Early Blu-rays that may have playback issues (Criterion, Well Go USA, etc.)

[suspiciouscoffee]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Are you trying to these on two different players?

Yep, my Sony X700 4k and my old BDP-S1100. The World’s End was visibly deteriorating though so I knew it probably wouldn’t play through on anything, but Batman is an odd one.

[Uptight]

Over 600 Blu-Ray Titles No Longer Work?! - YouTube

600+ Blu-ray Discs No Longer Work?! Shocking Collector Warning! - YouTube

List:

https://bluraydefectueux.com/index-d...-defectueux/#E

[surfinhank]

Originally Posted by Uptight

Over 600 Blu-Ray Titles No Longer Work?! - YouTube

600+ Blu-ray Discs No Longer Work?! Shocking Collector Warning! - YouTube

List:

https://bluraydefectueux.com/index-d...-defectueux/#E

That first video is referring to French discs, n'est-ce pas? I remember reading a while back in one of the threads about tons of discs from France having problems.

[Torrente]

And you are right.

I'm a pen pal with the guy who started this french forum, and the list is growing each month.
France is heavily concerned, as is Hong Kong and I have a feeling UK shouldn't be far also (but mostly due to the thick cases they use for their releases: I witnessed a lot of strange chemical reactions on the surface of my UK discs due to those stupid cases).


Note that a lot of french DVDs are also affected, most of the Opening Edition DVDs from 1999 - 2000 and most of the Sony / Stage 6 Home Video Etertainment DVDs from 2005 to 2008 (if not all of them).

[jordanjabroni]

Seems to be working perfectly fine, however the disc is heavily bronzed across one 'half' of the disc only.

This appears to be the only disc in my collection with visible bronzing.

[Streamingsux]

I don't think I've yet seen a disc with bronzing..

[gwfb5]

Originally Posted by Streamingsux

I don't think I've yet seen a disc with bronzing..

I'm not sure I'd know exactly what to look for.
I've had a couple of Blu-ray discs that had a sort of rust like color around the finger hole, is that it?
If so, it's been discs that were brand new from at least relatively recent releses ATT, and not something that developed after opening it.

My 2nd best geuss is that the disc goes from the typical silvery color, to a bronze that's maybe more akin to a cheap DVD-R.

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by Torrente

I have a feeling UK shouldn't be far also (but mostly due to the thick cases they use for their releases: I witnessed a lot of strange chemical reactions on the surface of my UK discs due to those stupid cases).

What exactly is it about UK BD cases that would be damaging discs over time?
Don't Arrow and Criterion use the same ones?

[Streamingsux]

Yeah I'm pretty sure that's what bronzing is. I've just never seen it before..

[gwfb5]

Originally Posted by Streamingsux

Yeah I'm pretty sure that's what bronzing is. I've just never seen it before..

Looking like a cheap DVD-R, or the rusty color on the inner ring?

If the rusty look I'm talking about isn't it, than it might just be a printing error of some sort.

[Streamingsux]

Originally Posted by gwfb5

Looking like a cheap DVD-R, or the rusty color on the inner ring?

If the rusty look I'm talking about isn't it, than it might just be a printing error of some sort.

Potentially both. At least from what I understand about it. It's general discoloration but I don't think it happens to just certain parts of the disc. Unless I'm mistaken, the entire information side of the disc could potentially experience bronzing..

[steel_breeze]

My first Purple Rain Blu-ray pressing and the Blu-rays in my original Blade Runner set were the only ones in my collection that fully bronzed, like deep orange/rust color... but I have yet to experience any playback errors with them, despite their color change. Nevertheless, I used it as an excuse to update to the newer Purple Rain BD.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by Streamingsux

Potentially both. At least from what I understand about it. It's general discoloration but I don't think it happens to just certain parts of the disc. Unless I'm mistaken, the entire information side of the disc could potentially experience bronzing..

There's many pictures earlier in this thread. In some cases it starts in the hub area and/or around the outer edge and can gradually spread across the disc. In others the whole disc turns darker. And there's other possible variations as well (per the pictures).

[Torrente]

Originally Posted by gwfb5

What exactly is it about UK BD cases that would be damaging discs over time?
Don't Arrow and Criterion use the same ones?

It seems it only happens with blue Elite cases. So not the same as Arrow (clear plastic Elite) and Criterion... besides, Criterion doesn't use the same cases, they use Scanavo.
There is a chemical reaction with the plastic: dots, like a moisture/steam. I will take pics when I'll have time. It can be pretty bad.

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by Torrente

It seems it only happens with blue Elite cases. So not the same as Arrow (clear plastic Elite) and Criterion... besides, Criterion doesn't use the same cases, they use Scanavo.
There is a chemical reaction with the plastic: dots, like a moisture/steam. I will take pics when I'll have time. It can be pretty bad.

This can be very easily polished off though - it isn't permanent degradation or decomposition. I also don't think it's keepcase related - virtually all UK releases until a few years ago were in 14mm Amaray cases, yet discs from certain studios like Universal and Disney are the ones prone to the greasiness while others (Sony, Paramount etc) aren't at all - I believe it is just a 'settling' of the semi-solid scratchproof layer which can be reactivated with maintenance. It does buff off very easily with breath and a soft cloth - same way you'd clean lenses or a pair of glasses.

[Torrente]

For most of them, I agree.

But not for all of the discs I had with this issue.
For the worst ones, it's like the shape of the plastic case got "imprinted" on the disc itself.
Exactly like what happened with some early bronzed US Criterion discs (but without the "bronzing").

But I'll get back with actual pics next time (don't know when I'll have the time 'though but I will) but in the meantime, I guess this would help:



Those plastic parts of the case are closer to the actual surface of the disc and for some of the worst example, I have the shape of those plastic parts "imprinted" on the disc and you can't clean it off.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by Torrente

It seems it only happens with blue Elite cases. So not the same as Arrow (clear plastic Elite) and Criterion... besides, Criterion doesn't use the same cases, they use Scanavo.
There is a chemical reaction with the plastic: dots, like a moisture/steam. I will take pics when I'll have time. It can be pretty bad.

I've definitely seen foggy circles on several American Viva Elite cases when I remove the disc.

But I don't think the cases have anything to do with this problem. What causes discs to fail is:

1. Shoddy manufacturing on the part of the manufacturer
2. Poor storage on the part of the owner

[Streamingsux]

Are we talking about the greasy residue that is on the discs sometimes?

[Torrente]

Yes but not only that (not only what you or I KEEL YOU describe).
I'm saying that, in some cases, there are more "defects" on the surface of the discs to a point where they are not playing anymore (like with the "bronzing" issue).

[Uptight]

Are BLURAYS Going BAD Too?!! | More DISC Issues On The Horizon? - YouTube

Someone posted this:

+++++++++++++
UPDATE: The culprit that is causing playback issues on some Blu-ray & 4k UHD Discs ...is in the Player's Menu Option that's called "BD Live" which SOME Movie Discs interact with. The problem though is ALL the Movie Studios have shut down down their Servers for this feature ... so some Movies won't Play at all, Skips or other. The "Fix" is to just go into your Players Option Menu & "Make Sure" to Turn off "BD Live". Of course there are other things that can cause similar issues like the Player's "Laser Lense" needing to be cleaned... especially if someone smokes in your home.
+++++++++++++

[sivartk]

I'm just more curious why this 11+ year old issue is going "viral" again. Seems like either people are desperate for clicks or want to scare people away from physical media and to other methods where you pay a subscription or buy a license.