Sony CDP-CX400 400-Disc CD Changer
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- Device Type: Changer
- Number of Discs: 400
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2 Changers are fun, but quirky
Pros
Capacity, cross-fade and shuffle, durability
Cons
Big; flakey and difficult data input; no computer/Internet interface
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Great for keeping all those CDs and the music going uninterrupted...once you have typed all that data in!
OK, it has been a long time since these came out, and I doubt anyone will ever read this review, but here goes anyway. I really have enjoyed these two beasts (and they ARE big) over the years. They are now about 80% full of CDs. It has always been a hassle to input artists/titles and assign them. With the Internet now it would be nice to have an interface to hook up and do all this automatically.
This brings me to my biggest complaint about manufacturers in general and Sony in particular... the lack of support for upgrades. In the case of these changers, it is well documented that they have major issues with data corruption when linked together and "adding" disc info to one or the other. Unplugging them during the process is a workaround, but why wasn't a fix put out from Sony?
Anyway, they work fine together, and have held up very well thru two PCS moves, one across the world. Not bad for all that plastic and moving parts! The sound is reasonably good. My big complaint about sound is that I can't use my favorite feature (cross-fading between the two units) and the digital outputs at the same time. I have to use the analog outputs for this feature to work. Again... Sony... wake up!
Getting back to the input issues... using a PC keyboard makes it MUCH easier, but one still cannot quickly get to things. For instance, if you've just purchased a new ZZ Top album, you're gonna have to scroll all the way thru the alphabet of 50...100...however many artists you've programmed, to get to the Zs. And though it alphabetizes them to a certain extent, it will only have the As, then Bs, then Cs, etc. It does not alphabetize a new artist correctly within that first letter. It will appear AFTER the others of that starting letter.
Anyway, lots of little things, but the overall product is nice, reliable, durable, and I'd buy them again to keep all my CDs available. I won't commit to electronic storage until I'm happier with the sound of MP3s or whatever format. Meantime, I just hit "Shuffle All" and "X-fade at end" on my two CX400s and I'm very happy.
This brings me to my biggest complaint about manufacturers in general and Sony in particular... the lack of support for upgrades. In the case of these changers, it is well documented that they have major issues with data corruption when linked together and "adding" disc info to one or the other. Unplugging them during the process is a workaround, but why wasn't a fix put out from Sony?
Anyway, they work fine together, and have held up very well thru two PCS moves, one across the world. Not bad for all that plastic and moving parts! The sound is reasonably good. My big complaint about sound is that I can't use my favorite feature (cross-fading between the two units) and the digital outputs at the same time. I have to use the analog outputs for this feature to work. Again... Sony... wake up!
Getting back to the input issues... using a PC keyboard makes it MUCH easier, but one still cannot quickly get to things. For instance, if you've just purchased a new ZZ Top album, you're gonna have to scroll all the way thru the alphabet of 50...100...however many artists you've programmed, to get to the Zs. And though it alphabetizes them to a certain extent, it will only have the As, then Bs, then Cs, etc. It does not alphabetize a new artist correctly within that first letter. It will appear AFTER the others of that starting letter.
Anyway, lots of little things, but the overall product is nice, reliable, durable, and I'd buy them again to keep all my CDs available. I won't commit to electronic storage until I'm happier with the sound of MP3s or whatever format. Meantime, I just hit "Shuffle All" and "X-fade at end" on my two CX400s and I'm very happy.
