| Topic Review |
EdP
Sony Fan
Joined: Oct 22, 2005
Posts: 8
From:
 |  Posted: 2005-10-22 09:33
I'm in the market for a SONY megastorage device. My first choice was the CDP-CX455, but after reading user reviews at Amazon.com, I've become skeptical. I pretty much ignore the good reviews and concentrate on the bad ones. Among the bad comments, a common complaint is that it scratched CDs.
1. Has anyone in this forum with a 455 experienced this or other problems?
There were several complaints on this forum about user interface deficiencies in the 455 compared to other SONY megachangers. Besides the 455, Amazon has the CDP-CX355 and CDP-CX335 available.
2. Can anyone offer comments on either or both of those models?
(The CX300 and CX 400 are no longer available at Amazon.)
Thanks
EdP
|
Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25732
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
 | Posted: 2005-10-22 15:33
On 2005-10-22 09:33, EdP wrote: (The CX300 and CX 400 are no longer available at Amazon.)
That's too bad. I don't kow about the CX455, but I've been using my CX300 almost every day for 6 years and it hasn't had a problem and has never scratched a CD.
~Maxx~
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/N.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26561&forum=51&start=540&select_page_number=37]The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930[/url]
|
EdP
Sony Fan
Joined: Oct 22, 2005
Posts: 8
From:
| Posted: 2005-10-23 12:12
Maxx ...
I understand that the CX-355 is an updated version of the CX-300. Do you know what the differences are between these two machines?
EdP
|
Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25732
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-10-24 03:19
I'm not exactly sure what the differences are between the CX 300 and the CX 335.
~Maxx~
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/N.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26561&forum=51&start=540&select_page_number=37]The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930[/url]
|
blondieblue227
Sony Fan
Joined: Oct 24, 2005
Posts: 8
From: va usa
| Posted: 2005-10-25 12:10
interesting you should post this question. i just posted about problems i'm having with 335. (in same catagory)
[ This message was edited by: blondieblue227 on 2005-10-25 12:12 ]
|
Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25732
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-10-25 15:57
blondieblue227- Sorry to hear about your CX 335 skipping like that I'm sure glad that my CX 300 isn't.
~Maxx~
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/N.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26561&forum=51&start=540&select_page_number=37]The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930[/url]
|
blondieblue227
Sony Fan
Joined: Oct 24, 2005
Posts: 8
From: va usa
| Posted: 2005-10-25 16:34
yea, i'm so bummed. just called sony, said it probably needs a new laser. and for the amount for service, i may as well buy a new one.
who else makes megachangers?
|
Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25732
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-10-25 23:27
Pioneer also makes Megachangers, but they could be using the same laser that Sony does. Laser life is a function of hours used. How many hours would you estimate that you had on your CX 335?
~Maxx~
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/N.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26561&forum=51&start=540&select_page_number=37]The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930[/url]
|
blondieblue227
Sony Fan
Joined: Oct 24, 2005
Posts: 8
From: va usa
| Posted: 2005-10-26 15:22
oh ok, that makes sense. i probably killed the laser. i listened to about 2 cds on average a day.
is there any local shops that can change the laser for a reasonable price?
|
EdP
Sony Fan
Joined: Oct 22, 2005
Posts: 8
From:
| Posted: 2005-10-26 16:07
Y'know, I'm getting to the point where I'm really not interested in being on the bleeding edge.
Instead of buying a megachanger that needs to be replaced or repaired every couple of years, I'll just get a bigger cabinet and *maybe* a five CD changer or just keep my single CD player, an old Yamaha CDX-1030 which has been working fine for I-don't-know-how-long. I'll have to get up off my butt more often, but what the hell, exercise is good (but not so good that I will give up my remotes).
Similarly with TVs - I've also been shopping for a new TV and, after reading about all the problems with LCDs, DPLs, XYZs, etc etc, I'm just going to get a tried and true SONY tube type. The perfectionists in the TV forum complain of minuscule* problems with some of the SONY tube TVs, but I think their complaints are analogous to those of stereophiles who can detect problems in a stereo system only with electronic instruments and not with their ears.
Now I'm going to really hear it from them - in stereo.
EdP
*minuscule compared with the problems found in the newer technologies
|
blondieblue227
Sony Fan
Joined: Oct 24, 2005
Posts: 8
From: va usa
| Posted: 2005-10-26 16:35
I agree. Sometimes I have this feeling that companies make “deposable” electronics just to make money. “Oops, it’s broken after 3 years, let me go out and buy another. It’s not about building quality merchandise anymore.
|
Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25732
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-10-26 18:17
I run into people all the time who have had their Sony Megachangers for 6-8 years without a problem which I think is exceptional for a product that cost only $300-$350.
There as a time when you could get very high quality electronics for $300-$350, but money was worth a lot more 30-40 years ago. Those same items would cost about $1,500 these days and for that price you will get the same quality that you did back then.
~Maxx~
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/N.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26561&forum=51&start=540&select_page_number=37]The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930[/url]
|
robvanhooren
Sony Enthusiant
Joined: Jan 01, 2005
Posts: 43
From: Canada
| Posted: 2005-11-11 20:06
$300-350?
What Heaven that would be!
A 777ES is $1600 list in Canada (985/995 about half that).
Since they strip 2 years off the ES warranty when the box crosses the 49th parallel, you're forced to buy the extended 2yr (another $250) as an add-on if you want to match the 5-year base given to buyers who are less north of the same 'imported-from-Japan' shipping depot/warehouse than others.
Tack on the outrageous taxation, and you're faced with nearly $2200 take-home price for a 400-disc changer.
$5.50 per slot is kinda steep I'd say.
|
Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25732
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-11-11 23:24
I couldn't agree more. Sony's pricing and distribution policies are very unfair. I've seen people come here and buy the CX 777ES from as far away as OZ.
~Maxx~
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/N.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26561&forum=51&start=540&select_page_number=37]The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930[/url]
|
EdP
Sony Fan
Joined: Oct 22, 2005
Posts: 8
From:
| Posted: 2005-11-12 08:21
> money was worth a lot more 30-40 years ago.<
Right Maxx, and paychecks were a lot smaller.
When I was a kid my mother would send me to the corner grocery for 5 pounds of potatoes and a quarter to pay for them. No, it wasn't 1890. ;o) Sometimes the best way to determine the value of an item is to calculate the number of hours you have to work to earn the money to pay for it. If you're making 75 cents an hour, a quarter for potatoes is not chump change.
But back to the topic at hand, instead of a megachanger, I decided to seriously consider a music server such as the Yamaha CDR-HD1500 and stick a 400GB drive in it. I won't elaborate on what it can and can't do because this is not the place for it. I would prefer a McIntosh music server, but at $5,100 it's kinda out of my league.
EdP
|
Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25732
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-11-12 15:28
EdP- I had a 40 hour per week job working for the City of Portland in 1966 which paid $0.625/ hour. In an 8 hour day I would make $5 which was just enough to buy a pair of 501 Levis in those days.
Things have changed a lot overthe years. I like to use thid handy Inflation Calculator to figure out how much they have changed-
http://www.westegg.com/inflation/
400GB sounds like a lot of Music to me! How many LP Vinyl records do you suppose it would take to store that much Music? Now that's some Music storage capacity inflation!
~Maxx~
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/N.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26561&forum=51&start=540&select_page_number=37]The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930[/url]
|
EdP
Sony Fan
Joined: Oct 22, 2005
Posts: 8
From:
| Posted: 2005-11-12 16:36
Jeez, Maxx ... what *is* with Portland, fer cryin' out loud - 62 1/2 cents an hour in 1966? I used to wash dishes (hand wash, by the way) in a restaurant in 1955 for 75 cents an hour. I needed that job because the big bands of the 40's were making a resurgence and I needed the dough so I could take a date to their dances.
Great music. Real live sound - no microphones except for the singer. A stereo salesman once told me that the speakers he was selling were as close to live sound as you can get. I asked him how he knew and when was the last time he heard non-amplified sound. He couldn't answer.
>How many LP Vinyl records do you suppose it would take to store that much Music?<
I don't have the foggiest idea.
I have a few hundred CDs and a couple hundred LPs. I want to copy the CDs to the Yamaha hard drive to use as a jukebox kind of thing. I'm also thinking of recording the LPs to the HD so I could copy them to CDs. That may not be a good idea because they most likely need some snap, crackle, and pop cleaning first.
Hey ... westegg is cool. That 75 cents I was making isn't even minimum wage today - forget the 62 1/2 cents you were getting in '66. ;o)
|
Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25732
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-11-14 00:53
EdP- I was curious as to what the snap, crackle and pop filter does to the frequency range of the music?
~Maxx~
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/N.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26561&forum=51&start=540&select_page_number=37]The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930[/url]
|
EdP
Sony Fan
Joined: Oct 22, 2005
Posts: 8
From:
| Posted: 2005-11-14 08:57
>what the snap, crackle and pop filter does to the frequency range of the music? <
Exactly what I was wondering. I've read that some folks prefer hearing the noises rather than losing fidelity. I've been collecting some information on that topic here and there, but I need to dig more into the recommendations that I've found.
Before I even start this "little" project, I have a lot of work to do to make room for the turntable and pre-amp in my PC room. It's one of those "before I do this, I gotta do that, but before that, I gotta do the other thing, ad infinitum".
|
Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25732
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-11-14 15:26
I just can't imagine that you could completely remove the sounds of the clicks and pops without also loosing some significant high frequency Musical information along with it.
I used to have a Turntable before I built my Digital front end and in fact I voiced it to the sound of the Turntable which was a Rega Planar 3 w/RB 300 Tonearm and Blue Point Special Cart. A guy's got to have some kind of reference to go by!
Do you already have a Turntable/ Arm/ Cartridge/ Phono Preamp?
~Maxx~
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/N.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26561&forum=51&start=540&select_page_number=37]The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930[/url]
|
EdP
Sony Fan
Joined: Oct 22, 2005
Posts: 8
From:
| Posted: 2005-11-14 17:31
>Do you already have a Turntable/ Arm/ Cartridge/ Phono Preamp? <
Yes, I have a Technics SL-DL5 (circa 1982), but I can't recall what cartridge I have in it. I think I replaced the cartridge a couple of times, but certainly not within the last 10 years because I just never use it. It's a direct drive linear-tracking table. I wanted to attach a pic, but nothing happens when I click the "This will upload and insert your own photos" icon.
I have two McIntosh stereo systems. I wrapped up and stored my older system when I upgraded a few years ago. I'll use the old pre-amp so I won't have to tear down my current system. It's a C28.
Oh yeah, I upgraded to a *used* McIntosh system; new ones are way too expensive - for me, anyway.
|
Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25732
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-11-15 15:05
That's great to have the McIntosh C-28 with its phono preamp to work with! For what it cost in its day you could buy a new Sony DA7100ES Digital Receiver.
With a new Phono Cart I would think that you could get some excellent transfers of your Vinyl to CD.
Have you ever heard of Groove Glide? After cleaning the Vinyl you spray it on and wipe off the excess and it makes the record sound very smooth like it was new and with very low surface noise. It may work as well a the snap, crackle, pop filter only without harming the sound quality.
GRUV-GLIDE ANTI-STATIC RECORD CLEANER
Gruv-Glide is a dry record treatment that actually enhances the sound of your records. In the past, even the highest quality cartridge could not truly access all the sonic nuances of a vinyl disc.
Gruv-Glide changes all that by cleaning the groove and bringing out the best possible sound. The special aerosol formula provides a microscopic layer of lubrication that reduces record wear and prevents static build-up.
GROOVE GLIDE Features:
Superior dry record treatment
Removes static
Cleans vinyl
Enhances fidelity
Reduces surface noise
Long lasting
Extends the lives of cartridges and records
One can treats 300 sides
~Maxx~
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/N.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26561&forum=51&start=540&select_page_number=37]The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930[/url]
[ This message was edited by: Maxxwire on 2005-11-15 15:19 ]
|
Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25732
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-11-15 15:09
Here's a link to more information on Gruv Glide-
http://www.djdeals.com/gruvglide.htm
~Maxx~
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/N.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26561&forum=51&start=540&select_page_number=37]The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930[/url]
|
EdP
Sony Fan
Joined: Oct 22, 2005
Posts: 8
From:
| Posted: 2005-11-15 17:13
>... the McIntosh C-28 ... For what it cost in its day you could buy a new Sony DA7100ES Digital Receiver.<
LOL ... I got *that* used, too. The McIntosh factory is right here in my home town, but there ain't no such thing as getting a deal. In fact, they don't even have a factory store. However, it is convenient to be able to drop off a piece of vintage equipment to be refurbished.
Maxx ... thank you very much for taking the time to describe and recommend gruv-glide for me. It's exactly the kind of thing I've been planning to search for and you dropped it right in my lap.
Now I have to find out if anyone still makes cartridges for my ancient turntable.
|
Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25732
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-11-16 01:01
That Gruv Gilde really treats Vinyl right! The local dealer can hardly keep it in stock it sells so well.
Keep us posted on the progress of your Vinyl to CD project.
~Maxx~
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/N.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26561&forum=51&start=540&select_page_number=37]The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930[/url]
|
