SONY CFD-545: Seeking Mail-In Repair Solutions.

Greetings Fellow Enthusiasts:
I've got a cherished SONY CFD-545 from the 90's. A rather exhaustive Google search has failed to yield any repair centers that I can send my unit to for servicing. The few who replied say they don't work on cassette tape units any longer. I suspect that the B side cassette of my unit needs a belt or possibly motor swap out. The A side plays fine. I checked the forum boards on this site first, but couldn't find a related topic. Can anyone recommend a legitimate, well regarded outfit that takes in and repairs boomboxes? That doesn't cost an arm & a leg please? Thanks for any help. Rock on.

Ok first off, this is an international forum with members worldwide. How’s anyone supposed to answer your question when you don’t even bother to include your location in your profile?

Secondly, if the CD player fails, it’s recommended that you learn to live without that feature, since the laser pickup assembly is almost certain to have been obsolete ages ago.

Thirdly, that’s probably a $50 radio. Shipped. How much is it worth to you to get the cassette fixed? Because it’s a virtual certainty that the shipping costs alone back and forth already will exceed its value, and that’s without even considering the repair costs.

And of course you had to add that you don’t want to pay too much. Well how much is the repair worth to you in terms of currency and not body parts? It’s important that you come up with a figure because that will determine if it’s worth it to you to get it repaired.

Frankly, I suggest you just take the time to try the repair yourself by spending time reading the archives for deck repair jobs. It’s doubtful that you’ll find that particular model with step by step instructions but many cassette deck restorations employ the same basic principles. But if you don’t wanna take the time to learn it, that’s ok. It’s not for everyone but DIY fixing is by far the most economical otherwise you might have to just suck it up & pay a few fingers, eyeballs & maybe a couple of toes. Shops still work on these things, just not that many. You’ll just have to go to some local shops & inquire. Most small repair shops aren’t on the web and there’s some chores you simply can’t do on the internet.

There's one on Ebay for $45 shipped, and he claims it works.

Okay, so I'm obviously a newbie to the site. Should've identified myself as a stateside (USA) user, as I was unaware that this was an international forum. Mea Culpa, my BAD. That said, I feel obligated to address what I would respectfully challenge as some misunderstanding and inaccurate assumptions to my original poster. Thanks upfront to both Superduper & Reli for providing me the courtesy of a reply. Note well: There is a deadstock "sister" unit--the SONY CFD-454 (single cassette) listed on eBay for $599.00 + shipping. Granted, mine's not deadstock new anymore, but FARRRRRR from any dumpster-dived $50 unit on eBay (I saw that 1 Reli...put it back in the dumpster I'd say to the sellers). Superduper: I never said anything about the CD player being bad...in fact, it works fine. Not close to a $50 radio, unless it's severely handicapped like the 1 both of you are prolly referring to live-listed on the 'Bay. My unit retailed for around $400 bucks purchased new in the 90's, and of course they don't make these new anymore, so...?
In terms of shipping costs, I feel like I shouldn't include that in terms of evaluating my affection for the unit, as this is simply the cost of doing business to fix something I want fixed properly. I've learned from countless others' mistakes who attempt DIY fixes on things (automobiles come to mind here) where people say: "Oh I can fix it...how hard can it be?" (famous last words), only to pay 2-3X more to have the job done properly, even if it can then be fixed at all.

I've digressed. Back to the original intent of my post: Locating a respected shop basically anywhere stateside that might accept my unit for a diagnostic eval. I've checked a handful of places here in both NORCAL & SOCAL (CA, being my home state), but so far, nobody's really into cassette repairs anymore. SONY's repair website lists several independent mom n' pops, but again, none that I've found service boomboxes or, in particular, cassette audio servicing.

Well, if the unit is worth $400+ to you, then I think member Reli has a source in SoCal that does work on boomboxes.

I mentioned the CD player only because you never said anything about the CD player and/or whether it functioned so it was a just in case it was bad FYI.

I respect your decision not to do DIY on your set if you don't feel you can do it. I prefer that stance rather than to one who dives in recklessly and messes it up. It was only suggested to you because the value of most boomboxes (except for those on the high $$ collectible varieties) generally is lower than the cost of retail repair costs. Therefore, a DIY approach is often the only approach that makes sense unless the unit has sentimental value.

Speaking of which... as long as you are never planning to sell your set, that you regard your unit highly is perfectly fine and therefore its true value would be irrelevant. I'm not going to burst your bubble so I'll just leave it at that. However, if you decide check again a year later, you'll may find that same $599 unit still being offered or simply expired unsold. Just know that this is an enthusiasts forum and many of us have been collecting these things for decades and we have a pretty good grasp of boombox values and prices. If someday you decide you want to sell your unit, you may wish to consider checking the "sold" listings rather than the "asking price" listings to determine it's true value. Just saying...

Hope you get her fixed so it rocks again, just how it should be!

i67darrin said:

There is a deadstock "sister" unit--the SONY CFD-454 (single cassette) listed on eBay for $599.00 + shipping.

Click to expand...

Anyone can ask for any amount they want. Doesn't mean it's worth it. He might get $150 for it, or even $200, considering it's new (allegedly). But did you notice there's 6 others on Ebay. This is not a rare model.

The $45 one you called a "dumpster diver" could be easily cleaned up. I don't see any SIGNIFICANT cosmetic damage, other than speaker grills which can easily be removed and re-sprayed if necessary.

Or, it could be harvested for parts. As Superduper pointed out, you might need donor parts, especially the laser pickup, because nobody is going to have that in stock.

For repair shops, use Yelp or Google to search for hi-fi repair shops. They won't work on these, but if you call them, they might know someone who does. Or search for TV or VCR or "Appliance" repair guys. Even in your yellow pages. There's a TV repair shop in Santa Ana that works on boomboxes, but it's going to cost you at least $125, probably more, depending on what it needs. Also he's Vietnamese, and too difficult to understand over the phone. In-person is really the only way to deal with him.