I have a Philips Home Theater unit (basically a DVD player, amplifier setup) MX 3550D.

We've had intermittent problems with scenes stalling, maybe freezing the unit, and has gotten worse to where we're lucky to play brand new DVD's in it.

Tried a lens cleaner, but that didn't work.

Used a canned air blast to try to knock dust from the lens area (not a direct blast)

But I can hear it grinding around, before it freezes up (bad enough to where the eject doesn't work, and power off works after several seconds)

I'd like to replace the DVD pickup assembly, and am wondering where I might find one.

My wife says to just buy another one (she watches dvd's more than I do), but being unemployed, and this being an amplifier too (only apparently sold with another set of speakers, $300-400, etc) I don't think it's going to be worth buying another one. I've fixed VCR's monitors, copiers, printers, computers, etc. So I'm not worried about diving into this.

Anybody know what other tests I can do? Or should I try cleaning the lens? I have some swab sticks to reach into small spaces. I have some audio/video head cleaner, but I think it's more for VCR's and tape units, and am afraid it might damage a laser pickup lens.


Justin