PlayStation 5xxx restore, laser, SPDIF, etc.

Hey all,

I currently use a chipped 9xxx PSX as my main PS1 gaming system. I have a couple of functioning PSOne units, an untested 1xxx, and a 5500 with a busted spindle and a door that won't shut (possibly debris from the spindle is under the eject button - I acquired it secondhand and haven't opened it)

I would like to do a digital audio mod on a chipped system...and that knocks out my 9xxx as a candidate.

What do you guys think about restoring the 5xxx series? Should I go for the spindle replacement or try for the laser upgrade as a whole? I hear those things are hit and miss when you buy them off amazon/eBay/etc

 

Oh man, I am the one to speak on this, lol. I noticed that those replacement lasers like the SCPH-7xxx the most, especially the ones from HongLei. I refurbished a bunch of these consoles and the SCPH-1xxx hated the replacement lasers the most and refused to spin, with SCPH-5xxx in 2nd only requiring minor tweaking, and SCPH-7xxx in 3rd which worked fine with the factory settings. One of the consoles had a spindle problem and I tried to fix it, ended up breaking the new spindle. If you want to pay shipping, I'll send you a drive motor with spindle and step/seek motor for free off a laser that has worn out.