Toshiba 3950 reliability issues? HK-DVD-31 is my pick.

Digital Drive

Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it.

Hey kids, perhaps this is only anecdotal evidence, but I wonder about the logic of modding the Toshiba 3950/3960s when the mechanical performance is so sub-par.
I bought one Toshiba 3950 and have another on the way, because even stock the sound was good. But I noticed from the beginning that it was fussy about discs. In a few weeks, it has progressed to identifying everything as BAD DISC. The controls are funky, too. It died completely today.
Funny thing is, I had an e-mail exchange with a guy selling one on e-bay with the same symptoms. So you plug $250 worth of mods in this thing but what if the wheels fall off? You're out $300 plus.
Anyone else had similar issues with the Toshibas?
Anyway, quite by accident, I have discovered that my Harman Kardon DVD-31 is an excellent CDP. Great detail and nice bass response. It has a 24/192 Wolfson chip that really sounds good to my ear. I paid $258 for mine. Retail is $350. But for both DVD and CD performance. Stock, it sounds better to me than the out-of-the-box Toshiba, and it has the added advantage of actually WORKING.
Surely there must be other mechanically sound CDPs in the $300 range that make more sense. Or did I just get a lemon? I'll suppose know when the next one arrives.
The RUBE

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Topic - Toshiba 3950 reliability issues? HK-DVD-31 is my pick. - The Rube 19:31:26 05/26/05 (10)

Some things to try.... - PeAK 05:22:16 05/28/05 (1)

Re: Some things to try.... - The Rube 21:17:15 05/28/05 (0)

mine still wiorks-nyuk nyuk nyuk - rosconey 18:36:17 05/27/05 (0)

Three 3950's in less than a year. - saltyflies 11:21:56 05/27/05 (0)

running like clockwork - pburke 10:06:03 05/27/05 (1)

Mine too - Dave Pogue 14:59:09 05/27/05 (0)

Re: Toshiba 3950 reliability issues? HK-DVD-31 is my pick. - westcoasting 08:59:26 05/27/05 (0)

I've mod'ed several 3950 and 3960's and the sound is stunning, especially .... - PureAudio 08:07:12 05/27/05 (0)

Re: Toshiba 3950 reliability issues? HK-DVD-31 is my pick. - T2T 19:41:53 05/26/05 (1)

Re: Toshiba 3950 reliability issues? HK-DVD-31 is my pick. - Bare 08:31:34 05/27/05 (0)

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