I have a Theta Data Basic which is the non-universal transport based on the Phillips CDM-9 Pro assembly. I play on average about 7 hours of music a week and the rest of the time it is in standby mode. The unit is now 7 years old and still works fine. As with any player/transport I get a disk from time to time that it doesn't like but those are rare and usually can be solved by cleaning the disk. If the laser mechanism does go out it can be replaced, however the CDM9 Pro assemblies are no longer available and a CDM12 unit will be substituted. The CDM12 units from Phillips are not of the same quality as the CDM9 Pro's. I also have a Theta DAC that has been just as reliable. I understand that the CD/LD transport that was based on a Pioneer assembly did have some issues.
