Why do some 4K discs freeze up?

@kingbr 

I have hundreds of SACD, Blu-ray and 4K disks, and I guess the 'won't play' rate is under 1 in 1000.  Players include Sony, Panasonic, Reavon and Marantz.

Sometimes just opening and closing the drawer re-centres the disk enough to play.  Ultrasonic cleaning works well, when you follow the instructions.  A cheap unit usually used for jewelry and glasses works well if it has a CD support.

The recorded pits are very close to the label side of the disk, so make sure nobody has used a biro on the label.

Eventually the laser will start to fail, which in my opinion, usually means a new player.

@richardbrand Thank you. That’s why I was wondering if it’s my player. Interestingly enough I had mentioned Weapons 4K DVD. I just got the replacement and it froze in the EXACT same place as the previous brand new 4K. So I’m thinking it may either be something with the DVD’s not necessarily my Panny unit…

And again all of the issues I’ve had is with brand new 4K DVD’s. So I can’t imagine it’s a dirty disc. And I’ve never ever once had an issue with any BluRay or standard DVD’s…

@kingbr freezing is an issue that 4k players have, it can be the player itself having an issue handling all the data on the 4k disc.  If you search reviews on Sony and Panasonic players you’ll run across people reporting this issue.  I have a Sony, knock on wood, only frozen up 1 or 2 times.  Before I bought a 4k player found all the players on the market had this reported issue to varying degrees, discs that have more data layered in the discs where what most referenced to freeze, most noting the discs where fine, it was the players having a hard time processing.

@kingbr 

I think you have narrowed it down to the disk or the player!  The fact that it is with multiple titles makes me think it is the player.

By the way, a Sony universal transport which handles 4K, Blu-ray, DVD, SACD and CD can be bought new for about USD-200.  It only outputs over HDMI.  I'd recommend getting one as an alternative.

I have one CD that one of my Sonys cannot play right through, but the disk exceeds the Redbook specification for playing time.  It is on the Alpha label, no less

   Panasonic shows firmware update 1.82 dated June 19, 2024. How old is your unit? I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful as a have an Oppo and an Original Sony. Regards , Mike B.