Entered CNET Catalog: 11/29/2005
SKU: CDC-685
Manufacturer: Yamaha Corp. of America
Manufacturer description
CDC-685 is a carousel-type changer with 5-disc capacity. It features Yamaha's patented PlayXchange that permits four discs to be replaced while the fifth is playing. This changer can play your self-recorded compilation CDs as well as discs bought in the store. The input and output ports make the CD changer a natural for custom installation. Volume, including headphone volume, can be adjusted at the remote control keypad. The changer provides a variable analog output and an optical digital output. For easy and quick access, up to 40 tracks on any combination of discs can be programmed into the CDC-685's memory. Two pairs of Yamaha's high precision single-bit digital-to-analog converters provide accurate conversion from the digital domain to analog to assure a natural sound quality. Only the music will be heard, thanks to Yamaha's newly designed super silent mechanism. Intelligent digital servo system automatically adjusts tracking, focus, and motor speed to compensate for disc defects, warpage, and dust. A 10-key direct access allows you to access each track at the touch of a button on the front panel or the remote keypad. Can display text, such as lyrics and other information, embedded in some CDs. Intro Scan plays the first few seconds of each track, allowing you to quickly make play or no-play decisions. Finds the peak output levels on the disc selections and allows you to set the proper recording level for the best possible recording. The easy-to-read display shows total disc time, elapsed time on the track, total remaining time, and remaining track time. Illumination can be dimmed or brightened to appropriate room levels. Style has not been left out. The CDC-685 features Yamaha's new contoured front panel. SynchroStart capability allows one-touch recording from the remote control. SynchroStart automatically puts a Yamaha cassette deck in the record mode before it begins to play the CD selections.User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1
User Rating: 
7/10
Decent but has some significant draw backs
Pros: Easy use, PlayXchange is nice, optical out, headphone jack has a little mini amp with it, good remote,
Cons: No stanby feature, has to be manually turned off, also no sleep timer, skips like crazy for no reason, VERY sensetive to disc errors,
Review:
First off this was essentially free because of Amazon complications so my feelings are rather mixed. I bought this to replace PSone with an LCD screen I was using and as far as sound quality the Yamaha is far better. It is integrated very well with my Yamaha RX-397 amp and has many nice features. 99% of the features can be accessed through the remote. The only exclusion is the power, which is a manual button for ON/OFF as opposed to the better Standby/ON or even the two button Standby-ON/OFF. Not a big deal. It has a 3 stage dimmer so if I am going to sleep it does not keep me awake anyway, and it does not make any heat or use much power when not playing so whatever. The headphone amp could have a little more tweaking at the lower volume levels after all the reason I am using the headphones is I have to be quiet. The CD Player has some good features if you plan on using a tape deck/md recorder/separate EQ. The find Peak feature is good for that and Synchro features do that well. The method for selecting individual tracks is excellent and generally the navigation through the CD is good. It move quickly between tracks and in addition to loading up the CD rather quickly.
My favorite two features however are the PlayXchange and the CD-Text. FEW FEW CDs sold come with CD-text. Maybe 1-2% of my purchased CDs come with CD-Text. However if you listen to burned CDs you can very easily put the Artist/Album/Track names on there and it will scroll through them all including track time/remaining track time/CD total time/remaining CD time. As for the PlayXchange I use this ALL THE TIME. There is nothing better than thinking you want to listen to something else after this CD and putting it is before it is over so as to never interrupt playback. Perfect for continual music listening. And it will eject the tray differently so you will never damage the playing mechanism by putting a CD in the wrong spot.
As for the negative aspects of this player, they are few but significant. To a lesser degree you must be very careful when moving it and read the manual on how to do this properly so as to not damage the playing mechanism. It is easily done but also easily avoided. Pretty much just take all your CDs out before you move, but beware otherwise it will break, it happened to me. The other draw back it very frustrating. While it will never skip due to loud speaker volume (which was the primary reason for me buying a replacement for my PSone, that and I needed a remote), the skipping due to a mildly scratched disc or ever so dirty one will kill you. It is crazy my PSone RARELY skipped with a scratched dis but this thing...all the time. It is bad enough to where I might consider buying a different brand. If you have good clean discs this is not a problem. But if your discs are a few years old and have minor scratched, beware you may be in for some skippy music.
Otherwise though, I would cautiously recommend this CD player. On a day to day basis the pros out weigh the cons, but when the cons do show, they show. Good navigation, Good remote, integrated well with other Yamaha products (remotes synched with 0 work). Over all a 6.5.
My favorite two features however are the PlayXchange and the CD-Text. FEW FEW CDs sold come with CD-text. Maybe 1-2% of my purchased CDs come with CD-Text. However if you listen to burned CDs you can very easily put the Artist/Album/Track names on there and it will scroll through them all including track time/remaining track time/CD total time/remaining CD time. As for the PlayXchange I use this ALL THE TIME. There is nothing better than thinking you want to listen to something else after this CD and putting it is before it is over so as to never interrupt playback. Perfect for continual music listening. And it will eject the tray differently so you will never damage the playing mechanism by putting a CD in the wrong spot.
As for the negative aspects of this player, they are few but significant. To a lesser degree you must be very careful when moving it and read the manual on how to do this properly so as to not damage the playing mechanism. It is easily done but also easily avoided. Pretty much just take all your CDs out before you move, but beware otherwise it will break, it happened to me. The other draw back it very frustrating. While it will never skip due to loud speaker volume (which was the primary reason for me buying a replacement for my PSone, that and I needed a remote), the skipping due to a mildly scratched disc or ever so dirty one will kill you. It is crazy my PSone RARELY skipped with a scratched dis but this thing...all the time. It is bad enough to where I might consider buying a different brand. If you have good clean discs this is not a problem. But if your discs are a few years old and have minor scratched, beware you may be in for some skippy music.
Otherwise though, I would cautiously recommend this CD player. On a day to day basis the pros out weigh the cons, but when the cons do show, they show. Good navigation, Good remote, integrated well with other Yamaha products (remotes synched with 0 work). Over all a 6.5.
