Sony Mobile ES CDX-828

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Time and Tune, Londo

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2000

Strengths:
The best changer I've had. Rock solid, sounds as good as the CD headunit itself.

Weaknesses:
Doesn't navigate as well as the T69, have to roll back to the start of a CD by presseing back over and over, but it's a minor problem.

Summary:
Almost perfect. Bought it to replace my CDX-T69 which skipped as soon as you looked at it. The 828 is much better built, the cartridge has a better design, the player holds ten discs instead of the T69's six and it absoultely never, ever skips, even though my car is running lowerd on 17 inch alloys and theres a Solobaric L7 15inch sub in the boot next to the 828 changer. Buy it... now.

Similar Products Used:
T69 (okay, if your car is static and you have no sub), T70 (problematic, overpriced and underdeveloped)

Price Paid:  $0.00

Strengths:
Very stable unit. Very good sound.

Weaknesses:
I can live with the cosmetics when the performance is this good.

Summary:
Great unit. I have no problems with the remote or antenna. Both work perfectly. A Sony in a Lumina? Clearly the Sony raises the value of that thing! Now that you have sound, get a car!

Price Paid:  $250.00

Strengths:
Nice silver color compared to the ugly red Xplod crap. Great sound quality, never skips.

Weaknesses:
Unreliable, forgets last position if I shut off the car. I've had to send it back twice. It works for a few weeks and then the problem comes back. Sony techs suck.

Summary:
I should have kept my CDX-805. It looked identical, had ESP, etc. AND it was more reliable. My CDX-828 ALWAYS forgets last position memory and starts over at Disc 1 Track 1 any time I shut off the car. Sony hasn't been able to fix it right. I probably got a lemon. My repair bill says they replace a microswitch. I may try to fix it myself next time. You know what they say, want it done right, do it yourself.

Similar Products Used:
CDX-805 - the '805 was more reliable and looked the same, only lacking the window.

Price Paid:  $350.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
 1997 Cavalier Z24

Strengths:
Has never skipped. Ever. Not Once!!!

Weaknesses:
Loud red color is kind of childish looking.

Summary:
Previous review says it all, and in fact that and an email convinced me to buy this changer (actually the Sony Xplod ES CDX838). There is nothing else to say. It has optical outputs, which there are only 1 or 2 processors available that can accept Toslink in a car. Most player sound good as long as they are free of noise and don't skip. In that case this changer is basically perfect. It has an inperceptably low noise floor. As has been true of the 5 Sony CD player/changers that I have owned. Most importantly, I have nearly damaged my car trying to find a pothole that will cause even the slightest skip, to no avail. I have a stiff suspsension but the changer takes the rough ride in stride. I was happy to see that this 2000CY changer plugged right up to the previously run BUS cable from my original 1994CY changer and integrated perfectly with my original head unit. This saved me the trouble of ripping the car apart to re-run that single control cable. Bravo.

Similar Products Used:
5 yr old Sony CDX71 changer and CDX51RF. Neither could read CD-R. Both would have trouble playing about 25 of my 500+ CD's. Or course, some of my favorites! Both were pretty good for shock protection but would skip on prolonged bad pavement, especially when cold.

Price Paid:  $350.00

Strengths:
FAST cd changes. CD text, Custom file, disk naming. Never skipped even my lowered 98 Integra GSR. Nice integration with my CDX-M750 CD head unit. Advanced ESP works as advertised. Very compact form-factor. Also, the mounting options (0-90) are nice to have. Even plays my scratched up cds without skipping. No CDR compatability problems.
Sound quality: It actually sounds slightly better than my CD head unit. No nasty noise; just clean and flat CD sound.

Weaknesses:
Red color is a little "Loud."

Summary:
I would recomend it for anyone looking for a nice CD changer that would interface with a CD changer and/or someone looking for a "skip proof" changer.

Similar Products Used:
Alpine 6 disk which skipped to much for me.