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Problem with an old Panny A-310 (remember those?) (1 Viewer)

Joined
Jan 24, 1999
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I have an old Panny A-310 that has performed flawlessly for over 5 years, but now is beginning to exhibit a problem. It first happened with the new Star Wars: AOTC DVD. AT the beginning of chapter 26, and lasting through chapter 28, I was getting severe pixelization, as well as sound and picture freezes. If I picked another section of the disc however, the problem didn't show up.

I went to Blockbuster and rented another copy to see if it was my disc, and sure enough it still did the same thing. I read through the many reviews of the disc on-line, and nobody mentioned this problem with the set. I figured my player was finally starting to die.

On a whim, I decided to open the disc drawer, and blow into the player, thinking that maybe some dust or lint had become lodged over the laser. Sure enough, when I put the disc back in, it played flawlessly through the entire movie. I thought my problem was solved.

Then last night, I decided to watch the movie again, and this time it started pixelating and freezing up at chapter 23 (earlier than before).

I am thinking I still have a dust/lint problem that needs to be correctly remedied (rather than just blowing the dust around). My question is this: has anybody opened their player up to clean it? What type of cleaner should be used? Is there a better way to clean the lens assembly without opening it up? Is there a cleaning DVD on the market that will do the trick? Any other ideas?

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Chris
 

Brian Lawrence

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Feb 28, 1998
Messages
3,634
Real Name
Brian
I recently came across the same problems on my Panasonic A-300. 'Beauty and the Beast' kept locking up on me (I went though 3 copies that all did the same thing). Also more and more discs started to show the same problems but to a lesser degree. I also tried the blowing into the tray trick but it did nothing. I bought the player in March of 1997 and it worked fantastic up until the last 6 months. The problem with pixelation on certain discs started out minor but over the next few months kept getting worse.
A few weeks ago I decided to retire the A-300 to my bedroom, and I bought the Panasonic RP-82, My Beauty and the Beast dvd played flawlessly without and pixelation or audio drop-outs. Also I no longer have any problem with rental dvds skipping or locking up. On my A-300 it was getting to the point where even some spotless dvds would choke at about the halfway point.
I don't know what happened to the A-300 but I guess that perhaps it just got old, and maybe the laser was not tracking as well anymore or just plain dying. But I got so much use out of it, that I still feel it's the best $750 I ever spent. (My RP-82 only cost me $230, boy the prices have sure come down)
As far as lens cleaners, I stongly advise against them.
Read this thread for more info on lens cleaners
also this thread
 

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