Blu-Ray playback hanging

jimbo1421

I am a Netflix Blu-Ray subscriber with a three year old Panasonic DMP-BD85 player and I have just sent back another Blu-Ray for hanging during playback. The disk was almost pristine, just a few small light abrasions and finger prints. I cleaned it with a spritz of RCA disk cleaning solution and a soft cloth. This removed the prints, but it still hung. In the past year I have returned 8 Blu-Ray disks and 5 DVDs out of about 140, almost 10%.

I can understand how old worn DVDs can be a problem but I am wondering what makes a clean looking Blu-Ray disk hang. Do the disks really have to be in perfect condition to play? Or is the Panasonic BDP getting too finicky? Should I get a lens cleaner? (My house is kinda dusty.) How can I sort out what the source of the problem is? Any tips?

Jim

BlueFox

I have had a few Netflix issues over the last 15 years, but not that many. Plus each disc was obviously a very used disk. My first guess here is your player is getting finicky. How to verify and/or fix that, other than getting a new player, I don't know.

Tornado Red

Could be the player. Have you returned blu-rays and received replacement discs of the same movie? If so, how were they? Also, perhaps a combination of newer movies and a player that needs a firmware update? Some newer movies with upgraded copy protection don't play well with older firmware versions. If that all checks out, there may be a chance the laser in your player is dirty and needs to be cleaned.

bikezappa

I had the same problem also with hanging DVDs. Someone recommended Novus plastic cleaner and it worked great on most bad
DVDs. Fixes really badly scratched CDs and DVDs also. Good product.

http://www.amazon.com/NOVUS-PC-10-Plastic-Clean-Shine/dp/B002UD0GFE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1391955255&sr=8-5&keywords=novus+plastic+polish

Tornado Red

BTW, if you decide you may have dust/dirt on the lens, this product comes recommended. I've heard the lens is a little more delicate on blu-ray players (than DVD or CD) and trying to clean it yourself is not the way to go.

http://www.amazon.ca/Maxell-BR-LC-Blu-ray-Lens-Cleaner/dp/B00178HN0O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391968908&sr=8-1&keywords=maxell+blu-ray+lens+cleaner

recoveryone

The Panasonic DMP80's series is not the heavy worker of their line (my son has the 87) if you use your hands to push the open/closed button make sure you hold the unit in place with the other, or it will slide away. Very light in weight units, but the PQ is good. Units at this level tend to be more picky about disk condidtions than higher quality units like an Oppo, Pioneer Elite or Denon BDP's.

jimbo1421

Thanks everyone for your replies. I have always gotten replacement disks from Netflix that worked, so perhaps there are subtle flaws in these Blu-Rays that my Panasonic can't work through. The BDP makes noises like it is trying to play and failing. The firmware is current but dates from 2012. I have used a CD/DVD polishing compound from RCA which has often, but not always worked. I have not used it on Blu-Ray disks; being a very fine abrasive I think it would damage them. I just reviewed my Netflix account history and see that the first return came six months after a bought the Panasonic BDP.

What about cleaning. I have an old Maxell Thunderon brush cleaner for CDs and DVDs. It predates the Blu-Ray era and I doubt this suitable for cleaning Blu-Rays. The cleaning disks I see on Amazon get mixed reviews.Does anyone here have any expertise on these DIY solutions? Or should I send the BDP out somewhere for professional cleaning?

Jim

Tornado Red

Certainly your call Jim. If you take it some place for cleaning, check the price first vs what you think the value of your player is. It may pay to cut your losses and put that money into a new machine. Good luck!

jimbo1421

Well the failure rate for my Netflix Blu rays has jumped from 10% to over 35%. Since I have started this thread I have used a Blu ray cleaning disk, had my player professionally cleaned, moved the HDMI connection from the AV preamp to connect directly to the TV. Netflix troubleshooting guide says that out of date firmware can produce the same symptoms that I have, namely, passive aggressive DRM. Panasonic stopped issuing firmware updates for my player in 2012. I see that other manufacturers have also done the same for their older models.

Do any of you Blu ray Netflix subscribers with older players have the same kinds of problems? Are 3-4 year old players obsolete? If so, does it make sense to only spend less than $100 for a player that will get tossed after the firmware updates stop coming?

Are their BDP makers who do keep updating their firmware for older models? Are there more robust players that can handle less than pristine rental disks reliably? Does the Oppo BDP83 handle new Blu rays well? I would be willing to spend the price of an Oppo BDP103 if I thought it would last ten years.

If these hassles with Blu ray cannot be avoided, should I just abandon the format and stick to DVDs? Having spent the bucks on a 1080p TV it seems a shame to waste all those pixels.

Any thoughts?

Jim

tonyb

Last 10 years ? I've no doubt an OPPO can last 10 years, question is will it still be compatible with anything in 10 years.

Hermitism

jimbo1421 wrote: »

Well the failure rate for my Netflix Blu rays has jumped from 10% to over 35%. Since I have started this thread I have used a Blu ray cleaning disk, had my player professionally cleaned, moved the HDMI connection from the AV preamp to connect directly to the TV. Netflix troubleshooting guide says that out of date firmware can produce the same symptoms that I have, namely, passive aggressive DRM. Panasonic stopped issuing firmware updates for my player in 2012. I see that other manufacturers have also done the same for their older models.

Do any of you Blu ray Netflix subscribers with older players have the same kinds of problems? Are 3-4 year old players obsolete? If so, does it make sense to only spend less than $100 for a player that will get tossed after the firmware updates stop coming?

Are their BDP makers who do keep updating their firmware for older models? Are there more robust players that can handle less than pristine rental disks reliably? Does the Oppo BDP83 handle new Blu rays well? I would be willing to spend the price of an Oppo BDP103 if I thought it would last ten years.

If these hassles with Blu ray cannot be avoided, should I just abandon the format and stick to DVDs? Having spent the bucks on a 1080p TV it seems a shame to waste all those pixels.

Any thoughts?

Jim

My pioneer Blu-ray player was made in 2008 and they still issue new firmware updates for it. I keep it up to date and have never had an issue with a disc.

jimbo1421

tonyb wrote: »

Last 10 years ? I've no doubt an OPPO can last 10 years, question is will it still be compatible with anything in 10 years.

Exactly. It is an open question whether my Panasonic is compatible with Blu rays after only 3-1/2 years. My ill informed understanding is that DRM is frequently changed and that firmware updates are intended to keep up with it. Is that correct?

Jim

jimbo1421

Hermitism wrote: »

My pioneer Blu-ray player was made in 2008 and they still issue new firmware updates for it. I keep it up to date and have never had an issue with a disc.

This is good to know, Hermitism. Are you a Netflix Blu ray subscriber?

Jim

Hermitism

No, I've never used Netflix. According to Pioneer's website, the last firmware update was on 10/08/2013. Now that Pioneer has sold off most of their empire, I can't be sure updates will still be available. But if you are interested in a player like mine, I was able to pick mine up used a year ago for $75. If you can find a used one, it's not the fastest player in the world, but it has excellent picture and sound. DSkip, has the same player and he recommended putting Dynamat inside of it and updating the power cord and the results were worth it. If I ever find a local deal on a used one, I'm going to buy another one just to have a second unit for a different TV or give it to my parents.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Blu-ray-Disc/Pioneer-Blu-ray-Disc-Players/BDP-51FD

jimbo1421

Thanks, Hermitism. I see that it is still a current model available at Amazon. So firmware updates are also sort of current. It is the discontinued models that seem to lose support after about 3 years. This is very well planned obsolescence and leads me to think that maybe the sub $100 BDP is the way to go. $500 is too much for me to spend on a throw away.

Jim

Hermitism

They must have some leftover stock, it's a discontinued model. I'd never spend that much either. I'm cheap and buy everything used.