Philips Home Theater DVD not working. Replacement parts available?

[jmasters]

I have a Philips Home Theater unit (basically a DVD player, amplifie
setup) MX 3550D.

We've had intermittent problems with scenes stalling, maybe freezin
the unit, and has gotten worse to where we're lucky to play brand ne
DVD's in it.

Tried a lens cleaner, but that didn't work.

Used a canned air blast to try to knock dust from the lens area (not
direct blast)

But I can hear it grinding around, before it freezes up (bad enough t
where the eject doesn't work, and power off works after severa
seconds)

I'd like to replace the DVD pickup assembly, and am wondering where
might find one.

My wife says to just buy another one (she watches dvd's more than
do), but being unemployed, and this being an amplifier too (onl
apparently sold with another set of speakers, $300-400, etc) I don'
think it's going to be worth buying another one. I've fixed VCR'
monitors, copiers, printers, computers, etc. So I'm not worried abou
diving into this.

Anybody know what other tests I can do? Or should I try cleaning th
lens? I have some swab sticks to reach into small spaces. I have som
audio/video head cleaner, but I think it's more for VCR's and tap
units, and am afraid it might damage a laser pickup lens.


Justi

 

[[email protected]]

Have you contacted any Philips parts ditributor to see if any parts are
available yet. I think Tritronics does Philips. The part you need is
the entire DVD servo mechanism. Part is NLA, when it was available it
was $215. Does this answer the question?

 

[Doug]

Vance Baldwin shows Philips number 996500015489 is a substitute for the
original number, and it is available. I think it was about $208. It's
www.vancebaldwin.com.

Doug

 

[[email protected]]

It is NLA as of Jan 1, 2005 from Philips. A couple of parts
distributors may still have one in stock. Philips may have a newer sub
for it yet, but we do not show the information.

In reality though, is the device worth the cost? $208 plus shipping?

 

[Mark D. Zacharias]

Take advantage of this opportunity and get into another brand. Almost
anything would be better. Never buy Philips again. Seriously. Their
low-to-mid stuff is the worst.

At this time Pioneer dvd players seems to hold up the best.

Most people find surround receivers from Yamaha, Onkyo, Denon, and possibly
Rotel are about the best.

Mark Z.