Marantz SACD SA14S1 laser mechanism

[ThirdDrawerDown]

Just had the laser mechanism replaced after 7 years service and here's the part that was replaced.

 

Replaced by the local Marantz agents Qualifi, 24 Lionel Rd, Mt Waverly, VIC 3149 8542 1144.

 

 

[rockeater]

This should be SACD Sony KHM-230AAA.

It is not uncommon for SACD mechanisms needing to be replaced so early (only after 7 years) and it shows that DVD mechs - for this is what they are - are not made to the same standard as CD mechanism were. In fact, there was a trend even among the CD mechanisms to make them cheaper and cheaper and the earlier they were, the better they were build.

Edited July 27, 2021 by rockeater

[ThirdDrawerDown]

That's interesting, and thank you for commenting, because the sound from this SACD player when used as a CD player is Redbook level. Retail was $4,500 or so. 

 

(For future reference, ie 7 years down the track) could the KHM-230AAA be used in place of the Marantz part?

[Honreekea]

When the laser in my marantz 15s1 SACD died, I only replaced the laser itself. Saving myself a bundle of money. You might be able to do the same for your model

[rockeater]

7 hours ago, ThirdDrawerDown said:

(For future reference, ie 7 years down the track) could the KHM-230AAA be used in place of the Marantz part?

It is a Marantz part originally used and you cannot use anything else there.

Marantz is a part of Philips for decades now but I am not aware if they make any DVD mechanisms. Some were called CDM-10 or 15 but I think they were either Sharp or Pioneer mechanisms.

Philips was at the forefront of mechanism design 30+ years ago and the last really good one was CDM-9 which was no longer as reliable as previous ones.

This was 3 decades ago and then they went for the really cheap ones which now sell for $10.

This is why I laugh sometimes when people do not want to buy an old CD player citing long term reliability concerns. Good player from mid 80s to mid 90s will easily outlive anything made in the last decade or so.