Philips CDR785 3-Disc CD Changer / Recorder
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- Device Type: Changer Recorder
- Number of Discs: 3
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Poor CD burner, great coaster producer!
Pros
looks good, pretty blue light, good coaster producer
Cons
poor design/construction, sub-par manual, inadequate results
Recommended it?
No
The Bottom Line:
If you are running low on coasters this is the unit for you. Otherwise you'll do better to look for another unit.
I recently bought one of these units at Circuit City. To be fair it was an "Open Box" item (returned/refurbished). The installation went smoothly enough - poor manual notwithstanding - however when I went to insert a blank CD-R in the CD-burner tray the drawer would not open. Trying to make sure I was not overlooking something simple, I read and re-read the manual, and pushed and re-pushed the button, both to no avail. When I called Philips I got the impression that this was not the first time they had heard this complaint (another review here confirms this). They were nice enough though, and suggested I take the unit back and exchange it.
When I returned to the store a few days later, they now had 3-4 more "Open Box" items for the same unit. I was now beginning to think that perhaps this model was a lemon.
When I relayed my concerns to the store staff, the manager of that area offered (very generously) to exchange it for an "Open Box" item for a different make/model (JVC- 5010)that was more expensive. Since they did not have any available that evening he offered to let me take another of the Philips units home as a "loaner" until a JVC Open Box came in. I was very pleased with this solution so I went home with my second Philips CDR-785 in hand.
Unit number two was a little better given that the burner drawer opened, but in hindsight, I think I would have been better off if it didn't. Attempts to make copies of several of my 'store bought' CD's and one of a CD copy were all unsuccessful. Although I was able to record music from most of the CD's, there were problems with sound quality, gaps in the tracks, and in one case a total dud.
I should add too, that I am not unfamiliar with burning CD's. I work for a technology company and have a computer CD burner in my office and at home. I bought this unit for pure convenience to make 'compilation' discs easily while listening to music in my CD collection.
All in all I will be sticking with my computer burner for now, and will research the JVC unit vs. others from Pioneer etc. Hope this helps.
When I returned to the store a few days later, they now had 3-4 more "Open Box" items for the same unit. I was now beginning to think that perhaps this model was a lemon.
When I relayed my concerns to the store staff, the manager of that area offered (very generously) to exchange it for an "Open Box" item for a different make/model (JVC- 5010)that was more expensive. Since they did not have any available that evening he offered to let me take another of the Philips units home as a "loaner" until a JVC Open Box came in. I was very pleased with this solution so I went home with my second Philips CDR-785 in hand.
Unit number two was a little better given that the burner drawer opened, but in hindsight, I think I would have been better off if it didn't. Attempts to make copies of several of my 'store bought' CD's and one of a CD copy were all unsuccessful. Although I was able to record music from most of the CD's, there were problems with sound quality, gaps in the tracks, and in one case a total dud.
I should add too, that I am not unfamiliar with burning CD's. I work for a technology company and have a computer CD burner in my office and at home. I bought this unit for pure convenience to make 'compilation' discs easily while listening to music in my CD collection.
All in all I will be sticking with my computer burner for now, and will research the JVC unit vs. others from Pioneer etc. Hope this helps.
