Another PS1 faulty laser thread!

[Maka8295]

Hello! I've been trying to stop music and FMV skipping on my PS1, it boots both burned CD-Rs and retail games just fine. I've oiled the motors and greased the tracks, adjusted the pot on the laser itself from the stock value of 1.33kOhm to all sorts of different values, both higher and lower.

None of this worked so I bought a new laser unit, the one meant for use in the PSOne. It arrived with the pot set to around 800Ohms. I tried it completely stock and it has the exact same problems as my old laser. I then removed the laser unit itself and put it inside the old laser housing, this didn't work either. I then set the pot to 1.33kohm as well as plenty of other values and it still doesn't work...

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I wonder if these new chinese lasers are just really bad?

[Maka8295]

Does anybody know if a voltage transformer can cause laser problems? I'm using a step-down transformer to use my JP PS1 on 240v.

[gray117]

Might be the arm? Might be the lens? Might be the disc spin? ... Might be the media or burn technique you're using?
Does it behave the same with retail discs?
What model of ps1 do you have exactly?


The assumption is generally that it's struggles very slightly with focus and thus (re)reading speed is not quite up to par, the reason why can vary but I wouldn't actually assume it's the laser itself.

[Maka8295]

Might be the arm? Might be the lens? Might be the disc spin? ... Might be the media or burn technique you're using?
Does it behave the same with retail discs?
What model of ps1 do you have exactly?


The assumption is generally that it's struggles very slightly with focus and thus (re)reading speed is not quite up to par, the reason why can vary but I wouldn't actually assume it's the laser itself.

Thanks for the reply! I'm using an SCPH-7000. I don't think its my media thats the problem as it seems to be just as bad (if not worse) with my retail discs. I did give the lens a good clean with a Q-tip and isopropyl alcohol. Which part of the laser is the arm? The rectangular gear that you need to remove to get the laser out?

[Maka8295]

Well, I just installed a TOSLINK mod into my PS1 as well as putting the original sony laser back in, and now for some reason its not skipping anymore! Hooray! If only I knew what was causing it!

[Triple Lei]

If I may humbly suggest one more solution, how about recapping the power supply? (EDIT: It couldn't hurt, but it's probably not any sort of final fix...)

In my case, I was running a PAL 55xx console with a NTSC 900x power supply, which technically worked but produced a wavy picture at times, and games would have real trouble loading, sometimes stopping entirely when loading WipEout and WipEout 2097 races. So when I got a proper NTSC 55xx power supply to put in my PAL 55xx console, the games ran much better. I didn't touch the laser. For what it's worth my PAL console wasn't modded in any way. Actually, it looks like the wavy picture is a problem with all PAL PS1 consoles using an OSSC. And my WipEout game still decided to quit during race loading with a new power supply. Time for me to try that oil fix, or pony up for a laser replacement (KSM-440BAM) plus laser extension cable.

Maybe I could get the TOSLINK mod and not use it? I also have a Japanese 55xx console and the skipping would occur in games that aren't redbook audio. Very frustrating when I went out of my way to get an unmodded Japanese console to play my Bust-A-Move discs in addition to the handful of troublesome modchip-detecting games.

[Maka8295]

If I may humbly suggest one more solution, how about recapping the power supply?

In my case, I was running a PAL 55xx console with a NTSC 900x power supply, which technically worked but produced a wavy picture at times, and games would have real trouble loading, sometimes stopping entirely when loading WipEout and WipEout 2097 races. So when I got a proper NTSC 55xx power supply to put in my PAL 55xx console, the games ran much better. I didn't touch the laser. For what it's worth my PAL console wasn't modded in any way.

Maybe I could get the TOSLINK mod and not use it? I also have a Japanese 55xx console and the skipping would occur in games that aren't redbook audio. Very frustrating when I went out of my way to get an unmodded Japanese console to play my Bust-A-Move discs in addition to the handful of troublesome modchip-detecting games.

Thanks for the suggestion! I think what ended up fixing mine was the oil in the spindle motor just needed time to distribute around. As for the power supply, I think the 9k power supply will have trouble providing enough power for your 5500 console as it requires more power than a 9000, you might damage the power supply and potentially the mother board as well.

If i'm wrong please correct me! I would like to know more about PS1 power supplies as well.

[neorichieb1971]

My laser works when booting up original games, but if the CD has red book music on it, it doesn't travel well across the disc.

I use Ridge Racer Revolution as a test disc and it starts playing up on track 3 and 4. I have replaced the laser 3 times and it has similar issues so it cannot be the machine.

One game that it also struggles with is Mr Driller G. The music changes mid gameplay from 1 level to the next and it really struggles on some of the music where as other places it plays fine.

I believe its the transport lane thing. If you tilt the machine it starts playing fine. I've had this problem for years since the early 2000's.