Price Paid:  $200.00 from Darty

Summary:
This is an update of my original review. After nearly two years of use, and having now burned over half of my LP collection, this unit is still working perfectly. Yes, I agree, it isn't really ideal for analogue sources since you have to record track by track, but quality is pretty good - and there's no tape hiss. As with all CD recorders, the media you use does make a difference. Stick to high end brands and there won't be a problem, but try some supermarket specials n results become iffy, which translates as discs don't record. This isn't a Philips phenomenon - I work in the computer industry, and have long since learnt that cheap cds = no usable copies.

Strengths:
Perfect digital recordings. Playback isn't great, but out of curiosity I fed the Philips through my DAC. It sounded much better than my expensive Rega (Sony transport) - Philips transports really are that good.

Weaknesses:
As before - bass boost on analog recordings, slow transport. Not great on playback.

Price Paid:  $140.00 from Ebay

Summary:
Befor I got a CD burner on my PC, I bought the Philips CDR 770 recorder, and I made the right choice. This product is great, I cand record a CD from any source (Phono, tape, radio...) After recording couple cd in manual mode the recorder started to finalize the disc and stop after few seconds, so I pressed the finalize button over and over again and it did not finalize the CD. I found this strange, because I always left about 5 minutes of space. I found out that the recorder did not want to finalize the cd, because it was on for so long and almost overheated, so I turned it of with the unfinalized cd inside. After about half hour I turned it on and tried to finalize the disc, it worked the first time. So I you are lisining to music on this recorder and then decide to record, allow the unit to cool off.

Strengths:
Can record from recorde, tapes radio, and almost any thing you connect to it.

Weaknesses:
You have to use DIGTAL AUDIO blank cd's, other wise you will not be able to record. These cd are the same as cd for a PC, except for the price. Why cant the digital audio cd recorders use blank cd that computers use?

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
The philips cdr 770 is a single tray unit with many features you would expect to find on more expensive recorders. You can control recording level and balance of analog and digital sources. The unit records in HQ-CD (20 bit), or regular 16 bit when copying a normal cd. It uses a 1 bit codec with 20 bit reading quality analog conversion. It has coaxial digital in/out, optical in, and analog in/out rca connections, and includes the coxial and analog cables. It has a remote. The quality of the recordings is very good, although I am still biased towards high-speed reel to reel and phonograph. I use it for demo recordings with a microphone. The SCMS copy protection has never been a problem. My analog (microphone) recordings are multi-generation copyable. I cannot speak for copies of CD's, since I only use the unit for original material.

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Darty

Summary:
Ignore what the magazines say: unless someone''s deliberately set out to do otherwise, digital recordings are going to sound the same from one manufacturer to another. Its a fact of digital life. Unsurprisingly, then, the Philips CDR 770 produces perfect duplicates of CDs. The challenge is how it handles analogue, because I bought this machine to record my LPs, not CDs. I''d have to say that recording separate tracks is a pain, but then, at least a Cd recorder can do this, whereas the old fashioned cassette can''t. Otherwise, it''s all up to the sound quality, and that, together with playback quality, is how I''ve rated this machine. Firstly recording, and the bad news first: compared to the source, the Philips adds some bass. Not enough to be a problem, but enough to be noticeable. Given that this (unless you have better than a Linn Sondek)is a failing of many turntables, it''s not so bad, especially since everything else is recorded faithfully. On the plus side, the Philips manages to capture the immediacy of the records, and that''s no mean feat. It''s a pleasure to hear the realistic decay of the LP, compared to what the average CD hands out. As to playback, well, don''t bother. Like most other recorders, playback is a weakness, and it''s exacerbated by the slow transport mechanism. Out of curiosity I fed the Philips into my resident DAC, and it produced top class results, possibly better than those of my resident CD player. Obviously, then, there''s no problem with quality of the transport, which is what you''d expect for one used in so many top flight players, but it''s realisation is too slow here. Overall, I''m more than happy with the results, and was convinced enough to splash out on a top range cartridge to do the recordings justice. If you only want to record CDs, look no further. If you want to record your LPs, then this machine will do the job, with the only caveat being that bass boost. Incidentally, I had none of the problems described in other reviews.

Strengths:
Perfect CD copies

Weaknesses:
Slight bass boost on analog recordings, slow transport

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $99.00 from Local Store/Floor Mo

Summary:
I couldn''t resist this for $99 (floor/demo unit with full warranty). I bought the cheapest music CD-R''s in Wal-Mart and found that the 770 would record on some and not recognize or initialize others all from the same pack. The ones that did record would not playback on my Panasonic portable, or even the CDR-770. I almost returned the recorder but decided to try another brand of CD-R''s. I tried Sony 80 minute music discs and they have worked flawlessly and playback on all CD players I have. This is my first CD-R recorder and I am really pleased so far.

Strengths:
Price. Easy to use. Uses CD-R''s & CD-RW''s

Weaknesses:
Evidently fussy about brands of CD-R''s it likes.

Similar Products Used:
None