Sony RCD-W 100 > Reviews (5)

How many of you are tired trying to copy CD’s on the computer and it freezes? This is one of the most annoying things that happened on a regular basis in some households, you just want to throw the computer in the bin. I know this as it has happened to me on a number of occasions.

If you can sympathise with this is you, then you need the SONY RCD-W100S CD Player.

This is a player, which acts as a cd player when linked into the amp and a copier to transfer information on one cd to the copy. The player comes with the manufacturer's warranty and covers the product for a minimum period of 12 months from the date of purchase.

When you first look at this machine you see two doors for the cd’s to go into. The one to the left is the Master and the left one is the Slave. The master cd is inserted into the player and the information is shown on the digital readout, i.e. the length of the cd, the number of tracks and if the cd has text it will show this as well. From here you can play the cd and not use it as a recording device, there is a play, pause and a stop button.

To copy a cd

With the master cd in the left drive the blank cd is placed in the right slot. The cd is read and a TOC (table of contents) is set up the digital readout tells the user that it is a blank cd. If it is not a blank you will be told this and the recording process can’t continue. This is a build in safety mechanism, so you are not able to record over an existing cd. To record simply press the record button on the slave side and the play button on the master side, and provided the levels are set correctly the recording will begin. Any information on the cd will be transferred directly across, the tracks will be made and any text will transfer. At the end of the recording extra text can be added before the cd needs to be finalized. The finalize take 1 minute and 6 seconds, allows the new cd to be played on most cd machines.
One of the best features on this machine is the ability to make compilations cd, when recording all you need to do is pause the recording process, put another cd in the master drive, select the tack you want to record, press the pause button again and the recording starts. I have fountd this facility very useful in making cd’s for holidays.
As already mentioned in some of my earlier reviews about audio books I copy the cd’s so if something happens to that cd you still have the original as a back-up.
There is no reduction in the sound quality of the recording compared to the original. I have a spectrum analyser and I have used it to test the levels when playing the original cd. When the recorded copy is played the levels on the analyser are the same as the original. This would indicate that there is NO LOSS in the quality of the copy.

At the back of the machine there is an optical IN and OUT and a set of audio gold plated terminals to connect to the main amp. The optical connections are to allow for digital copying from an external device, such as a Mini-Disk, or another cd player.

The remote control is fully functional and can operate the machine from a distance of approx 25 feet.

The following is a list of the features which I have mentioned above and have summarised them below.

CD/CD-R dual deck
x 4 speed copy
24-bit A/D D/A converter
CD text entry
MP3 playback
SBM recording
High speed finalizing
One touch synch start
Optical digital in x 1/out x 1
Headphone jack / volume
Gold plated audio terminal
2-mode repeat (track/disc)
24-step program play
Colour: Black

I have had a great deal of use out of this machine and if you are to buy one you will fine a lot of use for it. It is a great piece of kit worth every penny of its £189, although I think of you search around you will find it a bit cheaper.

This is a stand alone machine and can be connected into an Amp (i use an Arcam A75+ which I have reviewed earlier) or can be used without one and copies can be made without hearing the music. This is good if you have children and they are in bed.

All the best Mark

©Mark Montgomery 8th October 2004