Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
The layout of this recorder is extremely "un-user-friendly". I do a lot of recording in low-light situations, and the button layout makes no sense at all. I understand that there is some space that is saved by using the tiny round buttons, but there is a ton of functionality lost in its place.

Strengths:
It says Harman Kardon on it, and there are 2 drives.

Weaknesses:
See my review summary. Most of what I have to say about this recorder falls into the weakness category.

Similar Products Used:
I own the Tascam CDRW 750 and the Tascam CDRW 900, and I hate to use the HK after using the Tascam recorders.

Price Paid:  $499.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
Overall a great unit, but has a few flaws.

Strengths:
Great overall sound quality, It looks good.

Weaknesses:
I feel that be-it consumer burner, or pro burner, I should not have to hunt disc that will work in my unit, especially since I paid almost $500.00 for it.

Because its a consumer burner you have to get blank cd, or cdr media that bears the logo DIGITAL AUDIO on it, or it wont work in this player. I am an audio engineer, and I use this unit in my studio, and a lot of the stores do not carry cdr media for
consumer burners. The disc that are availble like memorex need to be burned in SATANS HOT FURNICE because the product is no good. I recommend the TDK, or Sony Disc media If you can find them.

So the main weaknesses are CD Compatibility, and yea, track advancement on 3 secs of silence, and yea that little door flaw, you have to tap it to get it to open.

Similar Products Used:
NONE

Price Paid:  $150.00 from HK Ebay store

Summary:
I originally bought a CDR-20(?, whatever the older model was called) and had serious problems with its left side tray. HK promptly replaced the unit with a CDR-26 which has worked very reliably (3-4 hours a day for 1 year). I dubbed most of my CDs, recorded both from the analog and digital inputs and was always pleased with the result. BTW the CDR-26 can also be used as an (entry-level) DAC: just connect your computer sound-card digital output to the CDR-26, put a recordable CD in, start the recording process (leaving it in PAUSE) and off you go: the line-out and the headphone jack give you a pretty decent sound (vastly superior to most computer soundcards).

Strengths:
does its job (record CDs) as advertised
customer service
connectivity (digital and analog)
decent headphone jack
decent DAC

Weaknesses:
poor user interface
left side tray (CDP) requires clean CDs
no CD-R/SACD/DVD-A playing

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $299.00 from circut city

Summary:
being my first cd recorder i was not sure what to expect, however the cdr26 has worked flawlessly for two yrs. now and i have burned 100s of cds without any problems. it isn't without a few glithes though. sometimes when the machine is cold that is when it is first turned on, the cd trays will not open,however a gentle tap on the tray during the open seqence will solve the problem. also during the auto mode while recording tapes or lps the machine will index up numeracly to the next no. even though you may be on the same song. it does this every time it senses 3 seconds of silence. not a well thought out option when recording music with many quiet passages. therefore you must always record tapes and lps in the manual mode and index the tracks yourself. also there is no track search on the unit itself, you must use the remote. the remote itself though is very easy to use and is highly functionably. the overall finish seems quite cheap and on my particular unit the face plate was badly scrached, but all functions are clearly marked and easy to read and so far the unit has performed very well,except for the trays somtimes sticking. all n all i would have to give it a favorably review.

Strengths:
sonicly this machine is awesome, everything sounds better through this player/recorder

Weaknesses:
fit and finish, has a few glitches

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $450.00 from Ultra Fidelis

Summary:
I bought this to replace a Philips unit that had died on me. I put CD recorders to task on a regular basis, recording mixes regularly as well as making straight dubs. I use them on a daily basis. I have been VERY happy with the HK CDR 26 until just recently. The (right) record deck is suddenly unable to read any kind of disc, CDR, CDRW, or standard prerecorded CD. In fact, when I turn the unit on, the record deck spends an inordinate amount of time searching for a disc and eventually claims that there is a "disc error" - even if no disc is present in the machine. I have been thrilled with this machine until now.

Strengths:
ease of use
excellent sound from both decks
versatility of features
wide variety of inputs

Weaknesses:
suddenly and for no reason, the (right)recording deck refuses to recognize discs.

Similar Products Used:
Philips CDR (can't remember model)