Has anyone ever had this happen to them.

On Saturday while cleaning the house I was listening to music. I had played Elton John's "Madman Across the Water" SACD, played fine, sounded awesome. I put in my Jeff Beck "Blow by Blow" SACD it tried loading for a few minutes than the display said bad disc. I powered down the unit tried again...same thing. I had just played this a few weeks ago and in fact have played it multiple times on the 139 with no problems.

When I couldn't get that to play I tried a few more SACD's and DVD-Audio discs and they all played fine.

I looked at the Jeff Beck disc for scratches and such...looks pristine.

Any ideas?


Thanks for any help....

B & K AVR505 S2 / Arcam DV139 / JVC 56" 1080p HD-ILA Projection TV / Fronts - Snell Type E-II
Center - Snell / Rears - Boston Acoustic In-Ceiling / Sub - Velodyne

[trailer]

Maybe Arcam have introduced a "You're not playing that on this" filter to their machines now?

[trailer]

Second thoughts,

..............maybe not as it let the Elton John disc through..................

Originally Posted by trailer

Second thoughts,

..............maybe not as it let the Elton John disc through..................

I thought this was a forum for adults to post legitimate concerns in hope of getting ideas and help

[trailer]

"I'm here all week"

[trailer]

Apologies, I guess it's UK humour (I'm hoping it is anyway)

Ive never had a problem with playing any DVD-A's or SACD's whether bought in the UK or the USA. Di it play at all and can you try the disc on another player?

Originally Posted by trailer

Apologies, I guess it's UK humour (I'm hoping it is anyway)

Ive never had a problem with playing any DVD-A's or SACD's whether bought in the UK or the USA. Di it play at all and can you try the disc on another player?

No apology needed...bad day.....yes I have played it many times before Saturday on the 139 with no problems.

I dont have another SACD player so I put it in my Samsung dvd/vcr combo and it just ejected it which I knew it would not play. I put then put it in the 139 it took a few seconds then started playing. I skipped to each song then shut it off and restarted now it won't play again....weird....maybe the disc went bad...I remember reading somewhere a few months ago...can't remember where about cds and dvds becoming unplayable after time...don't know if its true or not but would not surprise me if it was...with the rocket scientists running the entertainment industry....

thanks for the response

[trailer]

Have you tried the disc in a PC DVD drive?

[Theo Maxtible]

Originally Posted by AmerArcamOwner

I remember reading somewhere a few months ago...can't remember where about cds and dvds becoming unplayable after time...don't know if its true or not but would not surprise me if it was...with the rocket scientists running the entertainment industry....

Dear AmerArcamOwner,

Sorry to hear about the "bad disc" problems you're experiencing with your DV139. Sorry also, that you haven't yet heard from someone that has experienced similar problems. I experienced a number of "bad disc" messgaes with my DV137, although only ever with standard CDs. The problem always solved itself though, it's just that it took about twice as long as it should for the player to be ready to play. It's hard for me to say how often it happened, as I play an awful lot of music, and so far my collection consists mainly of standard CDs - although my SACD and DVD-A collection is growing rapidly.

I do not believe that optical media deteriorates under "normal" conditions, or that it is designed to fail. Although my oldest SACD is only 8 months old (Aaahhh!), some of my CDs are 20 years old, and as good as the day I bought them. I hope I'm not alone, but I always replace them in their cases immediately after play - and don't touch them with dirty hands!

I assume that you know that you're SACD is not scratched/damaged in any way?

I wish you all the best with your DV139, and hope you'll be happy.

[Crustyloafer]

I have no other suggestions other than there could be a slight misalignment of the laser mech. A have come across this on only a few occasions, all of which the unit was sent back to Arcam and was dealt with relatively swiftly.

Originally Posted by Steve Whitton

Dear AmerArcamOwner,
....
I assume that you know that you're SACD is not scratched/damaged in any way?

I wish you all the best with your DV139, and hope you'll be happy.

Thanks for your reply....the first thing I checked for was damage and it looks brand new....as you do I also take great care handling my cds and I also have some very old ones that still play well.

That is the first disc I have come across that now won't play...it played before...ordered a new one and will try that one.

Originally Posted by Crustyloafer

I have no other suggestions other than there could be a slight misalignment of the laser mech. A have come across this on only a few occasions, all of which the unit was sent back to Arcam and was dealt with relatively swiftly.

Thanks for the reply....seems to me that if that is the only disc that won't play the disc must be at fault as every other music disc I put in plays fine, but as I stated below I ordered a new one and will try that....will let everyone know my results....

Originally Posted by trailer

Have you tried the disc in a PC DVD drive?

Just tried it in my pc...both drives...to no avail.....i will wait for the new one

Been messing around with the DV139 and seem to have more problems with SACD playback.....

Jeff Beck Blow By Blow - SACD Only - Will not play at all
E. John Goodbye Yellow Brick Wall - Hybrid - Plays fine
E. John Madman Across The Water - Hybrid - Only plays CD layer now..played fine on Saturday
Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon - Hybrid - Plays fine
Deep Purple Live on the BBC - Hybrid - Only plays CD layer now
Concord Jazz Sampler - Hybrid - Plays fine
Allman Bros Eat A Peach - Hybrid - Plays Fine
Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells - Plays Fine

MY two DVD-Audio play fine...

so it seems to me that there is an issue with SACD playback as regular CDs play fine and some of the hybrids play only the CD layer....have emailed my dealer to contact Arcam for a solution...hope I don't have to send it back...did that twice with my 137 and that is why I upgraded to the 139...

[TrondB]

I've noticed lately that when I stop a SACD and then start it again it don't start at track nr. one. I have to go into the onscreen track list and move to track nr. one. I don't think it's some kind off resume play like on DVD. Anyone else noticed the same?

Well it looks like according to Audiophile Systems (Our Arcam importer in the USA) that my 139 will need to go in for repair. I am still waiting to hear from my dealer to work out the logistics but I tried playing all my SACD's and DVD-Audios again last night after unplugging the power cable.

Even worse, only one of my DVD-Audio will play the surround track now and only two of my SACD's will play the SACD layer...most discs went back and forth from loading to bad disc until it recognized the CD layer.

I am about done with Arcam products. I just can't find them reliable enough for the money I've spent. I first bought a DV137 and that died after about 2 months, went in for repair (I paid shipping) came back and died about two weeks later...Arcam did step up to the plate and offered me the 139 at a fantastic price....but what good is having a player that you are not sure is going to work.

I've probably used the 139 less than 50 times in the 3-4 months I've had it...it's not even broken in yet, so I think I am going to return it and go down a different route....will I fare any better I am not sure, but I do know that I had a Pioneer low end universal player (that cost me 149.00) for over two years and never had a problem...did that sound as good as the Arcam....no...but I could always rely on it to play when I turned it on. It is pretty embarrassing, you invite people over to listen to your high end equipment and you brag about it but when they show up it does not work.....

And thanks for everyone for their inputs and insights to the threads I have posted....will post what happens when I figure things out

[Theo Maxtible]

Originally Posted by AmerArcamOwner

Well it looks like according to Audiophile Systems (Our Arcam importer in the USA) that my 139 will need to go in for repair. I am still waiting to hear from my dealer to work out the logistics but I tried playing all my SACD's and DVD-Audios again last night after unplugging the power cable.

Even worse, only one of my DVD-Audio will play the surround track now and only two of my SACD's will play the SACD layer...most discs went back and forth from loading to bad disc until it recognized the CD layer.

Really sorry to hear about your continued problems, but I do hope you eventually get things sorted out. I'd be interested to hear what comes out of everything

[adprom]

Originally Posted by AmerArcamOwner

so it seems to me that there is an issue with SACD playback as regular CDs play fine and some of the hybrids play only the CD layer....have emailed my dealer to contact Arcam for a solution...hope I don't have to send it back...did that twice with my 137 and that is why I upgraded to the 139...

Something which is quite common is a faulty laser assembly. I haven't read all the posts to see what you have tried, but this is sounding like it could be the cause of the issue.

Originally Posted by adprom

Something which is quite common is a faulty laser assembly. I haven't read all the posts to see what you have tried, but this is sounding like it could be the cause of the issue.

I am still waiting to hear back from my dealer, but as I previously stated I had a 137 before this that died twice and since this unit is faulty I am done with Arcam Equipment for now....something this expensive should not be breaking down period as far as I am concerned....so I am looking at getting a dedicated CD transport and a HD-DVD player...I am just waiting to hear back from my dealer on the logistics of returning this.....

I finally talked to my dealer today about the 139 and after spending all weekend thinking about what I should do I have decided to send it back to the dealer for good. He told me he would take it back and give the amount in store credit which I will use to buy a dedicated CD player and I will make my way into the format war and get Toshiba's HD-XA2 for my video needs.

This decision did not come lightly but I have come to the conclusion that for the money I spent the Arcam equipment is not very reliable. I have read a lot a posts of break downs, software issues etc. and for the money it is not worth the trouble.

And as I have stated before I had a Pioneer DV-578A Universal player that cost me about 150.00. Played it for over two years with the same setup except for the tv and never had a problem. Played everything I fed it without exception. (The ex took it in the divorce). And thus is my quandary, how can a bottom of the line player do such a good job and a top of the line player keep breaking down.

Does the Arcam sound better...of course but if it doesn't play when and what I want it does me no good.

Just wanted to say thanks to all the members who posted replies with advice and such...will keep logging in to read....lot's of good stuff to learn....

PDS