jmcipale

@AndrewJohn I cant say I have ever seen/considered such an add-on. I am still trying to wrap my 2 brain cells around integrating a new transport into my existing 3200! 😝🤣

Been there, tried that... the working units ALL GO for $400+. Organ donor units tend to have the same issue (unable to read/skipping CD). Besides, I am semi-retired and I need a hobby. 😁

@AndrewJohn I did a little more digging on this (more than I care to admit) and what is coming up continually is the DLBA1 is essentially degrading. laser diodes, like other diodes/semiconductor devices age out and weaken. The DLBA1 is 'ancient' technology and is no longer being made (we all know that, sadly). Even 'organ donors' are not reliable (too often, the symptoms of the donor are the same as I have described). This leaves me with one of a handful of choices: Keep the Carver as a museum piece. Play ONLY new CDs or play it occasionally (and live with the bouncing laser). Take a completely radical direction and 'restore' the unit with a new transport/laser/DAC and tie that into the existing Carver electronics (think replacing a ford 289 V8 with a chevy small block 350 V8). Damn you, Bob Carver! Why did you make me care for the sound of this unit so much!? 🤣

You hit on a thought i have had as well. These don't just 'fail'. Is a transistor drifting from age? Is power-regulation wavering? Etc, etc, ad nauseum.

@AndrewJohn - been there. Done that. One time the transport was FUBAR, the other laser was just as fried. I can't even find an NAD 5340 (which used the same laser). All of the TL-3200/3220 I see on fleabay have the same issue: Wont read a disc. I stop there. It would be nice if someone would get the rights to build new lasers, but then again, how many devices used the DLBA-1, and how many NEED a new laser? Would it be a worthwhile investment (from a manufacturing perspective)?

*sigh* The definition of insanity is doing the same over and over, and hoping for different results. This popped up on ebay (I am still searching for my 'White Whale' of a DLBA1): Part of me says 'Go for it!' but part of me is wary. It's only $53 (free shipping from China). It looks nearly identical to the KSS-152A that I tried (with no success). Maybe I should just bu the NAD 5340 that is being auctioned for $99.00. I can even drive to Bend, OR to retrieve it.

A recent pickup for $5...

Carver TL-3200 RIP DoP - July 14, 1992 DoD - March 7, 2026 Well, she had a long run, but my Carver finally succumbed to the ravages of time. I returned from coffee and went to play a known good CD that doesn't skip. Loaded the CD, pressed 'Play' and the display read "- -". Tried multiple CDs, powered cycled the unit with the same result. I can make no other conclusion that the laser pickup finally just died. As of now, I have invested over $600 into a unit that, unless someone magically begins to remake laser heads, is destined for the recycle heap. Before anyone suggests looking at other lasers from brands that use the same pickup laser, the only other model that reliably uses the DLBA-1 laser is an NAD 5340. The sad thing is, there is a scarce supply of those units as well. The units are either priced very high ($400+ for a nearly 40 yo unit) or they are in the same condition as the Carver (wont read discs). The laser pickup does not have a match/direct swap that can work. There WAS a page that was referenced in here that referred to the Sony KSS model laser but, well, THAT was just plain erroneous. So, it is with a heavy heart that I surrender this unit to the dustbin of history, never letting go of the wonderful time I had listening to her.

Thank you @AndrewJohn. If, by chance, you recall the title of the book or if it is a collection of articles, could you post them somewhere for download/purchase. The nature of this is so crazily frustrating that it is bloody nerve-wracking.

Well, all my hopes were dashed with the first listen. Despite Roland's best efforts, the Carver still skips. 😢 All I can do is hang onto the ol girl and see if a laser from a scavenged unit comes up at a reasonable price. I am in $400 and performance is only getting worse. So into the closet it will go for now. Maybe I can find a nice 490T that is reasonably priced (NOT $700 for a unit needing a damn belt). Back to the parts-yard.

You mean the u-jumpers to plug into the back of the preamp? You can buy jumpers off ebay or Amazon. You can also use a short RCA cable of a foot or so.

As long as you dont butcher my dinner, all is good. 😁

Thanks Brian! Even though I have my Emotiva, there is something about the TL-3200 that I like A LOT! Even without the Digital Time Lens engaged, the overall tonal quality and balance are just a pleasant listening experience.

Long-awaited follow-up to this little syssiphian task: So Roland from High-Tech Audio reached out to me last night with an update on the 'patient'. He was about to give up and take the unit off life support (swapped out the sled motor, the disc motor and drive gear to the playback motor. Let's just say who ever repaired it before jerry-rigged the shit out of it). Finally, before we was about to pronounce the client dead, he though that maybe a tweak of the motor bias might help. Sure enough, the unit has been playing flawless since last night and throughout the morning! So later this week, I get my CD player back! Only cost $200 (not including the CD player scavenger for a pickup head).

Look here as well as ebay and US Audio Mart (iirc). You may be able to find things on fb marketplace depending on where you are located.