What's the deal with my new DVD player

Bobbo wrote:
No, it is NTSC. The menus all display on the TV just fine so that shouldn't be a problem.

I think you're referring to Panasonic's menu display and not the DVD's disc menu? You shouldn't be able to see the discs menu at all if there is a compatibility issue. Just an error message?

DVD players are actually very precise devices. It surprises me to no end that they survive near earthquake conditions in most rvs. And continue to work with few issues.

As an end user, I would have first played a music CD to confirm getting audio, and at least the disc tracking system is apparently working. But doesn't really address the DVD laser pickup. However, clean the laser pickup and test another DVD.

If still not working, look for available updated firmware. I've had issues where outdated firmware caused both BluRay and DVD players not to play discs. Just recently, we had a commercial high end BluRay player connected to a $150k Barco DLP projector not play certain discs due to a new commercial copy protection scheme introd 1-2 years ago. Flashing updated firmware solved the issue. This compatibility issue didn't effect all manufacturers. So the discs would play on some players, mostly consumer models, while not playing on others.

All other issues need to be addressed by a technician. DVDs are read from the inner disc outward. If the tracking system is out of alignment, issues with motor disc speed, or laser pickup, maybe even out of focus, the system cannot read the disc identifier or DVD structure files. And you'll end up getting playback error message.

But all a moot point at this stage as Panasonic is taking care of it.

If you are parked near me I would be happy to look at it, but I would need the unit to do much else. Try resetting all the settings to default. pg 18 of the manual.

This is the link. Last May when I bought it, it was available new. The one I got was new, never opened.

Panasonic DVD player

do you have a link for the dvd player on Amazon

No, it is NTSC. The menus all display on the TV just fine so that shouldn't be a problem.

Is it PAL. US media format is NTSC. If you have NTSC dvds the PAL machine will not play them. Many newer units are multisystem and will play anything, but it is something to look at.


Edit: OK I looked at the the manual, it is a region 1 NTSC machine. You should be able to play any DVD you have. My guess is it is broken. Wouldn't be the first time an item gets broken during shipment.

Pg 18 gives instructions on resetting default settings. Try that if no luck take it to a pro. I would need the unit to trouble shoot anymore.

I'll try to hit all the ideas. There is nothing in the setup that affects this. I tried everything.

I am putting in the disc right side up, but wondered if the laser is on the top so I turned the disc upside down and tried it again.

It has nothing to do with the audio. The audio self test works fine and all of the speakers play at the correct time. It just won't read a disc.

I am using store bought discs that I have been playing in at least 2 other DVD players. Not Blu-Ray, not HD. Standard old DVD's.

I thought of the non-US region issue, but I bought it from AMAZON.COM, so I didn't think I needed to worry about a black market machine. It was ordered and fulfilled by Amazon.com.

The only thing I could think of was a problem from the factory. I dropped it off at a Panasonic approved repair shop today. We will see what they say.

One possible issue (or two or three) is concealed damage during shipping.

True story: Where I worked we had a printer that kept messing up.. Well finally they set one up and tested it in MYC.. Put it in a box. The Tech sealed the box and shipped it (Signed the seal) hopped on a plane to Detroit, and received the shipment, Verified the seal and inspected the printer.. Some switches inside had changed state.. (By the way my boss accused me of changing them.. Plese.. Someone tell me how I managed to do this without breaking the seal on the box I did not even know existed?) (Or you can just spell BOSS backward.. Doubbel S...)

IT may be that the head got jammed up, or a cable came loose, in shipment and when that happens.. IT WON'T WORK

I have hardware that is like that.

What type of DVDs are you trying.
Store bought?
HOme recorded?
Blue ray?
DVD HD?
Standard DVD?

And dumb question of the day - you are inserting the disc face up right?

The documentation does say it is for region 1 (US)

Assuming its an audio issue, not picture, I'd suggest you go into the DVD player setup menu, and make sure that the "disc audio" is set for "Dolby Digital"? Not PCM? In addition, if given a choice for Dolby Digital PCM or Stream, it depends on what is decoding the Dolby Digital 5.1 data? If it's an all in one DVD unit, than most likely its Dolby Digital PCM. If using an external 5.1 decoder, than select Dolby Digital Stream, which just passes raw data. In any case, select one or the other until you are getting 5.1 sound. You can't really hurt anything.

If your unit won't playback at all, and getting the incompatible error message with all DVDs, than you can see if there is updated firmware available for download? Burn it to CD or DVD and playback to update. Or it could be an issue with the DVD pickup laser out of alignment or defective which obviously needs servicing.