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555es SACD Thump (1 Viewer)

Mike Loiterman

Stunt Coordinator
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Jan 24, 2000
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I've been enjoying my 555es player in the last week or so up until a few days ago when I discovered the player making this aweful thump, thump, thump sound as certain discs spun inside the player.

Its sort of the same effect you might get if you have a flat tire, but a lot faster. It's as though the disc is out of balance, or there is extra glue or plastic on one side causing it to spin unevenly.

At first I thought it was the discs, since it was only happening on a Keb Mo and Stevie Ray Vaughn, so I exchanged them. After the exchange of these discs, Stevie Ray Vaughn was fine, but I was still getting the same problem from Keb Mo. Returned Keb Mo and got a Mozart disc. No problems.

Hrm...

Then a few days later I noticed it on a different Mozart disc. Exchanged that one and all was fine. Then I bought Blonde on Blonde and the problem returned.

I thought it might have something to do with the specific slot position of the disc (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5) but it didn't. It was the disc it self since the problem exhibited itself regardless of which slot it was put in.

I thought it could be a bad batch of disks from a store...maybe they got warped while sitting in a wet warehouse or something, but its happening with multiple discs from multiple stores. Now I'm thinking its the player.

I called J&R and they're shipping me a brand new 555es for Tuesday...plus I'm getting it for 60 bucks cheaper! So I'm pretty pleased, but wondering whats going on.

Anyone else notice anything like this?
 

JackS

Supporting Actor
Joined
Jan 17, 2002
Messages
634
Sounds to me like the disks weren't properly loading on the pick up spindle. I had somewhat the same problem with a DVDP, although not as bad as your describing. In my case the problem seemed to resolve itself over a short period of time. A little break-in I guess because no problems now for over two years. On new CD's run your finger around the center hole to insure a smooth surface.
 

Mike Loiterman

Stunt Coordinator
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Jan 24, 2000
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212
That sounds like a possibility. I don't know enough about how these things work to say yes or no.
I guess I'll have to find out on Tuesday. I love my SACDs though and it will be a long weekend without them.
:angry:
 

KeithH

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Mar 28, 2000
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Mike, I have two 'C555ES changers in two systems and have noticed the noise you described with a couple SACDs on the older of the two players. Specifically, I have noticed what I would describe as a woodpecker pecking-type sound with my Footloose and Top Gun SACDs. I hear the sound when I first cue up these discs, but it is drowned out once the music starts. If I put my ear right up to the player while the music is playing, I can still hear the pecking sound. Despite the noise, the player tracks these discs perfectly. I don't know what is causing the noise, but I don't worry about it since I can't hear it over the music and since it doesn't seem to affect playback (no skipping). It's odd that I have not noticed this noise with any CDs or other SACDs. Also, some people on Audio Asylum have noticed this pecking sound too, and it only seems to happen with SACDs. My guess is that there is some sort of production fault with some SACDs.

I have not played the Footloose or Top Gun SACDs on my newer 'C555ES yet. I will try them out and report my findings.
 

Mike Loiterman

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Jan 24, 2000
Messages
212
Wood pecker, huh? :) I guess I didn't think of it that way, but it can be described like that I suppose.
Hrm...so I wonder if this second player will show that same thing?
But you are right, it doesn't affect playback at all, but it is annoying as hell.
On the one hand, its probably something that should be chalked up in the "One of life's annoying imperfections catagory," but on the other hand, the whole reason I go into this format is becuase of the superior sound quality. And right now it's being infringed upon by this damn thumping sound!
Well, I guess I'll try the second player and see what happens.
Anyone else seen this?
 

Mike Loiterman

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Jan 24, 2000
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KeithH:

Also what is the manufacture date of the unit that makes the noise as well as the date of the unit that doesn't make the noise. Mine is May 2001, and of course, it makes the noise.
 

KeithH

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Mar 28, 2000
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Mike, good questions. After I submitted my post, I realized that links to Audio Asylum and production dates could be useful. However, sleep called before I could post the informaton. :)
Regarding links, search the Hi-Rez Highway board on Audio Asylum for "woodpecker". That should yield some helpful discussions.
The 'C555ES that has shown the pecking sound with the Footloose and Top Gun SACDs has a production date of February 2001. I bought it from OneCall last October. The 'C555ES that I bought two weeks ago for my second system has a production date of April 2001. As I said, I have to see if it will exhibit the pecking sound.
 

KeithH

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Jeff, there is a white sticker on the back panel that has the date of manufacture.
 

Lenard Bullock

Auditioning
Joined
Mar 19, 2002
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1
After hearing all the good things about sacd. I purchased the Sony c555es about a month ago. I had no problems until yesterday, when I first heard a thumping sound. It only does it when I have a sacd playing never a regular cd. I have inspected, cleaned and removed the sacd cd's to different trays and the thumping follows. But I can come back a hour later hit play, and silence,only the sound of music. Since reading here that many other owners have had the same problem, how did you resolve them. Did everyone send their C555es in repair or ask for replacement. Is there another fix? Thought I would ask before I call Sony service.
 

KeithH

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Lenard, I have only observed the thumping problem (I like to call it a woodpecker pecking noise) with two SACDs -- Footloose and Top Gun. Frankly, I have done nothing about it. It appears to be a problem with the discs, such as a slight misshaping, but the discs play normally. Once the music starts, I don't hear the pecking noise unless I put an ear right up to the player. Also, I only hear the pecking noise on the first couple of tracks.

Out of curiosity, which SACDs have caused the noise?
 

Piers C

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Joined
Jun 3, 2002
Messages
228
Found this problem for the first time with Stones "Let it Bleed." I've sent it back for a replacement copy as it is just happening with this disc.
 

Rich Malloy

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Apr 9, 2000
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3,998
As someone on the cusp of a purchase - and the 555ES is one of two leading contenders - I find this all very, very disconcerting. The major drawback of the 555ES in my mind is the carousel operation, as I've had a CD player bite the dust over this before. Funny thumps, clunks, and the like always seem to precede this kind of breakdown. I find this very troubling, and I can't believe it's the discs if it only seems to be happening on Sony 555ES players. Yes, perhaps only certain discs cause this problem, but they only seem to cause it with the 555ES... hence, it's a player problem, it would seem.
Very troubling... :frowning:
 

Piers C

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Jun 3, 2002
Messages
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This is a follow-up on my previous post above.

555ES production year: April 2001

Oade was not familiar with this issue and said I was the "first" to mention this problem to them. They stressed they had sold "many" of these units.

Their only suggestion was to contact Sony Service based in Westwood, MA. I called today (800-282-2848) and spoke to a customer service rep & then a "specialist." Both were friendly, both were not familiar with this issue and had no previous reference to it on their database. The specialist was going to look further into the problem and see if anyone else had any info, at which point I would be contacted if something turned up. ETA for service on the unit would be 2 wks, covered by existing warranty.

Again, they stressed that many units had been sold and despite posts on different forum boards (AA,HTF, etc.) this was probably less the 1% of total owners. I had not heard, or seen, previous posts on this issue until I did research when I came across the problem. There are not that many posts, so I have to assume that there can't be too many others who have this problem or it doesn't bother them.

I don't have a ton of SACD titles, nor the ones that others have referenced in this thread, so I can't compare "problem" discs. The other Stones discs I have don't have this issue or other titles.

I'll post again here if there are more developments.
 

Chas_T

Supporting Actor
Joined
Jun 1, 2002
Messages
758
Build Date: 4/01 purchased from Oade

Works like a charm. NO woodpeckers or problems with this unit.

I had the entry level 777 model and it was much louder when changing discs. The 555ES is much quieter and built like a tank. Sorry you guys are having problems.
 

JamesY

Stunt Coordinator
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Apr 4, 2002
Messages
174
The production date on my unit is October 2001, and it does have the woodpecker problem on every SACD I own (9 so far). Most of them are Telarc titles, the rest are from Sony. I've narrowed it down to noise produced only on the SACD 2 Channel track. Since that track is on the inner most section of the disc, I assume that the sound is a problem with the laser and spindle tracking on the inside. The sound is really quite noticeable (can't be drowned out), probably because the player sits a foot above on a shelf right behind my head, so I can hear the sound emanating from the bottom of the player.
I've read the posts from AudioAsylum, but a resolution doesn't really seem to exist (except picking up an XA777ES:D - I wish). I'm going to give their CS a call and see what I can do. That's what the warranty's for I guess.
 

KeithH

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As I have said here before, I have experienced the "woodpecker" problem on one of my 'C555ES changers, but it only happens on a couple SACDs, and only on early tracks for that matter. I don't view it as a problem. I've had this 'C555ES for a year, and it has never malfunctioned (no mistracking, TOC errors, etc.).
 

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