Hey everyone! I recently picked up a secondhand Panasonic SL-S320 Discman off eBay, and I've been trying to burn my own CDs to use with it. I'm using an LG Super-Multi Portable DVD Rewriter and burning on Verbatim CD-Rs. The burning process seems to go smoothly since my DVD player and stereo can play the CDs without any issues. However, I face a problem when I try to use them in my Discman. About 4.5 minutes into the CD, the audio starts to buffer and chop, making it impossible to enjoy the music. Interestingly, if I skip ahead to around the sixth track, it plays just fine. I've tried burning three different CDs and the problem persists. However, the Discman plays store-bought and my friend's CDs perfectly. I'm confused about whether the issue lies with my blank CDs, the CD burner I'm using, or the age of the Discman itself. Any insights on what might be going wrong?
5 Answers
What CD authoring software are you using? It might make a difference if you switch things up and try a different one. Sometimes, compatibility issues can come from the software rather than the hardware.
Check if your CD-burning software has a 'music' mode, which ensures that the CD is written properly. Some software leaves CDs partially written for later modifications, which might not work well with older players like the Discman. Also, be sure to finalize the CD after burning.
Definitely make sure it's finalized; it's super important for compatibility.
I also used Verbatim CD-Rs years ago without issues, so I think the brand quality is good. Like others mentioned, definitely try burning at a slower speed. Discs burned too quickly might not be read well by older devices.
It sounds like you might want to lower the burn speed in your software to around 1x or 2x. Older CD players, including Discman models, had less buffering than modern devices, so they could struggle with high-speed burns. Your newer devices may handle that better due to better buffering.
I’d guess it could be the burn quality. Sometimes, the combination of the blank media, burn speed, and the CD burner quality can affect playback. Some older Discman players might struggle to read CD-Rs effectively, especially if the laser isn’t strong enough. There are some guides online to adjust the laser power on certain models if you're feeling adventurous!
Thanks! I'll check for that setting!