zar%xhmeia@CIT-HAMLET.ARPA (05/02/85)
I bought a CD player in November '83 before they learned how to make the players (Akai CD1). The CD players has had on service checkup since and works pretty well, but is sensitive to certain CDs (EMI). I did something cute when I first noticed problems; I took the "defective" CD to Pacific (Stereo) and asked the salesperson to play the CD on their Sony (what I know consider to be the best) and they worked. Since I don't mind having to work a little to hear some tracks on a "defective" CD (until I buy a new CD player) I just record it on tape and listen 'til I drop. I suggest you test your "defective" CDs on a CD player in a store to determine wheather the problem is with the CD or the CD Player (they do need fixing now and then). Incidentally, when I had my CD player serviced, it cost a whopping $15 ($14.50 for labor and $0.50 for a defective chip). Chances are it won't cost a bundle to fix your CD player if it is on the skids. On another issue, someone long ago stated that CDs were all labeled with a three character code to signify how the CD was recorded/mixed/(mastered?) I can only find 4 CDs with this marking out of 109 of my CDs. Many of the CDs are marked on the cover using words to state the way the CD was made, and some completely refuse to indicate how the CD was made (an example of the later is Led Zepelin (sp?) although the paper box this CD came in may have given some clues (I throw the boxes away pretty quickly)). It would be nice if the "industry" decided on a standard code. Has anyone noticed if any phrases are being printing in the center of CDs instead of the number/character codes? I haven't noticed any yet, but I haven't looked real hard. "Treat me good, I'll treat you better. Treat me bad, I'll treat you worse." From The Great Zar a.k.a. Dan Zirin