Best laser lens for Playstation?

[Roymustang16]

Hi everyone, my playstation (9002) have some problems today with the cd player and i would like to replace it but i need your advice about which cd player to use, KSM440AEM(original in 9002 model) or KSM440BAM psone one.
Which one is the best quality?

[Administrator]

I can't remember if the KSM440BAM units flat pack cable will reach the connector in the PSone. I am sure it does though.

I would just go for the KSM440AEM and replace it. If you are getting them from eBay, those CD-ROM drives are not made by Sony anymore, but rather they are just rubbish Chinese 3rd party items. I have heard that they do not work well in most cases. Try to get them from another system.

[Roymustang16]

Look like it's impossible to find an original sony drive, so what could i do to fix my cd drive, i have two problems the first is the awful noise when the game is running i think i can fix it with just putting some grease on the lens axis and the second problem is that some game need to put the console in the vertical position to run the game.
Thanx a lot for your help again.

[Administrator]

Sounds like the gears have worn out. Just get another drive from another 9000 series console.

[Gradius]

This one says is "original":
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1PC-NEW-ORIGINA ... 2a2060f852

[Administrator]

I wonder if they are new or new old stock...

[Gradius]

I don't know if they are NOS (new old stock) or not, in the fact I just buy one will take a while to arrieve.

But FYI, I decided to buy a brand new PS1 just because this project! So I hope you guys don't let me down.

[winnar1up]

The KSM440BAM psone laser is the best, but it has a very short ribbon cable, so may need some modification to fit in an older ps1. The 900x models had the second best laser, almost the same as the KSM440BAM, but they have longer cables, I've fitted a good one in my 5502.

PS1 consoles are very cheap to buy 2nd hand, they go without bids for low prices on ebay for local collection, etc. Just buy a few & find the best laser. 750x & later had good lasers, but 5xxx models have better audio & video chips, stay away from the 100x models, they'll always be faulty. The slim psones had good lasers, they're newer & they got less use, as they were released around the same time as the ps2.

You might just need a bit of grease on the gears in your old laser, they dry out after a while.

[Gradius]

I know 1001 & 5501 have high-quality AKM DAC, so for audio part it will be a bit different, but for video I couldn't find any information on the changes.

The audio shouldn't be hard to make a mod pos-5501.

Also 550x doesn't have a dedicated audio output, so only 100x have good audio output. 5501 loose quality on Multi A/V.

Found this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmmQdWmhoMc

[Gradius]

100x & 550x uses Asahi Kasei AK4309AVM DAC.

750x & 990x uses IC405 (NJM2174) in a confuse way.

Would be interesting to find (or make) an audio mod for 750x & 990x to be better than super outdated AK4309AVM.

For fun:
http://www.stereophile.com/content/sony ... asurements

[winnar1up]

I know 1001 & 5501 have high-quality AKM DAC, so for audio part it will be a bit different, but for video I couldn't find any information on the changes.

The audio shouldn't be hard to make a mod pos-5501.

Also 550x doesn't have a dedicated audio output, so only 100x have good audio output. 5501 loose quality on Multi A/V.

Found this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmmQdWmhoMc

The audio from the multi-av is better than from the 100x rca connectors... some audiophiles mod their 100x to remove the 'op amp output stage' that feeds the rca connectors, effectively getting the same sound as you do from a multi-av adapter - which bypasses the output stage anyway, they just do it the hard way. It isn't possible to easily mod a 5xxx to sound exactly like a 100x through the rca connectors, because it doesn't have that op amp output stage, but the real audiophiles bypass that anyway - it's just the DAC that is supposed to be special.

100x psx had a flawed design, the cd drive was very prone to wearing out because it's all plastic, it was on the left of the psx near the power supply & the extra heat made it worse. Apparently you can easily replace the cd drive with one from a psone, not tried it myself, i'm not sure if it needs any mods to achieve. These problems were fixed on the 5xxx series, the laser is better too, but still not as good as the later models.

I can't find anything about the video chips either, but it looks better to me, smoother, less sharp & pixelated than on later models when used with rgb scart. I think it must be a bit different, or I'm going mad. They tried to cut manufacturing costs with the 750x & later models, so it wouldn't surprise me if they used some worse components for the video output. CD-Rom technology was improving rapidly & getting cheaper when PS1 consoles were manufactured, so the later models all had better cd drives.

[Gradius]

Well, my first PS1 was SCPH-5501, sold it years ago.

Now I got a new 7501, and I'll stay with it.

As for video, I will use pure RGB so in this part will be much better to me (always used S-video as max).

[winnar1up]

Well, my first PS1 was SCPH-5501, sold it years ago.

Now I got a new 7501, and I'll stay with it.

As for video, I will use pure RGB so in this part will be much better to me (always used S-video as max).

You'll notice much more of a difference between rgb & s-video than you would between different models of playstation, probably impossible to notice the difference if you don't use rgb. Later models seem sharper with defined square pixels.

How are you using RGB if you're in the US? I thought US sold TVs didn't support RGB? There are RGB (scart tv or arcade) to VGA converters/line doublers/upscalers, but they'll probably introduce a little lag & cost $50+, more (and more lag) for a hdmi 1080p upscaler.

My first ps1 was a 9002, it developed multiple faults, so I bought another 4 playstations cheap off ebay, originally just to use for parts (bought 4 because they're so cheap, came with with games/accessories), but they were all in better condition than my original. I've picked the best & it seems to be a 5502 with a cd drive from a hardly used 9002.

[Gradius]

Currently I live in Brazil, but I only have and use NTSC stuff here.

I have the superb XRGB-3.

Also, got the official PSX RGB>SCART cable (SCPH-1050) and brand new too.

With XRGB-3 it output HDMI via DVI > HDMI cable.

Tested with MSX (did my own cable), Neo-Geo (same) and PS2 (used SCPH-1050).

[winnar1up]

I assumed us from the ntsc stuff.

I'm in the UK, I bought a good big widescreen Panasonic 100hz CRT TV just before they stopped producing them & it has RGB SCART (like all European TVs). I think I'm buying another TV exactly the same tomorrow too, from ebay for £1.

PS2 can do YPbPr component video which allows progressive scan, that will be better than rgb scart, but scart is the best av connection for PS1 & older consoles.

[mistymagic]

I'm not sure I'm in the right forum, I live in Western Australia and have a SCPH7002 Pal system PS1. I was playing with no issues, I put the game on pause, when I went to continue the disc doesn't spin and the pause screen wouldn't let me use my controller, I have totally disconnected it from the power then later reconnected but the disc still doesn't spin (try to load) when I turn it on.
Not sure what I need to replace, but please keep in mind I'm in my 70's and not too tech minded should you be able to advise me

[Administrator]

I'm not sure I'm in the right forum, I live in Western Australia and have a SCPH7002 Pal system PS1. I was playing with no issues, I put the game on pause, when I went to continue the disc doesn't spin and the pause screen wouldn't let me use my controller, I have totally disconnected it from the power then later reconnected but the disc still doesn't spin (try to load) when I turn it on.
Not sure what I need to replace, but please keep in mind I'm in my 70's and not too tech minded should you be able to advise me

That's quite odd.

The only thing I can think of is that the door switch isn't triggering, or that the motor finally gave out.
If the motor gave out and shorted itself, it might have fried the servo controller, especially if you lost controller communication as it may have taken a fuse with it too.

I suggest that you check that the door switch is still engaging correctly. Try pressing it down when a disc is in. It should spin up. If you don't know what the door switch is, when you open the lid on your PSX, it's at the back right corner. It's a little plastic circle with a small hole in it.

[mistymagic]

Thank you for your quick response Shadow, I tried this to no avail but fortunately for me I found used console for $29 and I'm back playing my games. I had better turn my PS2 back on in case I lose that as well because I have a lot more games for that.

[Administrator]

No problem mate

[mistymagic]

I think it must be fried I even replaced the part that reads the disk (440ADM) to no avail just wish I could remove the chip and put it in my recently purchased model so I can play my sons ntsc games.