Superbit DVDs -- extremely sensitive

I have both the Fifth Element and Desperado Superbit DVDs and haven't experienced any playback trouble whatsoever, even with my Pioneer DV-343, which I paid a whopping $110 for. There isn't anything different between a "Superbit" DVD and a regular one, other than the fact that the bit rate of the audio and video is much higher. If I turn on the "bit meter" feature of my 343 (most Toshibas and Pioneers have one in my experience), a "Superbit" DVD averages 7-9mbps. Normal DVDs average 3-4mbps when being played back. I suppose it's possible that the high bit rate is exposing a software or hardware flaw that has gone undiscovered in the 9000ES to this point, but I would also have to think that any manufacturer tests their gear to make sure it can handle the full bandwidth of the DVD spec.

I had a 1st generation Panasonic DVD player 4 years ago that exhibited the same problem with some discs that your experiencing now. That was a often reported problem with that particular make and model. I would definitely try the Superbit discs in another machine, if possible. If they work there, I would contact Sony about the problem.

To clarify--I feel that perhaps the problem with lint interfering with the laser is more noticable on a Superbit DVD than a non-Superbit DVD precisely because the bitrate is higher. I noticed no such problem with The Fifth Element, and as I said, the problem with the Desperado DVD happened at different locations in the movie. In any case, I love the format and want more!

Not to long ago I had a similar problem. I asked if my Theta DaViD was in fact possessed? That very question was then presented to an apparent expert in the field. Here is what Dr. Science had to say on the subject.

"Yes, actually, your DVD player IS possessed. Digital audio and video products were developed as the result of a pact between the Devil and the major electronics manufacturers.

Although it is not widely known, DVD's do not actually have millions of tiny little pits on their surface which are read by lasers, nor do they use DAC's to convert the picture and sound into analog form. These technological explanations were devised to mislead gullible humans who refuse to believe that the Devil is real and often affects our daily lives (think what he did during the last Presidential election...).

DVD's, infact, are an invention of the Devil, and they rely on a fiendishly clever method of burning a 2-layer message into the plastic medium. (How else is the Devil going to do this but burn it in? This same method was invented by Satan to produce the 2-layer SACD disks at $30 apiece, which have caused high-end audio paranoia everywhere, but that's another story.)

The DVD contains both a movie from Hollywood (known by many to be a place of iniquity), AND a subliminal message by the Devil encouraging consumers to buy cell phones, MP3 units, and Personal Digital Assistants (for those whose lives are WAY too complicated, and require supernatural assistance to remember everyday information).

Occassionally, the Devil's subliminal DVD message is so distasteful that it causes the DVD player to malfunction. In an effort to purify itself, the player spits out the corrupted disk, the same way you would spit out something that tasted bad. The DVD player, having only a small, weak motor, is only able to reject the disk, since it lacks the human ability for projectile vomiting. Only the best DVD players are able to detect the majority of these vile, contaminated DVD disks, so it is understandable that a fine unit like the Theta rejects many of the disks you try to play.

There are only two solutions to your problem: return the DVD player to the Theta factory, and wait for 6 weeks while the player undergoes an exorcism ceremony, or sell the Theta and buy a really cheap $149 Sony DVD player, which lacks the discrimination to tell good from bad."

I hope you realize how fortunate you were to get audio advice on such short notice from Dr. Science. He wishes you the best of luck in trying to solve your problem.