Sony Read Error

tsk1979 · 23rd August 2005, 11:46

I have a sony 5500 unit installed(Its the base model mp3 player). It was never very good as per CD reading capabilities but of late its become moody. For example it will not play mp3/audio CDs if they are Moser Baer brand. Samsung CDs are okay most of the times but sometimes they also get CD read error. It will read branded Audio CDs. I got it opened and cleaned also but still it has issues with moser Baer and mp3 cds which are not of very good brand. The Audio shop guy tells me that Sony always has an issue as the lens gets weak after less than a year of use. New lens costs 1900rs. But if i give him this player he will give me 2500 for it and fix me a pioneer. The Cost i would need to shell out will be 2500, and i will get a new Pioneer Set, as opposed to shelling out 1900 for the lens and keeping the old set.

That guy was saying pioneer is the best when it comes to playing poor quality CDs, JVC and kenwood come a close second. But in the base models (5K-6K) range Kenwood loses out on bass and JVC loses out on quality of sound. So people i wanna know about what mp3 unit i should get.
My requirements are
1. Should play Audio Cd
2. Should play mp3 CD
3. Should support 4 speakers
4. Should play radio

ability to play extremely poor quality stuff is what i need, and by poor quality i do not mean the music, but the media. My budget is entry level 5000-6000(After 2500 exchange bonus it comes to 2500-3500

).

I do not really care about Subwoofer capablities, loudness etc., Good quality sound at medium volume for Floyd/GNR/80s music and all is what i need. Infact i found the Sony FX 5500 sound quality to be excellent and anything above that would be overkill.

cnu · 23rd August 2005, 12:34

tsk1979,

At what speed do you burn your mp3/audio CDs ?

Try to burn a CD at lower speed like 2x or 4x and check out. It does make a difference
with some brands of media.

cnu

tsk1979 · 23rd August 2005, 12:39

Audio Cd at 8x, mp3 Cd at 12x. The media is working for computer drive and all. Infact the sony system does not read any low quality/old mp3 CD. It gives read error. even small amount of scratches are sufficient for read error

navin · 23rd August 2005, 13:38

1. burn MP3s at 2x or 4x on Imation or Sony CDRs.
2. Sony has a decent service center in Shastri Nagar, Santa Cruz W but ooops you are in Delhi. Ok find a good Sony center in Delhi.

tsk1979 · 23rd August 2005, 14:13

Thats the point. I do not want to be tied to to a CD brand. I have seen pioneer/JVC players play mp3 Cds which do not play on my player. As for the sony service center, there solution is new lens which costs 1900rs. I may as well spend 2500rs and get a new system!

navin · 23rd August 2005, 15:10

many CD players are more sensitive. i've seen this with home players too. I had this happen to my Marantz players but their agent in Mumbai fixed them for free. I would go with the reapired player because it will still have a warranty. the new pio might not have a warranty at all.

aseem · 23rd August 2005, 17:38

Its a common problem with Sony and I am experiencing this too. But I suggest go to official Sony repair shop and see how much new lens cost or if problem can be fixed with something else. The reason I mention this is due to the fact that the dealer you are dealing with right now is trying to rip you off by selling you another system and paying you zilch for your old system which he will sell at the price of new anyways. So he is gaining in all this, on top, most TBHPians dont recommend Pioneer HU's. Unfortunately with your budget you have no choice but to go for Sony or Pioneer. So its tricky.

tsk1979 · 23rd August 2005, 18:09

Not Zilch, the dealer will give me 2500 for my current unit(Brand new costs 5000rs). So i can get the new one for price-2500. The new lens cost is 1900rs, which is also verified. Full service of the unit including lens cleaning did not help. So they say lens has gotten weak. I can get JVC or kenwood also for the 5000 price range. The price i will have to pay after trade in will be 2500rs. I wanted to know which of these systems are most robust when it comes to playing low quality CDs

kphilip · 23rd August 2005, 18:38

Hey guys, even i had a problem with the sony mp3 player in the car.i've burned a benq cd with mp3s, that cd has problems only in the car mp3 player.,rest of the players its working perfect.

navin · 23rd August 2005, 18:52

tsk, this will sound strange but here goes...
Pio do seem to handle CDs most others cant I am not sure if JVC or Kenwood comes next but Pio is regarded as the best in this department. I have NOTHING against Pio except for the fact that you dont have an authorised retailer in India and the authorised Pio service shops will only touch HUs they consider to be orignal. With no bill or warranty there is little you can do to prove the authenticity of your Pio HU.

Between JVC and Kenwood I would choose JVC just based on the availability I have seen.

So either pay 2500 more for a JVC or pay 1900 and get the Sony fixed. You are free to buy a Pio ofcourse but if you get stuck with a fake you will be in left field with no support or recourse whatsoever.

gkrishn · 23rd August 2005, 20:20

Quote:

I have a sony 5500 unit installed(Its the base model mp3 player). It was never very good as per CD reading capabilities but of late its become moody. For example it will not play mp3/audio CDs if they are Moser Baer brand. Samsung CDs are okay most of the times but sometimes they also get CD read error. It will read branded Audio CDs.

I have exactly same problem, with exactly the same model. Its one year old again.
Tsk, if you solve the probelm, let me know. Will be great full...

satish_appasani · 23rd August 2005, 21:39

I too had the same problem with my Sony MP50 player. I am in the assumption that I used to keep my CDs always in the glovebox and I have to leave the car in the sun at work, this is affecting the CDs. Though my player does not play some MP3 CDs, it still plays some other MP3 CDs. I haven't checked the brand of the CDs.

v1p3r · 23rd August 2005, 22:54

I did a lot of reading up before buying my HU, and I made sure I stayed away from Sony for this reason. My Pioneer HU has only failed to read a single CD so far, a badly abused RW.

tsk, you could try the Pioneer 4650/4750. They should fit your price reqs. My dealer gave me a 1 year money back/replacement guarantee on my HU, a 5650. With a warranty card and all!

Aseem, if you read carefully, you'll see that most of the audio experts on TBHP recommend Pioneer in the low end of the market. Mid range would be Alpine. High I can't even dream of!

tsk1979 · 24th August 2005, 08:13

Hey people looks like its going to be pioneer for me. Any idea where can i find genuine pioneer in Noida. I would prefer a shop which offers to give warranty(At extra cost i think they do that).

navin · 24th August 2005, 14:34

How do you prove your deck is Genuine Pioneer. No bill. No Warranty. What is the proof?

23rd August 2005, 11:46	#1
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Sony Read Error I have a sony 5500 unit installed(Its the base model mp3 player). It was never very good as per CD reading capabilities but of late its become moody. For example it will not play mp3/audio CDs if they are Moser Baer brand. Samsung CDs are okay most of the times but sometimes they also get CD read error. It will read branded Audio CDs. I got it opened and cleaned also but still it has issues with moser Baer and mp3 cds which are not of very good brand. The Audio shop guy tells me that Sony always has an issue as the lens gets weak after less than a year of use. New lens costs 1900rs. But if i give him this player he will give me 2500 for it and fix me a pioneer. The Cost i would need to shell out will be 2500, and i will get a new Pioneer Set, as opposed to shelling out 1900 for the lens and keeping the old set. That guy was saying pioneer is the best when it comes to playing poor quality CDs, JVC and kenwood come a close second. But in the base models (5K-6K) range Kenwood loses out on bass and JVC loses out on quality of sound. So people i wanna know about what mp3 unit i should get. My requirements are 1. Should play Audio Cd 2. Should play mp3 CD 3. Should support 4 speakers 4. Should play radio ability to play extremely poor quality stuff is what i need, and by poor quality i do not mean the music, but the media. My budget is entry level 5000-6000(After 2500 exchange bonus it comes to 2500-3500 ). I do not really care about Subwoofer capablities, loudness etc., Good quality sound at medium volume for Floyd/GNR/80s music and all is what i need. Infact i found the Sony FX 5500 sound quality to be excellent and anything above that would be overkill.
	() Thanks

23rd August 2005, 12:34	#2
cnu BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR/HYD Posts: 297 Thanked: 114 Times	tsk1979, At what speed do you burn your mp3/audio CDs ? Try to burn a CD at lower speed like 2x or 4x and check out. It does make a difference with some brands of media. cnu
	() Thanks

23rd August 2005, 12:39	#3
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Audio Cd at 8x, mp3 Cd at 12x. The media is working for computer drive and all. Infact the sony system does not read any low quality/old mp3 CD. It gives read error. even small amount of scratches are sufficient for read error
	() Thanks

23rd August 2005, 13:38	#4
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,198 Thanked: 9,300 Times	1. burn MP3s at 2x or 4x on Imation or Sony CDRs. 2. Sony has a decent service center in Shastri Nagar, Santa Cruz W but ooops you are in Delhi. Ok find a good Sony center in Delhi.
	() Thanks

23rd August 2005, 14:13	#5
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Thats the point. I do not want to be tied to to a CD brand. I have seen pioneer/JVC players play mp3 Cds which do not play on my player. As for the sony service center, there solution is new lens which costs 1900rs. I may as well spend 2500rs and get a new system!
	() Thanks

23rd August 2005, 15:10	#6
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,198 Thanked: 9,300 Times	many CD players are more sensitive. i've seen this with home players too. I had this happen to my Marantz players but their agent in Mumbai fixed them for free. I would go with the reapired player because it will still have a warranty. the new pio might not have a warranty at all.
	() Thanks

23rd August 2005, 17:38	#7
aseem Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,730 Thanked: 441 Times	Its a common problem with Sony and I am experiencing this too. But I suggest go to official Sony repair shop and see how much new lens cost or if problem can be fixed with something else. The reason I mention this is due to the fact that the dealer you are dealing with right now is trying to rip you off by selling you another system and paying you zilch for your old system which he will sell at the price of new anyways. So he is gaining in all this, on top, most TBHPians dont recommend Pioneer HU's. Unfortunately with your budget you have no choice but to go for Sony or Pioneer. So its tricky.
	() Thanks

23rd August 2005, 18:09	#8
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Not Zilch, the dealer will give me 2500 for my current unit(Brand new costs 5000rs). So i can get the new one for price-2500. The new lens cost is 1900rs, which is also verified. Full service of the unit including lens cleaning did not help. So they say lens has gotten weak. I can get JVC or kenwood also for the 5000 price range. The price i will have to pay after trade in will be 2500rs. I wanted to know which of these systems are most robust when it comes to playing low quality CDs
	() Thanks

23rd August 2005, 18:38	#9
kphilip BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cochin Posts: 333 Thanked: 6 Times	Hey guys, even i had a problem with the sony mp3 player in the car.i've burned a benq cd with mp3s, that cd has problems only in the car mp3 player.,rest of the players its working perfect.
	() Thanks

23rd August 2005, 18:52	#10
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,198 Thanked: 9,300 Times	tsk, this will sound strange but here goes... Pio do seem to handle CDs most others cant I am not sure if JVC or Kenwood comes next but Pio is regarded as the best in this department. I have NOTHING against Pio except for the fact that you dont have an authorised retailer in India and the authorised Pio service shops will only touch HUs they consider to be orignal. With no bill or warranty there is little you can do to prove the authenticity of your Pio HU. Between JVC and Kenwood I would choose JVC just based on the availability I have seen. So either pay 2500 more for a JVC or pay 1900 and get the Sony fixed. You are free to buy a Pio ofcourse but if you get stuck with a fake you will be in left field with no support or recourse whatsoever.
	() Thanks

23rd August 2005, 21:39	#12
satish_appasani Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,112 Thanked: 104 Times View My Garage	I too had the same problem with my Sony MP50 player. I am in the assumption that I used to keep my CDs always in the glovebox and I have to leave the car in the sun at work, this is affecting the CDs. Though my player does not play some MP3 CDs, it still plays some other MP3 CDs. I haven't checked the brand of the CDs.
	() Thanks

23rd August 2005, 22:54	#13
v1p3r Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR / DXB / LON Posts: 5,334 Thanked: 6,896 Times View My Garage	I did a lot of reading up before buying my HU, and I made sure I stayed away from Sony for this reason. My Pioneer HU has only failed to read a single CD so far, a badly abused RW. tsk, you could try the Pioneer 4650/4750. They should fit your price reqs. My dealer gave me a 1 year money back/replacement guarantee on my HU, a 5650. With a warranty card and all! Aseem, if you read carefully, you'll see that most of the audio experts on TBHP recommend Pioneer in the low end of the market. Mid range would be Alpine. High I can't even dream of!
	() Thanks

24th August 2005, 08:13	#14
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Hey people looks like its going to be pioneer for me. Any idea where can i find genuine pioneer in Noida. I would prefer a shop which offers to give warranty(At extra cost i think they do that).
	() Thanks

24th August 2005, 14:34	#15
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,198 Thanked: 9,300 Times	How do you prove your deck is Genuine Pioneer. No bill. No Warranty. What is the proof?
	() Thanks