Problem with Pioneer 444 (maybe 545?)

[Delh]

It has a problem playing Buffy The Vampire Slayer S2 Disk 6 Episode 1 (Region 2 !)

When it gets to the scene where Driscilla is walking in the Church the picture freezes (@9m22s) & the audio continues as normal. To get a picture back you must stop the disc, & then RESUME starting past the point it freezes.

This scene plays fine on a Samsung 807 & a Wharfedale 750.

I thought it might be because of a scratched disk, so I got the disk replaced, but the problem still exists.

I have also experienced glitches with 2 WARNER dvds (both Region 1).

The first is Driven, when near the last ten minutes of the film, when the race had finished, there was pixellation & stuttering, having watched the film from the beginning.

The second is Swordfish, again it was in the last ten minutes of the film (coincidence??), when the hacker & his daughter are going to there Truck & Caravan the disc stuttered before carrying on, having watched the film from the beginning

Anyone else experienced anything like it??

Delh

[Jon Weaver]

I have had my 545 for a few weeks now and have had 100% success.

I didn't think that I would be able to help until I read at the end that you have Driven and Swordfish.

By co-incidence, I also own these 2 disks and plan to watched Driven tonight..

I will let you know if I get similar problems.

Your problem isn't heat related is it?

My old 709 used to start breaking up towards the end of the film.. But this was because it got too hot.

[Jon Weaver]

I should have asked..

Can you reproduce the Driven/Swordfish problem by jumping to the end, or do you have to watch it from the beginning...

If I can jump to the affected section, I could test this really quickly...

If I have to watch it all the way through, then it will take longer..

But, if it only happens when you watch it all the way through, I still think that this sounds like a 'heat' problem... Does your player feel warm? Do the disks come out hot after you watched the film?

[Delh]

Say you put Driven or Swordfish in now and jumped to 10mins before the end, would you see the problem?

Driven did, it was weird - i kept playing it over & over & getting the same problem (after watching all the way thru') - however i removed the disc, then put it back in, went to the point in question & it was fine !

Swordfish - Only happened whilst watching the film all the way thru', when i went back to the spot it was okay - But i only watch films all the way thru' - not in bits!

Buffy was my main concern, as audio continued & the picture froze (& being Region 2) - Played without a second glance on my other players. Buffy fails every time i go to that chapter.

Your problem isn't heat related is it?

Only if u mean too cold:eek: (i have converted my garage & it's a bit nippy in there)

Thanks for the reply :)

Delh

[megabyte]

We had the same problem here last night , with Bridget Jones diary region one within about 15 mins or so from the end .
Have Swordfish r1-will check tonight .
Is it a disk problem or a software glitch or what?
Conn

[Ron Hill]

Megabyte: This isn't on your new 646A is it?

[Delh]

Is it a disk problem or a software glitch or what?

God only knows - All i know is i paid a lot of money to get a decent brand, that shouldn't have these kind of issues:mad:

Delh

[Jon Weaver]

I hope that there isn't a problem with this model.

I spent almost a year looking for my perfect player.

After having a Samsung 709 which was unstable to say the least, I was looking forwards to trouble free DVD watching.

So, far, I have had no problems, but I have only watched a handful of disks.

I will definatly watch Driven tonight (god help me, as I am expecting the worse (about the film, not the potential player fault)).

I will report back when its done.

With regards to Bridget Jones.. That was one of the first films I watched on the 545 and had no problems at all.

[Ron Hill]

Okay, the chicken has been sacrificed and i've done my ritual one person mexican wave.

As Delbert McClintock would say "Bugs B Gone!"

The thing is, if you expect gremlins then they can smell your fear and they WILL appear! (no matter the cost of the kit).

It's the same with scratches on new cars.
Nick a small scratch inside the fuel filler cap before driving out of the showroom and the scratch demons will be assuaged and you can drive forever in scratch free bliss. :D

I havn't worked out the equivalent for home cinema demons yet but a chicken and a mexican wave is a good start.

[megabyte]

posted by Ron Hill:
Megabyte: This isn't on your new 646A is it?
Yup Ron it is-but I'm hoping its a disk problem-played Saving private Ryan R2 on the new player last night and no probs-Sound amazing (the beach landing-you would be ducking and diving for fear of getting hit by stray bullets)

I will check-sword fish tonight.
Bought the b jones from 247 and do remember there was a tear in the packaging-so will have a good look at the DVD
more later
Conn

[Ron Hill]

Conn: Right, i'm doing another chicken now. Just to be sure. :D

[Delh]

I have watched about 40 odd other discs without so much as a problem, but it's still painful all the same if a small percentage don't cut the mustard - hardly cutting edge technology u can show off to ya friends.

Delh

[Jon Weaver]

Looks like you might have a problem on your 444..

I just watched Driven from start to end and had no problems.

Saying that, I have a 545, so its not exactly the same as you, but I understand that the 444 and 545 are identical.

Its a shame really, as the film was so awful, a problem might have taken my mind off of it.

[megabyte]

Ok, Delh, Swordfish has played perfectly:clap:
I think i'm in lurve with the DV646A:D

Conn: Right, i'm doing another chicken now. Just to be sure.
ROMCLOL.........still giggling half hour later:D Ron,I guess-the Brig.Jones disk must be faulty as it gets stuck there all the time about 15 mins from end within 10 seconds from the end of the third last chap or somewhere there-just when Br.jns shouts no to Marks(?) parents announcing his engagement.

Conn

[Delh]

megabyte & jon weaver - glad your players are okay :(

Delh

Played Tomb Raider without a hitch tonight, still don't know what the prob is with Buffy!

[megabyte]

Just a suggestion Delh-seeing as its aregion2 DVD you are having the problem with-Go down to your local video rental place and hire the exact same title out and see what happens-if its playing ok-then it must be your disk and then your player is fine:)
Conn

[StuBruise]

Originally posted by Delh
It has a problem playing Buffy The Vampire Slayer S2 Disk 6 Episode 1 (Region 2 !)

When it gets to the scene where Driscilla is walking in the Church the picture freezes (@9m22s) & the audio continues as normal. To get a picture back you must stop the disc, & then RESUME starting past the point it freezes.


Happens to me too with my 545 :( Also, according to http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/BuffyTheVampireSlayerSeason2BoxSet2.html it also happens with the Pioneer 737 but not with the Sony he tested it on -- looks like it could be a problem with all Pioneers :( :(

EDIT: Forgot to mention that you don't need to faff about stopping and resuming -- just pause and unpause :)

~~stu

[Justin]

Originally posted by StuBruise


Happens to me too with my 545 :( Also, according to http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/BuffyTheVampireSlayerSeason2BoxSet2.html it also happens with the Pioneer 737 but not with the Sony he tested it on -- looks like it could be a problem with all Pioneers :( :(

EDIT: Forgot to mention that you don't need to faff about stopping and resuming -- just pause and unpause :)

~~stu

As per my reply on another thread re this - it also happens on my Sony 9000ES, and i`ve heard from some customers it happens on some tosh SD100 and 210e.

[StuBruise]

Originally posted by Justin


As per my reply on another thread re this - it also happens on my Sony 9000ES, and i`ve heard from some customers it happens on some tosh SD100 and 210e.

Hmm, I wonder why it was never recalled? I could understand if it was just the cheap, unknown-brand players it was failing on, but if it's causing problems with Pioneer and Sony hardware then...? :confused: Oh well, looks like I'll be upgrading to R1 when it's released... :rolleyes:

~~stu

[Ashers]

I think Pioneer DVDs could be very sensitive to scratches - see thread: http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24652
That could cause some DVDs to stick as it does with a CD I have.
Though saying this, I've had the player for a while, and I have only found one CD that it refuses to play (all DVDs and other CDs I've used have been fine)

[womble2k1]

Im praying i dont get the same problem as i have just order my DV-444 :confused:

[Digital]

Any updates regarding the 444?