Frusturation is mounting and I'm now looking to buy an R or RX. What's different

[DragonmasterDan]

Well what's actually wrong with the US Duo you have?  Is it having reading issues?  You can just put in a new lens for dirt cheap.  If you do want to just replace it go with an RX for reasons Tats stated of probably having a longer life.  They definitely shouldn't suffer from the sound caps drying out like on my US duo.  I was crazy and just fixed mine though.  Again if it is just a cd reading issue I'd try a new lens, before forking out the money on a new system.

I have two US duos. Without going in to a long explanation. Duo #1 has replaced caps (done earlier this year) despite this it needs to be re-synched. It has a new HOP-M3 and no longer reads CDs after a bad run in with a scratched up copy of "It came from the desert". Duo #2 has slightly less of a proble. it takes between 2-5 minutes for Redbook audio to kick in for CD games. This is a common problem, but is indicative of future failures. That's why the investment in the Duo R or RX seems worth it. I'm sick of dealing with failing hardware.

[BlueBMW]

Whenever you get tired of those two flaky duos and want to give em a new home, let me know

[nat]

Well what's actually wrong with the US Duo you have?  Is it having reading issues?  You can just put in a new lens for dirt cheap.  If you do want to just replace it go with an RX for reasons Tats stated of probably having a longer life.  They definitely shouldn't suffer from the sound caps drying out like on my US duo.  I was crazy and just fixed mine though. 

Nothing crazy about that-- I wish more people would take this approach. A US Duo with a tuned (or new) laser and a capacitor replacement will outlive any R or RX.

I have two US duos. Without going in to a long explanation. Duo #1 has replaced caps (done earlier this year) despite this it needs to be re-synched. It has a new HOP-M3 and no longer reads CDs after a bad run in with a scratched up copy of "It came from the desert".

Sounds like the new laser wasn't calibrated (or at least, wasn't calibrated correctly) on install. If you can get the laser tuned correctly this Duo should outlive any R or RX you might pick up. You're already 95% of the way there!

[BlueBMW]

Nothing crazy about that-- I wish more people would take this approach. A US Duo with a tuned (or new) laser and a capacitor replacement will outlive any R or RX.

Sounds like the new laser wasn't calibrated (or at least, wasn't calibrated correctly) on install. If you can get the laser tuned correctly this Duo should outlive any R or RX you might pick up. You're already 95% of the way there!

Plus the US duo is sooooo sexy looking!   I had some rough spots with my Duo early on, but now that its got a new laser and some new sound caps, its perfectly reliable each and every time I use it.

DMD, if you want, send your duos to either me or chop5,  one of us will get them running perfectly!