SACD Player, CD Optical Pickup Lens KHM-230AAA Head Audio System Parts Long Service Life with Bracket Fit for The Worn Out or Damaged Lens

I bought these Sony laser from Ebay before, most were non-working one, I bought one here to try, surprise to find it's a good working one, I have a few SACD players to use these 230AAA lens, so I ordered two more for spare.

Bought this pickup for my Sony SCD-XA777ES SACD player. The player still worked but would not play the SACD layer of hybrid discs. It would play non-hybrid SACDs. There are no instructions so you're kind of on your own but the way to get to the pickup is logical, extending the CD drawer then pulling the plug to keep the drawer extended. The pickup is accessible under the top cover and after removing the protective solder ball from the corner of the pickup board (look it up, there are plenty of sites to explain), you simply replace the old with the new. It's a bit fiddly to get the ribbon cables disconnectec/reconnected but it wasn't too bad. Be sure to observer electrostatic discharge sensitive (ESDS) best practices so you don't zap the unit. Anyway, after installation, the player immediately recognizes hybrid SACDs and will play either the 5 channel or stereo SACD layer or the CD layer. I noticed that there were some skips/pauses while playing non-hybrid SACDS but the hybrids and CDS played very good. It's not perfect and probably not as good as an OEM pickup but this is the only choice. If things drastically change, I'll add to my review.

The Laser transport assembly appeared to be previously used, showing rust spots and dirt, wear along guides, and dirty lubricant on the gear teeth. The transport could not read SACDs when installed in a Marantz SA-8260 SACD player, only reading CDs or the CD layer on Hybrid SACDs, and was therefore no better than the transport I was replacing. If I were to speculate, the unit may have been a pull from a previous player, or even possibly a return. The box did show signs of being previously opened and re-taped. Anyway, I would be very cautious about buying this. I am returning the unit for a refund.

My old optical pickup would play only the CD layer of a hybrid SACD but would play single layer SACDs. This replacement oddly would play CDs and dual layered ( hybrid ) SACDs properly but would not play single layered SACDs returning a TOC error. I asked for a replacement. The replacement did not look new and would only play CDs and would not play SACDs layers at all on single or hybrid discs. . Accordingly, I’m returning the replacement optical laser and reluctantly keeping the 1st laser sent despite it’s inability to play single layered SACDs. Bottom line is that neither of the lasers from this supplier met specifications. Note, I ran the recalibration program multiple times. I suspect these are rebuilt lasers but probably not tested by the manufacturer. Perhaps you will have better luck.

This is my first Amazon review ever! Just thrilled that the Linn UniDisk 1.1 works perfect after I installed the part just now. Durability unknown, but for this price even if it only lasts a year it is ok.

Came on time and well packed. But the item appears to be old and dirty, and it doesn't work. The assemblage is of poor quality and more than one place needed to be soldered properly.

Very good pickup laser. Works on first trying. No extra adjustments was required; I just check and everything was as it should.

Used in a Sony SCD-C333ES. Worked perfectly.