Kevin,
Mine has just started doing a similar thing in the last 2-3 weeks. Basically, discs are searched for a while before the 596 finally returns "no disc". These are with discs that have previously played with no problem.

I find that a power off at the back resolves the problem, albeit that is not satisfactory.

The only thing I will try before contacting M is to re-do all the connections at the back (596/568/562v) as something may have become loose when I installed some powercords from Russ Andrews. How this would affect things, I am not certain, but, as it's the only thing that I have done in the last few months, I check it first.

I haven't yet taken 1.3 either

Regards

Nick

Rgds,
Nick