Optical pickups: Difference between revisions

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Optical pickups are the moving part of [[CD modules]] and the weak link of [[CD systems]].
They consist of a laser diode (often wrongfully convicted of failure) and driver, fixed and coil-actuated optics, and a photodiode array.
Increasing laser power may make CD drives work again by making the light shine through dirt and contaminants on optics, but it actually uses up the diode faster (can even kill it in a matter of minutes). A real solution is to clean all optical elements in the beam path, which involves taking the pickup apart.
Adjusting the pots located on the CD module can help in some cases, even if those settings shouldn't drift over time.
Some might find more convenient to replace the whole pickup. They can still be found on eBay for around $30. Some sellers re-package and advertise the pickups as exclusive, original replacement parts for consoles, at ridiculous prices.
== NeoGeo CD Front loader ==
== NeoGeo CD Front loader ==
Original reference: KSS240 (A)
Original reference: KSS240 (A)

Revision as of 03:35, 21 December 2015

Optical pickups are the moving part of CD modules and the weak link of CD systems.

They consist of a laser diode (often wrongfully convicted of failure) and driver, fixed and coil-actuated optics, and a photodiode array.

Increasing laser power may make CD drives work again by making the light shine through dirt and contaminants on optics, but it actually uses up the diode faster (can even kill it in a matter of minutes). A real solution is to clean all optical elements in the beam path, which involves taking the pickup apart.

Adjusting the pots located on the CD module can help in some cases, even if those settings shouldn't drift over time.

Some might find more convenient to replace the whole pickup. They can still be found on eBay for around $30. Some sellers re-package and advertise the pickups as exclusive, original replacement parts for consoles, at ridiculous prices.

NeoGeo CD Front loader

Original reference: KSS240 (A)

Compatible models: The Mega CD's one

NeoGeo CD Top loader

File:Cdpickup.jpg
A stock H8147AF pickup.

Original reference: H8147AF

Compatible models:

NeoGeo CDZ

Original reference: H8151AF

Compatible models:

Repair

Replacing optical pickups