Features
Disc Changer Controls
TV/Video Controls
Clock Display and Illumination Note

Features

Display/Button Illumination: This unit uses a multi-color LCD with a dot matrix readout for station frequencies, track numbers and times, text and spectrum analyzer displays. The main display lines (which show tuner frequency, track number, track time and text info), the clock/source portion of the display and the menu navigation arrows (cross-key controls) are displayed with white illumination. The MD-in and loud indicators are displayed with amber illumination. The repeat indicator and shuffle indicators are displayed with green illumination, and the record indicator is displayed with red illumination. When the unit is not in record mode, the MD REC, REC STOP and REC MENU buttons are backlit with green illumination; when the record mode is activated, the illumination for those buttons switches from green to orange. All other buttons are backlit with red illumination.

Dual Info Display: There is a portion of the display that can be set to show the source name (FM1, FM2, MD, etc) or the clock time, while the main display lines display MD Text, the track number and elapsed time, or the tuner frequency.  While the unit is playing, you can view the clock only when the Dual Info Display feature is turned on.

Motion Display: There are two motion display modes.  One mode uses a dot matrix graphic of a roller coaster, and the other mode shows a dot matrix graphic of waves washing in, then out.  After the roller coaster races around the dot matrix portion of the display, the source info scrolls onto the display.  When the second motion display mode is selected, the source info appears on the screen as if it was left there by the waves washing out to sea.  When the tuner is activated, the display alternates between the motion display graphic and the tuner frequency.  When an MD is playing, the unit will cycle through the MD track number and elapsed track time, the MD Text disc name (if any) and the MD Text track title (if any), with the motion display graphic appearing between each type of info.  The motion display can be turned off.

Adjustable Display Contrast: The display contrast may be adjusted for better viewing from various angles and in less than optimum lighting conditions.

Dimmer: This unit is equipped with a lead for connection to a vehicle's light switch. When the dimmer mode is set to "Auto" and the illumination lead receives power, the display dims to a preset level.  The display brightness is not affected by the vehicle's dimmer control.  Also, the dimmer feature may be turned off, so no dimming takes place when the illumination lead receives power.  You may have the display dimmed at all times by setting the dimmer mode to "on".

Spectrum Analyzer:  You may set the unit to display any of six different spectrum analyzer patterns, or it may be set to automatically cycle through the patterns.  If you prefer to view a display with less action, you may turn the spectrum analyzer off.

Selectable Display Language: You may change the display language to English, French or Spanish.

Rotary Encoder Control with Cross-Key Control: This unit is equipped with a rotary control that turns like a conventional knob (for volume, bass, treble etc) and cross-key buttons (for seek and manual tuning, track advance and track search, etc) for easy, intuitive operation. There are four cross-key buttons; the four buttons are located  immediately above, below, to the left and to the right of the rotary encoder for convenient operation.

Flip-Down Face: The MD slot is located behind the flip-down face. The face is not motorized, so it must be manually pushed into it's viewing position after inserting/ejecting an MD.

Wide Bit Stream Processing: A 20-bit data path through the digital filter and digital to analog converter delivers improved dynamic range and low-level linearity for lifelike sound.

MD Text Capable: When used with an MD that includes text information, this unit will display the Disc Name, Artist Name and/or Track Name.

40-second ESP: This unit is equipped with a 40-second shock resistant memory. This feature prevents MD skipping during disturbances lasting up to 40-seconds in duration.

Program Memory: A program, of up to 24 tracks, may be entered into memory, so you can listen to your favorite tracks in the order of your choice.

MD Recording from Tuner or Optional CD/MD Changer: Radio broadcasts and audio from a compatible Sony CD/MD changer (sold separately) may be recorded to MD. The recording capabilities of this unit allow you to make recordings on the go, and you may edit your recordings with many of the convenience features found on home MD recorders; see below for more about the recording functions. 

MD Recording Functions:

• Track Recording: the unit may be set to record a single track from a disc played in an optional CD/MD changer
• Disc Recording: the unit may be set to record a complete a disc played in an optional CD/MD changer
• Time Machine Recording: when recording from a radio broadcast, the unit stores 10 seconds of audio data in a memory buffer. This feature allows you to activate recording up to 10 seconds after a broadcast has begun and still capture the beginning of the broadcast on your recording.
• Timer-off Recording: if you have started a recording, but you need to leave the vehicle, you may program the unit to continue recording after you turn off the ignition and leave the car. The unit may be set to continue recording 10 to 80 minutes, in 10 minute increments.
• Program Recording: you may create and record a program of up to 24 tracks from discs in a CD or MD changer
• Erase Function: you may erase a single track, all tracks or just a portion of a track
• Divide Function: this function can be used to add track numbers to divide any multiple tracks that were recorded as a single track. Also, this function let's you mark track numbers after a recording has been made.
• Combine Function: this function allows you to put several tracks together into a single track
• Move Function: this function allows you to change the order of tracks recorded on an MD
• MD Labeling: you may label your MDs and tracks; up to 1700 characters may be entered for each MD

Automatic Recording Level Setting: The recording level is automatically set by this unit; there are no manual recording level controls.

Digital Input: This unit is equipped with a digital input. The digital input allows you to make digital recordings from a Sony mobile CD changer equipped with an optical digital output. The input is on the rear panel of the unit. 

Note: The digital input is not an optical digital input, so an XA-D110 adapter (sold separately) is required to connect this unit to a source equipped with a Toslink optical digital output. 

SSIR-EXA Adaptive Reception: The SSIR-EXA tuner is equipped with "Adaptive Reception". The Adaptive Reception feature has two (IF AUTO and WIDE) for optimizing FM reception. The "wide" mode decreases the tuner's selectivity but results in better frequency response. The auto mode automatically adjusts the tuner for a good balance between frequency response and minimum station-to-station interference. The Adaptive Reception feature cannot be turned off.

Station Memo: You can assign a name of up to 8 characters in length to each tuner preset station. Station Memos can be used with the List-up function to locate a station.

Source Tone Memory: Bass and treble settings are independently stored in memory for each source (AM/FM/CD).

Remote Compatibility: This receiver can be controlled by the optional wired rotary commander (item 158RMX4S) and optional wireless remote (item 158RMX47).

Attenuator/Mute: The attenuate/mute function is accessible only by remote (wired and wireless remotes sold separately).

Cellular Mute Lead: This unit is equipped with lead that mutes audio output when a cellular call is received; when the call is over, the audio level is automatically restored. To use this feature, you MUST have a cellular phone with a muting output that can be connected to the cellular mute lead.

Settings: You may change the following sound and display settings:

• Clock: used to set clock time.
• Beep: turns the beeps that the unit normally makes when a function is selected on/off
• RM (Rotary Commander): changes the control direction of the optional remote so it corresponds to where the remote is mounted (left or right of steering column)
• English/French/Spanish: changes the display language
• D.Info: Turns dual info display on/off
• SA (spectrum analyzer): changes the display pattern of the spectrum analyzer
• Dimmer: selects auto, on or off
• Contrast: changes the contrast of the display
• M.Dspl (Motion Display): turns the motion display on/off
• A.Scrl (Auto scroll): automatically scrolls a disc or track name from a CD/MD changer or the built-in CD player if the name exceeds 10 characters
• Loudness: turns the loudness feature on/off

Control of Multiple Changers: A maximum of 5 CD changers, or a maximum of 5 MD changers may be connected to this receiver. When connecting CD and MD changers, you may connect up to a total of 7 changers (but there must not be more than 5 of one type of changer). When connecting more than one changer to this receiver, you must use item 158XAC30.

Functions:

• Changer select
• Track +/-
• Disc +/-
• Track search forward/reverse
• Shuffle-1: one random play disc (does not repeat tracks)
• Shuffle-2: plays track from all CDs in the selected changer (will repeat tracks)
• Shuffle-all: plays tracks from all connected changers in random order (will repeat tracks)
• Repeat-1: track repeat
• Repeat-2: disc repeat
• Custom File (FILE): for 110 discs (per changer). Assign up to an 8 character title per disc (Disc Memo). After a disc has been given a custom title, you may search for the disc, by title, using the List function.
• Program Memory: a program of up to 24 tracks may be entered into memory for each CD/MD changer that is connected to this unit

TV/Video: You can connect an optional Sony TV tuner and TV monitor to this unit. This unit will automatically memorize the strongest TV signals (up to 12 channels).  You can store a name for each channel (up to 8 characters) and display it by using the list function (displays on the TV monitor).  Disc info that is stored in memory and radio station names can be displayed on the TV monitor.

Simultaneous Play: This feature allows you to watch TV or video while listening to an MD or CD; this feature will not work while you are listening to the radio.

Clock Display and Illumination Note

Clock Display: Pressing the OFF button once will turn off audio output, but the clock display (on the Active Black Panel and the control panel) and button illumination (on the control panel) remain on.  This makes the clock display "Keyed" instead of "Unit On" only.  To turn the unit off completely, you must press the OFF button for two seconds. 

Note: When installing in a vehicle without an accessory power wire at the radio location, you must turn the radio completely off (this defeats keyed operation), or you may wire the accessory power wire of this radio to an alternate source of accessory power to retain keyed clock operation.