Very easy to use. Records flawlessly.

The Philips Electronics CDR-880 is a great CD recording device. It is very simple to use and the sound quality is excellent. It does require using the higher priced Audio DC blanks rather than the CD-ROM blanks but the cost is not as different now as it was a year or so ago.

I have recorded from CDs, Minidiscs, and DATs and they all have worked good for me. It is not as flexible as rcording using a minidisc but it is not difficult to use. I think it would also be ideal to record your old LPs onto CDs.

Similar Products Used:

Minidisc players and recorders.

I bought this machine after reading that it makes bit-perfect copies (in HiFi Choice UK). I have a good playback machine already, so the playback quality was not at all important to me this time. First impression is not too good - too much plastic, noisy door - the word "budget" comes to mind all to often. But once I started recording, I really can't stop. The copies are indeed bit perfect (checked it on a computer), and sound absolutely identical.
I've done a blind listetning test using my sister to swap the discs and couldn't tell which is which (it was exactly 50/50 in hits and misses). The CD's play everywhere I take them, and you can record on computer CD roms (pull the drawer out manually and replace the audio CD with a PC CD ROM - I guess everyone knows this one already but just in case...:-)

However, I've noticed that some CD ROM brands work better than others - I think this has to do with the calibration the machine performs when you feed it with the "legal" audio CD. When you manually replace it with a different (computer) disc, I guess it has to closely match (in terms of surface material) the one you have removed, otherwise strange things happen. For example the Philips classic CD ROMs with a bluish recording side work perfectly (proceeded by Philips yellow Audio CDROMs), where as the Philips Gold sound OK but are more difficult for older CD players to be read correctly (to be specific, an older Pioneer of mine gave up completely after a series of digital noises). Also my computer (Audiograbber) wouldn't want to grab the tracks from the second half of these discs reporting "LOST SYNCHRONIZATION".

Still if you experiment a little, you can cut the recording costs to minimum without sacrificing quality (choose the right CD ROMS), and the coaxial connection seems virtually errorless. BTW I use a Pioneer PDS 904 as a transport and a QED QNECT D coaxial cable, Arcam Delta 290 amp and Tannoy M2.5 speakers.

As a CD player this machine is nothing special. My rating:
5 as a recorder
3 as a player

Anyone wanting a perfect recorder should definetly consider this macchine, especially if you're not planning to cheat using the drawer swap trick. Otherwise be careful, but given you choose the right software combination, it also can prove very rewarding.

I must agree with Dave, this recorder does its job pretty well. In fact, it didbetter than the Marantz DR-700 in many ways and for $499.00 this is a great deal.

I like the latest release of this model with its Eease TOC and auto-stop recording after a two seconds of silence should the source stop playing.

I am certain that PHILIPS can make this recorder even better if they were allowed by the giant recording industry.

I give it five start for value.