Topic: PSP-2 Questions - Answered and follow-up

[jlykos]

My PSP-2 just arrived from Germany.  The unit is in great shape, including on the inside of the battery compartment where it looks like it has never been used.  The battery cage, however, looks to be a homebrew / non-standard cage.  I was playing around with it and have a couple of questions / issues:

1.) Where can I get a better-made battery cage for this?  The one I have just feels a bit flimsy.

2.) Does the unit accept rechargeables?  I don't have any alkalines around the house so I mixed 4 rechargeables and 2 alkalines to see if the power light would turn on.  The unit did not turn on with this combination.  I can attribute this to the fact that it either does not like rechargeables, or that the battery cage is not connecting.  Could it be one of these issues?  Both?

3.) I used my MiniMe 6v cable to hook it up to an Eco-Charge BP 50 (6 volt) battery and turned it on.  The battery light would blink on and off with this.  Is this normal?  The Eco-Charge was all charged up.  I called Sonic Sense and they said it could be a faulty battery light.  Could it be this?

I intend to hook this up to my gear and see if it works at a study break soon.  I will let you know what happens.

Any assistance is helpful!

Edit: I hooked everything up and it appears as if the battery sled is indeed having trouble connecting to the contacts.  Does anybody know where I can get a replacement sled for this thing?  Also, it looks like the all the lights (battery and level) are faulty.  This is not a big deal, as the lights are pretty much worthless for taping anyway, but I would still like to have it fixed.  Does anybody know where I can get this serviced?  Unit works fine, though.

[jlykos]

Over the course of the day, I have managed to answer all of my own questions.  Please disregard the previous post.

I do have some knowledge to relate if anybody is interested in the PSP-2 / PSP-3 series, however.

Basically, parts are no longer available for either of these units.  A conversation with Sonic Sense revealed that the Aeta factory burned to the ground a couple of years ago, hence the unavailability of parts for these units.  I then called up the AEA distributor in the United States to see where I could service this about the faulty lights.  He mentioned that I should try Jerry Bruck at Posthorn Recordings.  I did not call Jerry, but I did mention that I will be moving to France for a year next year.  He gave me the contact information for Aeta in France and said that they may be able to help me out.  The AEA distributor said that repairs + shipping + insurance to and from France would run $200 to $300.

I would gamble that Paul at ProDigital could also take care of issues with the unit as well, but I did not try him.

Here is the contact information for Aeta France if anybody really needs their unit serviced:

Valerie Racinet
vracinet@aeta-audio.com
 
011 33 141361261 Ph

Hope this helps!

[it-goes-to-eleven]

2.) Does the unit accept rechargeables?  I don't have any alkalines around the house so I mixed 4 rechargeables and 2 alkalines to see if the power light would turn on.

You really shouldn't mix those battery types.  Bad stuff can happen.

Glad to hear the unit is in otherwise excellent condition!

[Kevin Straker]

Over the course of the day, I have managed to answer all of my own questions.  Please disregard the previous post.

I do have some knowledge to relate if anybody is interested in the PSP-2 / PSP-3 series, however.

Basically, parts are no longer available for either of these units.  A conversation with Sonic Sense revealed that the Aeta factory burned to the ground a couple of years ago, hence the unavailability of parts for these units.  I then called up the AEA distributor in the United States to see where I could service this about the faulty lights.  He mentioned that I should try Jerry Bruck at Posthorn Recordings.  I did not call Jerry, but I did mention that I will be moving to France for a year next year.  He gave me the contact information for Aeta in France and said that they may be able to help me out.  The AEA distributor said that repairs + shipping + insurance to and from France would run $200 to $300.

I would gamble that Paul at ProDigital could also take care of issues with the unit as well, but I did not try him.

Here is the contact information for Aeta France if anybody really needs their unit serviced:

Valerie Racinet
vracinet@aeta-audio.com
 
011 33 141361261 Ph

Hope this helps!

Jerry has helped me in the past with  my psp2 problems. He found me a new one after mine blew up. You really might want to call Posthorn.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Jerry is the man for Schoeps parts and expertise too. Definitely a great vendor to support with your biz.

[baustin]

.....A conversation with Sonic Sense revealed that the Aeta factory burned to the ground a couple of years ago, hence the unavailability of parts for these units...

yup.

I run my PSP2 with a 6v Eco-Charge BP 50. No problems.

You may want to check the cable polarity of the PSP2 vs the MiniMe. I believe they may be different. I know people have had good luck with some cheap Wal-Mart batteries for their PSP2's. You may want to check with 'raoulduke' or 'taperbryan'.