Sony BD-350 Great Performance.. Short Life

Malcolm1943 · 10-11-2009, 06:38 PM

I begun my Blu-Ray adventure with a Sony BD-300. Worked horrible and failed in about 15 days ! I waited about 2 months for BD-350 availability and ordered one. It was amazing compared to the 300. Very fast load nice picture very happy. Suddenly 15 months later its dead. Well it plays dvd's but not BR discs. [yep tried a bunch of them]. Somehow it seems like a player with very little use should last more than 15 months !!

We had guests over to watch our new Wizard of Oz BR. After appetizers, drinks then dinner/dessert we all settled into watch a spectacular Yellow Brick Road. The &*^$%# thing wouldn't work and with a bunch of guests waiting watch.

I've had two bad lucks with Sony BR in a row. I'm going to try Panasonic next.

**PFC5** · 10-11-2009, 08:54 PM

Try unplugging it for an hour or two, and see if that resets something. I have had that work for me with my Sharp BD player.

Hope this helps!

Malcolm1943 · 10-11-2009, 09:32 PM

hello
I'm an EE. I've done all that easy stuff. its busted.

**PFC5** · 10-11-2009, 11:56 PM

Sorry about that. Sometimes the simplist things can fix it so I thought i would mention it.

I would call Sony and ask them if this is the typical lifespan of their BD players and why should you give them business anymore. Who knows? Maybe they will offer to fix it for free since it is only 3 months past the measly 1 year warranty these mfg give.

Chris Gerhard · 10-12-2009, 07:21 AM

We are just now getting to the point that these inexpensive players will be a year or two old and it is still unknown how long they will last. I own the BDP-S350 and Panasonic DMP-BD35 and based on using both, my guess was that the Sony player is better built and will last longer but neither feel like a player that is built to last over the long haul. If we see certain manufacturers fail more often than others outside the warranty that will be a trend. I suspected the race to the bottom for low prices would have to mean lesser build quality and we will see what happens from this point forward.

Chris

iserum · 10-19-2009, 07:03 PM

My SONY BDP-S300 died in 14 months, i got replacement S350 (under EW), sold it to get Pioneer BD. SONY S350 seems good player though.

Techlord · 10-19-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iserum

My SONY BDP-S300 died in 14 months, i got replacement S350 (under EW), sold it to get Pioneer BD. SONY S350 seems good player though.

Sony has slipped in the last few years, your only buying the Sony name it seems now unless you pay top dollar. I have always purchased high-end AV gear and ten years later they still work, you get what you pay for with some manufacturers!

crazyal · 10-21-2009, 09:57 PM

I would try popping off the cover and blowing off the laser with a can of compressed air. You may just have a little bit of dust on it and the BD having a much smalled detail will not work while the DVD's will.

I have a problem because of the wood stove in my living room. Once a year I'll have to clean them. But use a can not an air compressor, you don't want any moisture in the air.

smokedizzy42 · 10-22-2009, 08:51 PM

i was thinkin of buying the BDP-S360
i have to reconsider now

**PFC5** · 10-23-2009, 05:47 PM

I remember a couple of Sony SD DVD players had problems with the drives not reading disks after about 1 year a few years ago.

sigill · 11-04-2009, 05:27 PM

I have the Sony S300 and the S350 and they have both been fine so far for me. My S300 is nearly 2 years old and has played every disc i have thrown at it. Maybe you were just unlucky with your machines?

10-11-2009, 06:38 PM	#1
Malcolm1943 Elec Eng See idylltek.com Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Idyllwild, CA @ 6000 ft Posts: 26	Sony BD-350 Great Performance.. Short Life I begun my Blu-Ray adventure with a Sony BD-300. Worked horrible and failed in about 15 days ! I waited about 2 months for BD-350 availability and ordered one. It was amazing compared to the 300. Very fast load nice picture very happy. Suddenly 15 months later its dead. Well it plays dvd's but not BR discs. [yep tried a bunch of them]. Somehow it seems like a player with very little use should last more than 15 months !! We had guests over to watch our new Wizard of Oz BR. After appetizers, drinks then dinner/dessert we all settled into watch a spectacular Yellow Brick Road. The &*^$%# thing wouldn't work and with a bunch of guests waiting watch. I've had two bad lucks with Sony BR in a row. I'm going to try Panasonic next.

10-11-2009, 08:54 PM	#2
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,385	Try unplugging it for an hour or two, and see if that resets something. I have had that work for me with my Sharp BD player. Hope this helps! __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

10-11-2009, 09:32 PM	#3
Malcolm1943 Elec Eng See idylltek.com Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Idyllwild, CA @ 6000 ft Posts: 26	To PFC5 hello I'm an EE. I've done all that easy stuff. its busted.

10-11-2009, 11:56 PM	#4
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,385	Sorry about that. Sometimes the simplist things can fix it so I thought i would mention it. I would call Sony and ask them if this is the typical lifespan of their BD players and why should you give them business anymore. Who knows? Maybe they will offer to fix it for free since it is only 3 months past the measly 1 year warranty these mfg give. __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

10-19-2009, 07:03 PM	#6
iserum High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,955	My SONY BDP-S300 died in 14 months, i got replacement S350 (under EW), sold it to get Pioneer BD. SONY S350 seems good player though. __________________ Panasonic 50PX80U/Pioneer BDP-51FD /Toshiba HD A1/Tivo HD SAMSUNG LNT-4661F/ Pioneer BDP-51FD/Dell XPS, Nvidia 9500 GT SONY BRAVIA 40V2500/40 GB PS3, WII, Intel Core 2 Duo with Nvidia 6800 Yamaha RXV1700 Def. Tech. Mythos III, V & Gems, Super Cube III Harmony Remote One Power Conditioner: Belkin PF40

10-12-2009, 07:21 AM	#5
Chris Gerhard High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8,209	We are just now getting to the point that these inexpensive players will be a year or two old and it is still unknown how long they will last. I own the BDP-S350 and Panasonic DMP-BD35 and based on using both, my guess was that the Sony player is better built and will last longer but neither feel like a player that is built to last over the long haul. If we see certain manufacturers fail more often than others outside the warranty that will be a trend. I suspected the race to the bottom for low prices would have to mean lesser build quality and we will see what happens from this point forward. Chris

10-21-2009, 09:57 PM	#8
crazyal Smarter than the ave bear Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,312	I would try popping off the cover and blowing off the laser with a can of compressed air. You may just have a little bit of dust on it and the BD having a much smalled detail will not work while the DVD's will. I have a problem because of the wood stove in my living room. Once a year I'll have to clean them. But use a can not an air compressor, you don't want any moisture in the air. __________________ Please don't feed the Unicorns

10-22-2009, 08:51 PM	#9
smokedizzy42 How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 27	i was thinkin of buying the BDP-S360 i have to reconsider now

10-23-2009, 05:47 PM	#10
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,385	I remember a couple of Sony SD DVD players had problems with the drives not reading disks after about 1 year a few years ago. __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

11-04-2009, 05:27 PM	#11
sigill High Def fan Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: United kingdom-Manchester Age: 30 Posts: 2,519	I have the Sony S300 and the S350 and they have both been fine so far for me. My S300 is nearly 2 years old and has played every disc i have thrown at it. Maybe you were just unlucky with your machines? __________________ Panasonic 37" LCD 720p/1080i Sony BDP-S350 Sony BDP-S300 Toshiba XDE-500 DVD player Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 AVR KEF1005.2 speakers Latest HD movies bought - Coraline - American Gangster - Moonraker 97 Blu-rays