DVD player question

[FairyChatMom]

We own a cheapie DVD player - CyberHome CHC DVD-300 - that I paid all of $40 for, I think. I was watching A Chorus Line, and after scene 18, it froze. Nothing I could do would make it go, so I took the DVD back and got another. Same problem. Then I tried watching 9-5 - a gift for my daughter. It ran about the same time, then froze. It would start a little, then choke, then run a little, then freeze again. I finally gave up in disgust.

So, my question - did I get unlucky and get 3 bad DVDs, or do I have a bad player? It did work correctly at one time, but I suppose it could have failed. Is there anything I can do or check or clean? Or should I just bite the bullet and get a new player.

If I should get a new player, any recommendations? I don't need the top of the line, but I don't want to cheap out again.

[interface2x]

How long have you had it? I'd say that the likelihood of running into three bad dvd's is amazingly low, so I'd definitely say that it's your player. If it's a relatively recent purchase, you might want to see if you can return it to the store for the same model. While the quality of the model might be lower than the best, it wouldn't cost you anything and it's unlikely that all of their machines do that, or they wouldn't continue to make them.

[FairyChatMom]

It's at least a year old - maybe more. I can't remember when I bought it.

I'm inclined to think I need to go with a name brand to replace it.

[Only Mostly Dead]

I am actually watching something on exactly the same model DVD player right now. I've had it for about a year and a half, and with the exception of a few poorly maintained movies from Netflix and maybe one or two genuine mysterious failings, it's worked perfectly for me (at least 2-3 movies per week, often more). I'm guessing it's your own machine. Get another from the store if you can even exchange, I can guarantee that not all of their 300 models are crap.

[Tapioca Dextrin]

If it's getting halfway through a disc and stopping, it's probably unable to get through the layer transition. You could spend $20 or so on an lens cleaner that's not going to work, or you could have the unit serviced for $50 or so.

Best bet. Shell out for the cheapest thing in WalMart (or wherever).