MP3 headunit skipping problems

[DaKid]

Hiya,

I've finally got around to upgrading my (now old) budget CD head unit to a semi-decent one with mp3 capabilities (Sony CDX-M8800).

I'm really chuffed with it in terms of sound and functionality, but I'm having problems with my burnt MP3 CD-Rs. They seem to skip, noticeably more so towards the middle and end of the CD. I've got a pretty decent DVD burner, so I don't think it's that ... I've got pretty cheap CD-R media ... could that cause it? Could it be a problem with the headunit?

Any suggestions welcome!!

Thanks.

[Vimeous]

It's your media.
Proper CD players much prefer silver surface CDs. The more off-colour the CD gets (such as dark blue), the more difficult for the laser to read, and therefore more skipping occurs.
Either try and find CDR's with a brighter silver surface, or buy audio specific blanks and burn your MP3's to them

[Russ]

dont mean to be obvious, but are the cd's clean? sony's especially have issues with jumpin if its not 90% dust/lint free

[DaKid]

Yeah, Russ, they're brand new CD-R burns from an always-kept-shut box of blank CDs and I always keep them inside jewel cases once burned.

Thanks Vimeous ... I'm gonna try burning 'em slower (8x instead of 48x) first, but if that don't work I'll buy some better media.

You got any recommendations or links to any specific products?

[MD]

its mostlikely the speed you were burning them at tbh, I never burn above 16X when I am doing car CD's as my VDO Dayton changer really doesnt like it , no matter what the media.

I have found Infinity's by Medea are really good for my player, but I know Sony's can be picky.

m@

[Jonny M]

Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs are very good, bit expensive though. Have a look on www.svp.co.uk

[këö¬t]

its mostlikely the speed you were burning them at tbh, I never burn above 16X when I am doing car CD's as my VDO Dayton changer really doesnt like it , no matter what the media.

indeed, the slower you burn, the more visable the data will be for your cd head unit. as slow as you're willing to go i guess

[DaKid]

Have got an 8x burnt CD in there at the moment and it's not skipping yet ... am keeping my fingers crossed that's sorted it!! Thanks for all the help