I own this recorder for 15 years at least and it still works very well. Recording is almost perfect.
High quality recording preamp. No noise no interference at all.
Very good dynamic range.
Concerning palyback it has a good sound but not among the best players, it is a bit too cold and too analytic.
Very beautiful to see, good display but uinfortunately no CD Text !
Very reliable.
In France iIt was 3 times more expensive than a CDR 600 so if you find one second hand and don't need CD text do not hesitate !
Strength : Very good recorder and nice looking.
Weakness : No CD text, sounds a bit too cold.

Simple to use; variable input capabilities

Compatability

I've had this unit for a few years; it was a gift. It records and plays back fine...until you try to use the disc in a Sony or Yamaha CD player, or any other for that matter. The discs play in my car, but that's about it. Won't play on my computer either. I'm using Maxell CD-R recordable compact discs. Pretty tough to share mixes with friends. I think I'm going to take it in for service or check out. Maybe Philips has an answer by now.

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Compatability

Follow-up: I took this unit to Philips Service Center here in Houston. They want an exorbitant non-refundable $165 deposit. If there is a screw missing or a small part ajar, it will still cost $165. I declined to repair this unit, and would rather put the $165 into a new SONY or PIONEER CDR. No sense in sinking alot of money to fix old technology, with no guarantees that the problem will be fixed. This will be the last Philips unit I ever purchase.

So much has been said already about this recorder by HIFI-Choice. This recorder offers very high quality recording at a very affordable price, maybe not so if you live in the UK (500 Brithish Pounds) $599.00 US. There is no detectable differnce between the original CD and the clone when played on a variety of system ranging from the Meridian 508 to the Marantz CD67SE.As far as playback is concerned, this recorder offers very clean, smooth, clear and good detail sound but not powerful enough. However, this is not a problem since matching components is the name of the game in the world of audio, so the Audioquest RUBI with its good high frequencies and controlled sound or the more expensive Audioquest Quartz will take this player and extra level offering superb clarity and control and will leave you with a good sound.

This recorder/player is not intended to playback complex music, but if you are into Jazz or POP music,then you will certainly be happy with it.

I give four stars for the playback and five stars for recording.

The CDR870 is good recorder but not as good as the CDR880. I don't know what was PHILIPS thinking when they decided to resample the 44.1 Khz. The differences are subtle between the 870 & 880 although the latter does not come close to the Marantz CD-700 but still make better recordings than the 870.
The CDR870 is a good recorder but not for the audiophile listner and is best suited for reproducing CD's for protable DISCman and the car.

5 STars! I've made plenty of CD's with this recorder, using a CD source via optical digitcal cable. What other recorder allows us to use $2.00 CDR's for recording Audio?
Beware of the auto-track button, if it's not on (indicated by a microscopic display on the face) you'll end up with one long, 74 minute track.

This recorder as affordable as it is, provide high-quality audio recording on write-once and rewritable CDs. It incorporates very accurate CDM36 Trasport with multi-reader lens. Th edigital components included are State-of-The-Art. for example the D/A is the TDA1305 18bit self-calibrating which provides superb linearity and reproduction of the original signal for playback. The error correction and servo components are the same ones used by NaimAudio on their CD3 unit. And if you are into recording analoug, the one bit A/D is the best I have ever heared. Playback offers smooth and detailed reproduction but not so punchy.

I gice it 5 stars for recording and 4 starts for playback.