Last month, the CSI team covered basic headphone and cord problems. Wrapping cords tight breaks the tiny wires inside over time.
This month, CD players and small radios. Over the years, people have brought me many hand-held players with the statement; “I dropped it and it won’t play anymore”. My reply; “Dropping it is not in the instruction manual.” The CD laser eye is on a delicate suspension system that can bend when dropped. Finding music data on the disc is like looking for a grain of rice at Candlestick Park. Treat your player like a warm jar of nitroglycerin. Anticipate dropping it and prevent it ahead of time.
If there is a fingerprint on the lens, DON’T use an alcohol wipe. It leaves a cloudy film. Don’t use tissue, it’s made from scratchy wood. Only if it’s smudgy, use a clean t-shirt in a gentle circular motion. You can wash CDs with a few drops of shampoo and warm water, rinse, wipe dry with a clean shirt, not tissue.
While the Sony player is the best because all the works are in the bottom with better switches, its spindle is the weak link. I’ve carefully removed the springs on new units and cut a third off which helps remove the force when loading CDs. With all players, set the disc in gently and nudge it into place. Slamming it slides the platform down the motor shaft and bottoms it out. Removing: thumb in middle while pulling up on the edges. Capping the top of the spindle with a drop of glue helps also. Internal battery lids with broken latches can scratch CDs while playing. A piece of tape will hold it down.
The small rotary volume controls on radios and CDs have a sprayed on resistive coating that wears off quickly. Set your volume AND LEAVE IT ALONE! Your headphone cord is your FM antenna. All FM stations are between channel 6 and 7 on the TV band. A hook-up to your splitter should help reception.
Next time: Your TV is watching you while you’re sleeping.
