Replace DVD loader in Samsung HT-DS400

[Reginald I. Perrin]

The HT-DS400 Home Theatre system from Samsung is about a decade old.
The DVD loader that is part of it has become unreliable, rejecting as
"No Disc" all manner of decent items. It never was a great loader, and
now it is sadly diminished. I see on ebay that I can purchase for
around $40 (including postage) an exact replacement, part number AH59-
01354A, but I am wondering if something that starts out as more
competent (and maybe cheaper) could fit in the same spot?

Failing that, might it help to clean the optics or lubricate anywhere?
The inside of the case is amazingly clear of dust, considering the
unit's age.


If that goes well, I would replace the fan with a more modern, silent
fan, and end up with a machine worth maybe $50. A labour of love?

Thanks to all.

RIP

 

[Reginald I. Perrin]

Firstly, cleaning is unlikely to get you anywhere, unless a DVD player
has been sitting idle for a couple of years, or lives in a
heavy-smoker house. The reason for this is that, unlike a CD player, a
DVD disc rotates at extremely high speed. This causes the underside of
the disc to drag a layer of air around with it, which normally keeps
the laser lens spotlessly clean. Assuming that this is a fully
integrated drive similar to a computer one, on attempting to replace
it with an 'alternative', I would advise against it. The drive on many
players is an OEM part, and their system control looks for a digital
'signature' from it. If the existing one has managed to keep going for
10 years, I would consider that a result. Many DVD lasers struggle to
do a third of that before they can no longer read discs.

As to replacing the fan, you should be ok, but make sure that you pick
one with as near the same voltage and current specs as you can find,
as some machines control the fan's speed depending on the audio output
heatsink temperature, and some monitor the current to make sure that
the fan hasn't failed. Still others employ a three-wire fan, and look
at the tacho output to make sure that it's going round.

Arfa

Thank you, Arfa. I guess I should leave well enough alone, though in
its current state the Home Theatre is close to binnable. The DVD loader
is not at all like a computer disc unit, which is a well-labelled metal
box you slide in and then attach power and data connectors. The Home
Theatre DVD loader is an "assembly" with few or no manufacturer
markings. Ribbon cables connect the assembly with other circuit boards,
so it is difficult to tell where the "assembly" ends and the rest of the
"home theatre" begins, unlike the situation with a computer optical
deck. I was hoping that someone with experience with Samsung products /
home theatres might be able to tell me if there was a chance of success
by, for example, transplanting the DVD from a Samsung DVD player I might
find at a thrift store. I know it is a long shot.

RIP

 

[Reginald I. Perrin]

Many DVD players use mechs that are basically a computer type, though
often without the outer metalwork, which then makes them less
identifiable as being such. The assembly that you were looking at on
eBay is probably what is known as a sub-deck. Usually, this comprises
the metal deck, the laser mounted and aligned (although some aren't,
Panasonic / Technics being a notable example), the sled motor and
drive gears, and the spindle motor with pre-aligned turntable. With
some players, replacement is just a drop-in operation with one ribbon
cable and one or two 'normal' cables to be connected. On others, when
the deck is installed, mechanical adjustments have to be made. On the
Pan, this involves invoking some inbuilt software that measures
jitter, and then juggling three very awkwardly located screws to
minimise the jitter factor. On others - any of the Sony HCD-Sxxx
series for instance - a built in automatic alignment routine has to be
invoked to map the new laser's parameters, and apply corrections and
offsets for any factors that are less than optimal.

I think it is fairly unlikely that you would find a 'straight' DVD
player with exactly the same deck in it. In my experience
manufacturers tend to use several different assemblies across their
ranges of HCs and basic players. Just to fool you, they can often look
exactly the same, but you then find that screw holes are differently
located, or the connectors are slightly different.

Your best bet would be to hunt down a copy of the service manual,
which will have a section on replacing the laser. On some makes and
models, it's a five minute job, on others a long-winded nightmare.
FWIW, Sammys are usually straightforward. That said though, without
the knowledge of what exactly is required to be done on that specific
player, you could well end up just pissing in the wind ...

Arfa

FWIW, here is the ad for the replacement (nature of ebay is that
auctions expire, so anybody looking at this after a few days will find a
broken link):

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/BRAND-NEW-SAMSUNG-DECK-ASSY-AH59-01354A-HT-
DS400-/180873273722#ht_2416wt_691

I was not able to find a Samsung HT DS-400 repair manual. So it looks
like the extent of the repairs I will attempt is a quieter fan.