Doz' Blog: Philips Digital Compact Cassette recorder repair DCC 951

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

Philips Digital Compact Cassette recorder repair DCC 951

I missed out on the whole DCC thing. I was a big fan of minidisc...

Anyway, this found it's way into my possession....

It's a DCC 951, dating from 1994. It doesn't work. It's totally dead.

Off with the lid ...

Poking around with a multimeter proves there's AC on the output of the transformer. Time to examine those "wickman" fuses on the rear PCB...

Which involves removal of the back panel, which is easy enough... a few torx screws, and bending these little tabs out of the way ...

One on each side...

.. and lifting the panel off. The mounting screws can now be removed from the PCB, and it can be hinged up without disconnecting anything...

Sadly the wickman fuses are all intact ... but the regulators on the heatsink are horribly dry-jointed, and a quick solder up on these, and the mains input socket and switch (which are also looking poor) , solves the problem!

Great front loading mech... really smooth!

A conventional analogue tape can be used (analogue only, sadly), and goes in with the exposed side forward. Sadly I don't posses a DCC casette to see what the digital bit's like.

I clean up the tape path, and change the loading belt (it was OK, but I had a new one to hand!)
DON'T DEMAGNETISE THE HEADS!

Here's a few other shots...

... now to find a cassette ... anyone?

7 comments:

IanS6 December 2018 at 08:20
Sorry, can't help with the digital cassette, but why "DON'T DEMAGNETISE THE HEADS!"?
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Unknown20 December 2018 at 23:10
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Compact_Cassette says:

Magneto-resistive heads do not use iron so they do not build up residual magnetism. They never need to be demagnetized, and if a cassette demagnetizer is used on MR heads, they are easily damaged or destroyed.
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Replies
Unknown11 February 2020 at 15:09
Hi, I have a Marantz Dcc and wondered if you would give it a go at fixing it?
ReplyDelete
Replies
RetroAudio14 September 2020 at 09:32
Hi, do you still have problems with your DCC? what's wrong with it?
ReplyDelete
Replies

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Disclaimer.

Many pages on this blog describe working with high voltages, and vintage equipment. Sadly in this day of litigation, and common sense being absent, I must publish a disclaimer.

WARNING. Do NOT try these things at home. Most of the equipment I deal with in these pages uses high voltage, it will floor you or kill you if you come into contact with it. It will not warn you, blow a fuse, nor pull your safety trip. It may not give you a second chance. RESPECT IT'S AUTHORITY.

Many pages describe working with mains, or dealing with mains powered equipment which may have exposed mains connections inside the enclosure. Pull the plug and isolate before removing covers! Some equipment, in particular valve (tube) amplifiers, television sets and switched mode power supplies, can store high voltages for a considerable period of time after the power has been removed, especially if a fault condition exists. Always check and safely discharge capacitors. Safety is paramount.

There is risk of exposure to chemicals and physical debris. Precautions I take include, but are not limited to, use of rubber gloves, fume extraction and safety glasses.

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Not a business.

I repeatedly get requests, via messaging etc, asking me to fix their kit for them. This is just a hobby for me. I don't take on repairs on a commercial basis. The idea is to give my readers an insight into what's involved, and enable them to fix their own gear, (within the realms of safety of course), and I'll always help if I can. It's really for my own enjoyment and entertainment. It all started out with a simple website to actually document what I was doing, rather than making copious notes on paper, which I'd been doing since the late 80's. It was a friend that suggested I should make it all public, so I did. I never dreamed anyone else would find it interesting, and yet, I get around 200 people visiting everyday, which astounds me even to this day. So, sadly I can't fix your gear for you. Take it to a local firm. There are still a few TV repair places dotted about, a good few repair cafe's operate up and down the country, and see if you can find a tame radio ham who may share some of their knowledge and experience. There are a few "Makerspaces" dotted around the country, and they may be willing to help. I currently work as an engineer in the broadcast industry, and, until that changes, this will just remain a hobby. Thanks. Doz.

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Wednesday, 5 December 2018

Philips Digital Compact Cassette recorder repair DCC 951

7 comments:

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