Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio CD-R's and the External amp

I have a 2000 Contour SE Sport 2.5L Manual with the premium sound single CD player.

Q1) I have not been able to play CD-R, CD's. Has anyone else had this problem?

Q2) From what I have learned from this site, my system has a external amp. Can upgrade (bypass) the amp, for better performance while keeping the stock HU??

Certain brands work others don't.

Make sure session is closed when you burn 'em. I had best sucess with maxwell..

Another thing you can try is eject it like 20 times and it will eventually read it..

Or just get a new one..

Yes, you could, but it's better to just replace the head unit to anything aftermarket and bypass the factory amp. You'll notice a great improvement in sound quality and be able to play your CDRs.

Just about anything you replace the stock unit with it with is going to sound considerably better.

Make sure and bypass the factory 'premium' amp.

Forgot:

The Pioneer HUs seem to play CD-Rs (blue/silver/silver-green) just fine.

Rob

Sony's have problems with CDR. I generally use TDK's as the blues seem to have better compatability, also, check your software and see if it has a disc at once write mode. Most default to track at once. Disc at once writes the whole CD without turning off the laser. My deck will only play discs burned with this option. Also make sure that the session is closed (most software defaults to this if you choose to disc at once.)

unnerv may have experience with other Sony's not playing CDR's but I just wanted to add my MDX-650 plays CDR's just fine..actually the only thing I have in my car is CDR's

My 10 disc Sony CD changer that is about 4-5 years old plays CDRs fine.

Just for the record, my Blaupunkt Florida plays Imation and TDK CDR's fine.

I've had three Sony's, a Blau Monterrey, a sony changer, and a blau changer. Not one of them had a problem playing CD-R of any type, color, speed, etc. I realize that I am probably lucky, but I know people who have owned clarion, pioneer, alpine and eclipse that had varying degrees of success with CD-R. My advice is you try the different types of media and figure out what kind of CD-R works best with your HU.