was that the good Dr.AW who was obsessed with the mighty Bada?

[nikongod]

He was obsessed with the Xiang-sheng 708b amp too.

He wrote quite the review on the great effects rolling the tube in the front window had on SQ.... I took it out of the unit I modified because nothing but the heater was connected.

[spritzer]

Ok, that is funny...

[morphsci]

Ok, that is funny...

But, unfortunately, not surprising.

[Thaddy]

In the event that the transport does decide to go on me, does anyone know where I can purchase a replacement or another transport that will work? It doesn't seem too difficult to swap, according to these directions: EastSound CD

[deepak]

In the event that the transport does decide to go on me, does anyone know where I can purchase a replacement or another transport that will work? It doesn't seem too difficult to swap, according to these directions: EastSound CD

I believe these folks are the US distributor: Cattylink Analog Research

I'd contact them

[Mark527]

You can also buy a replacement pickup from MCM Electronics in the US here:

Original Philips Optical Pickup | VAM1202 | Distributed By MCM

The thing is it's only the laser assembly and housing. You will need to remove the corresponding part from the original wagon in your E5 and solder the wiring of the new one in its place. I dropped by a TV/VCR repair shop and had someone do the soldering for me and she didn't even charge because it was so simple. A 5 minute job.

I had to do it this way because when I sent my transport to drarthurwells (whom Cattylink referred me to in the US), he told me nothing was wrong with it. I asked him to replace the transport anyway and he refused and sent mine back. It was still defective when it came back so I had to figure it out for myself.

The player sounded good, but I was happy to get rid of it after all the hassle.

[Salt Peanuts]

...I dropped by a TV/VCR repair shop and had someone do the soldering for me and she didn't even charge because it was so simple...

Wait, TV/VCR repair shops still exist?

[Dusty Chalk]

I know we have some tv repair shops, I'm thinking of one in particular that still had its placard still hung up that said, "TV/VCR/Laserdisc"...I'll have to drive by and see if they haven't remodeled.

[Salt Peanuts]

Ahh, Laserdisc. I remember seeing a presentation in a science class that was on a Laserdisc and we were all more interested in that fact than the actual presentation. I know a guy from high school who still has a copy of Starship Troopers on a Laserdisc.

[Dusty Chalk]

Well, you also know a guy online who has a whole shelfload of laserdiscs and two laserdisc players, including the very rare Matrix (which was the disc being made at the...Korean?...plant when the earthquake hit, destroying the plant, and no plans were made to create another plant).

[grawk]

I still have a few, too

[deepak]

I believe quite a few films didn't make their way onto DVD/BD but are available on Laserdisc. Also Star Wars geeks cling onto them since they're the only versions other than VHS tapes that have the unedited versions. Well other than the fan edited digital files.

[Dusty Chalk]

I thought those finally got released on DVD?

A new, unaltered hope; the unaltered empire strikes back; and return of the unaltered jedi

[deepak]

Cool! I thought Lucas was set on keeping his versions on DVD/BD and not offering alternatives. I'm indifferent to Star Wars except for KOTOR series