Sony MDP-550 User manual

S
O
N
Y.
3-759-916-21(1)
®
CD
CDV
LD
Player
Operating Instructions
MDP-550
by
Sony
Corporation

WARNING
To prevent firé or shock hazard, do not
expose the unit to rain or moisture.
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION : TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
This symbol is intended to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”
within the product’s enclosure that may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of
electric shock to persons.
This symbol is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the appliance.
CAUTION
To prevent electric shock, do not use this polarized AC plug with
an extension cord, receptacle or other outlet unless the blades can
be fully inserted to prevent blade exposure.
CAUTION
The use of optical instruments with this product
will increase eye hazard.
As the laser beam used in this player is harmful to
the eyes, do not attempt to disassemble the cabinet.
Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.
Precautions
Safety
¢ Operate the unit only on 120V AC, 60 Hz.
¢ If anything falls into the cabinet, unplug the unit and have it
checked by qualified personnel before operating it any further.
* One blade of the plug is wider than the other for safety reasons
and will fit into the power outlet only one way. If you are
unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, contact your Sony
dealer.
Unplug the unit from the wall outlet if you do not intend to use
it for an extended period of time. To disconnect the cord, pull it
out by the plug, never by the cord.
2 -EN | Introduction
Installing
¢ Allow adequate air circulation to prevent internal heat buildup.
* Do not place the unit on surfaces (rugs, blankets, etc.) or near
materials (curtains, draperies) that may block the space under
the unit.
* Do not install the unit near heat sources such as radiators or air
ducts, or in a place subject to direct sunlight, excessive dust,
mechanical vibration or shock.
* Do not install the unit in an inclined position. It is designed to be
operated in a horizontal position only.
© Do not place heavy objects on the unit.
¢ If the unit is brought directly from a cold to a warm location,
moisture may condense inside it. When you first install the unit,
or when you move it from a cold to a warm location, wait for
about one hour before operating the unit.
Information
For customers in the USA
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions,
may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur ina
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
* Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
¢ Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from
that to which the receiver is connected.
* Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for
help.
You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly
approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this
equipment.
Owner's record
The model number is located at the rear and front of the unit and
the serial number on the top. Record the serial number in the
space provided below. Refer to them whenever you call upon
your Sony dealer regarding this product.
Model No. MDP-550 Serial No.
If you have any questions or problems concerning your unit,
please contact your nearest Sony dealer.

Table of contents
auvwuw
10
11
12
13
14
16
17
18
19
20
22
23
25
26
27
29
31
Welcome!
Getting Started
Step 1: Unpacking
Step 2: Inserting batteries into the remote commander
Step 3: Connecting the player
Basic Operations
Playing a disc
Resuming LD playback (Auto Resume)
Quick-starting LD playback (Quick Start)
Searching for a particular point on the disc
Using the sound control functions
Understanding on-screen indications
Additional Operations
Specifying a chapter or track directly (Chapter/Track Search)
Searching by frame number or time (Frame/Time Search)
Viewing frame-by-frame action
Viewing at varying speeds (Multi Speed)
Playing in a specified order (Program Play)
Playing a section repeatedly (Repeat Play)
Playing karaoke
Additional Information
Troubleshooting
Specifications
Optical discs
Index to parts and controls
Index
Introduction
3-EN

Welcome!
4 -EN | Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Sony Laser Disc (LD) player.
The MDP-550, an easy-to-operate laser disc player, allows you to:
¢ Play many types of optical discs, LDs, CDs and CDVs
Play a double sided LD without turning it over
Continue an LD from the exact point at which you stopped—Auto
Resume
Scan scenes at variable speeds—Shuttle ring
Freeze frame or play at variable speeds with CAV LDs—Still/Step
and Multi Speed Play
¢ Use your remote commander (Unicommander ®) to control Sony TVs
e Play karaoke (sing along with a disc) using a microphone and digital
echo
Compatible color systems
This LD player plays video discs recorded in the NTSC color system.

Unpacking
Check that you have the following items:
¢ Remote commander ¢ Audio/Video cable
(Unicommander® RMT-M33A)
¢ Two size AA (R6) batteries ¢ AC power cord
3 Close the cover.
1 Turn the commander over, 2 Check the polarities and
and remove the cover. position two size AA (R6)
batteries correctly.
Notes
¢ With normal use, the batteries should last for approximately six months.
© Use two size AA (R6) batteries.
¢ If you use the batteries incorrectly, they may leak or explode. See notes below
for correct usage.
— Insert the batteries with correct polarity as shown above.
—Do not use a new battery together with an old one.
— Do not use different types of batteries together.
—Do not recharge the batteries.
—If you are not going to use the remote commander for an extended period of
time, remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage.
—If battery leakage should occur, wipe off the leakage from the battery
compartment, then insert new batteries.
* Do not let direct sunlight or powerful artificial light such as spot light fall
directly on the remote sensor on the front panel of the player. Such light
interferes with the signals from the remote commander, causing the remote
commander to fail to operate correctly.
Getting Started 5 -EN

Notes
6 -EN
Make sure all
equipment is turned
off before connecting
or disconnecting any
cables.
Connection methods
may differ; when in
doubt about a
connection, consult
the TV or VCR
manufacturer’s
manual.
If the sound or picture
is disturbed by noise,
try moving the
equipment farther
apart.
Firmly insert plugs
into the jacks. A loose
connection may cause
noise,
To prevent
interference with TV
broadcast reception,
turn off all equipment
connected but not
currently in use.
If your TV only has a
monaural phono jack
for audio input, use a
VMC-910/915
Connecting Cable
(not supplied).
If you connect the
CONTROL S IN jack
to the CONTROL S
output jack on your
TV, etc. using an RK-
G69 Connecting
Cable (not supplied),
you can control this
player with the
remote commander
pointed at the TV, etc.
If you plug one end of
the cable into the
CONTROL S IN jack
on the player and
leave the other end
unplugged, the
remote commander
cannot control the
player.
Connecting the player
Television hook-up
To play LDs or CDVs, hook up a television to the LD
Player. Take out the supplied audio/video cable (yellow,
red and white plugs). Use this to connect the player to the
television. Once you have hooked-up the television, set the
input selector on the TV to “Video.” Before connecting or
disconnecting any of the cables, turn off all equipment.
If your TV has an § video input jack, using a YC-15V S
Video Connecting Cable instead of the supplied video
cable to connect the player will give you a better picture.
Ca
a
[> Yellow plug => Video in
Red & White
plugs => Audio In
Audio/Video
Cable (supplied)
fi _=14 = S Video In
YC-15V S Video Cable
Ea (not supplied)
Television
FA
5
} CONTROL S IN jack
A ayoio + _vipgo
LINE OUT 1 UNE OUT 2
to AC outlet
Television/VCR hook-up
Connect the LD player to the VCR’s inputs when:
— the video inputs of the TV are already used for the VCR or a similar machine.
~ the TV has only an antenna input.
Video Out jack Television
Audio Out jacks
VCR
Antenna
Input
input
jacks
VHF
Out
(Video/Audio)
terminals
or
Video/Audio
Out
jacks
Connect to the external video/audio inputs of a VCR.
Getting Started

Audio equipment hook-up
To achieve full stereo sound from your LD Player, hook up a stereo system following the
diagram below. Use an RK-C310 (or RK-C315) Audio Connecting Cable (not supplied) to
~ connect the LD Player to your amplifier or receiver. Before connecting or disconnecting any
Notes :
© Make dureail cables, turn off all equipment.
equipment is turned
off before making any To achieve digital sound
of the above Optical fiber digital audio output enables a high quality sound reproduction. If your
connections.
; : amplifier has an optical input connector, or if you have a D/A converter unit with optical
¢ Firmly insert plugs : gs : ; ' ;
into the jacks. A loose input, connect the player to the amplifier or D/A converter using an Optical Fiber Audio
connection may cause Cable POC-15 (not supplied).
noise.
¢ When listening toa ¢ You can get digital audio output from CDs, CDVs, and most LDs. When you play an LD which does not have
radio broadcast, turn digital sound tracks, you cannot get any sound from the DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) connector.
off the LD Player to ¢ Sound from a microphone is not output from the DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) connector. When you play
get better reception. karaoke with a microphone, connect the player using an Audio Cable (red & white plugs).
When connecting the optical fiber cable
Remove the protective cover. Plug in firmly.
ave
POC-15 Optical Fiber Cable
(not supplied)
F ayo | yirgo
a mo & DEO
TINE OUT 2
Red White
plug plug to AC outlet
To TV or VCR RK-C310/C315
Audio Cable (not supplied) Speakers
Amplifier Audio In
to AC outlet
CD or AUX
Getting Started 7 -EN

Basic Operations
Playing a disc
en i POWER
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Tip
e You can also turn on the
player by pressing &
OPEN/CLOSE on the
player.
Notes
¢ If you place more than one
disc on the disc tray, or if the
disc is not seated properly,
the disc may not start
playing, and may damage
the disc or player.
Do not lift up or transport
the player while a disc is
loaded as doing so may
damage your disc or player.
Do not use a CD stabilizer
when playing a CD as doing
so may damage your disc or
player.
When you press Ill PAUSE,
the picture goes blank when
playing a CLV LD or CDV,
and the picture freezes when
playing a CAV LD (see
“Viewing frame-by-frame
action” on page 18).
8 -EN | Basic Operations
This section shows you how to play an LD, CD or CDV.
Before you start...
Connect the player to your TV and set the input selector on the TV to
“Video” (see “Connecting the player” on page 6).
If you use a stereo system, turn on the amplifier and set its input
selector to an external input such as ”CD” or “AUX” to listen to the
sound of the player.
Loading and playing a disc
1 Press POWER to turn on the player.
You can also directly turn on the player by pressing
[> PLAY on the player or remote commander.
Press & OPEN/CLOSE to open the disc tray.
The front cover of the player automatically slides
down and the disc tray comes out.
Place a disc on the disc tray.
LD (Side A)
CD, CDV or LD Single
Label f
Place
only
one
disc
on
the
tray,
(
aces
up)
carefully fitting it in the circle on the tray.
Press [> PLAY (or DISC SIDE A).
The disc tray closes and the upper side of the disc
starts playing. You can also start playing by
pressing the disc tray to close it.
When playback of the upper side of an LD (side
A) ends, the other side (side B) starts playing
automatically.
To Press
Stop play @ STOP
Pause play ti PAUSE
Resume play after pause t8 PAUSE or E> PLAY
Scan forward or backward </P> SCAN on the player
or rotate the SHUTTLE ring
Skip chapters or tracks Ke /P PI ACS/AMS
Remove the disc # OPEN/CLOSE

Tips wr.
¢ When playing a double-
sided LD, the player
determines that the upper
side of the disc is side “A”
and the other side is “B,”
regardless of the label “A”
or “B” printed on the disc.
When playback of LD side B
ends, the player stops.
When playing a CD or CDV,
the DISC SIDE B button does
not function.
If the sound is distorted or
the picture flickers when
listening through your TV
speakers, set the ATT switch
to ON to lower the output
level.
Tips
¢ The AV calendar shows the
chapters/tracks remaining
on the disc. As chapters/
tracks are played, the
corresponding numbers on
the calendar disappear.
¢ When there is no disc in the
player, “NO dISC” appears
on the front panel display.
Notes
* The AV calendar is available
when you play LDs
containing TOC (Table of
Contents) data, CDs or
CDVs. When you use the AV
calendar with those LDs,
press the QUICK START
button to turn off the button
indicator before you start
playing (see “Quick-starting
LD playback” on page 11 for
details). When you play CDs
or CDVs, the QUICK START
indicator goes off
automatically and the AV
calendar always appears.
If you turn off the front
panel display, the blue
screen which appears when
you stop playing or doa
search on an LD (or pause a
CLV LD) turns gray.
To start playing from the beginning of either LD side
Press DISC SIDE A to play the upper side of the LD from the beginning.
Press DISC SIDE B to play the other side of the LD from the beginning.
To play only one side of an LD
Press 1/SIDE/ ALL twice. “ONE SIDE” appears briefly.
Press E> (Play) or DISC SIDE A/B.
The selected side of the LD is played once.
To pause playing just before starting
Press i PAUSE instead of pressing [> PLAY, after you place the disc
on the tray.
The disc tray closes and the player waits at the start of the disc until you
press >> PLAY or #1 PAUSE. If you want to start from side B of an LD,
press ll PAUSE, then DISC SIDE B.
To stop playing and turn off the player
Press POWER.
You can resume playback from the point at which you stopped by
simply pressing b> PLAY (see “Resuming LD playback” on page 10).
To stop playing and remove the disc
Press & OPEN/CLOSE.
Remove the disc and press & again to close the empty tray.
Reading the front panel display
The illustration below is an example of what is displayed on the front
panel of the player. For moter information about the AV calendar, see
the tips and note on the left hand of this page and “Quick-starting LD
playback” on page 11.
Playing disc side AV calendar on side A
(“>" indicates that the disc contains more than 20 songs)
Output sound
123 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 D>
3/._2/A__ DIGITAL SOUND
Ee ge —
Selected function
Time (hr/min/sec) or
Chapter number AV calendar onside B = frame number
Turning off and on the front panel display
You can turn off the front panel display if you feel the display glaring
while you view a movie in a dark room. Each time you press the FL
DISPLAY button on the player, the display turns off/on.
Basic Operations Q-EN

Resuming LD
playback (Auto
Resume)
POWER
C
UO 4
l
@ STOP
Tips
¢ Each time you stop playing, the point where
you stopped is stored.
¢ The point at which you stopped playing is
cleared when:
— you completely open the disc tray, press
DISC SIDE A/B or K<@ /BP1 ACS/AMS.
— you doa Chapter Search or Frame/Time
Search.
— you press PROGRAM.
— you unplug the player.
If you press & OPEN/CLOSE to close the
disc tray when it is open halfway, the point
at which you stopped is retained.
Notes
¢ Playback may resume at a point slightly
different from the point at which you
stopped playback.
¢ The point at which you stopped is not
stored if you stop playback during a
Chapter Search or Frame/Time Search, or
while in program mode.
¢ If you press >> PLAY when the power is
off, the player turns on automatically. If a
disc is loaded, playback resumes where you
last stopped.
10 EN
Basic Operations
This function operates automatically only for LDs. Once you stop
playing an LD by pressing li STOP or POWER, the player stores the
point you stopped at so that you can continue viewing from the same
point.
1 Press Ml STOP (or POWER) to stop
playback.
The AUTO RESUME indicator on the
player lights up and the point you
stopped at is stored (if you press POWER,
the indicator lights up briefly, then goes
off with the power).
2 Press [> PLAY.
The player searches for the scene at
which you stopped playing, then
playback starts.
To pause playing just before starting
If the player is turned on, press If PAUSE instead of E> PLAY.
If the player is turned off, press POWER or E> PLAY to turn on the
player, then press Il PAUSE. ‘
To view from the beginning of the LD
Press DISC SIDE A to start playing from the beginning of side A.
Press DISC SIDE B to start playing from the beginning of side B.
The point at which you stopped is cleared.