Working Replacement CD Laser Assembly by Hitachi?

[Ceph]

There's a store in the US selling these for $18.95.  Cost with shipping was $25.25 for me.

http://www.electronix.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=HOP-M3&x=0&y=0

So a HOP-M3 CD pickup by Hitachi does work in a Duo/R/RX ? Has anyone tested this?

If this is true then our prayers have been answered.

[Buster D]

I haven't installed mine yet (I actually don't have it with me here in Japan, I had it sent to my US address), but as noted in the other thread it doesn't seem to fix Duos with totally dead CD audio.  I just bought just in case.

[Ceph]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, we know that the Duo's audio problem is not caused by the cd-rom mount but by certain electronic components on the main board (and the problem does not occur with Duo-Rs and RXs.)

However, the laser diode of the Duo/R/RX becomes weak sooner or later (rather sooner, now that the drives are all 15+ years old). I already had one Duo-R whose laser died; had I had a replacement CD pickup back then I could have saved the console, as it was in perfect order otherwise.

So, the question remains, will the Hitachi CD-Rom mounts work?

Do you have any idea exactly what type the Sanyo CD pickups that guy from HongKong is offering are? Are they better suited?

[Buster D]

Yeah, they should work.  D-Lite was selling one or more Duo systems with a new laser, I think the Duo-R I got from him has a new one.

Edit: As for Hitachi vs Sanyo, I believe that Hitachi is a better respected and more reliable brand, but if they're the same model number then they should work the same.  They might even have parts from or be entirely be made by the same manufacturer and just be sold under different brand names.

[rolins]

I'm not even sure if a Sanyo model of this CD lens even exist. I got that info from the GamedoctorHK's ebay auction, and the picture he gave me looked exactly like the Hitachi model. I asked him for the part number, but said he couldn't tell. Maybe the seller really is selling me a Hitachi, but then again if this is a lens by Sanyo I want to make sure. I'll let you guys know how it goes once I recieve it in the mail.

[Ceph]

I'm not even sure if a Sanyo model of this CD lens even exist. I got that info from the GamedoctorHK's ebay auction, and the picture he gave me looked exactly like the Hitachi model. I asked him for the part number, but said he couldn't tell. Maybe the seller really is selling me a Hitachi, but then again if this is a lens by Sanyo I want to make sure. I'll let you guys know how it goes once I recieve it in the mail.

Thank you! I was about to volunteer buying one form the HK guy to find out what model it is

After all those years of looking for a working replacement, this is indeed a great discovery!

[rolins]

Okay, I finally recieved it in mail a few minutes ago. Shipping was pretty fast for airmail, only 7 days. Nicely packaged and tons bubble wrap.

Now for the cd laser unit, this is not a Sanyo model I thought it would be. It's a Hitachi model, I know now because it says HOP-M3 on its side. I don't know why this seller thinks it's a Sanyo because I don't see any other tags on the laser unit or the box that came with it.

I assume it will work because it looks exactly like the one D-Lite sold to Black_Tiger. However, I can't installed it just yet. I'll have to do it later after hours. In about 15 mintues I have to be at work and tonight I have the graveyard shift, and I'm there until 2am. My summer job working at the university library.

I'll post again tomorrow if this HOP-M3 unit works.

Here's picture.


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[NEC Avenue]

Just so you guys know, Sanyo is one of the largest manufacturers of OPUs. They hold a 40% marketshare of OPUs. Don't judge their OPUs on their cheap consumer electronics. In fact the new HD DVD players uses Sanyo OPUs with NEC drive chips.

[Keranu]

W00t! NEC Avenue is back! I thought we scared you, buddy .

[rolins]

I installed the laser unit this morning on my DuoR and it runs every cd game I threw at it.  So far I've been running my DuoR for more than 6 hours straight without hiccups.

I haven't tested this laser unit on any other model, but I assume it should work on the japanese Duo and DuoRX. I'm not sure about the Turbo Duo, but if this model uses the same parts as its japanese counterpart then I don't see why not.

So if anyone wants a HOP-M3 replacement buy it from electronix.com for $18.95 instead of the GamedoctorHK seller who is selling the same part for $45.

note: For those pesky screws you'll need a tamper resistant torx bit, T-10.

[esteban]

wow. I'm thinking I should buy a few just in case. I'll be kicking myself in the future if I don't, huh?

[KingDrool]

Alright, I just ordered one.  I have absolutely zero technical knowledge whatsoever, but I'm going to give it a shot in order to resurrect one of my dead Duos.  I'll let you know how it goes...

Question: how hard was it to do?  Was their soldering involved?  Any details you can give would truly be helpful as I'm completely ignorant about these sorts of things.

Thanks!

[rolins]

Alright, I just ordered one.  I have absolutely zero technical knowledge whatsoever, but I'm going to give it a shot in order to resurrect one of my dead Duos.  I'll let you know how it goes...

Question: how hard was it to do?  Was their soldering involved?  Any details you can give would truly be helpful as I'm completely ignorant about these sorts of things.

Thanks!

It's not really difficult and there is no soldering involved. The hardest thing is pulling those three cables. One from the mainboard, and two more from the HOP-M3. Those last two cables are pretty tight, so might want to use some needle nose pilers and be careful not tear the wires.

Black_Tiger posted in another thread about installing a HOP-M3. Also has a good picture showing those three cables you need to pull.

http://pcenginefx.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1537&sid=87a5f64dfcf6c313a2c2447f301ee881


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[KingDrool]

Thanks a million, my friend.  You have no idea how excited I am about this.  I have one working Duo, but if I could get the other one working as well I'd be one happy mofo.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

[rolins]

Thanks a million, my friend.  You have no idea how excited I am about this.  I have one working Duo, but if I could get the other one working as well I'd be one happy mofo.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

Is yours a Turbo Duo or the japanese Duo? Just curious.