Redbook Audio Problems on PC-Engine Duo-R: Suggestions and Sources?

[EmperorIng]

So I know this is a fairly common problem with PC-Engine Duos in general, but I thought I would like to hear from some more knowledgeable forum-goers as to potential solutions.

I bought my PC-Engine Duo-R from Doujindance on ebay, as this was generally stated around the internet to be the best person to buy to sort of casually jump into the PC-Engine library with the least fuss - replaced laser lens, region-free mod, RGB (I only have a Wega Trinitron CRT so I can't use the RGB though). Plus, with it being a Duo-R, it was supposed to bypass the common capacitor issues the Duos regularly face (if browsing this forum is any indication).

My Duo-R woes are entirely CD-related:

1) a few games have had occasional lockups and freezes at the startup screen ("Please Set Disc!")

2) this is more random than not (in terms of what games it effects), but redbook audio will occasionally start stuttering, popping, or crackling, often cutting out entirely, leaving only the chip sound effects. I originally thought this problem was localized to my Valis III disc, which is a little scuffed (nothing terrible), but it has happened on my better-kept CDs as well.

As a note, I soft-reset the system before removing the disc, and I do not leave the system plugged in. I use a PS2 slim AC adaptor. Usually, but not always, leaving the system off for a while and coming back to it allows it to play audio without issues, but they seem to creep back as the system is used more and more. Also, chiptune sounds are not affected.

Now, since i bought the Duo-R primarily for CD games, #2 is a big bummer.

Lurking through the forums usual suspects tend to be laser calibration or capacitors, though most of these topics are for Duos, and not Duo-Rs.

If anyone has experience with doujindance Duo-Rs, I would be very happy to hear some suggestions.

I have considered using a repair service, turbografxfan on ebay, to give the machine a once-over in case it needed a capacitor replacement. If there is a comparable service offered by a member of this forum, I would be happy to hear it. If it is something I can do myself, so much the better. I have seen the numerous stickies in this subforum, but I would like to be sure of something before committing to ripping open my console.

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

[Keith Courage]

Most likely your system just needs some CD lens adjustment or lens railing re-greasing. Also, small chance your lens may be going bad even if it has a new lens.

If you want to try doing some work yourself then a potentiometer adjustment might do the trick. However, be careful in there. Doujindance systems have many wires for the mods which can easily get torn/disconnected if the case is opened up to quickly.

Thread about pot adjustment can be found here http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=8926.0

[EmperorIng]

If it can be as simple as a lens greasing, I might try to do it myself. I would hope that a new laser (as per a doujindance system) would not burn out so quickly, but that is not out of the question if other topics I have looked at on this forum are the case.

Greasing the rails wouldn't necessitate completely removing the laser, would it?

By lens readjustment, do you mean removing and reattaching the laser?

Thanks for the response.

[Keith Courage]

New cheap aftermarket lenses are not as good a quality as the originals. Meaning I've come across new ones that are bad right out of the package.