Dansai DVD852 problems?

[ac]

Has anyone else experienced problems with the Dansai DVD852 from Tesco?

Bought this player for my parents as an Xmas pressie so that they can watch films from my collection, just needed a cheap multi-region player that they could use on a bog standard TV set. This seemed to fit the bill and so went for it after reading quite good feedback.

Set it all up, multi-region hacked and started playing a film..... working fine for about an hour but then started to have some green interference lines on the screen and a few jitters, eventually locked completely. Thought it might have been the disc so tried another one but still the same problems.

Then, horror of horrors, the player went totally dead (just standby light) with my disc still inside! Powered it off and unplugged for ages and with a bit of persistance (repeatedly hitting the eject button) managed to get the disc out. Player is still dead though.

Obviously I'll be taking it back for a replacement, just wondering if anyone else has seen any problems or if I've just been unlucky?



Thanks.

[ac]

Right, got the original player exchanged. Set the new one up, working fine for an hour or so and then the machine started to get hot and the picture went black and white. Switched it off, let it cool down and all was fine until a few minutes usage when the machine heated up again and black and white picture once more (for menus as well as dvd playback).

I can't believe nobody else has experienced this problem yet. The player was sat in a cabinet but there is plenty of ventilation around it top and sides.

Another trip to Tesco, I feel, and next time I think I'll pass up on these budget players. :mad:

[Simes]

Strange.....

No problems with mine and i have not read of anyone else having problems.
So for you to have 2 faulty players in a row seems very very unlucky.Up to now it seemed like the build quality was excellent, cos they have obviously sold a lot of these, yet no real problems reported by anyone else.I can well understand that it has put you off them though.

If looking at other cheapy players be aware the Cyberhomes have very patchy build quality (just read the forums on www.cyberhome-help.de )
A forum member has posted of problems with the Reoc from Safeway too.

Cheapest quality brand is probably the LG range of players(these are still multiregion hackable). Though you get seriously fewer features (no CDR/CDRW/VCD/SVCD or MP3 playback on their cheaper models)

[dtsrules]

Could be a bad batch.

Try exchanging it at another tesco.

[ac]

Originally posted by dtsrules
Could be a bad batch.

Try exchanging it at another tesco.

Yeah, I was thinking this too but don't really know if I want to go to the bother and risk of getting another duff one.

Simes, thanks for the info but as the prices for other players I'd be interested in (like the LG) creep closer to the £150 mark I think I'm probably going to take advantage of the Forums Upgrade Heaven offer and get them a nice new modded Pioneer 444 for around £180.

:)

[Pablo Noir]

The Daughters boyfriend got a Dansai for xmas and this has the same symptoms as AC's. This was from Mansfield Simes.
Anyone any ideas what the Pacific is like from Asda, as the Dansai has sold out in Tescos, so no replacements available.

[Deron]

You could also try the Deccavideo DDV-2110 from Powerhouse.

It seems to all intents and purposes to be the same as the Dansai, even so far as using the same hack.

My girlfriend's sister got one for Crimbo and she's had no probs at all.

[Simes]

There is a wide choice of £100 players at the moment.
The Dansai seems to be about the best in respect of features and general quality (going by the high number of positive reviews).

I haven't heard anything about the Pacific at Asda, but avoid the Schneider (supposed to be poor picture).
The Cyberhome is the only other well-reviewed £100 player, but unfortunately it has more problems than the Dansai.The Cyberhomes build quality is worse than the Dansai's too (going by the number of reports of dodgy players).Its still a good buy - just buy it from somewhere you can easily swap it if you get a dodgy one.

Make sure the player you buy has the features you want (MP3, VCD , multiregion etc). Then buy it from somewhere that has good customer service in case of problems ;)
You have to take the risk regarding the general quality, if you go for one with few (if any) reports/reviews.

The Deccavideo player could be promising if it uses the same hack as the Dansai.It could be a Dansai clone as there is already the Naiko player that is a clone.

AC , you can't go wrong with Upgrade Heaven.Just as long as the Pioneer has the features you need .

[Deron]

Not seen the Dansi myself but the Decca is supposed to look quite similar. Here's a piccy and you can let everyone know.

http://www.powerhouse-online.co.uk/images/prods/orig/032121a.jpg

[ac]

Originally posted by Simes
AC , you can't go wrong with Upgrade Heaven.Just as long as the Pioneer has the features you need .

Cheers, the Pioneer will be more than adequate as it's only going to be used on a standard 21" Nicam TV by my parents to mainly watch DVD's from my collection. The only feature they definitely need is multi-region.

At this point I'd rather pay a bit more and get a reliable quality machine for them (have had a Pioneer 717 myself for nearly 2.5 years, had no problems and will probably keep it until we see what's going on with DVD-R/RW and DVD-Audio/SACD).

Deron, the Decca machine you've posted a pic of looks nothing like the Dansai at first glance.... in fact it looks like a much nicer machine in the picture.

Looking closely reveals some similarities though, Power button and volume controls on the front are the same as is the LCD display and the disc tray looks pretty similar too.


I've nothing against any of these players really, plenty of people I know have the Wharfedales (750/750S/M5) and I was quite impressed with them for the price. The Dansai looked quite promising too, it's just a bit disappointing I've been unlucky and as it was intended as a Xmas gift I don't really want any more messing about.


Thanks for your advice guys. :)