DVD player question

[medjay]

I've got a bit of a dilemma. I purchased a DVD earlier in the week and went to watch it on my Playstation 2. Halfway through the damned thing started skipping then totally crapped out. This has been happening more and more often, usually with disks that I've rented. But this time it was a brand new DVD fresh out of the plastic.

So I took the DVD over to a friend's house and tried it in their machine. It played straight through, no problem. So I got to thinking, maybe it's my PS2. Time for an upgrade to a new DVD player and just use the PS2 to play games. So I went to the store and bought a brand new DVD player. Put the disk in and sure enough, it starts skipping right at the same point!

Then I realized that the DVD player I bought was another Sony. Not a conscious decision, it was just the better deal at the store. The disk played fine in my buddy's cheap ass Daewoo system but has gotten hung up in two different Sony brand players.

So the questions: Considering that the results of the troubleshooting have been rather inconclusive, do I keep the new Sony DVD player? Do I trade it for another brand? Do I just take it back and continue to use the PS2?

 

[Calamity Jane]

I'd take it back. The Playstation at least serves an alternate purpose, the CD player really doesn't.

I have a cheap-ass APEX DVD player that I got for like $25 last Christmas. I love it, and it has more features than a lot of more expensive systems that I've seen. The only problems that I've had with it is with either rented or pirated DVDs.

 

[Lushisss]

I would reconsider the Sony DVD player. I've had my PS2 since 2001, I experience th eoccasional upprovoked skipping of a DVD or game. I bought a super cheap ass regular DVD player for $29 bucks-plays DVD's great. Bonus, it gives my PS2 the rest it has earned.

 

[lavender]

I've always found that the very scientific method of blowing into the DVD holder to get any dust out and then rub a gentle cloth over the DVD typically works well.

 

[medjay]

Another thing. . . I bought one of those two-in-one DVD/VCR things. Mainly because if I bought just a DVD player I'd also have to spend extra on a modulator. This way I can chuck my old VCR and not worry about routing extra cables. That's one reason why I'm thinking of keeping it. But I also feel kind of silly because it seems I've bought a DVD player/ VCR when I really didn't need either.

But that leads to the question of why some DVDs that appear totally unblemished will play fine in some systems and not others. DVDs with horrendous scratches will play through in my PS2 while others with barely a ding will not read at all. I don't want to jump to the conclusion that Sony products are just really picky about reading some disks but that's what it seems like tonight.

 

[Calamity Jane]

I dunno, Medjay. Some CDs play fine in my stereo, but not in my DVD player. Or fine in my car, and not in my walkman. My step-dad found a CD in the woods, laying on the ground. He brought it home and ran it through the dishwasher to get the mud and stuff off of it, and it plays fine, while sometimes, I open a brand new CD, and it doesn't play for shit.

Technology is a wonderful thing, no?

 

[Lushisss]

I used to experience similar happenings with my Aiwa and Sony CD players. THe Sony was actaully quite picky. The Aiwa played all scratchy CD's quite well. The Sony would get stuck every time. I too, have a DVD/VCR combo-it too, was super cheap. Plays new and old DVD's well. Has no troubles reading homade porn either.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

Did you keep your receipt and the box?

 

[medjay]

I just remembered that my computer has a DVD drive (I've never used it once, that's why I forgot). I just put the disk in there and it played fine.

So the results appear to be: eMachine DVD/ROM and the el-cheapo Daewoo brand will play the disk no problem. Sony Playstation and Sony DVD player will not.

Guess I'll pack it up and take it back. Trade it for another brand and see what happens.

 

[Lasz]

I sent my playstation back to Sony, and they are fixing it for free. Maybe you should do the same?

I am getting it back on Tuesday.

 

[Thunderbear]

I used to experience similar happenings with my Aiwa and Sony CD players. THe Sony was actaully quite picky. The Aiwa played all scratchy CD's quite well. The Sony would get stuck every time. I too, have a DVD/VCR combo-it too, was super cheap. Plays new and old DVD's well. Has no troubles reading homade porn either.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

Did you keep your receipt and the box?

Wait, wait, wait. You have homemade porn on DVD? You technophile, you!

 

[medjay]

I sent my playstation back to Sony, and they are fixing it for free. Maybe you should do the same?

I am getting it back on Tuesday.

I feel like a jackass because I was in that last thread of yours talking about how my PS2 hadn't given me any problems.

Somehow I don't think there's anything really wrong with the PS2. 90% of the time the disks work fine. And since this disk started skipping at the exact same spot in two different machines I'll say the problem is with the DVD itself. The fact that it played in other cheaper machines suggests to me that perhaps Sony products are just really sensitive in some cases.

I've decided I'm going to take the DVD player back and get something else. Probably a cheap ass Daewoo like my buddy's. That way I'll have two DVD players of different brands. Cover more bases that way. I still want to find a decent 2-in-1, however. Because I already told my girlfriend she could have my old VCR.

 

[Lawler]

My Sony DVD player was doing the same thing. The company had to FedEx some software to update the player (because I didn't have a CD burner at the time). Codex was screwy...some shit like that. Check the Sony customer service site and see if they have a patch or upgrade or something.

I had no idea you could even "update" a DVD player until my fiasco.

Nevermind...saw you were taking it back. If you are all about the cheap crap, I highly suggest the CyberHome brand. I have one that cost $39; and it is aces!

 

[Spinaroonie]

The PS2 has mannnnny flaws in it's construction, most drives go out a lot sooner than expected (but not in warranty)

As for a DVD player, something with prog scan, and not apex is good.

 

[mystic_maiden32]

my Bose system won't play pirated DVD's and if there is one bit of dust, or a scratch it won't play it either, but my cheapie in my room plays them just fine.

 

[stingray61]

WOW out of all those replies only one person gave you the advice to follow first. Clean the dvd and the play station. I have a ps2 and have had the exact same problem both from rented and brand new dvds. Then I got a cleaning disk for the ps2 and washed the dvds, new or rented, in warm soapy water and gently dried them with a lint free cloth before putting them into my ps2 and what do you know it works great every time until the ps2 needs another re-cleaning with the disk. The rest of the advice is great AFTER you clean things up a bit. Anyone with a dvd player or any kind of laser read device needs to invest a few dollars into a cleaner as the laser gets dirty faster than you can say "I want my fuckin money back!!" Good luck.

 

[medjay]

WOW out of all those replies only one person gave you the advice to follow first. Clean the dvd and the play station. I have a ps2 and have had the exact same problem both from rented and brand new dvds. Then I got a cleaning disk for the ps2 and washed the dvds, new or rented, in warm soapy water and gently dried them with a lint free cloth before putting them into my ps2 and what do you know it works great every time until the ps2 needs another re-cleaning with the disk. The rest of the advice is great AFTER you clean things up a bit. Anyone with a dvd player or any kind of laser read device needs to invest a few dollars into a cleaner as the laser gets dirty faster than you can say "I want my fuckin money back!!" Good luck.

I clean the lens on my PS2 about once a month. And I always wash my disks before playing them. Even the new ones. And as far as I'm concerned there's really no excuse for the brand new DVD player not to be able to read a brand new DVD fresh out of the case. Especially when a Daewoo that is a year old can read it just fine.

I've spent the last hour checking some websites and apparently this is a problem common to Sony DVD players. Consumer electronics are just a tricky business.

 

[stingray61]

I clean the lens on my PS2 about once a month. And I always wash my disks before playing them. Even the new ones. And as far as I'm concerned there's really no excuse for the brand new DVD player not to be able to read a brand new DVD fresh out of the case. Especially when a Daewoo that is a year old can read it just fine.

I've spent the last hour checking some websites and apparently this is a problem common to Sony DVD players. Consumer electronics are just a tricky business.

Ok glad you said that you cleaned it at least once a month but they suggest every ten hours so if your close it should be ok there. Just because a player is new doesn't mean there isn't dirt in there from the factory but your right it should work. Also where you get your electronics can have a lot to do with things. I bought a 27 inch RCA tv from wal-mart because they are almost the only place here in town and I had to save some money. Three years later I spent sixty bucks getting it fixed because little did I know Wally world buys less than excellent quality products so they can get them cheaper and of course sell them a little cheaper. Next time I will buy from a good electronics store.


p.s. Wal-Mart didn't have the 25 inch tv I originally wanted so they gave me the 27 inch for the same price...seventy dollars less than it originally was so I am still ten bucks ahead.

 

[The Heretic]

After a bad experience with an off-brand DVD recorder (Liteon), I decided I was only ever going to buy a name brand (like Sony) again. I had to download and upgrade the firmware in my recorder before it would even record CD-RWs as it was advertised to do out of the box.

I can't say why you have had problems with Sony products, except maybe that Sony is not only an electronics manufacturer but also a content provider (they make and sell movies and music) and they are the leader in the DRM movement. They love copy protection schemes and proprietary formats - so while I believe they make superior electronics, that superiority may be comprimised by their schems to protect their content. Copy protection is notoriously finicky.

 

[DéjàNu]

my PS2 was doing the same so I bought a Sony DVD player but I never get any problems reading DVDs with it tho.

Try to have it exchange for a new one, maybe its this machine the problem.

 

[bkp]

That's strange I have a APEX DVD player that I use in the bedroom, that thing will play anything I put in it.
dvd dvd+r dvd-r vcd svcd mp3cd you name it, it plays it.

Now the Toshiba I have in the living room craps out all the time on dvdr's and wont play a svcd at all.

I payed 125.00 more for that POS.

I'd take it back. The Playstation at least serves an alternate purpose, the CD player really doesn't.

I have a cheap-ass APEX DVD player that I got for like $25 last Christmas. I love it, and it has more features than a lot of more expensive systems that I've seen. The only problems that I've had with it is with either rented or pirated DVDs.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

I have a Panasonic. It's a vhs/dvd combo. I havent had any problems with it and I've had it more than a year now. On occasion it skips a little, but it's more that it just had a little fart and didnt read, but it picks up and keeps going. That doesnt happen often. Maybe once every 3 months or so, and I watch a lot of movies.

I think part of it with the Panasonic though depends on how much you use it. My parents had the exact same model and everything, but they dont use there's as much as I use mine. Theirs died about 3 months ago and they got it around the same time I got mine. I'm happy overall with the Panasonic products like that. I have a regular vcr made by them back home and it's been around at least 7 years and it still works well.

 

[Wile E]

Sony DVD players are notoriously finicky about what they will play. If you plan on playing some old or worn or pirated DVDs, get a cheap Korean model, they play everything, and don't have region restrictions.

 

[Lawler]

I had to download and upgrade the firmware in my recorder

Firmware! That's what it's called.

That was making me crazy last night.

Carry on.

 

[HornyHenry]

Do you

Firmware! That's what it's called.

That was making me crazy last night.

Carry on.

replace a chip, or somehow download the upgrade into it?

And, cleaning - Do you clean a DVD player the same way you would clean a CD player?

 

[medjay]

So I took the Sony back today and bought the cheapest, most no-name DVD player I could find. Some thing called a CyberHome. And guess what? It played the disk.

Also, I got a DVD from Netflix today that was quite beat up. I cleaned it and put it in the CyberHome. It played and only stuttered once. I tried it out in the PS2 and it wouldn't play at all.

Guess my delimma is solved for the time being. I'll roll with this CyberHome until it conks out, but if I get a year out of it I'll be happy. For $39 bucks I consider it disposable anyway.