PS3 - firmware downgrade and/or blu-ray drive replacement

[Eastwood]

I am trying to get myself a PS3 with SACD capability. The only model which comes in question is the CECH-C04 one (60GB PAL model) as I live in a PAL region.

I have found this specific model with either a higher firmware version than 3.55 or with a problematic blu-ray drive. So I have two questions:

1. Is it possible to downgrade this model from a higher than 3.55 firmware to 3.55? Will any soldering and additional equipment be needed for this?
2. If the blu-ray drive of this model is replaced with a new one will this have an effect on SACD playback capability?

Thanks for any help.

[Jens]

[Eastwood]

OK, let me rephrase my original question: It's not the complete drive that's being replaced, it's only the laser unit which needs replacing. Will replacing just the laser unit and not the complete drive have an effect on SACD playback capability?

[Jens]

Not sure. It might.

Strictly speaking, the laser unit of a BD/DVD/CD drive would be the same as that of a BD/DVD/SACD/CD drive since DVD and SACD use the same wavelength, but it depends where the component that takes care of SACD copy protection (PSP) is positioned. For all I know it has to be very close to the laser due to the high-frequency signal and is typically placed on the OPU (optical pick-up unit). That could differ from design to design though, and I'm not familiar enough with SCE's.

I fear though that your PS3's SACD playback capability may be affected. It's best to ask them first.

[Eastwood]

I've sent an email to Sony Europe's support asking about this, hopefully they will be kind enough to reply with some useful information which I will share here.

[Jens]

Thanks! Looking forward to it.

I didn't know you were based in Europe. I'm not sure if it makes any difference within SCE but in Home A/V I'd expect a little more support for SACD from the European organisation than from the American one.

[Eastwood]

Well, the reply I got was not helpful in technical terms. They only said that should a malfunction appear, Sony's policy is to replace the complete console. The replacement unit will have the exact same capabilities as the original one.

So my question remains unanswered...

[Jens]

Well, if they replace it by a console with the exact same capabilities as the original one rather than just any random PS3 (with perhaps the same size HDD capacity or better) that sounds quite reassuring.

[Eastwood]

The problem is that the replacement console will definitely have a firmware version different than my original one and it will most probably be higher than 3.55.

Oh well...

[Jens]

Oh yes, I forgot for a moment that that's important too. For sure they will give you a unit with the latest system software if they have to exchange it.