Philips color shifting on playback

[stagescrew]

So, I'm on my third philips 3355/37 dvd recorder thanks to the generous return policy of the retailer. I'm starting to think my problems are some manufacturing defect since I at least paid attention to the similiar serial numbers on last two units.

Here's the problem. On playback of ANY media, the color shifts erratically and momentarially. It more apparent on darker scenes. It's as if someone off camera is flipping the overhead light in the room on and off. It is noticeable enough to be objectionable. Here's what I have tried: better shielded cables, different outputs/inputs, different media, different contrast/brightness settings, hey I even bought another LCD TV! Same problems.

Here's where it gets weird. I had all but decided to exchage this unit once again, but got distracted. I decided to give it one more look, and realized I left a disk on the recorder playing all night long. 24 hours later is was still spinning on the main menu. The unit has no fan, and I've read where it does get hot. It seems the color shifting problem is all but unnoticable after the unit has been on all night long.

I'm beginning the think this is a cold solder-joint on the decoder chip or something causing this. Am I out of my mind?

[stagescrew]

Update-It seems the units I had the trouble with were manufactured in June 2005. I managed to find one at another location of the retailer that was manufactured in October of 2005. There are hardware and software differences, although the level one tech at Philips had no knowlege of this. All the problems I experinced earlier have gone away, and I honestly believe the PQ in general had improved as well.

Avoid any unit with serial numbers starting with NW000527xxxxxxx. These all came off the line in June 2005, and every one of the three I had exhibited the same issues.