Rating: 
Summary: great for the money
Review: I've had previous Philips products before,so when I heard they were comng out with a 3-cd changer, I had to have it. Much to my suprise it was so affordable compared to its competitors with the same options. This certain model is loaded with features like: Mic record, program record, cd text, high-speed recording on interal and programing mode. This can also record off of any audio source. I recently recorded a live track from a home video. It sounds great! Overall, This model has it all: The right external connections, various internal recording modes and features, and it's so easy to use. Basically the directions are in the display. Great buy for the buck!
Rating: 
Summary: disappointed
Review: My husband purchased the 785 from Sears, here in FL. We had never experienced any problems until recently during the Memorial Day weekend that the 80 minutes CD-R's did not work on this unit. After going to about 10 stores in 2 days and realizing that the only CD-R's that work on this unit is the Memorex cd recordable 74 minute cd's. Not to mention that none of the main stores in our area stock those anymore, so we decided to get the Memorex 80 minute CD-R cd recordable cd's and before we could even get started recording it stated "rec error". So, if there is someone who can email me and let me know what 80 min cd's work without any problems, I will gladly appreciate it..
Rating: 
Summary: Philips has lost its credibility.
Review: Philips, once an innovator and giant among electronic recording pioneers (they first mass marketed the cassette recorder/player), are now producing crap of the lowest level. I have tolerated the CDR 785 for almost two years and:
1. The CD burner NEVER worked properly, finally dying completely (and eating the unfinalized cd!); and
2. It is among the most user-unfriendly devices I have ever owned, particularly in regards to the manual and the recorder.
As a 3-CD carousel PLAYER, it is fine, but...it cost $379.00 new, and I recently bought a 5-CD changer for slightly over $100.
Ridiculous amount for a piece of over-hyped garbage (remember the TV ads for the "party mix" CD burner...?).
Truly a sad day for a one-time pioneer in entertainment technology.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Recommended
Review: The operating manual is very poorly written. Once you work through that you can get good recordings but mine totally died after a year and a half of pretty light use.
Rating:
Summary: Not Recommended
Review: The operating manual is very poorly written. Once you work through that you can get good recordings but mine totally died after a year and a half of pretty light use.
Rating:
Summary: Don't buy.
Review: This unit is a nice player but a really lousy recorder.
You cannot fade up or down.You cannot listen and then know how many minutes are recorded and how many are left on CDR.The UV meters are worthless.You cannot pause in record.The instruction manual is the worst I have ever seen, consumer or professional.The 800# help is there for you and nice, except every time you call you will get different advice.You can't put a gap between tracks, songs are on top of each other.No volume adjustment between different CD's. and lots more!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Got to admit it's getting worse.
Review: This unit is a piece of crap. Philips neglects to tell you one small, important thing: there are *many* brand name CDRs that simply *WILL NOT WORK* with this model. That's right, you can buy a spindle full of DA CDRs from TDK or DigitalMedia and not a *SINGLE ONE* will work on this device!Of course Philips never bothers to mention this. They act like all you need to make sure of is that you're buying DA CDRs. Don't believe it! I have not gotten a single 80 minute CDR to work on this piece of crap. Not a one. Philips 74s work, and, so far, 2 out of 3 Maxell 74s have worked, but don't for a moment think this is going to be like a tape recorder. You can't just go out and buy any brand of DA CDR! The wrong brands will get "OPC ERRORs" and the unit will refuse to record them. Calling the company doesn't help, either. The operator I first spoke to had never heard of the 785! He works at PHILIPS and he's never heard of one of their products! Twice the company told me I would get a call from a technician "within 24 hours". Twice the technician failed to call. My advice: do not buy from Philips. They do not deliver what they promise. I got royally screwed by this company and bought a spindle full of the type of DA CDRs they told me would work. Not ONE DOES!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Value, Great Fun!!
Review: This unit performs magnificently. Watch for user error, though! Even after watching the accompanying instructional video which stresses TWICE that only CD-R(W) AUDIO CDs will work for recording, I went out and purchased the wrong kind. Buyer beware and be aware. In the store, you're likely to find the wrong kind of CDs shelved in the "audio digital" section. Just look closely and you'll be fine. I bought several different brands of CDs and they all work beautifully, 74 minute and 80 minute CDs, CD-R and CD-RW. It's true, operating the machine appears overwhelming at first, but the learning curve isn't too bad. Once you get rolling, you'll find that the manual provides important, necessary information. It's really quite simple and the final result is flawless. If you can find one of these I HIGHLY recommend you pick it up, and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Pure Garbage
Review: Two years ago I purchaced a CDR785 recorder, in less than 4 months it self destucted. Philips, after 7 weeks sent me a "new" one,it work fine for about a year and then the cd burner portion of the unit went south. I complained bitterly to Philips in writing, never receiving so much as an OH! from them. I do have on record an e-mail that said they would reply to me via e-mail, no such reply came forth. As far as I am concerned Philips rates on a scale of 1 to 5 a MINUS 5. Buy the way I called the people who handle their parts and the price they quoted me was twice the price I paid for the unit. To end this negative leter I just want to say the unit no resides on a shelf in my basement gathering dust.One day I may give it a proper burial.
So you people out there be carful when you are out to buy a product by Philips. Their memory is short when it comes to replying to adverse e-mail.....One more thing I was quoted $716.33 for the parts to repair the unit, with a $200 core price. I saw the whole unit in a local wholesale club at a price of $285.00. Go figure......
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