Philips CDR785 performs well and is relatively easy to use
Oct 09 '00 (Updated Oct 22 '00)
Overview
The Philips Model CDR 785 CD Recorder is a combination audio 3-CD changer combined with an audio CD recorder, all on one chassis. This unit looks much like a typical CD Changer designed to fit in a typical component audio sound system or rack mount. It's an all-black unit with a fairly pleasing appearance. The buttons and corresponding labels are a bit on the small side. Good ambient room light is essential for error-free use.
This stand-alone unit is designed to dub an entire commercial or other pre-recorded musical CD to a blank CD to produce an exact digital duplicate. It can also be programmed to make compilation CDs from the 3 CDs loaded into the changer. It can be programmed to record any tracks selected in the order desired. You are not limited to just 3 CDs for a compilation source.
It can record on CD-R and CD-RW blank discs. Once recorded on a CD-R, it is permanent. Recording on the CD-RW allows the user the ability to erase and re-record new material on the same disc. Therefore, you could use the CD-RW as a sort of a "rough draft CD." Once you are satisfied, you can use it as a master to make a permanent musical CD, since most CD players cannot read CD-RWs.
Features
Unit provides for normal speed and double-speed (2X) recording.
Programmable 3-CD changer for playback or recording of up to 20 tracks per CD
Changer mode allows loading/changing of 2 CDs while one is playing without interruption.
Changer features shuffle and repeat play in addition to the other standard play modes.
Full-featured infra-red remote control operates most unit functions for both recording and playing.
ALC - Automatic Level Control used for equalizing differing audio levels between different CDs.
Inputs to allow digital (another CD player) or analog recording (LPs from phono cartridge or audio tape from tape decks) from almost any external sources.
Front panel mic input with level control allows adding voice narration or other external sounds to be recorded.
Front panel headphone output jack with level control allows monitoring of recording during normal recording or playing.
Automatic or manual finalizing of recorded CD.
Unit will read and record Digital Audio musical CD-Rs and CD-RWs.
Text input capability allows titling of album artist, album title, track title, track artist, etc.
EASE OF USE:
To record an entire CD is extremely easy. Simply load the CD of your choice in the player/changer side of the unit and load a blank musical CD-R into the record tray. Press the CD -> CD button. A red "yes" light flashes. Press it to begin the actual recording and finalizing process. In this mode, the unit records at 2X speed.
To make a compilation CD from more than one CD is a bit more involved but not inordinately difficult. Again, load the CD/s into the changer tray and a blank CD-R into the record tray. Press the "COMPILE CD" button. Select one of the 3 CDs and program the tracks using the jog control. Go to the next remaining play CDs and repeat the process. As the tracks are selected, the display will display the accumulated time for all tracks selected as you go, making it easy to see how much time remains for planning of your tracks during programming.
Once programming is completed, press the "COMPILE CD" button. The display will indicate the total time for all the selected tracks and display the capacity of the recording CD-R. If the programmed material exceeds the capacity of the CD-R, the display will notify you of the error. You can delete tracks to make the programmed material fit the recording CD-R capacity. The unit will prompt you to proceed to proceed with the flashing red "yes" button.
In this mode, you also have the option for automatic finalizing if there is no more material to be recorded on this CD-R.
When making a compilation, the ALC feature is automatically engaged to even out the audio levels of each track to avoid varying sound levels on the recorded CD-R.
The above process sounds more complicated than it is. It is pretty easy after the first time or two.
Digital text information can be added to the recorded disc to display artist and titles on the playing CD player, just like commercial discs. However, the process is slow and tedious. It is the same process as programming tracks using the jog control and the "yes" button. That's a lot of programming work to select the alpha/numeric characters to spell things out.
There are variations of recording modes to allow mixing of microphone input and the use of a level control to fade in/out for real customized recording of materials and sources with fades for very professional results. Recording can be stopped at any time and resumed later. However, on a CD-R, once it any material is recorded, it cannot be erased. Therefore, the use of a CD-RW is recommended when doing complex recording to allow changes. Once the user is satisfied with the completed recording on the CD-RW, it can be finalized for normal use or used as a master for making additional copies using blank CD-Rs.
If disc is to be used on any other CD player, it must be finalized. However, once finalized, no additional recording can take place on a finalized disc. This applies to CD-RWs, as well. However, a CD-RW can be totally erased after finalizing. This way, you can use a CD-RW as a recording master, repeatedly. Finalizing is an encoding process to allow the disc to be read by other CD players.
CAUTIONS:
Not all CD players can play CD-RWs.
All CD-Rs, once finalized on the recording unit, can be played on all CD players.
This unit works with musical CD-R and CD-RWs only. These can be a little difficult to find. Look for the words "digital audio" in the Compact Disc trade mark logo. The cost of musical CDs is considerably higher than CD-Rs and CD-RWs for computer use. I found Memorex Digital Audio 80-minute CD-Rs in bulk 50-spindle pack for $39.99 at Comp USA. Note - all the office super stores carry only the computer CD-R/RWs. These are not suitable for this recorder. Slim-line, 2-piece jewel boxes are available for about $.25, each, in bulk packs of 10 or more.
SUMMARY:
I found this CD changer/recorder extremely easy to use for dubbing a single CD. Making compilations was a bit more trouble but, again, easy to do after the first few tries. The use of a CD-RW for the first few tries eliminated any wasted CD-Rs. Also, there is an internal buffer so that recording can be stopped within 3 seconds after starting without writing to the disc in case you immediately regret a user command.
This is a great way to transfer your treasured LP and audio tape library to CDs for permanent archiving.
I am completely satisfied with the unit. It performs well and is quite versatile.
I also recommend you check e-Bay for these units. I won mine with a $315 high bid. This seller had about a dozen units for sale. The earlier winning bids were higher - as high as $385. I've seen the unit sell in retail stores for as high as $499 and the single player unit for $449.
PHILIPS MODEL CDR775 NOTES:
This model is essentially a single disc player version of the CDR785 3-disc changer model. It operates and is programmed in exactly the same manner as the changer model. It is my opinion the changer model is much easier and less tedious to use when making compilation CDs due to the ability to program tracks from 3 CDs instead of one and is easily worth the extra cost.
WARRANTY SERVICE NOTE:
I have had a previous experience with the Philips Factory Service facilities. They have an 800 toll-free number for assistance to help you trouble-shoot your unit 7 days a week. They were very good with their information and very courteous with only reasonable delays in answering the calls. Once it was determined that the unit needed warranty service, they filled out all the paperwork and instructed me to take the unit into their repair facility and gave me the nearest location. Upon taking it in, the staff at the factory service site were, again, very courteous. I left the unit with them and they called me the following day to report that a part required replacement and it would take about 5 - 10 working days to complete. A day later, they called to tell me that the parts were on 4 - 6 weeks backorder. My heart sank but they immediately told me they would order a replacement unit and they would notify me when it came in. They estimated 2 - 3 weeks at the most. It came in 2 weeks later. I was completely satisfied, especially when compared to the horror stories from other manufacturers for other equipment failures during the warranty periods that I have experienced over the years.
BTW, the correct spelling for the manufacturer's name is "Philips," without the double "ll."
I hope the above is clear. Sorry for the excessive length. If you have any questions, e-mail me at "askquon@yahoo.com."
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Epinions.com ID:
tennis_player
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 in Electronics |
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Member: James Quon
Location: Northern California
Reviews written: 349
Trusted by: 253 members
About Me:
A retired Professional from 40 years in technical Sales & Marketing.
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