Read error c13 - Sony MDS-JE480 Mini Disc Player

SOURCE: disc error displaying on je500 and read error c13 on je330 model

The error means that the player is unable to read the table of contents (TOC) on discs any more.If it's an occasional error then you can try switching to TDK blanks as they seem to be easier for flaky players to read, but if it's happening regularly to all discs then your machine is unrepairable due to a total lack of spare parts.

On the plus side, there are millions of MD units now lying unused as folks have moved on from them and as they're mostly worthless people don't generally bother with trying to sell them. Almost every piece of MD gear I own has come free of charge via my local FreeCycle and Freegle groups. Whatever you do, don't buy a used player from anyone: they're all getting on now and the TOC error is an age-related fault which may occur at any time.

If you wish to see exactly what features other machines have then visit the superb equipment browser at minidisc.org. The site is hosted but n longer maintained though so some information is out of date, but it's still the most comprehensive source of free information about MD available.

Sorry there's probably no hope for your players, but I hope that my reply has given you a practical alternative means of solving your problem.

Eliezer Pennywhistler

• 236 Answers
• Posted on Oct 03, 2012

SOURCE: JE530 c13

1) It's more likely your laser died than the the drive failed.

2) Run back to your repair guy, and when they fix it (IF they fix it), ask to see it work before you go home. They damned well better fix it for free!

3) Buy another one on eBay.

C13 means the machine cannot read the TOC on the disc. It is possible you have a disc with a bad TOC. You may have left it near a magnetic field, such as a speaker or a component transformer. Try another disc. Or take a disc and erase it, then record on it. See what happens.