I don't think it's the make that matters, but I've had problems with a Technics and a Sony. The Technics skipped on some CDs, and the Sony refused to recognise almost everything after a while, but when it did recognise a disk it then refused to eject it unless tapped on the top. The key factor, I have found by asking around, is not to turn the player off - leave it connected to the mains all the time. The Pioneer I have now has a standby setting rather than an off switch, and the instructions recommend leaving the power on all the time. It has outlasted the Sony and the Technics. I haven't got a coherent explanation as to why, but the Technics did improve for a while when I left the mains on all the time instead of turning it off, then it went back on the fritz again.