Wow Tom, I just purchased this unit from uBid for my parents and received it last week. I paid $98 smackers just as you. Perhaps we were in the same bid. Anyway, this thing sounds just perfect and I (and my parents couldn't be happier.) We have had no problems with it, and as a result, I plan to bid on another soon for myself! This thing does get hot. Are you running it on top of your amp, that may explain some of the errors.
I agree, the sounds from this (especially with the digital out)are incredilble. It is a touchy beast, but worth every penny.

Tom, if you received a Dog, call Harman asap.

I give it 4 stars for the performance (the fact that it has digital out makes it lean towards a 5).

I love the sound of my FL8300. Good features and a solid look to it.The biggest problem with this unit is ergonomics. Why did they put the tray to open and close above most all of the controls??? The only way you can open the tray and operate the controls is to hunch down below the tray or mount the cd player 6 feet above the floor at eye level.
Other than this big ergonomic mistake, I love my FL8300.

I have owned my FL 8300 for over a year and I have not experienced any problems. The sound is excellent. I have mine hooked up to my old HK 630 receiver andmy old Rectilinear III speakers. This is a good sounding CD Player. I have owned several CD player over the past Decade and this is the best sounding one that I have been able to find for the price. I recomend buying one if you can find one. I would also recomend buying any old HK audio component because the older ones sound better than the new ones. I give the FL 8300 5 stars for the sound quality for the price.

Five CD changer. Programing and shuffle.

Nothing special.

Not the best player out there, but if you're looking for nothing special, just a normal player to play CD's, for an afortable price i would suggest this product.

Overall, a good CD player if it actually worked longer than two months. I had the same problem everyone else complained of and now I'm out $200 unless I want to pay to get it realigned. On that note, if anyone wants to buy a CD player, let me know.

brand name

everything else

Don't bother purchasing one of these things. Mine, a refurbished unit, worked for about 4 months, and then it quit recognizing CDs at all. Of course, the warranty on this piece of refurb junk is only 3 months, so I am SOL. Ironically, I posted a really positive review of this product about two months ago.

5 Disk Play, Nice Smooth sounding, Plays just about anything without skips or pop's

Under disk controls, occasional drawer sticking on close

I've had this unit for a few years now, and i'm just about to upgrade using an external DAC. I've been so please that i was really loathed to swap out the whole lot, so the external DAC was decided on. Apart from the drawer sticking, the unit has operated without fault (i've now lubed the draw and it hasn't stuck since). I've recently upgraded my Amp which has shown that my previous amp was a bit edgy, but my new amp now makes the CD player the weakest link (isn't this always the way).

Great Sound. Plays EVERY CD ever created in the history of mankind.

under tray disc controls.

I have now had this CD player for 5 years. And it still works as well as the day I bought it.

I originally purchased the CD player to match the H/K stereo receiver I bought at the the time. My goal was simple, agravate my neighbors in college and have some sweet lookin gear to impress the ladies. Both units served there purpose well. It played every scrached and screwed up CD anyone ever brought into my room in the dorm/frat house. Which is quite valuable when EVERY CD you own gets trashed.

It then accompanied my H/K AVR300 and I began to truly enjoy music and the exellent natural sound that this CD player can produce from Jazz and modern music recordings as well.

I now use it with My new Marantz SR7200 and my B&W DM303s. Just the other day I finally hooked it up via the optical cable to the Marantz so that its modern D/A procesors can go to work and it is truly a GREAT thing. My H/K now serves as a spectacular 5-disc transport to go with the up to date electronics of the Marantz. A great combination.

As far as comments on H/K reliability are concerned I feel that it really has become a problem with more recently manufactured equipment from H/K. My original stereo reciever still works wonders without a hitch after 5 years as does my 8300. However, my AVR300 fell to electrical gremlins less than a year after its purchase, and thus the new Marantz receiver.

Sound quality
Great looking

Very poor mechanical quality

Great sounding and great looking garbage:(

I've had mine fixed once and now my changer is starting
to have 'no disk' errors. These problems are mentioned in H/K porduct FAQ, but I have no warranty left:(

If changer would work, it would get 5 stars, but now...

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AVOID H/K CHANGERS! READ ALL THESE REVIEWS!
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Nice, smooth sound, not over-styled, digital out

Not many play options, very simple face, disc tray over controls

I must say that I am shocked at the low rating this player has received. I did not know about any of these problems with this player, and I have recommended it to several friends who also have had no problems. The difference in sound between the Sony player the H/K it replaced is night and day. The sound is much brighter and seems more natural and not as harsh and filtered as the Sony. I figure I have had this player for three years and thrown every kind of CD, both pressed and burned, at it with absolutely no problems. I plan on keeping this player until it either quits on me or HDCD really takes off.

I've seen this complaint before, but I'll make it again as it's the only one I really have. The tray should be UNDERNEATH the buttons, but when you have had the unit for a couple years you could operate it blindfolded, but what happened to simple ergonomics.

I'm giving it a 4 in value because it could have more functions. It gets a 5 overall because I found it sounded better than most comperable CD Players at the time, and it came with digital out.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Technics, Denon