Quasar Portable CD Player CD8956

Discussion in 'Discmans, Minidisc, DCC and other players' started by Mister X, May 15, 2019.

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  1. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    It took me a little while to figure out we had two CD threads but this is the right one and I've got one Kent doesn't have, or maybe just not posted. I've been talking for years about never having a Technics old-school square portable CD player. There's something about the first generation that just looks like they were high-end, before they morphed into plastic egg mass-marketed players.

    Today I was at my favorite record/equipment store Go Johnny Go, and he had a Quasar Portable CD Player on the shelf. 99.9% of the time I would have left it without think twice but I picked it up and holy-cow, it is a solid metal brick, with a snap on rechargable battery. The quality seemed great for Quasar so I grabbed it along with a ton of other great equipment, including a JVC RC-S55JW (more on this later).

    After a little research on this pretty much non-existant player, I figured out it was a different version of the Technics Player, the lid and buttons are different but everything else is identical. I'm not sure what version since the early ones look very similar but it makes sense since they were made by the same parent company.

    It works great (skips alot, just like I remember) but the battery is dead, most likely not repairable unless someone has some ideas. It weighs a ton, very heavy and solid, not something you want on your waist when your jogging.

    DSCN1812sm.jpg
     
    Mister X, May 15, 2019
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  2. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Mister X, May 16, 2019
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  3. capStan

    capStan Member

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    Great find.:boogie:
    Here's a Youtube video (in German) for the Sony BP 200 battery pack replacement
     
    capStan, May 16, 2019
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  4. Mystic Traveller

    Mystic Traveller Well-Known Member

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    Cool! Never seen Discman's under this brand invented by Matsushita for the US.
     
    Mystic Traveller, May 16, 2019
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  5. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Quasar was an American Brand until Matsushita bought them out, while they were several years into new ownership it was still a decent brand. I think some of the Japanese Companies had a hard time getting market share in the 70's so they bought up American Companies for the names and distribution.

    Thanks for the video capStan! I might have to try that out but I think the battery pack is a little bit smaller, I don't know if enough height for AA batteries.
     
    Mister X, May 16, 2019
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  6. Longman

    Longman Well-Known Member S2G Supporter

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    You need to know what is inside the battery pack in order to proceed with a repair. If it is NiCad or NiMH then things are easy although it could get expensive.
    Lithium Ion isn't too bad. You can get spare cells from various sellers or take them out of other equipment. When I need one for a Sony MP3 player I found it was cheaper to buy a £4 no name player of a similar size and take the cell out of it than to buy a replacement cell on its own.

    The only real problem would be if it is Lead Acid like some Aiwas. I don't think make miniature ones of those any longer.
     
    Longman, May 16, 2019
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  7. capStan

    capStan Member

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    I just opened the battery pack on my Sony D-50 an tried the eneloop battery,and it doesn't fit. :hmmm
    I don't know how the guy in the video made the battery's fit :scratch2
     
    capStan, May 17, 2019
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  8. Longman

    Longman Well-Known Member S2G Supporter

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    What size battery did you try ? I watched the video and suspect he was using AAAs. They only have half the capacity of AAs though.
    There is probably no reason why you couldn't use several new AAAs in parallel to increase capacity. In Japan you can buy Eneloop C Cells, but people have shown they are just four AAAs in parallel in a can.

    https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?287461-Eneloop-C-amp-D-Cells-Exposed
     
    Longman, May 17, 2019
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  9. capStan

    capStan Member

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    I looked at the video again,took a screenshot,and can see he's using AAA battery
     

    Attached Files:

    capStan, May 17, 2019
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  10. Mystic Traveller

    Mystic Traveller Well-Known Member

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    Ah really yes, I've read about this story, a big article, thanks for reminding.
    They said that Japanese had eventually taken over almost all US consumer electronics market in 70s.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2019
    Mystic Traveller, May 17, 2019
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  11. nickelindimer

    nickelindimer Active Member

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    Man... by/on looks alone, that thing puts my Citizen CBM-777 to shameo_O... not to mention how yours actually came WITH the removable battery!:confused:

    That's no surprise... Phillips did the same with Magnavox to gain distribution of their Laserdisc player, and the rights to the Odessey 2 hardware to sell it in Europe as the Videopak 2000, IIRC.:oops:
     
    nickelindimer, May 18, 2019
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  12. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Thanks nickelindimer, I just found a Citizen Ad, I might be able to get it in the brochure section today!
     
    Mister X, May 18, 2019
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  13. nickelindimer

    nickelindimer Active Member

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    Cool.:cool:
     
    nickelindimer, May 18, 2019
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  14. Jorge

    Jorge Well-Known Member

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    This Quasar looks like a direct copy/rebranded Panasonic SL-NP10. Once I find a copy of its Service Manual, or get hold of the Discman itself, I will update my never-ending list of PCDPs Components and we shall see how it compares to its "hi-end brother" Technics SL-XP5... According to kaosuncd.com, internally they are the same.
    For a pretty reasonable fee Kaosun restored snap-on battery for my SL-XP5:
    battery.jpg

    Batteries for Sony Discmans I restored myself, it is pretty straightforward:
    L1100108.JPG

    If Quasar battery case is too thin for AAA rechargeables then you can use gumsticks: I was going to use them for my Fisher Studio Standard discman.
     
    Jorge, May 18, 2019
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  15. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    That's it, the smaller LCD matches perfectly along with all the buttons and power cord. How does it rank in the world of first generation portables?
     
    Mister X, May 18, 2019
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  16. Jorge

    Jorge Well-Known Member

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    If it is a copy of Technics SL-XP5, and I have no reasons not to trust Kaosun on this, then this is one of the best-sounding Discmans EVER!!!
    PCM55 for DAC :) but unlike my all-time favorite Sony D-50 MkII it also has digital filter to smooth out the edges. Headphone amp puts out 30mW into 32Ohm... only D-50MkII, D-100, and my beloved Loewe CD100 had so much power!
     
    Jorge, May 18, 2019
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  17. Mystic Traveller

    Mystic Traveller Well-Known Member

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    Forgot to ask: skips in a stationary position or on the move?
    Again, so great looking machine! :thumbsup:
     
    Mystic Traveller, May 19, 2019
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  18. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Thanks Mystic Traveller! It just skips when it's moved, on the desk it sounds fine. My memory of any portable CD player before 92 was that they skipped, but I usually saw the lower end machines.
     
    Mister X, May 19, 2019
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  19. Mystic Traveller

    Mystic Traveller Well-Known Member

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    Yep, then no worries, I've heard the same, they tried to damp mechanically
    but it was a long shot for sure. Only electronic memory buffers really changed situation
    when they emerged. :)
     
    Mystic Traveller, May 19, 2019
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  20. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    I was happy to get an RCA in 96, with all of the car adapters, that I could bring in the car with me. It worked fine unless the road was bumpy for a stretch.
     
    Mister X, May 19, 2019
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