Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony CDP-CE535 5-CD Changer

The Sony CDP-CE535 5-Disc CD Changer" and the CDP-525 5-Disc CD Changer share most of the same features. One of the improvements of the CDP-CE535 5 player is the time it takes to seek between tracks, particularly when doing a random search. It's tracking speed is faster and more even faster. Overall, this is a very solid player. Far more reliable than the "jukebox" style players.

I had a Sony ES player that broke and was pleased to pay a lot less to get this model which has almost all the same features as the one I paid $400 for 5 years ago. Custom File was essential since it makes a lot of marginal CD's worth listening to again. But I don't like the "CD Bank" which only lets you skip songs you don't like rather than re-program the whole album which Custom File allowed. I also like that you now have 12 characters to assign a name to the CD but the displayed letters are smaller and therefore harder to see from across the room. Also you can only see the title as you change CDs rather than as the CD plays and it has to re-read the CDs if you turn the unit off. A big advantage is that you can put in new CDs while one keeps playing and the memory holds 300 CDs instead of 200 like my old one. So while I am happy with this player I think Sony still needs to tweak the design some.

I purchased 2 of these units when they first came on the market. I am very pleased with them. Pluses: *I like the Control A-1 interface included on the unit, because I can use my computer to control both units, as well as record songs to my Minidisc deck (MDS-JB920) with a simple Drag & Drop. (PCLK-MD1) *The sound quality is great. *Plays CD-RWs. --I've rarely seen any changers which support this. *CD-Text. *"No Delay" play. (When you use 2 players.) On the negative side: -Only 12 characters allowed for naming a cd -you can use more on your computer, but they're not displayed on the player -You cannot set the time used for a "xfade". (Fading back and forth between players. -Output level is also the headphone level....no knob, just a + and - on the remote. -I can enter titles for the discs with my PCLK-MD1 link kit, but the titles don't xfer to the player. And you can't transfer cd titles between players. -Power button is not a contact switch. It's a physical on/off, so you don't have power control with the remote. Overall I'm pleased with my purchase. I would have changed just a few things, though, if I was designing it.

an excellent machine at a reasonable price with enough bells and whistles to keep me busy

The second Sony CDP-CE535 5-CD changer is working fine so far.The first unit had some problems.J&R exchanged it without any hassle.The service from J&R has been great thru. out the years that I have been dealing with them. The years mean;since J&R was only in one building behind the building that was ATT in the Manhattan Bur. hall city area.
Gregory