Problems with the Sony BDP-S350

[bestmanfall]

Over the past week or so I've started to have some serious problems with my Sony BDP-S350.

My two major problems are:

1) there are certain discs that cannot be played by the machine. I get an 'unknown disc' message before new discs, such as those from the recent Battlestar Galactica box set, as well as those that are older (and have been watched, perfectly, before these problems set in).

2) I'm unable to hear any dialogue when playing any disc at all. The soundtrack (score/sound effects/etc.) can be heard find, but whenever a character speaks they either can't be heard, or can be heard very very faintly indeed. Oddly, this doesn't seem to effect trailers (the trailers that appear before the Watchmen Director's Cut blu can be heard fine, soundtrack, dialogue track and all, for example), or some extra features.

I've read reports on other forums of S350 owners encountering the same issues, and how the 'unknown disc' message (along with the laboured sounds from the machine that accompany it) can be an indication of the drive crapping out.

As for the sound issues - I've been back and forth through the manual, and have no idea what's wrong.

Just wondered if any other forum members have had these issues, and what they to rectify them.

I guess I'm hoping against hope that there's an easy fix out there, and that I won't have to send my machine back to Sony.

Many thanks for any help you can give me guys.

[eiker_ir]

have you updated your firmware? what type of connections are you using?

[bestmanfall]

Yeah, I probably should have mentioned this - the firmware's completely updated (running the recent .20 update), and I'm connected via a gold-plated HDMI cable.

[djc11369]

It sounds like it was related to the firmware if you just started having problems this week and that firmware was released late last week. I know trailers are typically done in a different audio format than the movie. I can't tell you whether it's 2ch PCM or what as I have my receiver set up to particular soundfields depending on the audio it receives and I'm sure it depends on the trailer as well. I would guess that would account for that audio difference.

Are you going through a receiver? Did you reset all your prior player audio settings after the firmware update? I know sometimes people forget that the firmware resets everything to default. As far as unknown disc that could be a drive failing but it sounds too coincidental. It could also be a handshake issue between components.

I'm not sure if you can reflash the same firmware again or not (maybe a bad flash?) or even go back a version. Maybe someone who has been down this road before can chime in or you can call Sony and ask them if it's possible.

[Rob J in WNY]

It never hurts to remove and re-seat the HDMI cable connection, or even try a different HDMI cable. There could be a problem with the HDMI cable plugs, or the HDMI receptacle on the receiver. There are 19 connector pins in a single HDMI connector, and they are tiny.

As for the "unknown disc" error, perhaps you have a little dust accumulation on the player's laser lens.

[robpc77]

After installing the latest update (version 07.4.020), my BDP-S350 will not play certain discs. There isn't any pattern that I can identify - some discs play, while others won't. The error message reads "Cannot operate this disc."

Sony technical support helped me reset the player and that did not correct the problem. They informed me that my player needed to be repaired and they want to charge $112.

I suspect the problem is with the recent firmware update. The player is packed and ready for shipment to the repair center. But I think I'll wait see if there are any other similar complaints.

[djc11369]

Yeah, I suspect that's the case. After reading so many posts on here of people having issues that they didn't have until after updates (more Samsung than Sony) I wait until I run into an issue before I update and not before scouring threads to see if anyone has suffered any consequences.

[Dwayne]

I also am having the exact same problem with my Sony BD S350 and mine started before the new 2.0 firmware update. Still doing the same "cannot read disc" on some disc. Even does it on disc that I own and have played many times in it before. New title Repo-Men and Lockup "Cannot read disc". I sent it back to Best By "Extended Warranty" and they sent it off to be repaired and it came back with nothing done to it at all. They said it played fine for them and to make sure my disc are clean. VERY PISSED at this situation because this machine is cleaned, updated and my disc are in superior shape or I will not play them. I have probably run 350 disc thru this machine in a year and a half without a single hiccup and now this. After reading all of these forums I am started to get PISSED. I also have my player connected to a receiver with HDMI cables. THE funny thing is that I also own a Sony BD 360 and a Panasonic DMP 60 and these machines play every single disc that the 350 will not play just fine. MAKES NO SENSE, ANY SUGGESTIONS.

[hoju3508]

Is there a way to contact Sony? I'll wait to update then.

[BPLEONARD]

I tried everything to fix this and then I decided that maybe I should unplug the Blue-Ray player and let it sit for a few minutes. Doing this reset something and now the Blu-Ray that wasn't playing works on the first try. I recommend trying this before seeking repair service! Good Luck!

[shanebooth]

First firmware upgrade v21 via ethernet seemed ok, but then wouldnt play blu-ray discs. Regular discs were fine, but all blu-ray discs showed "unknown".
Unplugged all cables for 5 minutes and then reconnected the power etc and it worked... Hope this doesnt turn into a weekly reboot procedure.

[samiam66]

Hey guys,

I was having the same problem with the s360. I just followed the instructions of the guy who disassembled his machine and cleaned the lasers with rubbing alcohol. I did exactly the same and it now works perfectly. The discs that wouldn't play now play perfectly! I am a happy camper!

[Martyvv]

Sorry to seal but I have a Sony BDP S1 should I upgrade

[sicoe]

I have a Sony BD S350 Blu ray player, and I have had it for 4 years. It worked perfectly, until yesterday. I was watching a documentary on the new Wizard of Oz Blu-ray, and when I was halfway through it, the disc froze. I turned the player off, and the on again, but the disc didn't work anymore. Instead a message about the EXT memory not being recognized appeared on the TV screen. It said I should check the EXT memory, turn the player off, and then on again. I tried playing other Blu-ray titles, but none would work. Then I tried playing DVDs, but they didn't work either. Finally, I tried playing CDs, but they didn't work either. I have no EXT memory card installed, and I didn't get one when I purchased the player. I really don't know what to do.

Like I said, I have this player for 4 years, and it worked perfectly, it didn't have a single problem, until yesterday. I tried to create an update disc, but the player didn't recognize it, it still said NO DISC, when the disc was inside. I didn't perform any Network upgrade, because I heard some people saying that they began experiencing problems right after those upgrades. Should I put the files I used for the upgrade disc on a USB device, and connect it to the player? (maybe that will help with the upgrade).

I contacted Sony, but they didn't provide any answer. So, I'm turning to you, guys. You seem to know your way with Blu-ray players, and therefore I'm asking: Is my Blu-ray player doomed? Can I fix it? If yes, how?

[HDTV1080P]

If you try a factory reset in the menu and power cycle the player (pull the power cord for 30 seconds), and you still cannot play any CD, DVD, and Blu-ray disc then most likely the laser mechanism has went bad. You can get a new Sony Blu-ray player with a HDMI output for around $75 that includes video streaming like VUDU and Netflix. All the new Blu-ray players only have a HDMI output and no legacy analog video outputs. So as long as you have a flat panel display with a HDMI input that should work fine for your situation.

Many years ago I use to own the Sony BDP-S350. Back in 2008 it was Sony’s first profile 2.0 BD-LIVE Blu-ray player. For its time it was a good Blu-ray player. The new Sony Blu-ray players have much faster loading speeds with video streaming capabilities. A 3-D Blu-ray player is faster at loading discs and they can be found for around $80+.

I am sorry to hear about your player breaking. These days Blu-ray players in general might only last 5 years. Some OPPO Blu-ray players might last up to 10 years since they have better build quality. Once in a while under ideal conditions a $50 Blu-ray player might last up to 10 years.

Someone on Amazon is selling a used BDP-S350 with no remote for $36.95 if you want the exact same 2008 model with all the analog video and audio outputs, that is another option.

[sicoe]

There is a Sony store at my local mall. I'll go there tomorrow and I'll ask them what can I do to fix this error. I didn't try connecting a USB device to the player, maybe that will work.

[GMLSKIS]

I just started experiencing the same problem a week ago and I've had my player about 15 months. It has done it for Star Trek and District Nine and I have the latest firmware. I haven't a clue what's wrong but I take the disc out and put it back in and try again. Sometimes it starts working after the first time I do it and sometimes it takes multiple times but I do eventually get the movie going. A big hassle though.

[groove93]

From personal experience with my S350, when issues arise with my player, these three things are usually the culprits:


If you're playing a content rich movie such as T2, Up, or Wall-E and the disc will not play once it's inserted, and it's connected to your network:



Check to see if your player is connecting to the web, for an update or two might need to be installed.

If this doesn't help---


Disconnect the player from your network and remove your flash drive to see if the disc will play all the way through to the main menu, and attempt to play the movie itself.

If this doesn't help---

Clean out your Flash Drive and allow for the disc to rebuild the data back to the drive.

[HRC]

Sony bluray players are known to malfunction quite often. I played hell with my S300(repaired 4 times) and now my S360 is starting to do the same thing. It won't play discs or it won't play discs that it had previously play. This is a hardware malfunction and will need to be repaired... assuming your firmware is current. It usually will start malfunctioning again later on after you fix it. Sony bluray players suck!!!!! They are good when they work but they don't always work!

[rstem]

Has anybody figured out any problems with this player yet? Mine has done this intermittently from day one, with new and rental Blu-Ray discs. I have upgraded the firmware and it still does it. I watch maybe 2 movies a week on it. I sometimes clean the disc which looks spotless 4-6 times or turn the machine on and off and can get the movie to play. I have to see what the warranty is it's only 6 months old I got it last Christmas.