DD Decoder, It's a Sony

Can't Play CD-Rs, C:13, No Disc

Me and my wife were very, very loyal Sony fans. We always preferred Sony above anything else... TILL NOW! I don't need to say anything anymore about this product. Don't buy it.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic RV31, Apex, Philips DVD953

Like others, I started having problems with playing DVDs 6 months ago when it switches from layer 0 to layer 1 (usually happens at the later part of the movie -- picture freezes up and then it jumps to the next chapter or it just dies). You then have to start playing the DVD again from the beginning, depending on your luck, you may be able to get pass the problems and finish up the movie. This problem has been getting worst and nothing I could do to fix the problem. Last week, I used a DVD lens cleaner disc -- the one with the brush -- to clean the SONY 560 and guess what...... it stopped playing music CD and gave me "NO DISC" error every time I put a music CD in it. I was disappointed and I was SO ready to throw this thing out of the window. Then I thought to myself "It was playing music CD ok until I cleaned it with the cleaner disc. Maybe the brush pushed the lens too much while it was cleaning the lens and caused the laser coupler out of focus. The reason why the player gives out "NO DISC" or "C13:00" errors is because it couldn't identify what's being played -- meaning it couldn't "SEE" -- just like a person with vision problems trying to read without proper glasses". I went on the internet (where else ) to search for articles related to Sony lens adjustment, and sure enough I found a web page which teaches you how to get to the secret "Diagnostic Mode" and how to perform an "Auto Adjustment". I did it and guess what...... IT IS WORKING AGAIN!!!!!!!!!. Now the SONY 560 plays music CD and DVD like the way it was. You could try this if you have the same problem with you Sony 560.....I bet the Sony Authorized Dealer out there won't like this message very much but who cares..

The Sony 330, 360, 530, 550, 560 and 570 players have the ability to automatically calibrate the playback functions of DVDs and CDs.
If you are willing to accept any risks involved in the execution of this procedure, the instructions follow.
Before you start, have ready at least two dual layer DVDs (RSDL) and two single layer DVDs.
The reason that I recommend having two of each type disc is that the player might produce an error message on one of the discs due to some imperfection and you will have another to fall back on the second disc.
You can also run the audio CD calibration if you want.
The calibration procedure for a SACD disc will be skipped. The apparent ability of Sony DVD players to play Super Audio Compact Discs is an undocumented feature and I have not heard of anyone reporting on this feature. If you desire this procedure please see the service manual.
For complete details, you need a service manual, available from the manufacture.


PLEASE NOTE:
SERVICE MODE WARNING: Without proper documentation and training, you can probably do quite a good job of messing up your equipment, perhaps even damaging it. Don't mess around with the service mode adjustments unless you know what you're doing and have the service manual to guide you. Your results with these procedures may vary and can NOT be guaranteed to work on your particular model or set. USE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK.

ORDERING THE SERVICE MANUAL:
Sony Electronics Inc.
World Repair Parts Center
8281 N.W. 107th
Terrace Kansas City, MO 64153 USA
(800) 488-7669 (USA Only) -or- (800) 345-7669
(816) 891-7550
(816) 891-2580 (Fax)
44-1-71-911-8700 (UK)

HOW TO PERFORM THE CALIBRATION
Make sure that the DVD player is turned OFF and in the stand-by mode with the little red LED glowing above the on/off button.
To enter the service mode/test mode, press Title, Clear, and Power on the remote.
This will produce the following menu:
Test Mode Menu
0. Syscon Diagnosis
1. Drive Auto Adjustment
2. Drive Manual Operation
3. Mecha Aging
4. Emergency History
5. Version Information
6. Video Level Adjustment

Exit: POWER Key
What each item does;
Syscon Diagnosis = Leave this for service technicians.
Drive Auto Adjustment = Automatically calibrates DVDs and CDs.
Drive Manual Operation = Manually calibrates DVDs and CDs with prompts for permission to skip, execute and/or proceed after each adjustment is made or skipped. Offers a fascinating look at all of the many adjustments made, but this method is time consuming.
Mecha Aging = Allows auto repeat mode for testing purposes.
Emergency History = Shows the number of hours on your machine.
Version Information = Shows firmware version.
Video Level Adjustment = Test pattern.
Press #1 (Drive Auto Adjustment) on the remote and the following menu will appear:
Drive Auto Adjustment
0. All
1. DVD-SL
2. CD
3. DVD-DL
4. SACD

Exit: RETURN
Press #1 (DVD-SL) on the remote and insert a Single Layer DVD when the drawer opens.
Even though you may be interested in calibrating only a dual-layer DVD, do not skip the single-layer calibration procedure. For some reason, the player prefers to first calibrate a single-layer DVD before proceeding to a dual-layer disc. Error messages may result if the single-layer calibration procedure is not performed first.
Press the enter key and the machine will begin to calibrate all of the playback features. When calibration is completed, follow the onscreen instructions to return to the above menu.
When the Drive Auto Adjustment menu returns, press #3 (DVD-DL) on the remote and insert a Dual Layer DVD when the drawer opens. Follow the instructions as noted above.
When calibration is completed, follow the onscreen instructions to exit from the Test Mode Menu. Now you can turn the player back on and try your dual layer discs to see if the layer change has improved.
If you have any concerns about trying this service mode calibration, leave it for an authorized service facility.

Built in decoder

Seems to be a disposable DVD player!!! (Shame on you Sony!!!)

Like most others here, I too have recently begun to have problems with the DVD player skipping and not reading DVD correctly!!! I have had the unit for 12 months and am appalled that Sony would put a piece like this on the market. I'll do my homework next, but never buy another Sony (are you listening Sony???)

Worked for about a year

No disc error

This "no disc error" must be a design flaw or even worse Sony might did this intentionally so we have to buy a new one from them. I was a Sony fan before this happened. I will never buy any sony products again.

Good Video and Audio.

C13 error and jumping/freezing on tracks. FIXABLE by replacing parts.

This is a follow on review to my earlier submition on 11/28/01.
My player had freezing problem, which I detected happens on layer 1. The problem was getting worse day by day. Fortunatly it was under warrenty and I took it to the authorized service center. It took them 2 weeks and they changed the optical circuit. NOW THE PLAYER WORKS GREAT. I am keeping my fingers crossed as I only have few more months of warrenty left.
I believe this product has a design problem. Hopefully Sony has fixed the issue on it's newer products.

Multiple Outputs, Sleek Design, Nice Screen Saver.

Doesn't work. C13 error. audio lip sync problem when viewing special features portion of disc.

I have owned this product since November of 2000. Very early on we noticed that when we played the special features portion of the disc there was an audio lip sync problem. That's when I found out my first mistake was purching the product from Moreaudiovideo out of NewYork. They only warranted the product for 30 days and would not take it back. We decided to "live" with the problem since it played the movie fine....Until now! Now we get the C13 error and the skipping about 3/4 of the way through the movie. I have a Sony ES receiver and other Sony equipment and have had very little if any problems but this disc player sucks. We now are playing our movies through our son's PS2. Guess what no problems. Plays them perfectly. I will probally purchase the service manual and go through the alignment as Sonyhacker has described but I can't understand why so many machines would "drift". There has to be something else wrong.

Have performed the calibration and now the machine works fine. Hoping this will last.

Many thanks to the review by gary for pointing the way to the 360 reviews where I got the info.

It's a Sony, therefore it's a quality item, right? (That's what I thought at the time.)

Skipping, Long pauses, Audio dropout on DTS tracks

Well, like everyone else here, I've reached the dreaded 13th month of ownership of the S560D. And just like everyone else, I thought the momentary glitches and skips were because of the condition of rented DVD's from Blockbuster. Until I recently bought the new DTS edition of "Predator" and right out of the package, I get dropout of the DTS audio track. I gave it to a buddy of mine to test it on his JVC system and it works and sounds BEAUTIFUL. And now after reading all of these reviews, I'm convinced that the C13 or 'No Disk' erroers are just around the corner, although neither one has appeared yet. I thought after being very pleased with my SONY WEGA TV that a SONY DVD would be just as good. Apparently, I was mistaken. A word of warning to SONY: if my WEGA starts freaking out on me, there'll be hell to pay!

DTS, DD, easy use & setup, MANY inputs and outputs, sleek and thin, no overheating

freezing, rare occasional skipping, doesn't read scratched discs..... bottom line is RELIABILITY!!

Well SONY fans, we've been betrayed and stabbed in the back by a long time friend of ours who brought us nothing but excellence and satisfaction. I'm running scared about my player now, for I have owned it for 8 months and the worst part of it of all is that is was a 'display'... meaning that the time of use before me is unknown. Being that it was SONY I had no problems of buying it. It has yet to fail, but is showing signs of doing so soon. Going into college soon is weighing heavily, saying I won't have any money to buy a player any better than APEX. It has performed up to my expectations I just no longer feel comfortable with this product, nor the brand. I've already left SONY's receivers, now I leave the DVD players... it's either Yamaha or Pioneer from here on out.

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Pioneer DVD-525 (should not have sold it)... Oritron (piece of crap as well)

Beautiful picture!

seems slow & noisy

When I bought this, the reviews were comparing to it the Toshiba 2200. It had good reviews although few.

Now seeing all the troubles that everyone is having, I am glad to report that my unit is still working. I don't view that many dvds. Some that I have rented from stores seem to skip and pixelate. But any new ones work just fine. I do agreed that Sony products have gone down. This DVD works great with my 32" Sony tv and I can't complain about it. Perhaps just a very few early models fall under that rating.

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None