DVD player bargains and a happy ending

[derekrumble]

I bought a Denon DVD-2900 universal disc player back in 2004. Not quite top of the range but reassuringly expensive and it had had great reviews. I bought one. Wonderful picture and excellent sound; not at all like a typical 'all-in-one'. And one would expect that to be the case at around 800 British quids.

A year down the line and just out of warranty it started to fail to read certain discs. My local dealer, although I hadn't bought it there, arranged for a repair. And a year later it failed again. I paid to have a new mech fitted, which was an updated part, so I had high hopes that, at last, I could rest easy.

Nope. The new mech was fine but I guess that something had happened to the switched-mode power supply. A load of HF noise was being produced somewhere causing picture interference, while watching DVDs, along with a faint and high-pitched whine behind the audio. Then the drawer jammed shut. Not bad performance from a £800 machine.

I decided not to throw any more cash at the wretched contraption and bought a second-hand DVD1930; sound and picture quality not up to the 2900... but at least it actually worked. And besides, audio output (apart from SACD of course) goes through my X-DACv3... so I only needed it to be a competent transport. Which it proved to be.

Ok - rolling on the the present day. I have been watching Ebay prices for decent players and now that BluRay is kicking in with a vengeance simple DVD-only machines are not attracting the bids. The even better news is that SACD / DVD-A compatible players aren't doing well either.

Following some patient bidding and a few lost auctions I have just won a beautiful DVD-2900 for £56 !!!! I was a little worried given the track record of my particular example. However, the seller assured me all was OK with it, and as he lived just an hour and a half's drive from me I would collect in person which gave me the opportunity to reject it.

There was no need for worry. This gorgeous champagne-effect 2900 is 'box fresh'. A very nice guy, with an impressive audio system, had looked after it well; it was like new. It's serial number is much later than my original player and it works like a dream. I had forgotten how great the picture quality of the DVD-2900 is. It's stunning. SACD is simply exquisite; no transformation of DSD to PCM here. It's fab. DVD-A is great too. And as a transport for CDs and non-protected DVD-As it feeds a great signal to my X-DAC or DacMagic.

I didn't need to to be dogged in my search for a replacement, but the 2900 was meant to be an indulgent, luxury purchase following my early retirement. I had done my research, read the reviews and decided that that was the machine for me.

At last I am happy. For emotional and irrational reasons I know, but I'm happy.

End of newsletter. :-)

Derek

[Deleted]

The new mech was fine but I guess that something had happened to the switched-mode power supply. A load of HF noise was being produced somewhere causing picture interference, while watching DVDs, along with a faint and high-pitched whine behind the audio. Then the drawer jammed shut.

Derek
If you still have this machine, take a look at the SMPS, and see if any of the electrolytic capacitors have domed tops.
This sounds very much like classic electrolytic capacitor failure.
If you do find any electros with domed tops, it shouldn't be very expensive to replace them yourself with low ESR types of the same values.
If that doesn't work, you will not be too much out of pocket.
Alex

[derekrumble]

Alex - yes the machine is in disgrace in its box. I will open it up and take a look at the caps and see if anything is obvious. Thank you for the pointer.

I should open it in any case to see why the drawer is jammed shut - I may not be able to cure that.

But it will be interesting anyway.

[Deleted]

Alex is right.

Having any troubles with 1 to 4 year old (cheap) DVD players.
Just simply replace all the electrolytic caps (don't need to exchange the big capacitor, this is on the primary side) in the SMPS.
90% chance it works again...

[derekrumble]

Oct 6, 2010 12:28:56 GMT @solderdude said:

Alex is right.

Having any troubles with 1 to 4 year old (cheap) DVD players.
Just simply replace all the electrolytic caps (don't need to exchange the big capacitor, this is on the primary side) in the SMPS.
90% chance it works again...

But my original DVD-200 was not cheap and it was 6 yrs ago! But I will attempt to apply the same cure - if I can get the drawer to open.

If I fix the drwaer. If I fix the SMPS - will I sell it? Not if you only get 56 pounds on Ebay. :-(

Derek

[Deleted]

the electrolytics in a LOT of SMPS have the same faith.
They do not even have to have physical signs (bulging top, leaking stuff around the pins) to be destined for replacement.
Some just have high ESR's and this can 'throw off' the regulation in the SMPS resulting in incorrect voltages or start problems (SMPS swithes off or enters in error mode (hick-up sound))

This is not only the case in DVD players but a LOT of equipment with SMPS.

It happens in expensive gear just as well in cheap ones.
Usually the the more expensive equipment lasts somewhat longer before giving problems.

I have repaired a lot of cheap DVD players this way sometimes just out of warranty and some were already many years old.
The quickest way is to replace all the electrolytics in the secondary part of the SMPS and the smaller ones on the primary side.
Granted only 1 or 2 of them might be faulty but doing a repair job and having to give warranty it will still work a few months later without it coming back to have another cap replaced that was already so so would cost me.
So for a few euros and to save time one better replaces all of them.
The fat one on the primary side, between 47uF/400V to 220 uF/400V, usually does not need to be replaced.

a matter of being lucky or not.

Very possible it will cure the drawer problem IF this is caused by an SMPS problem

[Deleted]

Oct 6, 2010 12:22:57 GMT @derekrumble said:

Alex - yes the machine is in disgrace in its box. I will open it up and take a look at the caps and see if anything is obvious. Thank you for the pointer.

I should open it in any case to see why the drawer is jammed shut - I may not be able to cure that.

But it will be interesting anyway.

Hi Derek
I only gave a quick answer because I wasn't sure that you would be willing to try this.
Frans is correct, and yes, it is better to replace them irrespective of how they look, as some that may not be domed presently, may be on the way out too. If the electros are the problem, then there is a very good chance that your drawer problem will be cured too.
Alex