It's all below. The All Discs Shuffle has changed my life, as well as being a fun dance.

Just want to report that the machine has started skipping occasionally and jumping back about 30 seconds towards the beginning of tracks every so often. If anybody knows what this is please tell me. Sony seem to have gone for the popular ploy of making their website as a soluble canoe, so no joy there.

Of course the star rating below should be cut considerably if it is taken for granted that performance will deteriorate inevitably (over a year, anyway)

Capacity, integration with Sony STR-DB940 receiver, auto-id of Sony CD title/track info. Keybvoard interface.

No track labelling (unless Sony CD).

Programming title and artist info is somewhat cumbersome, but the keyboard port made it do-able. Random/continuous play options are a nice touch but somewhat slow. The unit interfaces nicely with my Sony receiver. Both the receiver's remote and the changer's remote can memorize the stored CD info.
Eventually I'll hook up the control line and see what it can do for me. The Nirvis S-Link box is another potential add-on that will link the changer to the internet and eliminate the need to do any typing.
It looks cool, it operates well and, for the price was a terrific bargain. I heartily recommend it for anyone looking for lots od CD storage, but if you're interested in DVD's too, you might want to look at a combo changer.

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No mega-changers - various Sony components.

Large disc-holding capacity. Plays CD-Rs and CD-RWs flawlessly. Plays scratched discs better than the average player.

Slow random play. Slightly unbalanced audio output in analog mode. Unable to bypass CD Text with shortened character entries to fit better onto TV screen format. Confusing owner's manual (poorly written).

All in all I am happy with this product. I still haven't figured out how to enter Artist Names to read on the TV screen. Also, I have 2 units daisy-chained and cannot change the numbering scheme to display 401-800 for the second "slave unit".

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Pioneer PDF-1007

Takes care of the whole collection! Sony quality.

Slot oriented nature for data storage.

This is a great addition to my Sony collection. Works really nicely. The LCD remote will let you be master of your CD collection, makes it very easy to organize and find everything.

I was able to put all my Jewel cases away and clear out a six foot CD cabinet, which makes for a big open spot in the living room!

Ok - for real feedback, there are a couple bugs I found. The keyboard input is the way you want to go, not the remote. I used an old keyboard and it generally worked ok, but sometimes it started to lose it's mind with Caps lock and Shift, as well as dropping keys. Unplugging and replugging generally worked ok.

For organizing the collection, and entering the Artist category, the sanest thing is to put in sets of CDs based on the artist - because scanning for the artist takes a while with the jog dial. Enter the disks for a few Artists, then the Artist names and assign the disks to the artist.

The reason is, as you add more artists, you have to dial through them to get to the right one. No shortcuts like a key on the keyboard or something. If you entered all the artists at one time a LOT of dialing of the jog dial..

The sorting is also only by first character. The entries of the same first character subsequent items are appended to the character bucket.

Other comment. If you have the LCD remote from the 777ES, think it's RM-503 or something, it seems to have a firmware limitation on the sort size of the Title memory buffer. If you download all the names, you can see the first 13 characters of the disks. But if you hit TITLE button it will lockup the unit and you have to yank the batteries and reload all your info. Sony probably has less than 400 allowed names for their Title sort algorithm, and forgot to bounds check their array.

Otherwise this is a great unit, really cleans things up and I no longer have to hunt around for disks. I've actually rediscovered all the disks that have been gathering dust in my collection.

If Sony reads this, they should also create a couple data disks that can be put in the unit. The firmware would either look for the unique number on the disks or CRC the first couple K of data on the disk - then look it up for name and artist on the data disks. We could totally forget about hand entering this CD text info at that time, and the machine could be self-deterministic about what's in it. Yes, I'm a computer programmer type.

Similar Products Used:

couple old Sony 5 disk changers.

Holds more CDs than I'll probably listen to in a year's time. Has great indexing capabilities. Sound quality is good when using digital output. Has a good remote that displays CD information and is easy to navigate with, especially in the dark (green backlit display along with glow-in-the-dark buttons.)

A tad slow changing discs (about 8-9 seconds). Huge unit, might not fit in all racks. Doesn't remember disc info, so if you save a Madonna CD in disc 1 and move it to disc 348, it won't retain the info you typed in.

If you have more than 400 or more CDs in your collection and need a place to store and index them, look no further than this Sony unit. It makes a good jukebox and supposedly if you have all 400 slots filled, it would play continuously for approx. 19 days! The scary thing is that you can daisy-chain 3 units together for a total of 1200 discs that you can access via a single remote.
Sound quality is quite good, considering all of the mechanical parts that must be apart of this beast. It's not too noisy when it changes discs, although you do hear some of the mechanical sounds to know its active. It does take a long time to change discs, whether its disk 50 to 51 or disc 35 to disc 289, its about 8-9 seconds between each change.
If you are a self-proclaimed 'audiophile', I would not recommend this product. If you are intrested in having a place to store your CDs so that you can play any one at any time without having to fuss and hassle of loading and unloading CDs, I would recommend this product. With it's abiltiy to daisy-chain multiple units, I doubt there are many people who can fill all of them and complain. It's slowness is compensated with its convience. It's also a great bargain for the money it costs.

Great sounds, fantastic capacity.

Complicated setup; inadequate manual....no real clue to ultimate capabilities of the machine..especially when it comes to labeling discs, and connecting to a second machine

Great machine. Easy to work the basics.....such as inserting discs and playing.....either singly, continuous, or random. I've enjoyed just running the random play for hours.

I hooked up a digital output cable to my SONY STRDB 930 through the MD slot and its is great connection.

I bought 2 machines, hoping to unload a large number of my discs into the 800 slots.....and getting rid of the boxes.....but haven't had the time to set up the artist or groupings possible.

The manual really falls short of fully informing you how to do this to maximize the system. I'd like to know if there's any bulletin board.

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carousel 5 disc

Greetings, all! I’m sitting here this fine summer morn reveling in some great sounds from one of my two CX450s, both of which continue to function well after seven months. I haven’t visited this site in quite a while; I notice nobody’s added a word since good Mr. Smith checked in last May 27th. Any NEWCOMER seeking information about the CX450 would surely run another direction after perusing Mr. Smith’s utterly excoriating review! Maybe that’s for the best… or maybe NOT. If said newcomer really wants a good jukebox NOW (not YEARS from now when—we all hope—“jukebox PERFECTION” at last arrives), then I wonder if Mr. Smith’s unqualified condemnation isn’t doing the neophyte more a disservice than otherwise.

Make no mistake: Mr. Smith does voice some valid criticisms; in fact, Sony should add him to their team for their next generation of megachangers. I myself have been perturbed for many years that the manufacturers’ designers (not just Sony’s) haven’t made a more concerted effort to TOTALLY get it right with these jukeboxes. Perhaps my own extreme enthusiasm for this CX450 (expressed in prior posts below) can be attributed to the fact that this was the first JUKEBOX that would, at least, do all the things that are really important to ME. (Each prospective jukebox owner has his own usage proclivities that will determine either his delight or his detestation with ANY given product.)

In my own case, I’d previously been thwarted in my search for a very-high-capacity changer that, especially, would allow the following things:

1. keyboard connectivity;
2. the capability to “permanently” DELETE disliked tracks (regardless of what playback mode you’re using);
3. non-repeating random (shuffle) playback, whether in program or non-programmed modes (the 32-track programming limitation of my 1988 Denon was a frustration; with the CX450, using its DELETE function to “permanently destroy” all disliked tracks, and THEN playing the unit in ARTIST (or GROUP) mode means I really don’t often have to resort to tedious, old-fashioned programming of individual tracks in the first place);
4. VIRTUALLY unlimited “grouping” capability (by simply using/adapting “ARTIST MODE,” you can easily have more than just eight “music-category groups”);
5. the ability to select artist names/disc names via an easy to read LCD remote;
6. the ability to attach a much-easier-to-read (13-inch TV) display so that I could tell what’s playing at a glance while I’ve got my computer occupied with other tasks (other users may prefer attaching their PCs via the somewhat more expensive Nirvis.com (“Slink-e”) approach discussed in some users’ posts below).

I realize not ALL consumers want these capabilities (especially #6), but many do--or would, once they had a megachanger that could handle them. The CX450, whatever its shortcomings, is virtually the only affordable model currently available that WILL perform ALL the above functions.

Now, am I thrilled with the limited LED display on the face of the machine? No, of course not. It SHOULD be somewhat larger and show both artist AND disc titles simultaneously. For what it’s worth, however, Mr. Smith was slightly incorrect saying, “the artist name is only viewable by selecting an ‘artist mode’ that flashes the artist's name until de-selected.” The OTHER thing one can do is what Sony intended from the gitgo: just tap the SCROLL key (either on the remote or the changer); this causes the artist name to momentarily appear, then automatically disappear). But I agree Sony could and should have done far better with the LED display. (Of course, the fact that I myself happen to use a dedicated 13-inch TV monitor that does SIMULTANEOUSLY display both disc names and artist names causes me to grumble a lot less about the limited LED on the face of the unit.)

As for the “slow” disc-exchange time, it’s certainly not slow enough to irritate ME—although I agree it could be VERY SLIGHTLY faster. I agree with Mr. Smith that one shouldn’t HAVE to resort to attaching a second changer and using the “alternate play” features in order to achieve still quicker disc-cueing speed. Incidentally, I don’t generally use my two “linked” units in that “alternate play” mode anyway. Here again, you must decide for yourself if a VERY FEW seconds’ delay is going to irritate your sensibilities.

If you are a perfectionist of Mr. Smith’s professional caliber, your irritation with the CX450’s shortcomings may prove overwhelming. If, instead, you’re a somewhat more forgiving soul who simply wants a machine that can supply the sorts of features enumerated above (and discussed further in sundry reviews below), then I ask you: where ELSE are you going to get any better (high-capacity) jukebox with so many delightful playback features—NOT “SOMEDAY” but in the here-and-now? (*DISCLAIMER*: I haven't double-checked the audio arena for the very latest jukebox releases over the past few months!)

Great 400-CD capacity; best remote handset I've seen; fun & useful TV display of disc & artist names(can select/play CDs via the TV)

Various irritating glitches/limitations that prior reviewers have covered sufficiently, including lack of full functionality with a second, "linked" changer.

I've only had my two CDP-CX450s for about a week. But it's been enough time to mention several things not yet covered in the previous reviews (I would strongly advise any newcomer to ALSO read all the other reviewers' comments; I agree with many of their observations wholeheartedly, but will not be too redundant here).

First, let me say that I personally DO find the TV-display feature to be VERY useful. One reviewer claimed you cannot "scroll" the display; NOT so--there's a clearly indicated button labeled "scroll" on both the front of the unit, as well as the lower-left corner of the remote. This easily switches which column you want to see in "full" display: "disc name" vs. "artist name." (BTW, in either case you can often still see enough of the currently partially obscured name to RECOGNIZE it, even without pressing the scroll button.) Very importantly, newcomers need to realize that beneath its fold-open "lid," the remote control has a second set of buttons, including four cursor-control (arrow) keys that you can use to scroll fairly quickly one full screen at a time, OR just one record at a time--your choice. Once the on-TV-screen "cursor" is positioned on your desired disc name/artist name, press the remote's adjacent "enter" key, and that disc will be played, assuming the "front door" of the changer is closed (alternatively, if the door's open, the desired disc/slot will be presented for disc loading or removal).

However, perhaps the most "unique" or "innovative" piece of information I can humbly contribute to this forum is what follows next. After I briefly tried linking Sony's cheaper CDP-CX400 unit to this one, I discovered that (among several other shortcomings that have already been discussed by others) the second changer's data cannot be displayed on the TV that's already connected to the first ("master") changer. It would be a royal pain to unplug and replug the video cable from one changer to the other--nobody would put up with that!

I finally solved this dilemma by getting a second CDP-CX450 changer (and returning the CDP-CX400!); simultaneously, I conceived a "2-way video switchbox" approach. I went to Radio Shack and found the perfect solution for anyone in my situation who is not yet ready to spend $250 to upgrade to the admittedly preferable "third-party" computer-interface hardware & software solution that a previous reviewer wisely mentioned. Instead, just buy Radio Shack's $39 "Remote-Control Video Switch," their item #15-1957, a very cute unit that can perch atop your TV and which has easily readable red-LED "A" and "B" indicators on its face. (NOTE: Since it's got 75-ohm type jacks in back, you'll also need to spend a few dollars for three tiny metal "Phono-to-F" adapters (Radio Shack #278-255B) to make it compatible with "RCA" video cables, such as the yellow-tipped one Sony supplies with each megachanger. You will also need a third video cable, in addition to the two that come with your two changers; I myself bought three black-tipped ones because I hate the looks of the yellow against the black of my TV!)

Anyway, just connect both Sony changers' video output jacks to the Radio Shack video switchbox's "A" and "B" rear jacks; then connect the switchbox's output jack to any TV having a video input jack. That's it. Now you can use the video switchbox's own tiny infrared remote control to easily and quickly switch between displaying one changer's disc data on your TV screen, then the other's. BTW, I ended up buying a cheap matching black 13-inch Orion TV at Wal-Mart for $85; by pressing the TV remote's "TV/AV" button, you can put the TV "permanently" into "AV" mode; you will only need to press the "AV" mode button again if you completely unplug the TV from the wall socket. (No big deal.) I set the little black TV right next to my two stacked megachangers, atop a cabinet dedicated to this setup. (In my own situation, BTW, I also had to run extra-long audio cables along a circuitous route from the master changer's audio-output jacks to my stereo receiver across the room!)

If this all sounds complicated, it's really not. Just take it step by step. The end result is very satisfying, and somewhat cheaper than hooking up your computer, etc.

Until the day I MAYBE upgrade to the aforementioned $250 "Slink-e" computer hardware adapter plus software, my video switchbox approach suffices and makes it very fun to have TWO Sony CDP-CX450s linked. Just remember: you CANNOT achieve this if you try to link the cheaper CDP-CX400 unit into the CDP-CX450. BOTH changers must be CDP-CX450s (having video-display capability).

OH, FINALLY: one other, very important (separate) issue, potentially: this morning my first CDP-CX450 (manufacture date April 2000) inexplicably stopped working properly in "ALL DISCS SHUFFLE" mode. It would simply stop altogether after playing the first track. Finally, I stumbled onto a possible work-around or band-aid: if this happens to your machine, try ALSO pressing the "REPEAT" button, so that the LED display on the changer's front says "ALL DISCS SHUFFLE REPEAT." Don't ask me why or how, but this did the trick for me--so far. After all, with 400 discs loaded, what do I care if the "REPEAT" feature is activated? I'll be stopping/turning off the unit long before any repetition should ever occur. (But do note some previous reviewers' comments regarding a glitch that causes some early units to frequently default to disc/slot #1--my "April" unit does do this, alas; my other, "June" unit appears not to, but needs more testing time for me to be absolutely sure.)

Similar Products Used:

Sony 10-disc & Denon 6-disc changers.

(See my two earlier reviews.)

Since it's a been a while and I've not seen anyone else bring this up, here's something that might save some newbies a little head-scratching time:

When loading disc names and artist names into the 2-way remote, if you notice erratic behavior or incomplete transfer of data, try placing the remote VERY close to the unit (ignore the user manual's placement guidelines). Assuming the remote's batteries aren't simply weak, this should solve any problems.

none

"It's a Sony..."

Hey Mikey...ONE REVIEW PER ITEM