CD TOC Initialization...How long does it take???

zfcamaro

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 21, 2005
Messages
7,117
Reaction score
48
Location
Cumberland Foreside, Maine
I picked up a CJ-V99 Pioneer Laser Juke the other day. My question is after installing new CD's how long does the initialization process take???? Just wondering how long I have to stare at the "One Moment Please" screen before I should suspect something is wrong.
 
So it can take a while...Ok, I only waited a few minutes before powering it off. Now it only reads about 5 of the discs. I'll reload the discs in the morning and give it a couple hours, I shall report back in the evening after sleep.
 
The Pioneers can take quite awhile to initialize, it's not abnormal. I don't fully recall which models do what, I seem to remember that some will initialize every power on cycle, later ones initialize after it detects the door was opened (?). If there is a problem with the players and the player is having a hard time reading the cd, it will take a very long time to initialize.

While my own opinion is that the Pioneer boxes were the best sounding at the time, the players in them just were not as robust as what others were using (Rowe/AMI, Rockola and even NSM).

If the player is timing out trying to TOC a number of cd's, (thus locking those cd's out) and the cd's are store bought (not CDR's) and clean, then there are a few possibilities. First would be a gummed up sled mech and it's taking too long to position the laser. Next would be gummed up spindle motor and it's taking too long to spin up the cd. Last would be a failing/weak laser.

The juke as a whole doesn't do very much in the way of diagnostics/error reporting, just some vague errors are available in service mode, so most of the troubleshooting is a guessing game. There are some diagnostic tests that can be run at the player level, but you need a RU-V101 remote control connected directly to the player under test to run the test commands. Those remotes are as rare as hens teeth.

If it's a failing laser or spindle motor, you will probably have a hard time getting parts, they just don't seem to exist any longer. Beware of used changers that pop up on ebay, more often than not they don't work.

Myself and others here have gone the route of the cdadapter MP3 hard drive setup for the Pioneers due to problems keeping the original cd players going. If you find that the problem is with one, or all, of your players I highly suggest the MP3 kit, it works great (disclaimer: the MP3 kit is FOR HOME USE ONLY).
 
Last edited:
The Pioneers can take quite awhile to initialize, it's not abnormal. I don't fully recall which models do what, I seem to remember that some will initialize every power on cycle, later ones initialize after it detects the door was opened (?). If there is a problem with the players and the player is having a hard time reading the cd, it will take a very long time to initialize.

While my own opinion is that the Pioneer boxes were the best sounding at the time, the players in them just were not as robust as what others were using (Rowe/AMI, Rockola and even NSM).

If the player is timing out trying to TOC a number of cd's, (thus locking those cd's out) and the cd's are store bought (not CDR's) and clean, then there are a few possibilities. First would be a gummed up sled mech and it's taking too long to position the laser. Next would be gummed up spindle motor and it's taking too long to spin up the cd. Last would be a failing/weak laser.

The juke as a whole doesn't do very much in the way of diagnostics/error reporting, just some vague errors are available in service mode, so most of the troubleshooting is a guessing game. There are some diagnostic tests that can be run at the player level, but you need a RU-V101 remote control connected directly to the player under test to run the test commands. Those remotes are as rare as hens teeth.

If it's a failing laser or spindle motor, you will probably have a hard time getting parts, they just don't seem to exist any longer. Beware of used changers that pop up on ebay, more often than not they don't work.

Myself and others here have gone the route of the cdadapter MP3 hard drive setup for the Pioneers due to problems keeping the original cd players going. If you find that the problem is with one, or all, of your players I highly suggest the MP3 kit, it works great (disclaimer: the MP3 kit is FOR HOME USE ONLY).

WOW thanks for all the great info!! I'm happy to report that after reloading the CD's and giving it about 15 minutes to read all the discs we are UP and Running!!! Works great, fantastic sound on this thing. I only have the volume about half way and it freaking CRANKS. I'm running 2 of the three disc changers for 36 discs since there are 36 place holders on the display. It has a 3rd changer but I think I'll just keep it as a spare for when one goes bad.

From what I can tell everything seems to be in good working order. There is a slight hum when a song isn't playing but the discs change fast and nothing has binded up on me yet with about 3 hours of constant use in the garage. I'm not looking forward to putting it in the basement.... HEAVY. As far as the MP3 conversion I'd say that is definitely the way to go once the changers go out. I really don't want to but from one I can tell no one is going to want to rebuild these things when they fail...

D_Zoot, your in Bangor?? SWEET. That's where I'm planning on relocating to if I can ever get out of MD.... My dad works at the Casino there and I visit a few times a year. Let me know if you want a party crasher some day.

I'll get some pics and a video up pretty soon.
 
Last edited:
D_Zoot, your in Bangor?? SWEET. That's where I'm planning on relocating to if I can ever get out of MD.... My dad works at the Casino there and I visit a few times a year. Let me know if you want a party crasher some day.

Yup, I'm right in Bangor. Drop me a note next time you are up and I'll give you directions to the shop, which is over the bridge in Brewer. There's always something interesting going on at the shop! :)


D
 
Definitely will do, hey should I replace the 6-disc cartridges in there??? The manual says they go bad in 6 months. I can't seem to find any replacements....
 
For home use I wouldn't worry about replacing the carts. Actually, I don't know of any operators that changed them out regularly on location either!

I would guess that Pioneer suggested that due to wear from high use causing binding. If yours work fine don't sweat it.

I've got a couple kicking around I think, if you ever do happen up, remind me and you can have them. Also I think they are the same carts the car cd changers used, so if you had to track one down in a pinch, look around the car audio scene.

D
 
Back
Top Bottom