Most likely components to fail in DVD video players and recorders

[japlytic]

In my experience, cheap DVD players and recorders I have handled had bad electrolytic capacitors (often, the lasers are still good) while the name-brand DVD players and recorders (LG, Samsung, Sony etc.) I have handled had bad lasers (usually the DVD lasers are more prone to failure than the CD lasers).

In your experience, do you think this is true?

[tom66]

Re: Most likely components to fail in DVD video players and recorders

Caps and diodes in the power supplies. I've had a dirty laser too, but that was easy to clean. Never seen a failed laser, but I don't fix many DVD players.

[kc8adu]

Re: Most likely components to fail in DVD video players and recorders

caps then pickups(laser)

[shovenose]

Re: Most likely components to fail in DVD video players and recorders

My mom's generic CyberHome DVD player had a bulging cap on the power supply causing all sorts of problems. Replaced with a Rubycon and all is well.
So IMO it's the caps that go first.

[Scenic]

Re: Most likely components to fail in DVD video players and recorders

CyberHome isn't as generic as you might think.
Was a German company and ridiculously popular at one point. There was one time where it seemed like EVERYONE (around here I mean) had one of those. Later on (2005/2006) they got into financial trouble and that was the end of that, as well as Cyberdrive CD/DVD drives and burners. Kinda sad, as most of their units had pretty good build quality. The only letdown were mediocre caps (usually Jenpo or something).

I still have two ancient CyberHome DVD players, AD-M212 and M512, which are identical apart from the 512 having 5.1 sound outputs and the 212 lacking those. They're still working fine, although I did recap both PSU boards (preemptive).

The cool thing about those is that they use a standard IDE DVD-ROM drive. No weird pinout trickery or anything. If that drive ever fails, I could just replace it. Not much else to go wrong in there.
They don't seem to care what drive is connected either, so long as there is actually one connected. A LG GSA-4167B DVD burner worked just fine, as did a LG GDR-H20N SATA DVD-ROM with an IDE converter. No f*cks given by the player lol

But yeah.. back to topic: either PSU caps or the laser. Don't know why but it seems like the caps are the main problem with cheapo noname units, while brand name ones usually have (semi-)dead lasers.

Recently had a Philips DVD player which according to the owner started skipping and locking up while watching a movie, and refused to detect discs the day after. Got it here and yeah.. PSU is fine, laser is shot. Doesn't detect anything anymore, but sometimes kinda sorta "sees" a regular audio CD, but still won't play them. Ready for the junk as there isn't any model marking on the laser pickup or the entire drive assembly, so no replacement. Great job..