About the Sony CDX-M20
Made for the marine environment
Made for the marine environment
Don't settle for a regular car CD receiver in your boat — choose one that's built to stand up to the demands of the marine environment. Sony's CDX-M20 marine receiver uses a UV coating to protect the face from sun damage, along with a conformal-coated circuit board that resists moisture. It'll keep your boat rocking for years of fun on the water.
Plenty of ways to play your music
Plenty of entertainment options
You can play your store-bought and recordable CDs on this Sony, including discs you've loaded with MP3 or WMA files. For more variety, you can jack your iPod® or any other portable into the handy front-panel auxiliary input.
Satellite radio is a big favorite with boaters, because of its great offshore reception. You can plug an optional SiriusXM tuner into the CDX-M20 an enjoy an unparalleled variety of music, sports, talk, and news.
Sonic surfing
The 3-band equalizer tailors the sound for the perfect blend of lows, mids, and highs, while high- and low-pass filters let you send the right frequencies to the speakers and amps in your setup. Sony includes a convenient wireless remote. The CDX-M20 is also compatible with Sony's RM-X11M wired marine remote control.
Installation notes: This marine radio is water-resistant, but we recommend mounting it in a water-resistant enclosure or using a cover for best performance.
Product highlights:
General features:
- marine CD receiver with AM/FM tuner
- built-in amplifier (17 watts RMS CEA-2006/52 peak × 4 channels)
- plays CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs, including discs loaded with MP3 and WMA files
- detachable face and wireless remote
Marine-specific features:
- coated circuit boards, UV-resistant front panel
- memory backup stores favorite settings
Audio features:
- EQ3 (seven preset tone curves and a 3-band equalizer)
- high- and low-pass filters
Expandability features:
- compatible with SiriusXM satellite radio tuner
- inputs: front-panel auxiliary input
- outputs: 2-channel preamp outputs (selectable rear/sub)
Other features and specs:
- CEA-2006 compliant amplifier
- warranty: 1 year
- MFR # CDX-M20
What's in the box:
- Marine AM/FM/CD receiver (with 10-amp ATC fuse inserted into chassis)
- Face
- Sleeve (installed)
- Trim ring (attached)
- Wiring harness
- Remote control (RM-X201)
- CR2025 3V lithium battery (installed in remote)
- 2 Radio removal tools
- 4 Flathead ISO-mount screws
- Rubber auxiliary cap
- Metal backstrap
- Pan-head machine screw
- Self-tapping screw
- Face-fixing screw
- Operating Instructions (Eng/Fre/Spa)
- Installation/Connections sheet (Eng/Fre/Spa)
- US Limited Warranty sheet
- Canada Consumer 1 Year Warranty
- Note on installing rubber auxiliary cap
- Face-fixing screw note
Customer reviews for Sony CDX-M20
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More details on the Sony CDX-M20
Features & specs
Expandability | ||
---|---|---|
AUX Input | Front | |
Audio/video Input | --- | |
USB Input | No | |
USB Port Power | --- | |
Backup Camera Input | No | |
Second Camera Input | No | |
CarPlay | No | |
Android Auto | No | |
Siri Control | No | |
Alexa Voice Control | ||
Android Control | No | |
Memory Card Slot | N/C | |
Bluetooth Compatible | No | |
Satellite Radio Ready | SiriusXM | |
HD Radio | No | |
Navigation | --- | |
iPod Compatibility | ||
Full size | N/A | |
Nano | N/A | |
Touch | N/A | |
iPhone | N/A | |
General | ||
RMS Power (CTA-2006) | 17 watts | |
RMS Power (Manufacturer) | --- | |
Peak Output | 52 watts | |
RMS Power Bandwidth | 20-20kHz | |
Preamp Outputs | 2-channel | |
Sub Preamp Outputs | No | |
Switchable Rear Preamp Outputs | Yes | |
Video Screen | No | |
Navigation App Compatible (iOS) | ||
Navigation App Compatible (Android) | ||
Preamp Voltage | 2 volts | |
Screen Size | --- | |
Screen Type | --- | |
Display Color | White/Black | |
Key Button Color | Blue | |
EQ Bands | 3 | |
Wireless Remote | Yes | |
Steering Wheel Control Compatible | Adapter required | |
Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
Labor Warranty | 1 Year | |
Tuner | ||
FM Sensitivity | 8 dBf | |
European Tuning | No | |
Seek/Scan | Seek | |
Radio Data System | No | |
File Playback | ||
Music File Playback | N/A | |
High-res Playback |
Product Research
Marine Rated
Radio Functions
Disc Playback
AUX Connection
Audio Section
Display Features
Remote Control
Marine Rated
Marine Receiver: The Sony CDX-M20 Marine AM/FM CD receiver features a UV resistant faceplate (tested under ASTM G154), a conformal coated circuit board for marine use and a plastic cover over the top of the chassis to protect against humidity.
- UV Resistance: UV Resistant front-panel coating protects faceplate to help prevent discoloration from the sun. Meets the standard for ASTM G154 for UV resistance.
- Conformal Coated Circuit Boards: Conformal coated circuit boards protect the electronic assembly from damage due to contamination, salt spray, moisture, fungus, dust, and corrosion caused by harsh or extreme environments.
Water Resistant Covers (optional): Even though the conformal coating makes the receiver water-resistant, it is still recommended that it be used with an optional universal marine cover from Metra or Scosche.
Memory Backup: The head unit's last settings are stored automatically in the unit's non-volatized internal memory. Settings include Sound adjustments (except volume), Setup items (except clock), and Tuner presets.
Radio Functions
Digital Clarity Tuner: The Sony CDX-M20 is equipped with a Digital Clarity Tuner for clear AM/FM stereo sound with digital processing technology.
RDS: The Radio Data System (RDS) feature displays radio broadcast information such as artist & track information when listening to compatible AM/FM stations.
Preset Tuning: The radio features 5 memory bands to store and receive AM/FM stations. You can store up to 6 presets each in FM1, FM2, FM3, AM1 and AM2 (total: 18 FM/12 AM). Preset tuning can be done manually or automatically.
- Best Tuning Memory (BTM): This feature selects stations with the best signals within the selected band and stores them in order of their frequency. You can select from FM1, FM2, FM3, AM1, and AM2.
- Manual Tuning: You can manually tune and find your favorite radio stations one by one for FM1, FM2, FM3, AM1, and AM2.
Auto Tuning: You can use the seek button to help you search quickly through the available stations and then choose your own presets from these available stations.
Local Seek Mode: In the Local Seek Mode, the unit will only tune in stations with very strong signals during Seek tuning.
Mono Mode: The Mono Mode allows you improve poor FM reception by selecting a monaural signal instead of a stereo signal.
SiriusXM Ready: The Sony CDX-M20 comes ready for SiriusXM programming with access to XM and Sirius Satellite Radio stations. Thanks to its proprietary SiriusXM Connect port, you can add the optional SXV300V1 SiriusXM Connect tuner and receive more than 150 channels of exclusive programming directly from SiriusXM, via the "SiriusXM All Access" package (subscription required). Visit SiriusXM.com for a complete list of subscription options and channel guide. Additional features of the SXV300 SiriusXM Connect tuner include:
- Channel list displays a list of all available channels
- Category Search searches for channels in a certain category
- Displayed Information such as Channel Name, Artist Name, & Song Title can be viewed on the head unit's LCD
- Up to 18 SiriusXM Satellite Radio station presets
- Channels containing unsuitable content for children can be blocked
Disc Playback
Disc Compatibility: The unit features a single disc player that will playback CD-Audio, CD-Text, and finalized CD-R/CD-RW audio discs (12cm only).
MP3/WMA Playback: The Sony CDX-M20 allows you to playback CD-Rs or CD-RWs loaded with MP3/WMA songs (up to 320 kbps) recorded in ISO 9660 level 1 or 2, Joliet/Romeo, or Multi-Session. The CDX-M20 can support up 150 folders, and a combined 300 folders & files on a disc. The head unit will also display song information for MP3/WMA music files (Joliet: up to 32 characters, Romeo: up to 64 characters).
Compressed Audio Display Information: The CD receiver can display the following CD-TEXT or ID3/WMA-tag information - Track number, Elapsed Playing Time, Song Title, Artist Name, or Album Label.
Repeat & Shuffle: The CDX-M20 offers Repeat (track/folder) & Shuffle (All/folder) playback modes.
Off Insert/Eject: A CD disc can be inserted or ejected with the power off. The CD player will automatically reinsert the disc if it's ejected, but not removed for 20 seconds or more.
Auto Playback: The head unit will automatically begin disc playback, when a disc is inserted with the receiver set to a different source or powered off.
Mounting Angle: For proper CD playback, this unit must be mounted between 0 (horizontal) and 45 degrees.
AUX Connection
Front-Panel Aux Input: A front-panel stereo 3.5mm minijack is provided to allow the connection of a portable audio source. Just connect your portable cassette, MD or MP3 player to this unit, and you can listen to the audio from the portable player through the speakers in your mobile audio system. The head unit comes supplied with a rubber cap that can be placed over the auxiliary input when it is not in use to keep it dry.
Aux Level: The volume level of the auxiliary input is adjustable from -8 to +18 dB to compensate for any difference between the unit and your portable device. The aux input can be deactivated in the menu so it doesn't appear as an available source.
Audio Section
True Fidelity Sound Construction: The Sony CDX-M20 Marine receiver features a newly developed sound processor for less distortion, an S-MOSFET IC for smooth signal transmission, and a large-sized capacitor for deep bass sound.
Dynamic Reality Amp: The CDX-M20 is equipped with Sony's Dynamic Reality Amp to produce 3-dimensional sound staging for more realistic sound inside your vehicle.
24 Bit D/A Converter: The Sony Marine CDX-M20 utilizes a 24-bit digital to analog converter for superior CD sound quality.
CEA2006 Compliant Amplifier: The power specifications for the Sony CDX-M20 are compliant with the CEA2006 Mobile Amplifier Power Testing and Measurement standards from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). These standards were developed as a way to equitably compare power specs from model to model and between manufacturers. The power output specs for the CDX-M20 are as follows:
- Continuous Power Output: 17 watts RMS x 4 channels (at 4 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, 1% THD-N)
- Peak Power Output: 52 watts x 4-channels (208 total watts)
EQ3 Stage 2: The Sony CDX-M20 features an EQ3 Stage 2 equalizer with 8 preset equalizer curves for various types of music. You can choose from Xplod, Vocal, Edge, Cruise, Space, Gravity, Custom, or Off. The Off mode provides a flat response. The Custom mode allows you to manually adjust the Low (60 Hz), Mid (1 kHz), & High (10 kHz) frequencies from +/-10dB.
Loudness: This features reinforces bass & treble for clear sound at low volume levels.
Switchable Rear/Subwoofer 2V Preamp Output: The Sony CDX-M20 is equipped with a switchable rear/subwoofer 2-volt preamp output for connecting a full-range or subwoofer amplifier. When set to rear, the preamp output can be faded; when set to subwoofer, the preamp output is non-fading. The head unit also offers a phase adjustment (Norm/Rev), low-pass crossover (80/100/120/140/160Hz), and independent volume control (+/-10) for the subwoofer preamp output.
High-Pass Filter: The Sony CDX-M20 offers an adjustable high-pass filter (80/100/120/140/160Hz) for the front and rear speaker outputs of the head unit. This high-pass filter can be deactivated.
Beep Tone: The in-dash head unit provides an audible beep to confirm button operation. This function can be turned On or Off.
Display Features
Detachable Face: The CDX-M20 features a detachable face for theft prevention. A face-fixing screw is supplied for making the face non-detachable, if desired.
Caution Alarm: If you turn the ignition switch to the Off position without detaching the head unit's front-panel, the caution alarm will sound for a few seconds. The alarm will only sound if the unit's built-in amplifier is used.
1-Line LCD Display: The Sony CDX-M20 features a 1-line LCD display for viewing radio & song information.
Motion Display: This feature shows moving patterns and a spectrum analyzer on the display when turned on.
Auto Scroll: This feature allows long displayed items to scroll automatically across the display when the track is changed on a disc.
Display Illumination/Clock Display: Pressing the Off button once will turn off audio output, but the clock display and face/button illumination remain on. This makes the clock display and face/button illumination "Keyed" instead of "Unit On" only. To turn the unit off completely, you must press the Off button for two seconds.
Dimmer: The CDX-M20 feature a dimmer mode to dim the brightness of the display. You can choose from either "Dim On" or Dim Off".
Auto Off: When installing in a vehicle without an accessory power wire at the radio location, you can set the unit to turn off automatically after a set amount of time. The Auto Off feature can be set to 30 seconds, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or No.
Demo Mode: The head unit's demo mode can be turned On or Off.
Remote Control
Wireless Remote Control: The CDX-M20 comes supplied with an IR wireless remote control (RM-X201) for easy operation.
Optional Marine Remote Commander: The head unit is compatible with the RM-X11M Marine Remote Commander. The RM-X11M features an attached 7.5" cord with a male minijack on the other end that connects to the supplied 24' remote cable. The other end of this supplied cable plugs into the 3.5mm wire remote commander jack on the rear-chassis of your compatible Sony in-dash car or marine head unit. The RM-X11M also features a 12-volt lead which connects to the illumination circuit of your boat and a ground wire that connects to a metal point on your boat.
Steering Wheel Remote Compatibility: The head unit features an OEM steering wheel remote control input on the rear of the unit that lets you keep your vehicle's factory radio steering wheel remote controls when used with an optional steering wheel audio control adapter (sold separately). Please consult Crutchfield's Outfit My Car to see if your vehicle is compatible.
The Sony CDX-M20 replaces these items
Sony CDX-M10
- coated circuit boards
- front auxiliary input
- 2-channel preamp outputs
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Customer Q&A
11 questions already asked
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This stereo was easy to install and the sound is amaziing. I put it on my boat in less than 15 minutes. The installation couldn't have been easier and as I mentioned the sound is outstanding. I am picking up radio stations that I can't pickup in my vehicle.
BenJ from Cheyenne, Wy