Sony DVP-S530D DVD Players
Sony DVP-S530D DVD Players
USER REVIEWS
[Dec 19, 2004]
gsu
Casual Listener
Strength:
Extra ports in the back
Weakness:
Not very reliable with the power but at least I haven't had the No Disc C13 error Here's a bit more info on fixing the power problem described by KevinD August 28, 2002 and Phillip Briscoe July 18, 2001. Or check agoraquest.com http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=6556&forum=50&start=10&select_page_number=2 Basically, the heat sink is no longer in good thermal contact with the two integrated circuits (ICs). There must be a startup test that the DVD runs on the ICs to make sure sufficient heat is being drawn away or maybe a circuit is closed - anyway, this solution worked by adding some thermal grease ($2.99 M.G. Chemicals Silicone Heat Transfer Compound). - Remove the DVD cover - 7 screws total. - Then facing the DVD from the front, you'll see a green circuit to your right. On top and covering the board is a metal bracket that is the heat sink. Try pressing down on the metal bracket and turning the power on. If that works, then you know it's a loose connection. If not, then this solution probably won't work for you. - You will need to remove the board by removing 5 screws. There are several ribbon cables attached to the board but you don't have to remove them. - Underneath the board there is one screw holding the metal bracket to the board. As soon as you remove that, you will see two rubber-type pads (one large and one small) that seem slightly sticky that will either stick to the metal bracket or to the two ICs beneath. - Just apply the grease to both sides, smoothing it with an old credit card or thick paper and replace everything. This website describes thermal grease http://www.dansdata.com/goop.htm Similar Products Used: DVP-NS425P |
[Apr 13, 2004]
roulettedealer3
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Durable, Sleek Design
Weakness:
Lip Synch issues, and as always Sonys lousy customer service. I was a staunch supporter of Sony until the 915,985 series of A/V Receivers. However as much as it pains me to say it I have had virtually no trouble from the S530D. Once in a while I see the lip synch issue, but pausing and then resuming play seems to re synch the sound. It plays very well for music, as well as movies. I have purchased a HK DVD101 as an upgrade to this unit, but it still looks, and performs well. Similar Products Used: Harman Kardon DVD101 |
[Mar 10, 2004]
Vanecek
Casual Listener
The problem with C13:00 (Disk is dirty) error is usually very easy to be fixed. The error is probably based on the different reflexion of the laser beam, which can be caused either by any kind of the dirt on the bottom layer OR, FREQUENTLY by a sticker or any legend made by a black marker (or any kind of dark and thick) on the UPPER side. I have a statistical experience with SONY RDR-GX3 DVD recorder. If I write a legend on the upper side before recording, the recorder refuse such a disk , unfortunatelly after recording and the disk cannot be used no more. The possible solution is to ask SONY for the compensation (x pieces of media free of charge :-) ) because they do NOT write in the user manual that you should not do that ! This is my solution for recording. Maybe it works also for playing. The DVD media is transparent. I suggest NOT to put anything on the top side. Michal Vanecek, Czech republic |
[Oct 21, 2003]
Daniel
AudioPhile
Strength:
Great picture, great sound, two compsite a/v outputs for extra piture tweak as well as great s-video and componat. 5.1 decoding
Weakness:
wont play burned cd and not progressive well I got the sony dvp-s530d about a mounth after it came out with an open- box discount because it had been returned. And I must say it was a great buy 4 years and still running like new with alot of abuse. the picture is great comparable to modern players and great audio. just all around great buy and plan on using it for years to come! Similar Products Used: Jvc playstation2 and other sony players pioneerw/progressive scan panasonic and the dvp-s530d plays better than all but panasonic that would be about the same in picture. |
[Apr 16, 2003]
Barry Lieberman
AudioPhile
Strength:
Solid video, intuitive menu structure, rather feature laden for its time.
Weakness:
Dying after 4 years Well, I bought mine in June of 1999, and It is now in the process of kicking the bucket. So far I haven't had any of the previously mentioned problems until very recently. My issues are based around heat buildup. The player will begin to freeze and jerk when watching the last half hour of a 2 hour movie. However, I haven't really encountered any C:13:00 problems, unless I'm trying to play a really f****d up rental. I dont really see that much of a problem with a mass market component lasting for 4 years, especially since a modern version of this player sells for around 80$. Oh well, time to go buy a Denon 2900 or maybe I'll wait for the 3900 if I want to rely on my PS2 for DVD action (thats a whole other issue!) Barry Similar Products Used: 1997 Philips Magnavox DVD player (my first) crappy sylvania DVD player I got for free PS2 |
[Feb 24, 2003]
clbergeron
Audio Enthusiast
Weakness:
Won't play burned CD's. Won't work anymore... :( Got this as a gift a couple years back and had loved it ever since. Then, a couple weeks ago it starts with the NO DISK message and the power problems. It sounds like i'm not alone in this and also sound like quite the PITA to get it fixed. |
[Oct 28, 2002]
craigdg
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
When it worked, quality was good.
Weakness:
Did not work for long. Sony Cust Svc will blame you for damaging it. Whatever you do, do NOT buy a Sony DVD. You are asking for trouble, and aggravation. First, there were the horror stories from the S560D owners. I'd bet money that every one of those failed eventually. Now, Sony launches another piece of dung, the S530D. Did this company change ownership or what?? When I spend several hundred dollars on an item, I expect it to last more than 1.5 years! Plus, I got absolutely nowhere with Sony Tech Support/ Customer Service. They tried to tell me I dirtied the lens with dirty/dusty DVD's. Funny, I've not heard of such a problem with owners of other MFR's equipment. Well, I have a rack full of Sony electronics, and I hereby swear I will NEVER replace any one of them with a Sony product. Do not buy Sony, or you will be like me, writing a nasty Sony review, VERY soon! |
[Sep 24, 2002]
David Chase
AudioPhile
Strength:
Nice picture, 6 channel analog outputs for internal Dolby Digital decoder, lots of connection options: component video, 2 s video, 2 composite video, 2 analog L/R audio out, 6 channel analog audio out, Optical and Coax.
Weakness:
Seems most units need firmware update This was my first DVD player ever. I bought it as an open box special from the Wiz, and encountered some problems at the beginning. After reading a multitude of online reviews, I discovered that there was a firmware issue with these player (C13:00 Error - Disk Dirty all the time), so I brought it to the Sony shop, they upgraded the firmware (for free) and shipped it to my home (for free) and it has worked perfectly ever since. Nice picture, nice sound. Only issue is that it downconverts any 96kHz audio to 48kHz. Why would they do that? Similar Products Used: pioneer dv-444, panasonic r56, IBM Thinkpad DVD drive |
[Aug 28, 2002]
KevinD
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Good video for a 3 year old player. Audio via coaxial digital out was fine (reciever does this though).
Weakness:
Not well made at all. These things should last more than 3 years. This wasn't that cheap of a player. The Sony DVP-530D is not well made. Mine just stopped powering on one day. No previous problems. You hit the power button (or any button which would normally cause the system to Auto-Power On), and the standby light would go from red to green, and then back to red (standby) after just a few seconds. There wasn't even enough time to have anything show on the DVD player display either. Luckily, I came to this site to see if other people were having the same problem. It appears it is common that people have players that won't power on. I'm assuming we are probably all seeing the same thing. Back on July 18, 2001, Philip Briscoe left a review on this site which included how he fixed his unit. I decided to try the same thing. Mine must have had EXACTLY the same problem, because I did the same thing as him, and it fixed the problem. I would guess this may be the same problem people are having when their units just power off during the middle of a movie. It is apparently a thermal issue, and I wouldn't be surprised if some people's units just aren't overheating during certain portions of movies or after an hour or so of use. Here is the fix with a little more detail than the original review (this really did fix my unit, and it is EXTREMELY simple): The problem is that there is a heat sink inside the unit which isn't making contact with the ICs (or ASICs) for which it is supposed to dissipate heat. I'm a little surprised the chip could heat up so fast that the system would immediately power off. I don't know whether the chip is overheating and then the system powers off, or whether the chip/firmware is checking the temperature of the IC upon power-on which is being exceeded. It could be either one. The heat sink is actually connected to two ICs. It isn't a very beefy heatsink. I don't guess it has to dissipate alot of heat since it isn't big and doesn't have any fins or anything. Sony used something to thermally attach the heatsink to the ICs which I haven't seen before. It is some kind of pad which is soft kind of like a piece of foam rubber. It is a little less than a millimeter in thickness. Anyway, it "sticks" to the heatsink and the IC via an adhesive. Over time, this adhesive apparently gives way so that it doesn't make a good thermal connection anymore. (Continued on next POST. There is a size limit). Similar Products Used: Sony DVP-330D, Sony DVP-560 |
[Aug 06, 2002]
bcbaudio
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
worked OK for 1 year.
Weakness:
durability The DVD player gradually began to deteriorate over the last 2-3 months. Now won't accept any discs, gives c13 error and no disc error. I will toss it and never buy another sony DVD player. |