I would honestly listen to him even making videos on kitchen or cleaning stuff. Oh wait i have done that already !! at this point i can listen to anything he talks about and come out happy. Mat is like a cool uncle i never had but still found on youtube. Thanks a lot Mat for adding such joy to the lives of so many people.
“It was stuck to me elbow.” Love it. Thanks for another very entertaining video, Mat. You can’t win them all, but we win every time by seeing your work.
The amount of times you go in to try and fix something simple and you end up blowing up the half the kitchen and then trying to explain what happened to the missus🤣 Great video.
The minidisc ejects problem is because when you put the mechanism back together, you left the white sled forward, it should be towards the rear of the mech, I found this out repairing a Sony CMT373NT, also be careful of the capacitors on the amp/power supply board, they're usually right near the minidisc housing and they will bite you if the MD housing or your screwdriver touches it.
in this case you swapped "forward" and "rear". The front of the mechanism is the door, the rear is in the back. But moving the sled alone normally requires spinning the axles as well, or you risk breaking the flimsy plastic. Personally much prefer the early generations of MD players (even if they can't do type S) - those massive aluminium constructions are near impossible to break, but of course probably cost more to make than making them entirely out of plastic
I think it’s too late to giving him a help if he already threw it into the garbage… P.S. I am a owner of CMT-M333NT and have a question about “T9” feature that Minidisc Wiki and “minidisc org” website stated that it has “T9” for typing names in CD, MD and Radio modes, does your model really have this “feature” or it’s just another hoax like with “minidisc org” website stating that it has a proprietary “PC-LINK” input in this model (if it has a USB Type B for NetMD)?
Exactly what I was going to say, I am also a CMT owner and the white sled need to be correctly set. 😭. I have the CMT with NetMD, fantastic little unit.
this isnt related to MDs but cassettes play a bit slow on my sony cmt-cp100 so would getting a new belt help or should the speed be adjusted on the motor?
The repair sequence reminded me very much of trying to work on one of those all-in-one PCs back in the day. That same sense of having to deal with 50 pounds of electronics crammed into a 30-pound sack.
Crazy how small tech has got now. I took apart a more modern AIO and it needed no screws and all replacable parts were open with the removal of one or two panels. It's way more capable and way easier to work on. If only the software worked. I hate drivers, had to use an external wifi adapter, although the internal one would have been easy to replace. If I have the WiFi adapter enabled the system bluescreens after some use. It also does so when an SD card is removed. All the drivers were installed from the manufacturer on a clean install of windows. It's a shame such repairability was wasted on such an unstable machine. Maybe I could dual boot a linux install, even though linux is its own kind of trash. Anyway, why in the hell does an sd card reader even a driver? Can't we just know how to read an SD card? What's the point of standards if the reader behaves differently enough to need its own unique software? If it weren't unique it would already be bundled in with Windows, as many basic drivers are. What in the hell. I hate computers. I got the AIO for 10 bucks at a goodwill. Best find I've ever got. 10 dollars for what is essentially a 60hz 1080p panel with a computer inside? Not bad. Speakers are decent, definitely usable. Viewing angles are good enough. Odd color fringing no matter what I do, if somebody says opentype to me I might kill them. It is dell. The problems may come from the fact it's rinning WIN10 instead of 8, but 10 is essentially 8 but not designed by a brainlet. If that is what's causing the issue then I don't want the solution. Maybe it'd work out if I installed the drivers in 8 then updated to 10. Computer software feels like black magic sometimes. Or not, there's always a solution or reason, even if it's as lame and unlucky as the processor just having a few bad flippy bits in just the right places to ruin your day, year, life. Have you ever heard of the talking heads band? Frankly, the songs don't grip me, in weird way they feel generic to eachother, like I could be listening to any one of them and it wouldn't matter. Like there's no real meaning, or if there is it's delivered the same as all the others, stealing impact. That's why I like cage the elephant, because they cover what feels like a wide range of different feels. I also just like how they sound. They could be talking about revolting corndogs, it doesn't matter. The hoosiers are also good.
I used to be a IT technician in schools, and they went crazy for the all in one PCs. They were junk and as you say, a nightmare to work on. So I told schools that I insisted they took out the 3 year extended on site warranty. They did and that solved me having to open one up ever again. Watching the engineer that would visit to fix a faulty one was interesting, he was no better than me and said that they were junk and put together as cheaply as possible. But don’t tell the company I said that he muttered :)
Having grown up in Japan and still living here, it was really interesting to learn the the D-Terminal connection was really only used in Japan (for the most part). I had thought that it was a standard that was used worldwide, due to its convenience and similar form factor to the VGA connection used on old school monitors. Thanks for helping me to learn something new every week! I wish I could be of some help to the channel to send Japanese things your way, but it seems you’ve got everything covered for the time being 😂 P.S. RIP Sakamoto-san and Takahashi-san from YMO. They truly shaped a generation and brought to many innovations to music. Thanks for having one of their CDs make an appearance.
You pulling all those ribbon cables out really gave me the fear. Wee bit of advice, take a marker and make a mark across the cable and socket before you pull it out that way you can match up the right cables and correct polarity when putting it back together by matching up the marks. When you've got lots of cables you can vary position angle and number of marks to make sure you don't confuse them.
Yep, while i was watching i thought it would be good to put a different dab of colour on the connectors and sockets before he starts pulling them all out.
Do ya think it's possible the accidental incorrect installation of the ribbon cable may have sent power to a sensor of some sort which then would've shared a common ground with a sensor for both the minidisc and cd/dvd player? Just feels plausible.
How about the manufacturer putting the device together with one-way plugs? Of course the companies who don't want you to try to fix things can write "No user-serviceable parts inside," and "Warranty void if opened," on the case, and expect you to buy a new one - more profits that way. Plus you don't get to find out just how cheaply made the product might have been - thus avoiding ruining the customer's brand loyalty. 😠 I will never buy a normal laptop computer after volunteering my time repairing them for a non-profit that helps low income families obtain computers. I might consider buying a ruggedized one if I ever felt I needed one.
This video pretty much sums my experience with this era of HiFi. Devices that lasted for couple of years and then usually ended up as radio-only components at someone's workplace after the cassette, CD and other parts had just given up on life.
Yes and unfortunately these mini systems end up at Goodwill in separate batches so not only do you have to hunt down the matching speakers and remote, but you end up with a unit with a faulty 3 CD changer or wonky cassette player. Oh well, at least they look good.
My personal view with acquiring electronics from that era (early 2000s) is that it better be free, because they tend to require a lot of tedious repairs that may not even stick. Feels like that was when the true era of e-waste began.
Mat seems happier and healthier in this year's videos. Here's to a less rigorous release schedule and embracing the noble failures! ♥ Keep up the great work.
That reminds me of the "Intel Inside" sticker I've literally tried to remove from a laptop and failed. I'm sure I could get it off with some effort and a sharp tool, but I don't want to scratch the surface. That sticker has outlasted three office chairs.
@@tarmaque They come off easily with a heatgun and a blade. The glue is really gummy and the sticker is rigid, so they are easy to apply somewhere else as well.
@@jhonwask As Techmoan explained finding someone who can repair this stuff is hard, if you find them they are probably backed up for many months, and the expense is not worth it, and they may not do a good job anyway.
Dude you are the man. I enjoy all your vids and have for years. Although you claim to not be a technician or am engineer. I believe you deserve credit for the abilities you do have. Your ability to deduce info to get things done or fixed is no small feat. Most people do not have the logical mind that you do. Anyway, thanks for another entertaining video. You are a valued member/channel in household. Even my wife enjoys your videos. That is a blessing that makes watching YT with her much easier lol 🙌 . We Sincerely Thank you for all the effort you put in to your channel/videos. Be well my ," friend " .
Even after so many mechanical failures I still wouldn't give up and dig in further. Such a neat little do it all system with VU meters to boot! I learned the hard way as well with ribbon cables, they require patience and careful treatment, I have a special set of needle nose pliers with grippy tape around the tips for those.
I had a similar experience with a Sharp mini system I got from a thrift store one time. Vintage electronics can be very good but when things go awry well… the old parts bin gets restocked 😂
The MD drive is an MDM-7 mechanism, the most reliable MD mechanism Sony made for decks. I believe the sensor inside the left side of the trap door is dirty and stuck to "MD IN" position. Spraying some contact cleaner on the sensor can solve the problem easily. A pleasant video as always!
Thank you for taking us along with you on this repair journey. I can see very well now, that those micro systems can be quite a hassle to deal with when they age. Well told story, thank you again.
Another good video and I like the idea of doing a series. I now feel lucky that my 1995 Aiwa mini system cd changer, tape decks and radio still work after all of these years.
Thanks, I know it’s not ideal ( & it’s frustrating for you), but seeing how you go about working out repairs ( even unsuccessful ones) is useful when I’m looking at my own gear that are uneconomical for professional repair.
I saw it in theaters, back in the day. For some reason, the ticket stub stayed in my florescent yellow neoprene wallet for many years 'til I finally lost the wallet.
Although I am sorry your repair didn't work out, it makes me feel better that I am not the only one that occasionally takes a step backwards when trying to repair something. As always, I enjoy watching your videos, and have for many years. Thank you for the time, financial expense, and research you do to make excellent content.
Certainly a good microsystem! It looks remarkably similar to a Sony bookshelf unit I purchased a few years ago. It’s from 2002 or so, and only does CD, MD, and tape, not DVD like yours. My unit also has NetMD capability, but only headphone and speaker out. The best thing about my unit was the hi speed dubbing from CD to MD, which is how I burned most of my MDs. And you’re right about needing a remote control! I had to order one online, very hard to find and cost as much as the unit did itself! Edit: now I’ve watched to the end, I guess I’m lucky mine is in fairly good working order. But thank you for sharing your efforts to repair your unit, because I’ve had many woeful experiences with old tech, and so many other youtubers are rather misleading with how “easy” it is to repair and modify old technology.
Some of it is easy, made simpler with careful disassembly and witness marks. Always take note of ribbon insertion polarity, and mark a consistent edge to be sure e.g. the outside left and not on a part that can come off due to old glue. Some of it is extremely tricky with brittle plastic gears and intricate assemblies. You just have to gain experience on things that don't matter to you first. But I do agree some UA-camrs insulate people against a lot of the pain via editing so it looks like bisch basch bosch and any noddy can do it without a bean of prep work.
There's a reason why it resembles the Sony - because it basically IS a Sony. This micro system was produced during a period of time where Aiwa was under ownership of Sony.
Even if you were looking for an mini system like that for cassettes, I am guessing there aren't too many from that era that would even be particularly good at that due to the lack of supporting the better tape formats like this one.
Excellent video. As an ex consumer electronics repair engineer, here's a trick with units with several ribbon cables. Mark each cable with a dot from a different colour of Sharpie, marking the socket on the same side as the cable mark. This way you'll have a colour coded reference as to where each cable plugs, and which orientation it goes. Doing this will eliminate incorrect placement and polarity reversal. I used to hate repairing these micro systems, but Sony were the best for ease of disassembly and assembly after a repair.
21:35 The reason it says Frash instead of Flash is due to a translation error. The character for L and the character for R look identical to anyone who isn't fluent in Japanese and so you get translation errors like this where R's are used where an L should be and vice versa. This also used to happen a lot during the NES's early days; even Nintendo games weren't immune from this problem.
Very much respect all the effort you put in, it's not always going to go right but I'm glad you keep trying and over the years you seem to have continued to get better with them overall so it's well worth it imo. Ironically for myself I am now *more* interested in systems like this, particularly because it's so repairable, there's a 'certain level' of repair effort that really appeals to me where I think I could handle it myself, but I wouldn't want it to be too much more difficult or it'd put me off, and this seems to be a device that's right at that level
My favourite 'AIWA' device is a Walkman sized (ok large Walkman!) Reel to reel tape recorder which I bought for £3 off someone at a car boot sale, it used 2" spools and came in its original box complete with original price tag in pre-decimalisation money. Curiously the only other example I've seen was in the Czechoslovakian National Technology Museum in Prague ! ! !
The CD/DVD tray problem should be a simple fix. The spindle motor assembly should drop out of the way of the tray as it is opening but it is not dropping early enough. Normally this is caused by misalignment of some gears. There should be some alignment arrows on the tray rack and gears for the default position. As noted, those ribbon cables can sometimes change what side the insulator is on. I think its good practice before disassembly to use a sharpie to mark across every connector to make sure you put them all back correctly. Also, the mini-disc may just be a bent leaf switch or bracket or something has become misaligned/disconnected etc..
It also can be caused by the magnet in the top of the drive that holds the disk down magnetizing the metal in the spindle underneath it. The motor that normally pulls them apart isn't strong enough. A hacky repair for this is to get those 3 ring binder reinforcement stickers from the office supply store and stack a few of them on the magnet. It causes it not to stick as hard to the spindle reducing the force the motor has to overcome. I've had this issue on a few old xbox 360s and that was the "fix".
When these combined Hi-fi units started to appear, a common statement from 'Experts' was - Buy separate units, you can always replace or repair an individual unit. I still have a compact Sony micro Hi-fi from about 1995 but If I took it out now I am sure some of the belts would have melted. It seems our requirements have moved on
The Aiwa Mini system looks awesome with the VU meters. My JVC-UXG60 Mini System from 2007 does not have a tape or Mini Disc drive but it supports CD, MP3, WMA audio and DVD/VCD/SVCD/JPEG/MPEG-1/MPEG-2/ASF/DivX video via SCART with RGB output. It's got a FM Radio with RDS, a USB input and an analog 3,5 mm stereo input. The specs say you can even playback DVD-Audio. I hope I'l never have to open it for repairs.
When I was about 8 years old, I got a 20 year old tube radio from my parents. The FM didn't work but that was a matter of re-wrapping the tuner string. I used it for many years. Quite a difference with the 20 year old gear you're showing here that lived... one more day? two? 😀
I just lived this with a 40 year old Pioneer PL-L1000 turntable. My son and I took it from kinda working, with a couple of minor quirks, to unusable. We can take solace in the fact that no matter if you fix it or not it will inevitably break again, and probably permanently, very soon. These old devices, whether 20 years old, or 40 years old, just are going to wear out. Unless you're very experienced with repairing circuit boards you're never going to get them right. Thanks for validating my failure dude!
CD Text was unfortunately handled very bad and used way too less. I loved that function. That there was somthing similar on DVDs - the first time i heard of. 🤩 Function completely underrated at that time. 🥰
Haha, I feel you! A few years ago I tried to fix a very similar Panasonic mini system that belonged to my girlfriend. The cassette had jammed up. I took it apart piece by piece and remember thinking it was like a collapsing house of cards. On eventually putting it back together and turning it on, there was a bit of a pop and a burning smell and the whole thing was dead. It wasn't the fuse or anything obvious like a capacitor. It's in the attic now..
That was fun to watch. I had the exactly same one in 2003. There was once difference. Mine said SONY. When I went to Japan and saw the AIWA version I found out. That in Japan it was sold as a AIWA, but SONY sold it in China under their own brand. It was exactly the same in every detail except for the name tag. On mine the first thing that dies was the MINI disc, second was the CD/DVD. I brought it to SONY in Beijing for repair in 2008, but they would not even touch it. They said it was too old. Yes only 5 years later and it was too old.
This was, without doubt, the most entertaining video I've seen in ages 😂 your content is usually top notch, but this actually had me laughing at how badly it went, love it!
The only HiFi that I know of that can play more formats is the Technics SC-DV290 (although it's a mini HiFi and not a micro HiFi). It can play: • FM/AM radio • Tapes • CD Audio • CD Video • DVD Video • DVD Audio • MP3 • WMA • JPG
My experience was, that these types of systems often had issues to a degree, that you wouldn't use them very often (which is why these systems look nice and unscratched): CD read errors or jumps and pauses when playing, tapes sounding dreadful overall (too fast, not steady, ...), tape recordings even worse, bad radio reception. Which was surprising, because the simplest PC CD Rom drive worked just fine for Audio CDs.
I wonder if that had anything to do with the additional complexity of a CD-ROM compared to an audio CD? Maybe in the process of getting acceptable reliability for data, you end up getting pretty good reliability for audio? Or, perhaps the quest for faster drives for data use also resulted in making them more reliable for the baseline audio use case? That is, a drive that can pluck data off a clean disc at 48x might be able to pluck audio off a dodgy disc at 1x, just due to having better mechanisms and electronics that handle fluctuations in the laser's signal better. [shrugs] I dunno. It's just a guess, so don't take me as an expert or anything.
It might be interesting to get the DVD drive model number and see if there is a replacement available. If you could get that working you'd have at least a radio and DVD/CD output. Perhaps take another look at the tape drive and see if a diode has shorted in the power supply, should be an easy fix. Use a multimeter on continuity setting to check for shorts. Try to get a part number off the MiniDisc drive as well and see if there is a replacement or substitute around.
That looks like the classic tray issue most cd/dvd drives for PC would have, you can probably help it go all the way out by simply pulling a bit. I bet its exactly that, some Sony DVD drive for PC without its outer case.
This is fantastic, thanks. AIWA was my first micro system ever in the mid-late 90s. (it was pretty good, as compared to your unfortunate experience!) I particularly like the logo on this one -- a minimum of lines to represent all four letters.
@@MatthewBrannigan Hah... that always looks like "K-backwards-N" to me -- but I get it! (Also I bet all the Russian/Cyrillic alphabeted language speakers look at it and think, "Ki... it's missing the A!")
Despite the outcome, this was a super entertaining video. These micro-systems make me nostalgic in a lovely way and I never got to play with one of these systems that had the DVD built in. I'm loving this mini-series. A highpoint on your channel which is already full of them.
This goes to show that cramming functions into one device doesn't make it better. Instead of doing one function great, it does many things mediocre at best. As always, thanks for making these videos!
Cramming functions into one *cheap* device doesn't make it better! If this was a high quality stereo system, they totally would've been able to put all those functions into it and make every single one of them top notch. With a hefty price tag to match, of course!
Except that back in the day, (1) no one expected to be using this 20 year later. (2) the compromises were worth it. If someone had both the money and space for a separates system, they would have had one.
Great video! The Aiwa 22, is a quality system. You cannot beat a separate preamplifier and power amplifier set up! It just needs a recap, some transistors, diodes. and resistors replacement. A system of this specification made today, would cost you easily over £4000.
I was quite surprised at how dismissive he seemed to be of the classic 22 combo. Like he couldn't see or appreciate the quality of the components it has inside and out. Once you've hooked one up to some proper speakers it's easy to understand how that would be a £4k system nowadays. This thing from Sony era Aiwa is just junk in comparison. Though to be fair Techmoam has always been more about the gimmicks than the quality.
Japan is amazing. Went there for a month in 2014. You should go there for a holiday, tour all the 'Hard Off' shops and buy all sorts of crazy stuff and pack and ship it back yourself while you're there.A business trip, of a sort :)
People like cheap and disposable. Even people that complain about how new stuff is cheap junk that doesn’t last, will tend to buy the cheap junk over something expensive and quality. So much so they barely even bother building stuff that’s really high quality since it doesn’t sell.
Thoroughly enjoyed this! I'm curious, however, what the shipping and handling cost was, besides "exorbitant". (2x the price of the unit? 3x? 10x?!) I know when I order audio play CDs from England the shipping is very pricey, so I'm not surprised.
This is exactly the sort of basket case I love to have a go at fixing! Pointless from a time and cost perspective, but hugely satisfying when I succeed.
It's so familiar. One Philips microsystem of mine finished like you Aiwa, only speakers worked at end. But then I won ebay auction from UK Sony CP500MD. MD belt was already changed, i changed cassette on. All finished good and working with no problems.
I don't think there'll be any more Muppets. Matt has explained this before; the Muppet sections make YT treat the video as being for kids and that means no comments and I think no advertising?
My ex-husband worked for a stereo supply store and often brought home "samples" from the conference rooms where the manufacturer reps tried to convince the sales reps to carry their products. I think I've mentioned this in a previous video on mini discs. Anyway, our version was a US market model. It was a bit shorter because they had removed the cassette player and moved the disc player to the top position. There was no DVD option and the little drop down command center was not present. Consequently, as you mentioned, the remote was absolutely necessary in order to access all features. We loved that we could burn our CDs to mini discs directly instead of dealing with the clunky software provided by Sony for use on PCs and Macs. I can almost see the software name, but my memory just isn't kicking in. Finally, the radio was just bad. Normally we had no problem accessing the dozen or so local channels from our apartment. This pulled in maybe three. But, the unit was free, and it wasn't a feature we would normally use anyway. As always, thanks for your informative and entertaining videos.
Dear Mr. Moan, This video reminds me of my own youth. Where regarding audio stuff not everything went to plan. The video is highly entertaining. Thanks for reminding me of times simpler but still good!
Kind sir please know that what I write after this is my poor autistic sense of humour trying to give you a bit of a laugh. You fine sir have single handedly cost me well over $70,000. Your lovely channel got me very interested in vintage hi-fi equipment. I'm now the proud owner of the following NINE vintage monster receivers. Pioneer SX-1980, SX-1280, SX-1250, SX-1080, SX-1050, Sansui 9700, Hitachi SR-2004, Onkyo TX-8500-MKII and finally a Marantz 2330B. I've added lots of components to form 9 complete sets. Many of my components were things you showcased on your channel. Because of yoou I've brought receivers speakers, cassette, then reel to reel decks and more. Seriously now. THANK YOU! for introducing me to this awesome hobby sir!
The micro system you showed in the previous video was really good quality, this one is cheap junk and nothing more. The modular construction is nice but it doesn't really mean anything if the constituent parts themselves are flimsy and fragile.
I did buy a micro system about 4 years ago and, touch wood, it is still working today. Not quite as advanced as the Aiwa but it does have a type R MDLP minidisk, CD with digital audio text capability, a basic cassette deck, and a tuner. It didn't come with a remote control but, being a Sony, there are plenty of cheap compatibles out there that work perfectly for about £10.
I've bought three micro systems in the last couple of years, from charity shops and one from an auction site. All three work well and the one i got for myself has DAB+, Bluetooth, mp3 and a few other nice features, all for £15 plus remote control. If they stop working, I've not paid a fortune for them so I'm not too concerned if they fail, but I like the fact I'm prolonging the life of these systems instead of them going into landfill.
As someone who shoots GFX for field and studio portraits, on location brand work, and tons more this camera will greatly improve ease of use and hit rate for spontaneous moments. It puts it more in line with FF options. I also do occasional video which means I don’t need to keep something like Sony/canon or black magic, etc for only doing video work. While you can get a similar look with FF/APSC but more speed, there is something extra special with GFX. Clients notice the stand out qualities and so do I. That’s worth something.
Great video. It brought a memory back when I was asked to fix a friends computer 20 years ago. I wish I hadn’t. I’ve fixed many computers in my time but this one in the end wouldn’t even switch on. I almost went and bought my friend a new one but thought he was given it broken so I did my best. I really like your approach to fixing things. Can you send the cable back 😂
Retro and vintage is often a rollercoaster of emotions. I bought a 37 year old computer because I threw one away years ago. Anyway, it worked great then didn’t. I tried to fix it and broke it more. Fixed that and now it works great again. All lessons learnt, especially how to try not to break it more.
Many formats, for Mat. :-) Love your channel! Eagerly anticipate each successive video! You show all the things I badly wanted as a teenager in the 80s but couldn't afford. :-)
Another great video, its great to see this blast from the past. I had one of these around 15 years ago, and of course the humble CD player ate discs similar to the MD player. The sound on the Aus model was fantastic and used mainly connected as computer speakers and Aux. I pulled the CD player out as there was no use for it and and there was the wait time to load up which was fine as windows Xp loaded up. I enjoyed watching the video and how you open up and repair these great gems. Keep up the great work 👍👍👍
Personally i love old stereos. All-in-ones, component systems etc. Since my childchood i was fascinated about things with lot of dials and buttons. I could spend unreasonable amount of time just playing with my uncle's "stereo-prologic" system as a child in early 00s. Couple years ago i bought myself Sony MHC-EX7 system from mid-90s. While it don't support than many formats, everything works after almost 30 years! Only thing i did was replacing belts and pinchrollers in tape deck. Everything else works fine after all that time. It sounds fantastic for its price, much better than most soundbars/bluetooth speakers etc. I doubt I will ever get rid of it. My friend have Sony minisystem (similiar to this Aiwa, but without MD), it still works and sounds pretty good. These 90s/early 00s stereos can be really "bang for buck" if you know what to look at. People often sell them on auctions for really low prices, usually with not working CDs and tape decks. With tape deck needs just new belts most of the time, CDs usually have dying laser mechanism. But you actually can buy some lasers used in Sony and Aiwa systems, to bring them back to life. Many models do sound really good, considering the bargain price, and some have subwoofer output (like this one) so you can have even more bass if you like. I never had and Aiwa system, but i've seen couple models on sale - with original speakers, surround speakers and remote. I especially liked one with motorized panel that contain different sound modes.
I kind of felt very sad for you, but was also laughing mid way through as just about everything was failing around you. We've all had days like this. Another fab video, good or bad outcome.
Fantastic video Mat! I’ve been there many times with a degrading product while making a video. Great work making the video complete and compelling! Also I have never figured out why some belts go bad and others don’t! I’ve got belts from the 60’s that still work fine and others from 2000 that have failed! I’ve decided it must be a combination of ambient storage temperature and humidity.
I had this system myself back in 2003, the DVD player always drove me mental because it took ages to read anything, it actually put me off using DVD players (and latterly blu-ray players) as CD players.
In Australia I don’t remember minidisc being a thing, I only remember one kid at school with a portable player, I don’t remember ever seeing a minidisc in a Hi-Fi system. Maybe it was a thing an I never noticed but either way I think it would be cool to play with some of that gear now
I loved the model and its functions, I am also one of those who think that audio systems with vumeters or spectrum analyzers are very attractive, I have a similar model, the Aiwa XR-MN5 does not have as many functions, but it is surprising that in such a space so reduced can insert 5 cd... it's a shame that your system has died, but there is hope to repair it, you just have to watch the Mend it Mark channel, he is a tremendous technician... greetings from Chile
Techmoan is the only person who can purchase broken device, break it even more and still make an interesting video to watch
I would honestly listen to him even making videos on kitchen or cleaning stuff. Oh wait i have done that already !! at this point i can listen to anything he talks about and come out happy. Mat is like a cool uncle i never had but still found on youtube.
Thanks a lot Mat for adding such joy to the lives of so many people.
he didn't break it he "modified it" techmoan has never broken anything 😉wink😉wink
Kiss ass
No spoiler warnings! 😮😂
The puppets should have been at the end to roast him for breaking it more than it was :).
“It was stuck to me elbow.” Love it. Thanks for another very entertaining video, Mat. You can’t win them all, but we win every time by seeing your work.
Relatable and hilarious.
I was just about to comment on this very line. So hilarious because it's happened to all of us.
I spat my tea.
That got a hearty laugh from me, too!
That just broke me. This channel cracks me up
I rather like that this video reflects most of my own repair experiences
Yeah I was gonna say, this is exactly what happens every time I try to fix anything, it feels like to watch something that makes me feel normal
The amount of times you go in to try and fix something simple and you end up blowing up the half the kitchen and then trying to explain what happened to the missus🤣 Great video.
My repairs consist of a wall and a boot.
disassembling and assembling back cheapo digital compact cameras is a good patience practice, at least for me
@@mycosys Yep if a good kick or slam against a wall doesn't fix it then it's irreparable.
The minidisc ejects problem is because when you put the mechanism back together, you left the white sled forward, it should be towards the rear of the mech, I found this out repairing a Sony CMT373NT, also be careful of the capacitors on the amp/power supply board, they're usually right near the minidisc housing and they will bite you if the MD housing or your screwdriver touches it.
in this case you swapped "forward" and "rear". The front of the mechanism is the door, the rear is in the back. But moving the sled alone normally requires spinning the axles as well, or you risk breaking the flimsy plastic. Personally much prefer the early generations of MD players (even if they can't do type S) - those massive aluminium constructions are near impossible to break, but of course probably cost more to make than making them entirely out of plastic
I think it’s too late to giving him a help if he already threw it into the garbage…
P.S. I am a owner of CMT-M333NT and have a question about “T9” feature that Minidisc Wiki and “minidisc org” website stated that it has “T9” for typing names in CD, MD and Radio modes, does your model really have this “feature” or it’s just another hoax like with “minidisc org” website stating that it has a proprietary “PC-LINK” input in this model (if it has a USB Type B for NetMD)?
Exactly what I was going to say, I am also a CMT owner and the white sled need to be correctly set. 😭. I have the CMT with NetMD, fantastic little unit.
@@NetzDotCom it might still be useful to other readers/viewers who encounter a similar issue. :)
this isnt related to MDs but cassettes play a bit slow on my sony cmt-cp100 so would getting a new belt help or should the speed be adjusted on the motor?
The repair sequence reminded me very much of trying to work on one of those all-in-one PCs back in the day. That same sense of having to deal with 50 pounds of electronics crammed into a 30-pound sack.
Crazy how small tech has got now. I took apart a more modern AIO and it needed no screws and all replacable parts were open with the removal of one or two panels. It's way more capable and way easier to work on. If only the software worked. I hate drivers, had to use an external wifi adapter, although the internal one would have been easy to replace. If I have the WiFi adapter enabled the system bluescreens after some use. It also does so when an SD card is removed. All the drivers were installed from the manufacturer on a clean install of windows. It's a shame such repairability was wasted on such an unstable machine. Maybe I could dual boot a linux install, even though linux is its own kind of trash. Anyway, why in the hell does an sd card reader even a driver? Can't we just know how to read an SD card? What's the point of standards if the reader behaves differently enough to need its own unique software? If it weren't unique it would already be bundled in with Windows, as many basic drivers are. What in the hell. I hate computers. I got the AIO for 10 bucks at a goodwill. Best find I've ever got. 10 dollars for what is essentially a 60hz 1080p panel with a computer inside? Not bad. Speakers are decent, definitely usable. Viewing angles are good enough. Odd color fringing no matter what I do, if somebody says opentype to me I might kill them. It is dell. The problems may come from the fact it's rinning WIN10 instead of 8, but 10 is essentially 8 but not designed by a brainlet. If that is what's causing the issue then I don't want the solution. Maybe it'd work out if I installed the drivers in 8 then updated to 10. Computer software feels like black magic sometimes. Or not, there's always a solution or reason, even if it's as lame and unlucky as the processor just having a few bad flippy bits in just the right places to ruin your day, year, life. Have you ever heard of the talking heads band? Frankly, the songs don't grip me, in weird way they feel generic to eachother, like I could be listening to any one of them and it wouldn't matter. Like there's no real meaning, or if there is it's delivered the same as all the others, stealing impact. That's why I like cage the elephant, because they cover what feels like a wide range of different feels. I also just like how they sound. They could be talking about revolting corndogs, it doesn't matter. The hoosiers are also good.
I used to be a IT technician in schools, and they went crazy for the all in one PCs. They were junk and as you say, a nightmare to work on. So I told schools that I insisted they took out the 3 year extended on site warranty. They did and that solved me having to open one up ever again. Watching the engineer that would visit to fix a faulty one was interesting, he was no better than me and said that they were junk and put together as cheaply as possible. But don’t tell the company I said that he muttered :)
Try an imac from mid 2012 onwards....
@@TheErador I’m so glad mine has the magnetic glass rather than the glue which came in a year later
@@kaitlyn__L oh yes, it's a pain, but it's actually not that hard with the appropriate tool and wedge. But you're right the 2010/2011s were so easy.
Having grown up in Japan and still living here, it was really interesting to learn the the D-Terminal connection was really only used in Japan (for the most part). I had thought that it was a standard that was used worldwide, due to its convenience and similar form factor to the VGA connection used on old school monitors. Thanks for helping me to learn something new every week! I wish I could be of some help to the channel to send Japanese things your way, but it seems you’ve got everything covered for the time being 😂
P.S. RIP Sakamoto-san and Takahashi-san from YMO. They truly shaped a generation and brought to many innovations to music. Thanks for having one of their CDs make an appearance.
As there were a lota of connectors only used in Japan.
You pulling all those ribbon cables out really gave me the fear. Wee bit of advice, take a marker and make a mark across the cable and socket before you pull it out that way you can match up the right cables and correct polarity when putting it back together by matching up the marks. When you've got lots of cables you can vary position angle and number of marks to make sure you don't confuse them.
Yep, while i was watching i thought it would be good to put a different dab of colour on the connectors and sockets before he starts pulling them all out.
I'm now really glad I only ever disconnected the ribbon cables in my 20-year old 35mm film scanner on one side.
Same, marking them would have been a good idea. Shame the thing went pop, but you live and learn. Was one of those days I guess😂
Do ya think it's possible the accidental incorrect installation of the ribbon cable may have sent power to a sensor of some sort which then would've shared a common ground with a sensor for both the minidisc and cd/dvd player?
Just feels plausible.
How about the manufacturer putting the device together with one-way plugs?
Of course the companies who don't want you to try to fix things can write "No user-serviceable parts inside," and "Warranty void if opened," on the case, and expect you to buy a new one - more profits that way.
Plus you don't get to find out just how cheaply made the product might have been - thus avoiding ruining the customer's brand loyalty. 😠
I will never buy a normal laptop computer after volunteering my time repairing them for a non-profit that helps low income families obtain computers. I might consider buying a ruggedized one if I ever felt I needed one.
I appreciate your willingness to show us your failures. It certainly makes me feel less alone in my own repair mishaps.
This video pretty much sums my experience with this era of HiFi. Devices that lasted for couple of years and then usually ended up as radio-only components at someone's workplace after the cassette, CD and other parts had just given up on life.
Yes and unfortunately these mini systems end up at Goodwill in separate batches so not only do you have to hunt down the matching speakers and remote, but you end up with a unit with a faulty 3 CD changer or wonky cassette player. Oh well, at least they look good.
I like your positivity. You were brave enough to try a repair and it didn't work. No risk no fun. R.i.p. Aiwa....
“It was stuck to me elbow” 😂
You beat me to it!
He said just that at the exact same time i read your comment!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣
My personal view with acquiring electronics from that era (early 2000s) is that it better be free, because they tend to require a lot of tedious repairs that may not even stick. Feels like that was when the true era of e-waste began.
So what was the year when these sort of tech started declining in quality? Was it late 90's?
Mat seems happier and healthier in this year's videos. Here's to a less rigorous release schedule and embracing the noble failures! ♥ Keep up the great work.
This is one of those devices where the promotional sticker on the front lasts longer than the components inside.
👍🤣🤣
That reminds me of the "Intel Inside" sticker I've literally tried to remove from a laptop and failed. I'm sure I could get it off with some effort and a sharp tool, but I don't want to scratch the surface. That sticker has outlasted three office chairs.
@@tarmaque They come off easily with a heatgun and a blade. The glue is really gummy and the sticker is rigid, so they are easy to apply somewhere else as well.
There’s planned obsolescence for you - more profit for the company at the expense of the consumer…
Exactly the type of device I walk right on by, even when free...
Such a shame it failed, but as you say, the video still serves its purpose as being both educational and entertaining.
I'm sure it can be repaired.
@@jhonwask As Techmoan explained finding someone who can repair this stuff is hard, if you find them they are probably backed up for many months, and the expense is not worth it, and they may not do a good job anyway.
Thanks for the spoiler
@@Farquad76.547 watch the video before you read the comments! It's what most people do.
Dude you are the man. I enjoy all your vids and have for years. Although you claim to not be a technician or am engineer. I believe you deserve credit for the abilities you do have. Your ability to deduce info to get things done or fixed is no small feat. Most people do not have the logical mind that you do. Anyway, thanks for another entertaining video. You are a valued member/channel in household. Even my wife enjoys your videos. That is a blessing that makes watching YT with her much easier lol 🙌 . We Sincerely Thank you for all the effort you put in to your channel/videos. Be well my ," friend " .
Great to see the improvement in your taking-apart-and-fixing skills over the years!
😂😂
Even after so many mechanical failures I still wouldn't give up and dig in further. Such a neat little do it all system with VU meters to boot! I learned the hard way as well with ribbon cables, they require patience and careful treatment, I have a special set of needle nose pliers with grippy tape around the tips for those.
I had a similar experience with a Sharp mini system I got from a thrift store one time. Vintage electronics can be very good but when things go awry well… the old parts bin gets restocked 😂
also highly integrated stuff is made anti-repairable on purpose, to get you to buy something more advanced from the company once it breaks
Someone took great care of it for 20 years, but then Mat got his hands on it. 😂 I kid, I kid. I’m loving this Micro Systems series.
😂
“Unbelievably i was able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory!” - That made me laugh so much!
The MD drive is an MDM-7 mechanism, the most reliable MD mechanism Sony made for decks. I believe the sensor inside the left side of the trap door is dirty and stuck to "MD IN" position. Spraying some contact cleaner on the sensor can solve the problem easily. A pleasant video as always!
Thank you for taking us along with you on this repair journey. I can see very well now, that those micro systems can be quite a hassle to deal with when they age. Well told story, thank you again.
Another good video and I like the idea of doing a series.
I now feel lucky that my 1995 Aiwa mini system cd changer, tape decks and radio still work after all of these years.
Thanks, I know it’s not ideal ( & it’s frustrating for you), but seeing how you go about working out repairs ( even unsuccessful ones) is useful when I’m looking at my own gear that are uneconomical for professional repair.
So sorry for all the problems you had on this one....The ABSOLUTE BLOODY BEST VIDEO YOU HAVE EVER MADE!
Finally! Someone old enough to remember "Breakin 2 electric Boogaloo" and smart enough to come up with a BRILLIANT play on words! You made my day!
@@joearnold6881 I saw the expression everywhere without knowing where it originally came from 15 years ago!
I saw it in theaters, back in the day. For some reason, the ticket stub stayed in my florescent yellow neoprene wallet for many years 'til I finally lost the wallet.
I have a Panasonic SA-PM37MD micro system, in use every day since I bought it new back in the day. Nice quality unit.
Although I am sorry your repair didn't work out, it makes me feel better that I am not the only one that occasionally takes a step backwards when trying to repair something. As always, I enjoy watching your videos, and have for many years. Thank you for the time, financial expense, and research you do to make excellent content.
Certainly a good microsystem! It looks remarkably similar to a Sony bookshelf unit I purchased a few years ago. It’s from 2002 or so, and only does CD, MD, and tape, not DVD like yours. My unit also has NetMD capability, but only headphone and speaker out. The best thing about my unit was the hi speed dubbing from CD to MD, which is how I burned most of my MDs. And you’re right about needing a remote control! I had to order one online, very hard to find and cost as much as the unit did itself!
Edit: now I’ve watched to the end, I guess I’m lucky mine is in fairly good working order. But thank you for sharing your efforts to repair your unit, because I’ve had many woeful experiences with old tech, and so many other youtubers are rather misleading with how “easy” it is to repair and modify old technology.
Some of it is easy, made simpler with careful disassembly and witness marks. Always take note of ribbon insertion polarity, and mark a consistent edge to be sure e.g. the outside left and not on a part that can come off due to old glue. Some of it is extremely tricky with brittle plastic gears and intricate assemblies. You just have to gain experience on things that don't matter to you first. But I do agree some UA-camrs insulate people against a lot of the pain via editing so it looks like bisch basch bosch and any noddy can do it without a bean of prep work.
There's a reason why it resembles the Sony - because it basically IS a Sony. This micro system was produced during a period of time where Aiwa was under ownership of Sony.
Even if you were looking for an mini system like that for cassettes, I am guessing there aren't too many from that era that would even be particularly good at that due to the lack of supporting the better tape formats like this one.
Excellent video.
As an ex consumer electronics repair engineer, here's a trick with units with several ribbon cables.
Mark each cable with a dot from a different colour of Sharpie, marking the socket on the same side as the cable mark. This way you'll have a colour coded reference as to where each cable plugs, and which orientation it goes. Doing this will eliminate incorrect placement and polarity reversal.
I used to hate repairing these micro systems, but Sony were the best for ease of disassembly and assembly after a repair.
I love this series so far! It's fascinating
21:35 The reason it says Frash instead of Flash is due to a translation error. The character for L and the character for R look identical to anyone who isn't fluent in Japanese and so you get translation errors like this where R's are used where an L should be and vice versa. This also used to happen a lot during the NES's early days; even Nintendo games weren't immune from this problem.
Very much respect all the effort you put in, it's not always going to go right but I'm glad you keep trying and over the years you seem to have continued to get better with them overall so it's well worth it imo. Ironically for myself I am now *more* interested in systems like this, particularly because it's so repairable, there's a 'certain level' of repair effort that really appeals to me where I think I could handle it myself, but I wouldn't want it to be too much more difficult or it'd put me off, and this seems to be a device that's right at that level
My favourite 'AIWA' device is a Walkman sized (ok large Walkman!) Reel to reel tape recorder which I bought for £3 off someone at a car boot sale, it used 2" spools and came in its original box complete with original price tag in pre-decimalisation money.
Curiously the only other example I've seen was in the Czechoslovakian National Technology Museum in Prague ! ! !
The CD/DVD tray problem should be a simple fix. The spindle motor assembly should drop out of the way of the tray as it is opening but it is not dropping early enough. Normally this is caused by misalignment of some gears. There should be some alignment arrows on the tray rack and gears for the default position. As noted, those ribbon cables can sometimes change what side the insulator is on. I think its good practice before disassembly to use a sharpie to mark across every connector to make sure you put them all back correctly. Also, the mini-disc may just be a bent leaf switch or bracket or something has become misaligned/disconnected etc..
It also can be caused by the magnet in the top of the drive that holds the disk down magnetizing the metal in the spindle underneath it. The motor that normally pulls them apart isn't strong enough. A hacky repair for this is to get those 3 ring binder reinforcement stickers from the office supply store and stack a few of them on the magnet. It causes it not to stick as hard to the spindle reducing the force the motor has to overcome. I've had this issue on a few old xbox 360s and that was the "fix".
When these combined Hi-fi units started to appear, a common statement from 'Experts' was - Buy separate units, you can always replace or repair an individual unit. I still have a compact Sony micro Hi-fi from about 1995 but If I took it out now I am sure some of the belts would have melted. It seems our requirements have moved on
The Aiwa Mini system looks awesome with the VU meters. My JVC-UXG60 Mini System from 2007 does not have a tape or Mini Disc drive but it supports CD, MP3, WMA audio and DVD/VCD/SVCD/JPEG/MPEG-1/MPEG-2/ASF/DivX video via SCART with RGB output. It's got a FM Radio with RDS, a USB input and an analog 3,5 mm stereo input. The specs say you can even playback DVD-Audio. I hope I'l never have to open it for repairs.
Verdict, misadventure, but just relish a neat pair of speakers.
The sense of comedy displayed by Techmoan was brilliant.
When I was about 8 years old, I got a 20 year old tube radio from my parents. The FM didn't work but that was a matter of re-wrapping the tuner string. I used it for many years. Quite a difference with the 20 year old gear you're showing here that lived... one more day? two? 😀
I learn from watching both your successes and failures. Thank you.
Your videos are certainly among the best if the genre! Really enjoy your videos. Cheers!
I just lived this with a 40 year old Pioneer PL-L1000 turntable. My son and I took it from kinda working, with a couple of minor quirks, to unusable. We can take solace in the fact that no matter if you fix it or not it will inevitably break again, and probably permanently, very soon. These old devices, whether 20 years old, or 40 years old, just are going to wear out. Unless you're very experienced with repairing circuit boards you're never going to get them right. Thanks for validating my failure dude!
I found that so suspenseful! You are like the Indiana Jones of the vintage hifi dimension! Love your videos! Eagerly awaiting part 3!
You are absolutely the best, Matt!
CD Text was unfortunately handled very bad and used way too less. I loved that function. That there was somthing similar on DVDs - the first time i heard of. 🤩 Function completely underrated at that time. 🥰
Im absolutely loving micro system may! Great idea TechMoan
Haha, I feel you! A few years ago I tried to fix a very similar Panasonic mini system that belonged to my girlfriend. The cassette had jammed up. I took it apart piece by piece and remember thinking it was like a collapsing house of cards. On eventually putting it back together and turning it on, there was a bit of a pop and a burning smell and the whole thing was dead. It wasn't the fuse or anything obvious like a capacitor. It's in the attic now..
That was fun to watch.
I had the exactly same one in 2003. There was once difference. Mine said SONY.
When I went to Japan and saw the AIWA version I found out. That in Japan it was sold as a AIWA, but SONY sold it in China under their own brand. It was exactly the same in every detail except for the name tag.
On mine the first thing that dies was the MINI disc, second was the CD/DVD. I brought it to SONY in Beijing for repair in 2008, but they would not even touch it. They said it was too old. Yes only 5 years later and it was too old.
This was, without doubt, the most entertaining video I've seen in ages 😂 your content is usually top notch, but this actually had me laughing at how badly it went, love it!
The only HiFi that I know of that can play more formats is the Technics SC-DV290 (although it's a mini HiFi and not a micro HiFi). It can play:
• FM/AM radio
• Tapes
• CD Audio
• CD Video
• DVD Video
• DVD Audio
• MP3
• WMA
• JPG
Thank you for your efforts. Always a pleasure to watch your videos. Was there anything interesting om the minidisc?
Probably someone's favorite songs from that time span, but I too am curious about who or what genre...
Definitely had a chuckle at this 'review' Glad you persevered despite the odds Matt!
My experience was, that these types of systems often had issues to a degree, that you wouldn't use them very often (which is why these systems look nice and unscratched): CD read errors or jumps and pauses when playing, tapes sounding dreadful overall (too fast, not steady, ...), tape recordings even worse, bad radio reception. Which was surprising, because the simplest PC CD Rom drive worked just fine for Audio CDs.
I wonder if that had anything to do with the additional complexity of a CD-ROM compared to an audio CD? Maybe in the process of getting acceptable reliability for data, you end up getting pretty good reliability for audio? Or, perhaps the quest for faster drives for data use also resulted in making them more reliable for the baseline audio use case? That is, a drive that can pluck data off a clean disc at 48x might be able to pluck audio off a dodgy disc at 1x, just due to having better mechanisms and electronics that handle fluctuations in the laser's signal better. [shrugs] I dunno. It's just a guess, so don't take me as an expert or anything.
It might be interesting to get the DVD drive model number and see if there is a replacement available. If you could get that working you'd have at least a radio and DVD/CD output. Perhaps take another look at the tape drive and see if a diode has shorted in the power supply, should be an easy fix. Use a multimeter on continuity setting to check for shorts. Try to get a part number off the MiniDisc drive as well and see if there is a replacement or substitute around.
That looks like the classic tray issue most cd/dvd drives for PC would have, you can probably help it go all the way out by simply pulling a bit. I bet its exactly that, some Sony DVD drive for PC without its outer case.
This is fantastic, thanks. AIWA was my first micro system ever in the mid-late 90s. (it was pretty good, as compared to your unfortunate experience!) I particularly like the logo on this one -- a minimum of lines to represent all four letters.
I rather like the new Kia logo, and when I saw it for the first time it reminded me somewhat of the updated Aiwa logo of the 00's.
The old logo looked much better.
@@MatthewBrannigan Hah... that always looks like "K-backwards-N" to me -- but I get it! (Also I bet all the Russian/Cyrillic alphabeted language speakers look at it and think, "Ki... it's missing the A!")
Despite the outcome, this was a super entertaining video. These micro-systems make me nostalgic in a lovely way and I never got to play with one of these systems that had the DVD built in. I'm loving this mini-series. A highpoint on your channel which is already full of them.
Eclectic Boo Boo, just the name alone is worth getting one even if it dont work, absolutely wonderful.
Techmoan videos are always entertaining and informative.
This goes to show that cramming functions into one device doesn't make it better. Instead of doing one function great, it does many things mediocre at best. As always, thanks for making these videos!
The F35 is an extreme example of that.. 😄
Cramming functions into one *cheap* device doesn't make it better!
If this was a high quality stereo system, they totally would've been able to put all those functions into it and make every single one of them top notch. With a hefty price tag to match, of course!
Except that back in the day, (1) no one expected to be using this 20 year later. (2) the compromises were worth it. If someone had both the money and space for a separates system, they would have had one.
@@kcgunesq Exactly - being compact and affordable were obvsiouly part of the design spec. In that respect it looks like they succeeded.
@@LRM12o8 Sony, Panasonic etc do have higher end versions of these micro systems. Some are quite pricey indeed!
Awesome Video... The unit, the 'working' features, the 16th minute, the commentary... everything! Thanks :]
Great video! The Aiwa 22, is a quality system. You cannot beat a separate preamplifier and power amplifier set up! It just needs a recap, some transistors, diodes. and resistors replacement. A system of this specification made today, would cost you easily over £4000.
I was quite surprised at how dismissive he seemed to be of the classic 22 combo. Like he couldn't see or appreciate the quality of the components it has inside and out. Once you've hooked one up to some proper speakers it's easy to understand how that would be a £4k system nowadays. This thing from Sony era Aiwa is just junk in comparison. Though to be fair Techmoam has always been more about the gimmicks than the quality.
This has been a great series so far, I remember Technics having some amazing mini-system separates in the late 90s. I can't wait for the next episode.
Good lord, by the end it looked like Johnny 5 after being beaten up. 26:28
Aiwa 5 is not alive!
Japan is amazing. Went there for a month in 2014. You should go there for a holiday, tour all the 'Hard Off' shops and buy all sorts of crazy stuff and pack and ship it back yourself while you're there.A business trip, of a sort :)
It's crazy how older devices are still working while these newer devices crumble so easily.
Exactly this. And the older stuff when it does go wrong is (mostly) fixable.
People like cheap and disposable. Even people that complain about how new stuff is cheap junk that doesn’t last, will tend to buy the cheap junk over something expensive and quality. So much so they barely even bother building stuff that’s really high quality since it doesn’t sell.
I hate that way of doing things, but it's the way things are built these days. It keeps you going back to the store to buy new stuff.
Don't buy junk. Plenty of "buy for life" products available.
Techmoan, your videos are always a pleasure, regardless of outcome.
Thoroughly enjoyed this! I'm curious, however, what the shipping and handling cost was, besides "exorbitant". (2x the price of the unit? 3x? 10x?!) I know when I order audio play CDs from England the shipping is very pricey, so I'm not surprised.
In previous videos of stuff from Japan it could often be £100-200.
This is exactly the sort of basket case I love to have a go at fixing! Pointless from a time and cost perspective, but hugely satisfying when I succeed.
"The operation was a success however the patient died"
It's so familiar. One Philips microsystem of mine finished like you Aiwa, only speakers worked at end. But then I won ebay auction from UK Sony CP500MD. MD belt was already changed, i changed cassette on. All finished good and working with no problems.
This was a successful failure of a video, loved it!
Can’t wait for more silly muppets at the end one day soon 😂
I don't think there'll be any more Muppets. Matt has explained this before; the Muppet sections make YT treat the video as being for kids and that means no comments and I think no advertising?
My ex-husband worked for a stereo supply store and often brought home "samples" from the conference rooms where the manufacturer reps tried to convince the sales reps to carry their products. I think I've mentioned this in a previous video on mini discs.
Anyway, our version was a US market model. It was a bit shorter because they had removed the cassette player and moved the disc player to the top position. There was no DVD option and the little drop down command center was not present. Consequently, as you mentioned, the remote was absolutely necessary in order to access all features.
We loved that we could burn our CDs to mini discs directly instead of dealing with the clunky software provided by Sony for use on PCs and Macs. I can almost see the software name, but my memory just isn't kicking in.
Finally, the radio was just bad. Normally we had no problem accessing the dozen or so local channels from our apartment. This pulled in maybe three. But, the unit was free, and it wasn't a feature we would normally use anyway.
As always, thanks for your informative and entertaining videos.
Microsystems are like chihuahuas. They're small but they make a lot of noise.
And bite you when you're not ready
Dear Mr. Moan, This video reminds me of my own youth. Where regarding audio stuff not everything went to plan. The video is highly entertaining. Thanks for reminding me of times simpler but still good!
That went well :D
I like it when you pull on the knobs.
need the muppets endings back :P I miss hearing Cuba Baion
Kind sir please know that what I write after this is my poor autistic sense of humour trying to give you a bit of a laugh. You fine sir have single handedly cost me well over $70,000. Your lovely channel got me very interested in vintage hi-fi equipment. I'm now the proud owner of the following NINE vintage monster receivers. Pioneer SX-1980, SX-1280, SX-1250, SX-1080, SX-1050, Sansui 9700, Hitachi SR-2004, Onkyo TX-8500-MKII and finally a Marantz 2330B. I've added lots of components to form 9 complete sets. Many of my components were things you showcased on your channel. Because of yoou I've brought receivers speakers, cassette, then reel to reel decks and more. Seriously now. THANK YOU! for introducing me to this awesome hobby sir!
The micro system you showed in the previous video was really good quality, this one is cheap junk and nothing more. The modular construction is nice but it doesn't really mean anything if the constituent parts themselves are flimsy and fragile.
I did buy a micro system about 4 years ago and, touch wood, it is still working today. Not quite as advanced as the Aiwa but it does have a type R MDLP minidisk, CD with digital audio text capability, a basic cassette deck, and a tuner. It didn't come with a remote control but, being a Sony, there are plenty of cheap compatibles out there that work perfectly for about £10.
Prices were "extortionate". I love that term. Not one I hear over here in the states, but a wonderfully descriptive phrase. And timely.
Sometimes a repair spirals in, I am no stranger to that. I am not alone. Still makes for an entertaining video, as usual.
I've bought three micro systems in the last couple of years, from charity shops and one from an auction site. All three work well and the one i got for myself has DAB+, Bluetooth, mp3 and a few other nice features, all for £15 plus remote control. If they stop working, I've not paid a fortune for them so I'm not too concerned if they fail, but I like the fact I'm prolonging the life of these systems instead of them going into landfill.
The production quality of Techmoan videos is top notch.
As someone who shoots GFX for field and studio portraits, on location brand work, and tons more this camera will greatly improve ease of use and hit rate for spontaneous moments. It puts it more in line with FF options. I also do occasional video which means I don’t need to keep something like Sony/canon or black magic, etc for only doing video work. While you can get a similar look with FF/APSC but more speed, there is something extra special with GFX. Clients notice the stand out qualities and so do I. That’s worth something.
Great video. It brought a memory back when I was asked to fix a friends computer 20 years ago. I wish I hadn’t. I’ve fixed many computers in my time but this one in the end wouldn’t even switch on. I almost went and bought my friend a new one but thought he was given it broken so I did my best. I really like your approach to fixing things. Can you send the cable back 😂
Retro and vintage is often a rollercoaster of emotions. I bought a 37 year old computer because I threw one away years ago. Anyway, it worked great then didn’t. I tried to fix it and broke it more. Fixed that and now it works great again. All lessons learnt, especially how to try not to break it more.
Many formats, for Mat. :-) Love your channel! Eagerly anticipate each successive video! You show all the things I badly wanted as a teenager in the 80s but couldn't afford. :-)
Thank you so much so sharing these sort of repair experiences. Not all repairs work out, that's just life.
Another great video, its great to see this blast from the past. I had one of these around 15 years ago, and of course the humble CD player ate discs similar to the MD player. The sound on the Aus model was fantastic and used mainly connected as computer speakers and Aux. I pulled the CD player out as there was no use for it and and there was the wait time to load up which was fine as windows Xp loaded up.
I enjoyed watching the video and how you open up and repair these great gems. Keep up the great work 👍👍👍
Personally i love old stereos. All-in-ones, component systems etc. Since my childchood i was fascinated about things with lot of dials and buttons. I could spend unreasonable amount of time just playing with my uncle's "stereo-prologic" system as a child in early 00s. Couple years ago i bought myself Sony MHC-EX7 system from mid-90s. While it don't support than many formats, everything works after almost 30 years! Only thing i did was replacing belts and pinchrollers in tape deck. Everything else works fine after all that time. It sounds fantastic for its price, much better than most soundbars/bluetooth speakers etc. I doubt I will ever get rid of it. My friend have Sony minisystem (similiar to this Aiwa, but without MD), it still works and sounds pretty good.
These 90s/early 00s stereos can be really "bang for buck" if you know what to look at. People often sell them on auctions for really low prices, usually with not working CDs and tape decks. With tape deck needs just new belts most of the time, CDs usually have dying laser mechanism. But you actually can buy some lasers used in Sony and Aiwa systems, to bring them back to life. Many models do sound really good, considering the bargain price, and some have subwoofer output (like this one) so you can have even more bass if you like. I never had and Aiwa system, but i've seen couple models on sale - with original speakers, surround speakers and remote. I especially liked one with motorized panel that contain different sound modes.
I kind of felt very sad for you, but was also laughing mid way through as just about everything was failing around you. We've all had days like this. Another fab video, good or bad outcome.
Fantastic video Mat! I’ve been there many times with a degrading product while making a video. Great work making the video complete and compelling! Also I have never figured out why some belts go bad and others don’t! I’ve got belts from the 60’s that still work fine and others from 2000 that have failed! I’ve decided it must be a combination of ambient storage temperature and humidity.
I had this system myself back in 2003, the DVD player always drove me mental because it took ages to read anything, it actually put me off using DVD players (and latterly blu-ray players) as CD players.
In Australia I don’t remember minidisc being a thing, I only remember one kid at school with a portable player, I don’t remember ever seeing a minidisc in a Hi-Fi system. Maybe it was a thing an I never noticed but either way I think it would be cool to play with some of that gear now
I think we need to recognise the excellence of this video's title - outstanding work, Mat, outstanding
A quote from Mythbusters comes to mind: "Failure is always an option!" 🙂 But fun video as usual!
I loved the model and its functions, I am also one of those who think that audio systems with vumeters or spectrum analyzers are very attractive, I have a similar model, the Aiwa XR-MN5 does not have as many functions, but it is surprising that in such a space so reduced can insert 5 cd... it's a shame that your system has died, but there is hope to repair it, you just have to watch the Mend it Mark channel, he is a tremendous technician... greetings from Chile