Hi my traxdata cd900 recorder has just developed a problem. Ive been using maxell cdr's most were fine but lately:- a) optical failure error occasionally occurs b) will happily record approx 15 mins but then stops and says disc full,clearly its not. The Maxell discs have hitherto not been a problem; so fault discs or the laser? Discs play perfectly OK. Im transfering old tapes etc onto discs which is fun but lately frustrating!! Thanks

you probably have regular cd-r disks that cannot be recorded on in this unit. You can only use disks marked "DIGITAL AUDIO" for recording

I get the same problem, and I use Maxell Music CDs as the recorder won't take anything else. Sometimes a message comes up saying, bad CD

Philips CDR 870 is designed to RECORD with ONLY Audio or Music CD-R or CD-RW discs !!
The word(s) Audio Or Music MUST be written somewhere on the Cd disc or Cd Covers.
Computer CD-R and CD-RW discs will NOT Record on this recorder !!
My experience of GOOD Audio/Music discs : Philips,Sony,Traxdata,Verbatum
My experience of BAD Audio/Music discs : ALL unbranded discs, Maxell,TDK

The manual states that 74 minute 650MB 1-4X disks run best; my machine would not burn anything I had, eventually I found 650MB crrw's on ebay for as cheap as 2 cents a piece, I have a fair number of them and so far every single one has worked. Imation 800Mb cd's seem to work 80% for me.

I had the same with a recorder bought at a boot sale, cleaned the laser with a cotten bud dipped in meths.

THE PHILLIPS CDR 770 WILL ONLY RECORD ON "MUSIC" CD'S.I USE A MEMOREX MUSIC CD FROM WAL-MART, IT'S A 40X700MB 80 MIN, IT WORKS FINE, HOPE THIS HELPS, GOD BLESS, PAUL

Your assessment that it duplicates CD's internally fits with an analog-only failure mode. Let's make sure the signal is getting past your RCA jacks on the deck...

Put the deck in a Rec/Standby mode and make sure an analog source registers adequate volume on the meters. If it's good there and doesn't change with cable swapping between the input channels, you're right, the problem is internal. Maybe the volume potentiometer itself has developed a dead spot. Manually rotate it throughout its range many times to wipe it clean.

If you have an external optical digital source use it to check the meters in digital recording mode to be sure they're about even. The same knob affects analog and digital levels.

If you have the deck connected via the traditional Tape Monitor circuit in a receiver you should be able to tell by ear if the one channel is dead or too low. This puts all of the recording circuitry including the volume knob in line with your receiver.

Some audio cd's work better than others. I have experienced some problems with the Maxell brand so I switched brands. It can be quirky. Sometimes you get a bad lot of discs. I have had no problems since that bad lot of discs.

Your laser is failing. There is a test mode sequence you can try to re-calibrate it but to be honest it's the beginning of the end. I can supply replacement laser assemblies depending on where you are in the world or I can email you the service manual so you can try adjusting it yourself. Email me via ebay - fluffcat1

Audio cdrw's are still freely available in the UK.

Just bought this CDR 570 and not use yet.

Reading the instruction manual - yes, life experience has taught me some really useful stuff! -

Under 'Discs for recording' on page 7 it says at end of section

IMPORTANT:
To ensure proper working of the set we recommend the use of PHILIPS audio CDR and audio CDRW discs only'
Roughly translated I read this to me - 'don't blame us if the set don't work using other (non-compatible) discs' !!