I just got this unit yesterday. So far I've only copied one vinyl 2 record set to a cd. The sound is excellent. Actually better than the albums. Just from that one transfer I can see that this is a excellent recorder. It would be nice if it would record on regular cd-r disc but it won't. It will only record on the more expensive music only cd-r discs unless you use the swap trick which is too complicated and involved to do regularly. Maybe I'm giving this review prematurly but so far I like this unit. I may submit another review after I've used it a lot more.

Until now, i have made 12 cd's in one week. No problems at all. I don't hear any noise. The operation is easy. The text dialog with the user is friendly.

The PDR 555 RW is very big.

I recommend it.

The CD-R's that I have burnt on this machine will not play on other machines.

I real let down.

None.

Makes popping or clicking sounds during recording, and/or stops mid-track. Ruins many more CDs than it successfully records.

As a follow-up to my previous posting, I have now ruled out the cables and output sources as the cause of the above-noted problems. I've tried 2 optical cables and a digital coaxial cable as well as 4 different recording sources, and these problems always recur.

I've taken the unit to a Pioneer-authorized repair shop twice. The first time they supposedly made some adjustments; the second time they claimed they couldn't find anything wrong with the unit. Meanwhile, the problems have gotten progressively more frequent. My calls to Pioneer have just added to my anger and frustration. Their so-called customer service department tells me that the only thing I can do is to keep bringing the unit back to the same repair shop, unless I want to pay to ship it to another repair shop. In any case, Pioneer won't accept responsibility for their defective merchandise by offering to repair or replace the unit. Needless to say, I should have bought the Philips recorder!

Similar Products Used:

None.

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This is a review of a Pioneer PDRW739. Never even used. As with the other posters on the PDR-555RW review page, the 3 disc changer drawer would NOT open. It was purchased at Sears and was a brand new, factory sealed product.

I didn't want a Philips as they don't provide the vital and more commonly found standard "optical" digital "output". They provide an optical "input" but no output.

I passed on the HK CD2 because it's manual states it has a 20 track limit of recorded tracks. I found from a couple of reviews this is a typo and false. The 20 track limit pertains to only PROGRAMMING. I will find out as the HK CD-R seems to be a very nice recorder for only $50 more than the 739. I will get the HK and submit a review on that later. I'm really disappointed in the defective pioneer product. From other's reviews, this is a common defect and should have been "RECALLED" by Pioneer, which it was NOT. I unfortunately, was a victim of this poor product design. Beware, don't let it happen to you. Our time is "WORTH" money!

Similar Products Used:

none

ease of use, connection compatability, setup.

tends to not sound as "crisp" as the original.

this machine is a work horse. I have burned many cd's without a problem. My unit is connected to my sony es 5 disc changer via the optical output. I haven't had any of the drawer or "popping" sound problems that I've read about in some of the other reviews but when I compare a disc made via my computer cdrw drive to the pioneer, the pioneer unit doesn't seem to be as "crisp" sounding. I have made multiple compliation discs without a hitch. I even used the analog stereo output jacks of my dbs receiver and hooked this into the pioneer unit so that I could make a disc of a Sting concert that they aired. I had to manually write the tracks while recording but the sound is great! I would reccomend this unit to anyone but if someone knows a way to bypass the need for the "audio only" discs so that we can use the "pro" discs, I would appreciate knowing this.

Similar Products Used:

tkd velocd

So far it has not had any errors or problems other then it not creating separate tracks on it's own. I can easily record without booting up a computer.

A few disappoints:
1) It will not successfully record a DTS signal, it plays back as static.
2) SCMS prevents me from making a digital copy from some of my DVD's. (DVD’s must be set to no copies allowed)
3) On an analog copy from mini disk (SCMS prevents a digital copy) it failed to make separate tracks when set to automatically create tracks. The meter shows nothing between tracks, but it doesn’t make a new track.
4)I can’t go back and make separate tracks (as far as I know).

I had hoped to be able to record DTS & DD sources with this unit on the fly, but it seems it does something to the signal. It is still very useful to record on the fly, on media that can be played in mega-changers and friends equipment (reasons I might choose not to use Mini Disk). I have not had time to evaluate the quality of this unit, but after a quick listen it sounds to be doing a decent job.

Similar Products Used:

Mini Disk (Several), and Computer CD-R/W drives (Several)