Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 596, 598 DSL-720 drives from China

OK, one last update. Two more drives working in the 596:

Hitachi GCC-4481B: 8/10

Made in 2004, a CD-RW, DVD-ROM drive which is a bit long (20cm) so a tight fit in the 596.

• Plays CDs but only shows track numbers, not times
• Plays DVDs perfectly

Toshiba SD-M1212: 10/10

Made in 1999, a DVD-ROM drive which is also a bit long (20cm).

• Plays CDs perfectly
• Plays DVDs perfectly

Conclusion
This wasn't an exhaustive test, but the crackling problems I reported earlier have gone - probably just the electronics drying out, rather than an issue with the drives per se.

While I'm not suggesting you can (or should) rush out and buy these specific drives, it looks like most plain CD/DVD-ROM drives with a parallel interface will work just fine in the 596. Drives with a CD or DVD writing capability may be less successful.

More recent drives are easier to fit because they're shorter (17cm vs 20cm).

Happy New year...

One good thing about Xmas... is you get stocking fillers...

Long live my 598...

My 596 ate another DVDROM drive recently (a modern SATA drive interfaced via an adaptor - didn't last long).

A few months ago I bought a DRL-200 from Germany for £11 (on eBay) in the (foolish) expectation of obtaining the firmware update that added support for it. Never did (sob). Once I'd got the 596 case open, I gave it a try anyway.

Despite the fact that it's not officially supported by my current firmware (v1.32) it works quite well. It doesn't recognise the disk when I load it, but if I turn off and on again it does. I've only watched one DVD and listened to 4 CDs so far, but those have been rock solid and very nice once it recognises the disk. Early days.

So, if you can get a new DRL-200 drive, maybe it's worth a few quid after all. But I know other posts have suggested otherwise.

Your mileage may vary! I may be heading for a cliff, but I'm enjoying the ride. I'll probably buy another if I see one for £10; PATA drives are getting hard to come by.

-Ed

Quick update: CD plays first time if I use the Open button to load it and wait for the Loading... message to go away before pressing Play.

If I put a CD in the tray and press Play, that's when the display gets stuck at the Loading... message.

So a bit better than I thought. Patience required.

DRL-200s are available for around £10 + £10 p&p on eBay at the moment - from Germany. Not a bargain, but I'll probably buy another spare or two, to keep my 596 going for a few more years.

After a few weeks' fairly intensive usage (mainly as a CD player, factory CDs): the DRL-200 is working perfectly in my 596. The only limitation I've noticed is that when loading a CD, you must press load to close the drawer, wait a few seconds for the display to update, and then press play.

If you press play to load and play the CD in one go, it doesn't work.

Single drives (from Germany) are £11.10 + £11.10 p&p on eBay at the moment.

Five drives is £39.50 + 11.10 p&p. Must say I'm tempted...

-Ed

Two weeks more and it stopped working.

I'm not sure but I suspect the drive doesn't turn off when the 596 is on standby - that would explain the limited shelf life.

So the DRL-200 is not a great buy after all...

Sad, but I use the Squeezebox Touch mostly.

Well Ed, you've done everyone else here a service with your endeavours to find replacement drives, and the subsequent long term "living with 'em" review. Thank you!

Cheers

George

Thanks George, good to share.

Luckily I am a professional idiot (technical writer) with cultivated ignorance based on boundless optimism. One day I'll find the forever drive that will keep my 596 going... forever.

Latest drive (BTC BDV 316E, an IDE DVD ROM) is doing well, everything working exactly as it should. Like one of those depressing "No accidents for 327 days" signs, I should say: working well for 3 days so far! Installed October 22nd, 2016.

New, it cost me £6.99 delivered, on eBay.

One thing I noticed that might help other optimists out there: if you're using an IDE drive, remember to change the link settings on the drive from SLAVE to MASTER or it won't work at all.

Back to the happy farm.

Call Me Mr Lucky , I’ve just bought a 596 off the Gumtree was informed that it was unused in original box stored in loft for years - so snapped the chaps had off as I’ve been wanting one of these for a long time and couldn’t believe finding a stored unused as new model.
To cut a long story short it isn’t unused at all - the drive inside read discs ok last evening and today all my discs are slipping and skipping so the internal DVD drive must be knackered as it’s acting like a car CD player exactly when faulty slipping and a sliding.
Can anyone recommend a drive which will definitely work at a reasonable price and is there a tutorial on how to take it apart thanks .

Any help before it slides out of my life.

My 596 started showing errors a couple of months ago, to my horror. I've ordered a replacement drive from China which just showed up.

I was thinking to take some photographs of the process of taking the 596 apart and replacing the drive for Duncan's site. I just need to clear the desk in my studio ... and find a weekend that doesn't involve business travel.

I’ve managed to get to the stage of removing the lid that was a bit of a stress not knowing what is inside of it, my suspicions were confirmed as a few of the ? Hex or Torx screws are missing from the bottom!. Have replaced the lid as I was getting nervous when I encountered the brass coloured ? Earthing strips?.

See Replacing a 598 drive

Same steps as for a 596.

Sorry no photos.