PS1 Sound Trouble

[cyphervld]

Hello everybody, my name is Vlad and I am a console enthusiast from Romania! Nice to get a hold of this website which seems to be amazing, especially since I recently bought my first PS 1 model SCPH-9002, that has a small (or large, I am not sure ) problem: It reads audio CD-s just fine, sound is crisp and clear, BUT! When it boots up, on the Sony Computer Entertainment screen there is no specific startup sound, and so far I could only test it with a Final Fantasy VIII DEMO CD, which only has 2 videos, and they also have no audio and are playing a bit choppy. I have searched far and wide on the internet and I could not find an answer untill now, so perhaps somebody here can help out with some advice!

Thanks and I am looking forward to your replies!

[Shendo]

You will have to open it up and see how it looks on the inside. There could be corrosion.
For many people nowadays PS1 just takes space so they toss it in some storage
(attic, basement, shed, etc) and there could be moisture.
I bought one which was so bad that nothing (except plastic case) could be salvaged, I had to throw it away.

Anyway, the reason CD player works is because it uses CDDA and it's directly wired to the sound output but
other sounds (like startup logo, sound effexts, XA) has to go through SPU (and it's RAM).

[cyphervld]

I just opened it up and it honestly looks like it just came off the production line.. Barely any dust to speak of, no modifications, all screws and plugs intact, pretty much like new. It's not modded or anything so there are no extra chips, I don't think it's ever been open so this seems weird...

[Shadow]

You can usually tell if a console has been opened before because if it is new, you will hear the screws make a 'crack' sound since they are still fused to the plastic. You will also see fingerprint rust spots on the RF/EMI shield.

Can you make a video showing your problem?
Show us booting into the BIOS with a CDDA disc to play music, and then boot up the Final Fantasy VIII DEMO disc.

[cyphervld]

No, no fingerprints inside. The screws didn't make much noise... But it did look intact inside, no scratches or anything anywhere, no fingerprints. I will upload a couple of videos to youtube so you can see.
'

[cyphervld]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAOcWsbQ6hk - AUDIO CD Boot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8r3s29RGeQ - FF VIII Demo

[cyphervld]

And here is an image of the main board:

[Shadow]

Very interesting problem! I have never seen this before.
My diagnosis is that IC310 or possibly IC305 is causing the fault. Most likely a cold joint.

I would recommend resoldering these chips. You can also try pressing down slightly on IC310 (press in all corners) whilst Final Fantasy is playing the video to see if the audio comes back.

You need to balance the drive so it will spin freely and you will also need hold down the lid/door switch.
Use sticky tape for that.

If you're not into electronics and are worried about being shocked, it's very, very low and isolated voltage, but to be safe (considering the PSU is open) wear rubber soled shoes, keep one hand behind your back when pressing on IC310 and of course, keep your hands clear from the power supply. Unplug the figure-8 cable from the wall when you need to unplug the power cable. Don't unplug it from the console because you will be tempted to use both hands.

[cyphervld]

Thanks, actually I am pretty good with electronics, and I will surely give it a try. However, as a turn of events, I opened it up again and sprayed some contact spray on the main board, cleaned it with an old toothbrush and started it up after it dried a bit, and the startup made SOME sort of screechy sound instead of the original synth one, but I ll take it as an improvement.

[cyphervld]

UPDATE: After tinkering around, I found out that pushing down farely sturdy on IC310 the sound comes back to normal. I will get out my soldering gun and try top re-solder the chip properly, see if anything changes. Good call Shadow!

[cyphervld]

Well nevermind, I broke it Back to the drawing board...

[Shadow]

Don't throw it since it can be fixed easily. You can always send it to me if you would like me to repair it...

[cyphervld]

I don't know, after messing around with that chip (I310) i got it to make some noises but only by pressing very hard on it would it actually sound right. I took the soldering iron to it and kinda messed it up since the points are so close together.. Now it makes screeching noises and for whatever reason it won't spin discs anymore. I guess I'll keep it for the parts and start looking for another one

[Shadow]

Sounds like you have shorted it. I sure hope it doesn't look any worse than this:



Instead of looking for another, you should fix it. It's not difficult. Get some solder, wick/braid and flux and watch videos on YouTube on how to resolder a TSOP package. Anyway, good luck

[Gradius]

So much for "I am pretty good with electronics".

[Markus2015]

I just found this thread and I am new on board.

I have exactly the same problem. I miss the startsound in my SCPH 1000. It was all over sudden gone. Everything else works fine. Is there also an IC I can check?

[Shadow]

I just found this thread and I am new on board.

I have exactly the same problem. I miss the startsound in my SCPH 1000. It was all over sudden gone. Everything else works fine. Is there also an IC I can check?

Yes, the same chip. IC310 (SPU RAM).

[Markus2015]

I will try that later on. Thanks a lot for your quick reply.

PS: is it possible that my startsound got lost in the BIOS or is it saved somewhere else?

I have also another question, my friend has also a playstation 1 SCPH 1002, his CD ROM is spinning without stopping. BIAS and GAIN ist on its voltage. The CD unit works fine on another board.

I really need some service manuals or drawings...

[Shadow]

PS: is it possible that my startsound got lost in the BIOS or is it saved somewhere else?

I have also another question, my friend has also a playstation 1 SCPH 1002, his CD ROM is spinning without stopping. BIAS and GAIN ist on its voltage. The CD unit works fine on another board.

I really need some service manuals or drawings...

No. It's 'streamed' to the SPU via the CPU and then buffered in the SPU-RAM in which yours is possibly faulty.

IC704 or IC305 is faulty and would be causing the fast spinning of the CD-ROM.

Service manuals can be found on our download page.

[Markus2015]

Thanks a lot shadow!!!
It was the IC305. My friend swapped it and now it works fine.