Hi everyone,

I bought a used Zenith DVD player that appeared to have
experienced pretty gentle use. I use it entirely for audio. It played
cds just fine for a while. Then it seemed to have problems with some
cds, as though it were hypersensitive to dust or fingerprints,
skipping or mangling tracks. Then it started doing that with brand
newand freshly cleaned cds. I thought I was going to have to replace
it, but then it would play them, even the "difficult" ones, without
problem for a while. Heat, I finally deducted. The DVD player was
stacked atop a Yamaha integrated amp and a Technics tuner. It felt hot
at times, maybe it was getting a chance to cool off, so I stacked it
over the tuner. Still have the problem. It seems to mangle some songs
on every cd I play right now.

Is the thing just failing, or is there something I can do
besides replacing it?

TIA

Andy Katz

Andy Katz wrote in message . ..
Hi everyone,

I bought a used Zenith DVD player that appeared to have
experienced pretty gentle use. I use it entirely for audio. It played
cds just fine for a while. Then it seemed to have problems with some
cds, as though it were hypersensitive to dust or fingerprints,
skipping or mangling tracks. Then it started doing that with brand
newand freshly cleaned cds. I thought I was going to have to replace
it, but then it would play them, even the "difficult" ones, without
problem for a while. Heat, I finally deducted. The DVD player was
stacked atop a Yamaha integrated amp and a Technics tuner. It felt hot
at times, maybe it was getting a chance to cool off, so I stacked it
over the tuner. Still have the problem. It seems to mangle some songs
on every cd I play right now.

Is the thing just failing, or is there something I can do
besides replacing it?

Try posting in:

rec.audio.tech

Or use Google.com to find relevant web sites and newsgroups where you
could find more info and/or ask questions.

My guess (and I'm not expert or tech) about your DVD player is either
of the following:

* The laser that reads the CDs and DVDs has gradually come out of
alignment or died. My local repair shop charges a minimum of $40 to
fix anything, including realigning the laser, assuming the laser is
still good.

* Another possibility is that the laser is just dusty and dirty, in
which case you can probably buy a cleaning kit at Radio Shack and
similar stores.

However, places like Radio Shack and the big discount stores were
selling new DVD players for $20 a week ago and may do so again before
Xmas. And you can already find new DVD players for around $40 at those
places.

(Because (at least in the US) the day after Thanksgiving is usually
the biggest day of the year for most retailers, and this year sales
that day were disappointing for many retailers, we may see deals like
the $20 DVD players again before Xmas, in order to drive consumers
back into the stores. eBay is another source of cheap new and used DVD
players; if you especially like your Zenith, you could probably find
another on eBay, sooner or later.)

So although I like to get my gear repaired and keep using it, in this
case I'd probably trash the player and buy another one.

TIA

Andy Katz

Did you go to Sanderson? If not, please ignore the question.

On 3 Dec 2004 19:08:37 -0800, (N) wrote:

Try posting in:

rec.audio.tech

I'll try that, Neil.

Or use Google.com to find relevant web sites and newsgroups where you
could find more info and/or ask questions.

My guess (and I'm not expert or tech) about your DVD player is either
of the following:

* The laser that reads the CDs and DVDs has gradually come out of
alignment or died. My local repair shop charges a minimum of $40 to
fix anything, including realigning the laser, assuming the laser is
still good.

* Another possibility is that the laser is just dusty and dirty, in
which case you can probably buy a cleaning kit at Radio Shack and
similar stores.

However, places like Radio Shack and the big discount stores were
selling new DVD players for $20 a week ago and may do so again before
Xmas. And you can already find new DVD players for around $40 at those
places.

(Because (at least in the US) the day after Thanksgiving is usually
the biggest day of the year for most retailers, and this year sales
that day were disappointing for many retailers, we may see deals like
the $20 DVD players again before Xmas, in order to drive consumers
back into the stores. eBay is another source of cheap new and used DVD
players; if you especially like your Zenith, you could probably find
another on eBay, sooner or later.)

This is my thinking. Buying it was an accident. I'd bought an Onkyo
receiver from someone on e-bay who turned out to be local. When I went
to pick it up, he offered the Zenith, too. I think I paid 35 for it.
Right now I"m using a portable cd player I bought in a lot from ebay
for .99 (two cd players, headphones I tossed and an adapter). I hadn't
thought of the laser being dirty. That seems like a possibility worth
exploring, especially as it does work fine some of the time.

Otherwise it will have to be replaced.

Thanks

Andy Katz