Hi-Rez Highway: All XB940 owners download and KEEP this – you will need it sometime... by Allen Wright New high resolution SACD releases, players and technology.

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Posted by Allen Wright (M ) on February 3, 2003 at 09:25:06

SONY XB940QS transport adjustments for non-technicians.

This procedure is to correct the situation of a 940 not reading one or more types of disc, and/or not being willing to switch between layers in a hybrid disc. It does not require the case to be opened or any tools used.

The transport used in this QS range player is minimalist at best, and seems eager go out of adjustment from heat, ageing and general use. Performing these adjustments may save you a trip to the service center and a painful wait without music…

Please note that these steps are only for the 940, although other SONY players have a similar procedure. Their steps are contained in their respective service manuals, and I only publish this as the regular 940 manual doesn’t contain them…
Service manuals for all the SONYplayers are normally available at a very fair price from:

http://www.manuals.d2g.com/

The official procedure requires unobtianium test CDs, but I’ve found you don’t need them to get the job done. What you’ll need at hand is:

1/ A single layer SACD—I use any of the early SONY remasters that come in the grey paper sleeve.
2/ A regular CD—It’s best to use an older one, some new ones may have some copy protection BS that messes things up.
3/ A hybrid SACD
4/ And if possible, a double layer SACD–more on that later.

Start with no disc in the tray and the machine OFF.

1/ Put the 940 into Test Mode by doing these steps:
a/ HOLD down the AMS controller knob,
b/ turn the machine ON
c/ and while keeping the AMS held down, PRESS the STOP button.
d/ Let go of everything.
The display will read “Test Mode Menu” if you’ve done this right.

2/ ROTATE the AMS one click clockwise,
“1. Auto Adjust” shows.

3/ PUSH the AMS
“Auto Adj Menu” shows.

4/ ROTATE the AMS two clicks clockwise,
“1. SACD–SL” shows.

5/ PUSH the AMS, the tray opens, and
“Set SACD– SL 12” shows, so load in a single layer SACD.

6/ PUSH the AMS, tray closes, all sorts of things happen, tray opens.
“Remove Disc” shows.

7/ Remove the SACD and PUSH the AMS. The tray closes.
“1. SACD–SL” shows again—and the pure SACD step is done..

8/ ROTATE the AMS one click clockwise,
“2. CD” shows.

9/ PUSH the AMS, the tray opens and
“Set CD 12” shows.
Load in a standard (non CDR) music CD.

10/ PUSH the AMS, again the tray closes…and opens.
“Remove Disc” shows.

11/ Remove the CD and PUSH the AMS. The tray closes.
“2. CD” shows again—so the CD calibration step is done.

12/ ROTATE the AMS one click clockwise,
“3. SACD–DL” shows.
This means it wants a double layer SACD, and I don’t know how to recognise them from markings on the disc itself or it’s packaging. But I read on HiRez Forum that the Hillary Hahn “Brahms/Stravinsky Violin Concertos” (SONY SS89649) is a DL, and it is accepted by the 940 for this test. Using any other SACD I’ve tried here gives an error message.

9/ With this disc, or another known DL, repeat the steps as above.
If you don’t have a DL disc, bypass this step by going to step 10.

10/ ROTATE the AMS one click clockwise, and
“4. HYBRID” shows.

11/ PRESS the AMS and repeat the same procedure as above.

12/ When “4. HYBRID” shows again, you are DONE!

The full technician procedure will be posted on our site sometime as there are more steps, but these are what are needed to solve 99% of the transport problems, and all I really want to translate from Japlish tecno speak at this (or any) time.

Good Hunting, Allen

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

The Cable Cooker

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