If it was happening across the board, the same scratching/skipping occuring on all devices, I'd concur on the software or media, but it's only the RX-8. Taking a look at work here, we have some Memorex discs and somebody else in my house has a different brand of CD-R as I do. They might also be Memorex, I don't know, but I do know it's a different style of disc at least. I'll test a burn on each one of those and see how it goes. I'll have to put another retail CD in too. I've only been trying to listen to my CDR's lately and now that it's become super cold in the last few days, I'll have to try and see if retails are being affected too. If they are, then it's definitely something with the player. I could get it replaced under warranty, but with the shop I bought it from a 90 minute drive away, I'd rather take just one trip up there, preferrably to install the MP3 unit I want in it.

I haven't spoken to this shop's service department, but does anybody know the going price on the MP3 units now? I've seen 2 sites so far, Mazdaparts.com has it for $325 and I've seen one other listed for $275. Some other threads I've read though seem to put the unit much cheaper at these places.

 

There is another dealership that's only maybe an hour or so away, but also involves driving in a more densely populated area and equates to the same amount of time in the end with excessive stop/go and a very cramped dealership lot. I'd much rather deal with the other one.

If the player was constantly having issues, I could see the media being a possible problem. But when the issue I'm having gets better the further I drive, I'm convinced it's hardware/temp related. It's not like the disc itself changes the more it's played in one drive. I'll burn those other CD's on the Memorex and the mystery media at home instead of my TDK discs and we'll see if we get the same results. My money is on 'yes'.