Sony CDX-M800 - Import Tuner Magazine

If someone were to call you two-faced, you might be insulted. But sometimes this can be a very good thing, as in the case of Sony's new CDX-M800.

This in-dash CD receiver has a split personality. It looks like just a black surface with two tiny buttons as controls and as it receives power, a high-resolution (139x39) fluorescent display springs to life with animated wallpaper. Press the open button and the faceplate reverses to reveal a silver control surface that is reminiscent of the dash in a modern sports car, complete with ovals that contain the buttons and a miniature sub-display in the center. When closed, with no display, you might not even realize that it's there.

The style options are plentiful. When the face is open, you can adjust the contrast of the sub-display for any viewing angle. Both displays have scrolling text for long file names, and dim for night driving. The main display gives you many choices for the background, including two wallpapers, five spectrum analyzers, and three animated movies. These backgrounds can be selected directly by using the image button (the only other button that appears on the outside when the faceplate is closed). You can also select an Auto-Image mode that will shuffle through the backgrounds continuously. The text information display can be set up to disappear after a few seconds once you have made a change so that your animated backgrounds don't look cluttered. A Blackout mode, where the display changes to black and reappearswhen you touch a control is more discreet.

The provided remote, the RM-X110, is about the thickness of a Hershey bar and about 2/3 the length. It has all of the same controls that are found on the inside faceplate, plus six direct access buttons for selecting radio station presets. I preferred using the deck with the face closed-you get the feedback of the detailed display-but when driving, it is nice to have the buttons in a known location so you don't have to take your eyes off the road. The layout of the buttons on the remote is pretty intuitive, although I kept pressing the Source button (in the center of the navigation arrows) when I wanted to press Enter. I had no problem finding my way through all of the functions. You can also get the optional RM-X6S wireless remote that is ergonomically designed and mounts to a convenient surface near your shifting hand.

The internal CD player will handle normal CDs and CD-R/RW disks as well. If you want to play MP3 files, you can get an optional 10-disc changer, and the deck provides full support for track/folder names and ID3 tags. Sony's optional MiniDisc changer and Memory Stick players are also supported. Repeat and random playback is available for both the internal player and outboard units. Disc naming is provided for changers, and you can select the discs by name from a list on the display. To prevent skipping, the internal mechanism has active feedback on the rotational speed as well as the focus and tracking servos that move the laser. This also helps read through imperfections (like scratches) on the disk.

The tuner has five bands, three FM and two AM, with six presets on each band. Best Tuning Memory scans and memorizes the strongest signals in the area, and can be used separately on each band. Station naming (up to eight characters) is provided. You can opt to see your station names in a list and easily select them. There are settings for local/distance, mono/stereo, and wide/narrow IF band to reduce bleed from stations on a frequency near to the one which you are listening.

Standard Bass and Treble controls give you fast access to basic tone shaping, and the normal front/rear fader and balance controls are nearby. For more control, you have the EQ7 capability. This is a seven-band graphic EQ that can be adjusted in 1dB increments to a maximum of +/-10dB. Seven factory presets have already been created for you and each allows further adjustments to be made. Sony also allows for these presets to be turned off. The EQ settings are retained separately for each source. Loudness gives you more lows and highs at lower volumes to make up for the way your ear processes sound. The DSO (Dynamic Soundstage Organizer) creates the illusion of the speakers being higher than they are by changing the frequency response and phase of the signal, and has three levels. The front/rear line outputs have high-pass filters to cut off the bass frequencies at either 78Hz or 125Hz. The opposite low-pass filters are provided on the mono subwoofer output, effectively providing you with a built-in active crossover. The subwoofer output has a level setting that is easily accessible from the Sound menu, with an adjustment range of 10dB of cut or boost, and it actually goes to infinite attenuation (off!) when you go past -10dB.

RCA connections for line level output (to your power amps) are hard-mounted in the rear of the deck, with the exception of the mono/sub output, which is handled with the more common "pigtail" style wires. A set of Aux In RCA connectors next to the front/rear ouputs gives you a way to connect portable devices or other accessories. These inputs are used when you add a CD or MD changer. The speaker outputs and other leads are connected through a multi-pin connector, making your install easy. A special connector is provided for the bus control of external changers. Additional connections include antenna power, amplifier remote turn-on, cell phone attenuate, and illumination control.

Overall, I found the CDX-M800 to be very solid and easy to use. It is not difficult at all to switch between using the remote with the full display, and using the controls on the opened faceplate. This is a good value for the money, and has styles to fit multiple cosmetic tastes.