Belts replaced, laser cleaned, and fully recapped — the three things that actually determine whether a changer of this vintage keeps working. Optical digital output included, cosmetically honest at 7/10.

Sony's CDP-CE345 is a five-disc carousel changer from 2000, built around the CDM59 mechanism and aimed at people who wanted a full evening of music without getting up. It sits at standard 17-inch component width, weighs 11 pounds, and looks the part in a rack. What separates it from the pack of budget changers of its era is the Toslink optical digital output, which lets you bypass the internal converters entirely and run the disc data straight into a DAC, receiver, or recorder.

What This Unit Does

• Holds five discs and lets you swap four of them while the fifth keeps playing, so the music never stops mid-session
• Sends bit-perfect digital audio out over Toslink optical for direct dubbing to MiniDisc, DAT, or CD-R, or for feeding an outboard DAC
• Peak Level Search finds the loudest passage on a disc and loops it, which is exactly what you want when setting record levels before a dub
• Front-panel jog dial for fast track hunting, plus direct disc and track access from the remote
• 32-step programming with a display that shows which tracks are programmed, played, and remaining
• Shuffle across all five discs or within one, three repeat modes, and a five-second fade between tracks
• Variable line output level, adjustable from the remote only

Condition

Good, 7/10. Visible cosmetic wear consistent with age and use — expect light scuffs and marks on the chassis and faceplate. Nothing here is functionally compromised; this is honest used gear, not a display piece. All controls are present and operate normally.

Testing & Service

Drive belts replaced, laser cleaned, and the unit was recapped. Those three items cover the failure modes that take these changers out of service: perished belts that stall the tray and carousel, a dirty pickup that throws "no disc" errors on good media, and aging electrolytic capacitors that cause intermittent behavior and audio degradation. A full recap is not something most sellers do at this price point.

Confirmed working in testing:

• All five carousel positions load, spin, and play
• Disc exchange while playing
• Tray opens and closes normally
• Jog dial and track access
• Display, including track calendar
• Program, shuffle, and repeat modes
• Analog RCA line output, both channels
• Optical digital output
• Remote control functions, including variable output level

What's Included

• Sony CDP-CE345 changer
• Original Sony remote and batteries (remote-included option only — see pricing)
• Analog audio cable

Not included: original box, printed manual, optical cable. The manual is available free from Sony's support site.

Two purchase options: with the original remote, or without. Note that the variable line output level can only be adjusted from the remote — if you plan to use that feature, you want the remote version.

Specifications (manufacturer)

• Type: 5-disc carousel compact disc changer
• Frequency response: 2 Hz to 20 kHz, ±0.5 dB
• Dynamic range: more than 93 dB
• Harmonic distortion: less than 0.0045 percent
• Analog output: 2 V at 50 kilohms, load impedance over 10 kilohms
• Digital output: optical (Toslink), −18 dBm, 660 nm
• Laser: semiconductor, 780 nm
• Program capacity: 32 steps
• Power: 120 V AC, 60 Hz, 11 W
• Dimensions: 430 x 110 x 400 mm (17 x 4-3/8 x 15-3/4 in), including projections
• Weight: 5 kg (11 lb 1 oz)
• Mechanism: CDM59-5BD27, PXR-104X optical pickup

Warranty & Shipping

Every unit carries our 30-day hassle-free warranty, covering parts, labor, and return shipping on any defect. Accidental damage and misuse are not covered. Warranty questions go to hello@spencertified.com.

Ships from Mesa, Arizona. Packed weight is approximately 14 to 15 pounds.