Audio randomly skips during movie playback on Panasonic DVD CP72...

MSkeezer

This started a couple of months ago, but only on scratched, roughed up discs. Now it seems to happen on discs that are perfectly fine. When watching movies, the audio will slightly skip, while video playback seems ok. Should I get a lens cleaner? Or is it even the lens? Is this a sign that my Panny is going out on me?

billbillw

MSkeezer wrote:

This started a couple of months ago, but only on scratched, roughed up discs. Now it seems to happen on discs that are perfectly fine. When watching movies, the audio will slightly skip, while video playback seems ok. Should I get a lens cleaner? Or is it even the lens? Is this a sign that my Panny is going out on me?

Are you using the Analog audo outputs or a digital connection to a surround sound receiver?

If analog outputs are giving you difficulty, then its probably a dying disc player. If digital connection, then it could be either the player, the receiver, or just a bad connection.

Emlyn

I understand that many of the CP72's had problems shortly after the warranty ran out when these were introduced. You might want to search on Home Theater Forum to see if there ever was a way to resolve the problem, but I do recall the symptom in yours being a very common complaint with the transport mechanism. I had one and never had a problem with it though.

MSkeezer

Thanks for the responses, guys. I've got it hooked up to my receiver using an optical cable. I pray that it's a problem with the player, and not the receiver. IF it is the receiver, what could the problem be, and what can be done about it?

billbillw

MSkeezer wrote:

Thanks for the responses, guys. I've got it hooked up to my receiver using an optical cable. I pray that it's a problem with the player, and not the receiver. IF it is the receiver, what could the problem be, and what can be done about it?

Could be many things if its the receiver. Do you have other digital sources to compare like Digital cable or satellite box? Troubleshooting is always fun Try to eliminate one thing at a time. See if other digital sources have this problem. If not, its the DVD. Try analog cables from the DVD to the receiver, if still a problem, definetly the DVD. Good luck.

MSkeezer

I tried using the 5.1 analog outputs on the dvd player, and the problem is gone. The only digital source I have is the dvd player, though, so that's all I have to go with. I'm going to try to use another optical cable. I hope my receiver isn't screwed up. I'd hate to drag this beast out. At least there's an authorized service center in St Louis.

MSkeezer

lol. I think the problem was my optical connection. Before I hooked up the analog cables, I disconnected the optical cable. I noticed the connection wasn't the greatest. It's a very tight fit behind my receiver, and the optical cable was going in at kind of an angle. After I reconnected it and popped in LOTR: ROTK, and I didn't notice any skipping. I'm almost done with Part 1 of the movie, and it's been skip free.

billbillw

I guess the lesson is: always check your connections first. Glad to hear its fixed and it didn't cost you anything. Optical connections are not the most secure in the first place. Its too bad Digital Coax isn't standard on every digital device.

MSkeezer

Yeah, some of the older Panasonics don't give you a coaxial connection. It's definitely a much tighter fit than optical. Do you know off hand if Harman Kardon dvd players offer coaxial? I want to purchase one in the next couple of months...

billbillw

MSkeezer wrote:

Yeah, some of the older Panasonics don't give you a coaxial connection. It's definitely a much tighter fit than optical. Do you know off hand if Harman Kardon dvd players offer coaxial? I want to purchase one in the next couple of months...

You'd have to check the specs/owners manuals. Most of the more inexpensive DVD players don't have coax, but some do.