From: zardoz@hfglobe.intel.com (Jim Garver)
Subject: Re: Re: Sony MDP-605 vs. MDP-333... Upgrade or not?
Organization: Intel Corporation
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 17:11:48 GMT

In article <149140007@hpindda.cup.hp.com> lrs@hpindda.cup.hp.com (Larry Schwarcz) writes:
>
>Yes, the MDP-405 (do you actually mean the new MDP-433?) may have more 
>features than the MDP-333, but, has Sony gotten the build quality up yet?  
>I bought an MDP-333 about 2 years ago and I've had quite a bit of trouble 
>with it.  
>
> - When I was opening the unit, brand new, the door that allows the disc
>   tray to slide out was cracked.  I exchanged it for another new unit at 
>   the dealer.
>
> - When it was about 11 months old, the door started sticking and wouldn't
>   let the tray slide out.  I understand this is a common problem.  Sony
>   reparied it under warranty.  The door has worked fine since then.
>
> - When it was about 2 years old (this past Christmas), the picture started
>   getting very poor.  On widescreen movies, the black bands were not a 
>   solid black.  There was a sort of interference pattern all over the 
>   image.  Took it back to Sony for repair.  They replaced the "KHS-130A,
>   Optic Dev" (I checked my service manual, it's the whole laser pick-up)
>   and the "Loading Belt Kit" and adjusted and cleaned it.  The total bill
>   was $262.51!  That's more than 50% of the original purchase price (I
>   paid $450 for it)!  Fortunately, Visa paid for this repair under their
>   extended warranty plan, otherwise, I'd have junked it.
>
>And, even though I just got it back from the shop, I still don't think
>the picture is correct.  It appears to have a general graininess to it.
>I'll probably take it back to Sony within the next week or so (under the
>last repair bill).
>
>NOTE:  The repair shop is the Sony Service Center in San Jose.  Not
>       some general repair shop.  If anyone should be able to work
>       on this unit, it should be them (hopefully).
>
I bought an MDP-333 at a local retailer's wharehouse sale where they sell
off all the display units and returns.  I paid $251 for it which seemed
pretty reasonable but I don't know what they cost new.  
It works fine on CDs and the first half of an LD disk.  Then it will lose
its tracking completely and usually end up relocking several minutes
earlier although occasionally later.  It tracks fine and gets what I think
is an excellent picture and sound until about 30 minutes into a CLV disk.
I haven't tried a CAV yet.  Then it may complete the disk but will usually
lose track and sometimes run the head all the way in while attempting relock.
When this happens I have to take off the cover and move the head out with
my hand as otherwise its jammed up against the stop and a clicking noise
occurs as it overruns the transit cable's spiral winding.  The pickup head
is suspended in a 3 way electromagnetic field assembly that allows it to
pull various directions to maintain track.  Observing a warped disk, I
could see the pickup moving rapidly up and down to maintain distance
throughout rotation.  All disks I have encountered are at least slightly
warped and the effect of the warpage gets worse as the head moves out toward
the edge of the disk.  I suspect the calibration or head assembly is bad.
Since the warranty is supposed to be good, I'll try the local shop first
and if they can't fix it then I'll try the Sony center.  If these actions
don't fix it then I'll try to get a service manual and fix it myself.  I'll
let you know what happens.  

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