Sony VGP-XL1B2 Media Changer (also: VGP-XL1B)

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 17 x 19.5 x 9.3 inches ; 31.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 41 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000ENU79C
• Item model number: VGP-XL1B2
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 17, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Sony VAIO XL1B is a 200 disc CD/DVD Changer/Recorder that connects to your Windows XP MCE 2005 PC to create an exciting, interactive entertainment experience. Load the VAIO XL1B with up to 200 CDs and the system automatically and sequentially copies your CD collection to your hard drive. Discs inserted into your VAIO XL1B Changer/Recorder are automatically detected by your PC which downloads metadata for each disc, including box art and artist information, making browsing your CD/DVD collection easy and fun. And with multi-DVD burning, you can conserve PC hard drive space by automatically and sequentially archiving your favorite TV programs to DVD.

Feature List

Interactive Entertainment Experience
The sleek, horizontal unit works in conjunction with your PC to create a fun, digital way to manage and browse your media collection. This 200 CD/DVD changer connects to a PC to create an exciting interactive living room entertainment experience. Its massive storage capacity eliminates the need for DVD and CD shelves while protecting your content from scratching and loss.

Fast, Convenient Library Access
Organize and energize your CD/DVD collection with the power of a PC and the storage of a 200-disc multimedia changer. The VAIO XL1B is a 200-disc multimedia changer/recorder that works with your Windows XP MCE 2005 PC to digitally organize, browse and enjoy your CD/DVD collection.

Easily Copy CDs to the Hard Drive
Load the VAIO XL1B with up to 200 CDs and the system will automatically and sequentially copy your CD collection to your hard drive. Even with hundreds of CDs in your collection, the VAIO XL1B Changer/Recorder provides you with the power to backup your collection with ease.

Store Recorded TV Programs to DVD
The powerful VAIO XL1B Changer/Recorder makes archiving recorded179 TV and movies a breeze. With automatic, sequential multi-DVD burning, you can conserve PC hard drive space by archiving your favorite movies and TV series' to multiple DVDs for your viewing convenience.

Download CD/DVD Jacket Information
Browse your CD/DVD collection like never before. Discs inserted into your VAIO XL1B2 Changer/Recorder are automatically detected by your PC which downloads available metadata for each disc, including jewel case covers and artist information. For movies, an in-depth synopsis is also downloaded in addition to the star, director, producer details and more.

Product Description

The 200-disc mega-changer stores up to an incredible 1.7 TB of optical data. Keep your CDs and DVDs in one convenient location. Enjoy more of your media and preserve it longer in a secure, enclosed housing that keeps you from misplacing or damaging the entertainment media you love.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great product for the money, with some limitations, August 2, 2006

By 

Marc Wielage (Northridge, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Media Changer (also: VGP-XL1B) (Personal Computers)

None of the reviews on this remarkable product (which Sony actually calls a "Changer/Recorder") mentions the following limitations:

1) you can only rip CDs to the digital formats supported by the Microsoft's WMA Player, specifically WMA and MP3. That's it. If you want uncompressed WAVs, AAC, or anything else, you're out of luck. (It can do lossless WMA, which can be converted to WAVs, but it's still a royal pain to deal with.)

2) the unit itself is gigantic, far bulkier than any consumer PC I've ever seen at 18" wide x 19" deep by 9-1/2" high; it's also very heavy at over 40 pounds. Users will want to place the component on a sturdy desk or cabinet. The good news is, this is not a flimsy consumer device, which you might expect for this price. This is a very heavy-duty unit, in every sense of the word.

3) Sony's manual is terribly inadequate. Many basic tasks are only vaguely hinted at, such as how to change the disk directories or drives on which your library is stored.

4) Although the VGP-XL1B changer is equipped with two Firewire 400 interface jacks (its only i/o ports), the manual advises not to plug anything into the second jack except another changer (daisy-chaining up to five in all).

5) you can also use the system for recording data backups and music to recordable CDs and DVDs, but figuring out exactly how to do this almost requires an EE degree.

6) the functionality of the Media Center interface is kludgy at best, and very buggy at worst.

7) Loading audio CDs into the unit takes quite a bit of time, because Media Center (through Windows Media Player) has to go out on the Net and retrieve all the CD titles, artist names, and song titles. That means the information is only as accurate as entered into Gracenote/CDDB -- which often leaves a lot to be desired. Once the disc info is retrieved, you can then push one button and rip everything to the hard drive, unattended. It takes a long time -- I clocked it at roughly 2 hours for 25 discs -- but at least it requires zero human intervention, aside from loading and unloading.

8) there's only one slot opening in the front, and getting discs in and out of the changer is a little nerve-wracking. I shudder to think what would happen if a disc got loose inside there, because there's no easy way to open it up to manually remove it, short of disassembling the unit.

Sony has recently cut the price of the VGP-XL1B to $[...] (under $[...] if the Amazon rebate is still available), which is an incredible bargain. The Niveus Ice Vault 200 is identical to this unit, but costs $[...] by itself -- probably closer to what this CD/DVD-ROM changer is actually worth.

I suspect the Media Center concept is still one of those things that's not quite ready for prime time. But the Sony system is a small step in the right direction. Maybe Apple will eventually figure it out and show Microsoft how to do it right... again.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal Media Changer for a Media Center PC, September 4, 2006

By 

Lawrence P. Jakobi (Palmdale, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Media Changer (also: VGP-XL1B) (Personal Computers)

Congratulations for Sony in making the first true Media Changer for any Media Center PC that brings library control and access that many have been waiting for. This unit was connected to HP Media Center M7360Y, (5 total units via firewire). First, unit was used to rip 200 CDs at a time to hard drive. Flawless, unsupervised execution allowed easy ripping and cataloging of home 2,000+cd collection.(This time saver alone was worth the purchase.)After ripping CD collection, five units were connected via firewire to store home DVD collection. Flawless cataloging and easy access gives true access to home movie collection for $2,500 instead of $40K+ for movie hardrive storage solutions. Important note, all our media are original purchase items so we have had no problems mentioned in other review that states media was copied, not original. We also are using XBOX360 with Media Center Extender for access to the media library over home network through out the house with no issues. This device gives home Media PCs a real media storage solution that cannot be matched by any other solution at this price point. Only issue, installation on HP Media Center did not match the user manual provided by Sony. A call to Sony Tech support provided a promised call back that has never been received. A second installation of the software proved to provide full functionality with slite difference of Media Center PC menu that is covered in the owners manual. Every function is present and working, you just have to look elsewhere in Media Center menu to find the options. (You must make sure that your Media Center PC is using Microsoft Media Center Rollup 2 before installing!!!) Highly recommended product!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sony VGP-XL1B2 Media Changer, June 8, 2007

By 

Nico du Plooy - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Media Changer (also: VGP-XL1B) (Personal Computers)

Simply brilliant!

Easy setup, effortless operation and simply no hassles. I am thinking of getting a second one - especially since they can be daisy-chained.

My only objections are a) the poor availability of movie content over the Internet from counties outside the US and b) that it will be rendered obsolete by HD-DVD or BlueRay - but then, so will everything else available now; and probably not within the next five years anyway.