Frustrated with finnicky DVD player (1 Viewer)

[Bernie_A]

Until I upgrade it, my Sony DV_725 is really frustrating with freezing on DVD's that are not perfect. We just started Netflicks so the DVD's that we are recieving have obviously seen some use and have a few scratches. Are there DVD players out there have a reputation of being finnicky or more forgiving of minor scratches? I plan on upgrading in the next couple of months so along with DCDi, SACD, DVD-A and 1080i output, this is now on my wish-list as well.

TIA

 

[TomCW]

Have you tried re-calibrating? Some Sony's have an auto calibrate function built in.
I don't know if this applies to your model of player, but it's worth a try.

Info is here.
http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/sonydvd.html

Tom

Fixed the dead link... Sorry!

 

[Bernie_A]

I guess what I would also like to know is other than better de-interlacers, the ability to play SACD or DVD-Audio, or have better DAC's, etc, etc....do the more expensive higher-end DVD players have better lazer reading technology to overcome slight flaws in the disk? Is this even a reality or are all the optics in every DVD player the same?

 

[Don_Berg]

The error correction varies a little between different manufacturers, but the most expensive are not always better in that area. Its easy to remove most scratches from DVDs or CDs, read about the procedure at this link it worked great for me:
http://www.btinternet.com/~zturner/index.htm

 

[Bernie_A]

Don, I'll give that a go. Thanks for the tip. I was watching Carlito's Way and it must have froze 5 times and of coarse, during the really good parts AND WE CANNOT GET THE LAST SCENE TO PLAY SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT ENDS!!!

 

[Jason Hamilton]

Hey, Bernie, I'm having an issue similar to this on my Sony DVD player (DVP-S550D). I noticed this with not only rented/slightly used DVDs as well as a brand-spanking new DVD and have come up with the theory that the age of my player is incompatible with some of the newer DVD encryption schemes.

Example:
DVD: View From the Top
Rental copy froze up halfway through chapter 4 and would not continue. This was repeatable.
Brand new copy froze up halfway through chapter 2 and would not continue, and this was also repeatable.

Both copies played without error or lockup in my PS2.

Interesting, eh?

I, too, am looking to upgrade this year, likely to a Universal player to maximize multi-channel music options...

 

[TomCW]

Oops, I thought this thread was about fixing a problem... now I see it's about justifying the purchase of a new player. My bad, rock on.

Tom

 

[Bernie_A]

That's interesting Tom, but the darn Sony is only 4 months old. I took the same DVD I was having problems with and played it on my daughts ghetto cheapo non-pregressive DVD player and it worked perfectly. Maybe the output through progressive scan is having an impact?

I am waiting until either the Samsung 941 or the Zenith hits the street. Both are multi players that have 1080 output through component as well as DVI with DCDi, etc. I'm leaning towards the 941 but who knows yet. To early to decide.

 

[Bernie_A]

That's interesting Tom, but the darn Sony is only 4 months old. I took the same DVD I was having problems with and played it on my daughts ghetto cheapo non-pregressive DVD player and it worked perfectly. Maybe the output through progressive scan is having an impact?

I am waiting until either the Samsung 941 or the Zenith hits the street. Both are multi players that have 1080 output through component as well as DVI with DCDi, etc. I'm leaning towards the 941 but who knows yet. To early to decide.