Audio Research CD2 randomly skips

I can't say as this is the answer...but the CD2 that I owned
some time back was not a great tracking CD player and would
skip quite a bit...needed the perfect CD to not have this
problem.

However if yours is truly random...not at the same place on
the same disk..you may have a different concern than I had.

Wish I could suggest a cure..but I just had the same concerns
and it was one of the reasons I sold it.

I had a CD1 that also skipped. Had to send to back to the factory twice before they fixed it. Fortunately it was under warranty. I sold it shortly after that. All in all I was not impressed with the build quality at all and would not buy another. It did sound good when it was working though. Today I use a CEC TL2 for a transport with an Audio Logic DAC. The build quality of the CEC is exceptional and the sound of the combo is in another league from my CD1. Have not heard the CD2 though. On the plus side, Audio Research's service department was very good to work with even if it took two trips to fix the problem. You should give them a call. Good luck.

My cd2 plays great and rarely skips. Unless the CD is damaged or dirty . Call the service deptartment at ARC .

Leanord at ARC did tell me that the Phillips transport used in the CD2 adheres very closely to the Red Book standard.Which means anything that doesn't comply with the standard will have some trouble. If the disc has flaws it won't track. What Weiserb and Whatjd said is correct from my experience. Both a friend of mine and I owned CD1's and would track anything! We both have CD2's now and do find them to be more fussy about what you play(that being said I have next to no problem with this, he on the other hand buys a lot more rare and used CD's).

To address Tswhitsel's feelings about build quality, yes the CD1 and the CD2 use a standard(read plastic)phillips transport. Aside from that, the thing is wonderfuly well made, "like a tank", the board inside is a work of art, and you need to spend mucho more to get a better constructed player, something like a Wadia 860 or the new CD3, which you can't buy new for $3K or used for around $1500!

Try cleaning or polishing some of the discs that skip with something made for that pourpose and it can't hurt to call ARC and talk to them about it. You may just have a fiber of some sort floating around in there. Do you have a cat?