Problem playing VCDs on a Pioneer DV-414

[los]

A friend gave me a pioneer DV-414 a little while ago, and I have been trying to get it to play regular VCDs, but it won't. He said it used to, but it just stopped.

anyway, I am encoding using the standard TMPGEnc12a NTSC VCD settings, and using Nero 5.5.3.5 to burn them. No luck at all. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[patrickm]

i used to have a 414 and it'd play almost any VCD you could make, adaptec, nero, whatever cd-r. so test it out to see if it plays an audio cd-r or cd-rw or a commercial audio CD. you might be having a problem with the red (650nm wavelength) laser. there are two separate beams, so the player can play dvds normally even if it fails.

does it say "VCD" on the front display after you put it in? or "CD" or "NO DISC". i think "CD" means it sees something on the disc but can't interpret it.

[los]

When I put the disc in the display says close for a second, then it immediately says open and opens the tray.

I've tried all kinds of media, but nothing works.

If it is the red laser, what do I need to do?

[patrickm]

well, if it does that to audio CDs or audio CDr's then have the player repaired or replaced if you want it to play anything other than dvds.

[los]

Thats the problem. The red laser went bye-bye. Shite. Any idea how much that costs to fix?

BTW: Thanks for the help.

[Bullworth]

Would probably be cheaper to get a new one, comparatively speaking. I bought my DVD player when they were still rather pricey and when the thing went bust the repair stoer said it would be $40 just too look at it and after wards repairs would come to about $150...I bought a new one.
Check around though, you might find an honest repairman.

[patrickm]

well, first off, you have to decide how much this one is worth to you now, since it still should play DVDs fine. it's prob cheaper to just get an apex500w or a pioneer 343 than have it professionally repaired. but call pioneer's 1-800 service number (it's on their webpage somewhere, http://www.pioneerelectronics.com) and talk to them about it. i tried looking up the part, but the support site is down right now. if the assembly plugs in, it may be relatively easy for someone with some technical knowledge to do it themselves. but if it solders in, forget it. even if you replace it though that doesn't guaratee a fix, as another component could've burned out too. but personally, if it was <$20 for the part, i might go for it if i were you. you could damage it further trying to fix it though, so think about it's use as a dvd-only player.