Panasonic DMR-E30 Quality degrading

[Ashwood]

I love my Panasonic recorder, but lately, the DVDs I've been recording have been showing random bits of distortion. My system has been recording on the factory settings for the past two years with no problems. Also, I have been using Maxell -Rs for the more recent recordings.

Any thoughts or oppinions would be appreciated.

[trhouse]

If the problem is in playback from the E30, it may be due to the age of the machine or media. If the problem is in playback from other players or the computer then it more likely to be media issues.

I would suggest downloading freeware DVDInfoPro and running the speed and error tests. If there are glitches in the speed test but no reported errors, you can try copying the disk to new media and test.

[Ashwood]

So if the error report shows a number of errors, does the fault lie in the machine?

[trhouse]

Hard to say. Poor media in a good machine or good media in a poor machine can give the same result.

If you really want to know, then use top grade media like Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden and record test disks and test for errors. There should be none. Or use poor disks in with a known good burner ( your computer burner might be one ) and burn tests disks and again check for errors.

Be careful not to use fake media. I have some fake Taiyo Yuden disks. They stutter on playback no matter what burned them.

[lordsmurf]

RITEK discs? Maxell's "made in Taiwan".

[handyguy]

Most of my dvd players start to need a laser cleaning after 2 years.

[divuer]

Most of my dvd players start to need a laser cleaning after 2 years.

Is this laser cleaning you refer to particular to DVD recorders/players? I still use a Toshiba SD-3109 player at least 2-3 times a week. The unit was purchased around May 2000 and performs the same as when I first bought it.