Gotta have your tunes? Here's how you can fix your portable stereo with easy repairs.
A portable stereo radio with bad reception may only need a new antenna—or the antenna tightened.
A portable stereo is a compact version of its full-size counterpart: an amplifier, cassette deck, and/or CD player. What makes portable units different from the bigger versions is portability—they are smaller and are powered by batteries rather than through electrical cords. Some deliver sound to headphones while others use small built-in speakers.
Disassemble a portable music device:
Remove the batteries from the unit. Battery compartment covers typically are located on the back or edge, held in place by a pressure clip or a small screw.
Remove all housing screws and unclip any tabs along the edges where the housing meets.
Once you've accessed the device's interior, inspect it for obvious problems or loose parts.
Don't remove the circuit board unless it is necessary to access additional components you think are broken and repairable (such as a built-in speaker). Handle components carefully—even fingerprints can damage intricate circuit boards.
Reassemble.
Clean the laser on a portable CD player:
Remove batteries from the unit and disassemble (see above) as needed to access the laser lens. Some lenses are accessed without disassembly; just open the CD top and there it is.
Use canned air to blow dust out of the disc area.
Use lens-cleaning fluid and a cotton swab to clean the laser lens. Remove excess fluid with a dry swab.
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