The Blog

Aiwa Sega Mega-CD CSD-GM1 (Part 3: Reviewing the Situation)

Nix McRetro // 23rd July 2013 // Categories: Repairs, Sega, YouTube

Anyone get that Oliver! reference in the title of this video? We check over the original findings when I first took the two Aiwas apart and attempted to work out what needed to be done. Thankfully I keep notes or I’d have no idea what I’d previously done! :) Continue reading

Aiwa Sega Mega-CD CSD-GM1 (Part 2: Volume Check)

Nix McRetro // 23rd July 2013 // Categories: Repairs, Sega, YouTube

Here’s the test of whether the capacitor replacement fixed the first of the two symptoms I was chasing: very low volume. With the mainboard recap out of the way, it’s time to see what this Aiwa Mega-CD will actually do! At least we’ve got some music coming out of the... Continue reading

Aiwa Sega Mega-CD CSD-GM1 01-01 Mainboard (Part 1: Capacitor Replacement)

Nix McRetro // 23rd July 2013 // Categories: Repairs, Sega, YouTube

Electrolytic capacitors can deteriorate with age, heat and use, and these Aiwas have plenty of ageing capacitors to investigate. Here we have a great example, recapping an Aiwa Mega-CD boom box. Not the Sega Mega Drive part, just the Aiwa boom box part in this four-part series of videos. The... Continue reading

Hakko 808 Desoldering Tool Demo

Nix McRetro // 22nd July 2013 // Categories: Repairs, YouTube

You can never have enough demos of this tool. It is by far my most valued for desolder work. Desolder braid doesn’t come close for through-hole work. For those of you wondering what makes the Hakko 808 so wonderful, here’s a little demonstration on a circuit board from the mid-1990s.... Continue reading

Basic Testing of a 7806 Voltage Regulator

Nix McRetro // 22nd July 2013 // Categories: Guides, YouTube

Here’s just a quick test on some 7806 voltage regulators. I’ve been getting questions about them, and with the Aiwa Mega-CD causing trouble on the workbench, I had a very good reason to demonstrate one. The 78xx family contains fixed positive linear regulators; the last two digits conventionally indicate the... Continue reading