Features
External Device Controls

Features

Advanced Drive S HX: The CDX-GT820IP features the Drive S HX chassis platform. Drive S HX includes the CD mechanism, audio stages, 12 V power supply, and tuner section. The CD mechanism includes a suspension to resist shocks, a motor that draws less power, a fast low-current pickup that improves CD playback accuracy and advanced audio grade capacitors that improve audio signal stabilization. The 52W Peak x 4-channel S-MOSFET Power IC produces clearer, more accurate sound, less distortion, and a higher signal-to-noise ratio than previous designs.

Amplifier Section: The head-unit's amplifier is CEA-2006 compliant and rated at 17 watts RMS x 4 channels at 4 Ohms and 1% THD. The unit is also rated at 23.2 watts per channel minimum continuous average power into 4 ohms, 4 channels driven from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with no more than 5% THD. Peak power is rated at 52 watts per channel.

Disc Compatibility: The CD receiver will play CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RW discs. The headunit also supports CD Text.

Compressed Audio File Capability: In addition to audio CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs, the receiver will play MP3, WMA, and AAC compressed audio files stored on a CD-R or CD-RW. Below are the following requirements and features for compressed audio file playback:

• ISO: The unit is compatible with the ISO 9660 level 1 / level 2 format, Joliet/Romeo in the expansion format, and Multi Session.
• The Maximum number of:
  • folders or albums is 150 including root and empty folders (MP3, WMA, AAC)
  • files or tracks and folders contained in a disc is 300 or less if a folder/file names contain many characters (MP3, WMA, AAC)
  • displayable characters for a folder/file name is 32 (Joliet), or 64 (Romeo).
  • ID3 display characters are 30 or 126 characters (MP3), 63 characters (WMA), 126 characters (AAC)
• Playback Functions:
  • Track Repeat
  • Album/Folder Repeat
  • Album/Folder Shuffle
  • Disc Shuffle

Compressed Audio Display Information: The CD receiver's display can display the following information: Track number/Elapsed playing time, Disc/Artist Name, Album/Group Number, Album/Group Name, Track Name, Text Information and Clock.

Note: The Album/Group number is displayed only when the album/group is changed.

Quick-BrowZer: The unit's Quick-BrowZer feature allow you to search for a track on a CD or from your connected iPod easily by category (Genre, Artist, Album, or All). When there are many items in one category, you can search for the desired track quickly by using the Jump function which skips in steps of 10% of the total tracks listed in the current folder.

Note: When entering the Quick-BrowZer mode, the repeat/shuffle setting is canceled.

Radio Tuning: The CDX-GT820IP allows you to manual tune or seek tune AM/FM stations. In the Local Seek Mode, the unit will only tune in stations with very strong signals during Seek tuning. The Mono Mode allows you improve poor FM reception by selecting a monaural signal instead of a stereo signal. 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. The headunit also features a Preset List feature which lists 3 preset stations of a selected band on the unit's FL display. Other tuner features include:

• 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.
• IF (Intermediate Frequency): You can choose "Auto" to narrow automatically the reception frequency to eliminate noise, or "Wide" to always hear FM stereo broadcasts in stereo and with full frequency signal reception.

EQ3 Parametric: EQ3 Parametric offers 7 EQ presets, each of which has a preset value for 3 bands: Low, Middle, and High. You can choose from two center frequencies for each band: Low (60Hz or 100Hz), Mid (500Hz or 1kHz), and High (10kHz or 12.5kHz). The EQ presets and the band values are as follows:

• Xplod: Low: +10, Middle: +4, High: +4
• Vocal: Low: +4, Middle: +8, High: +2
• Edge: Low: +6, Middle: -2, High: +7
• Cruise: Low: +3, Middle: +4, High: +2
• Space: Low: +4, Middle: +5, High: +8
• Gravity: Low: +8, Middle: 0, High: +2
• Custom: Adjustable -10dB to +10dB for each band

Dynamic Soundstage Organizer (DSO): Sony's Dynamic Soundstage Organizer uses proprietary circuitry to induce subtle phase shifts, simulating a sound source that is placed higher than the actual speakers in the vehicle. For example, when the DSO function is used in a vehicle equipped with speakers mounted low in the front doors, it creates virtual speakers in the dash to raise the soundstage. This unit offers three levels of DSO, each with a larger and higher soundstage. You can store the DSO setting for each source.

Preamp Outputs: The CDX-GT820IP contains three pairs of RCA preamp outputs for the front and rear channels and for subwoofer operation. The subwoofer output is non-fading with a low pass filter with a selectable cut-off frequency of 125Hz, 78Hz, or Off. The subwoofer volume is adjustable from -10 to +10.

Front Panel Auxiliary Input: A front panel stereo 3.5mm mini-jack 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 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.

Flip-Down/Detachable Face: The CDX-GT820IP features a manual fold-down face which provides a larger display and greater protection for the player's CD-slot and your CD discs. In addition, the unit features a detachable face for theft prevention. The radio does not come with a protective face case.

3D Fluorescent Display: The receiver has a 3-dimensional fluorescent motion display with selectable images. You can display up to 3 motion displays (movie), up to 3 spectrum analyzer patterns, up to 3 wallpaper modes, rotate all displays, or turn off the display.

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 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: To change the brightness of the display you can set the CDX-GT820IP to one of three dimmer modes - Dimmer Auto (dims the display automatically when you turn your vehicle's lights on), Dimmer Off (deactivates the dimmer), and Dimmer On (display always dim).

Changeable Button Illumination: You can change the headunit's button illumination between Blue, Red, or Green. The unit's FL display and rotary knob remains blue regardless of setting.

Auto Off: When installing in a vehicle without an accessory power wire at the radio location, you can set the unit to turn off all lighting a set amount of time after you turn the power off. The Auto Off feature can be set to 30 seconds, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or No.

Eject: The CD disc can be ejected with the power off. The CD player will automatically reinsert the disc if it's ejected but not removed for 15 seconds or more.

Mounting Angle: For flexibility of installation, this unit can be mounted between 0 (horizontal) and 45 degrees.

Remote Control: This unit comes with a card-style remote commander, RM-X152. In addition to common commands, the remote also allows you to mute the audio, and select and store radio presets. The unit also has a 3.5mm minijack input for the optional RM-X4S wired rotary commander (sold separately). In addition, the PAC SWI-PS steering wheel remote interface (sold separately) is compatible with this head unit. The SWI-PS interface allows you to retain the use of your steering wheel and/or rear seat radio controls when replacing the factory head unit in select vehicles with a Sony head unit with wired remote capability. In some GM vehicles, this adapter allows you to retain heater control buttons as well.

External Device Controls

Built-In iPod Control: The headunit features a rear panel iPod dock connector on a 47" pigtail for connecting your Apple iPod. By connecting your iPod to the headunit's dock connector cable, you can listen to music stored on your iPod through your vehicle's stereo system while controlling the iPod from the Sony headunit. You can choose from the following search and play modes on the Sony headunit - Album, Artist, and Playlist. You can also repeat or shuffle each of these play modes as well as shuffle all tracks or repeat one track. When your vehicle is cranked or the ignition key of your vehicle is turned to the ACC position and the headunit is powered on, your iPod's battery will be charged during connection. The CDX-GT820IP supports the following iPods models.

• Fourth-generation iPod (ver.3.1.1)
• Fifth-generation iPod (ver.1.2.1)
• iPod photo (ver.1.2.1)
• iPod mini (ver.1.4.1)
• First-generation iPod nano (ver.1.3.1)
• Second-generation iPod nano (ver.1.1.3)
• Third-generation iPod nano (ver.1.0PC)
• iPod classic (ver.1.0PC)
• iPod touch (ver.1.1.1)

Note: When your iPod is connected to the headunit's dock connector, the iPod's controls are locked and operation from the iPod cannot be performed. This unit is not compatible with the iPod touch (2nd generation), iPod nano (4th generation), or iPhone/iPhone 3G.

Satellite Radio Ready: There are several options for connecting an optional Satellite Radio receiver to this receiver:

• XM Satellite Radio: To receive XM Satellite Radio connect the optional CNP2000UCA XM Direct2 Tuner and the Sony CNP-SON1 adapter cable (package item number 700XMSON2, sold separately).
• SIRIUS Satellite Radio: To receive SIRIUS Satellite Radio, you can connect the optional SCC1 SiriusConnect Vehicle Tuner (607SCC1) and the optional SNYSC1 Sony interface module (607SNYSC1).
• Auxiliary Input: A portable satellite radio receiver, such as the Delphi SkyFi3 or SIRIUS Sportster, can be connected to the head unit via the auxiliary input or the Sony XA-300 UniLink Auxiliary Input Adapter--158XA300.

Note: A subscription is also required to receive satellite radio programming from SIRIUS or XM.

HD Radio Ready: The CDX-GT820IP is compatible with Sony's optional XT-100HD add-on HD Tuner (sold separately) through its UniLink Bus connection. HD Radio technology, where available, offers higher quality sound than conventional analog broadcasts and receives text data. HD Radio provides FM broadcasts that are equal to CD sound quality and AM broadcasts that are as good as analog FM stereo broadcasts. HD Radio also provides a variety of data, including station name, song title, artist name, album name, etc. Once connected, all AM and FM broadcasts are received by the XT-100HD. HD appears as an additional source, with five preset banks; HD1 (FM1), HD2 (FM2), HD3 (FM3), HD4 (AM1), and HD5 (AM2). In addition to conventional broadcasts, with HD Radio broadcasting it is possible to choose from up to 8 multicast programs (HD1 to HD8 and analog). There are also data programs for each program.

Changer Controls: This unit is compatible with Sony UniLink CD/MP3 and MD changers. In addition, this unit can control compatible Sony Mobile Memory Stick players.

Multiple Changer Control: A maximum of 5 CD changers, 5 CD/MP3 changers, or 5 MD changers may be connected to this receiver. When connecting CD, CD/MP3 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 the Sony XA-C40 source selector.

Optional Auxiliary Input: You can connect an auxiliary audio device (such as a portable digital memory player, cassette, MiniDisc, or VCR) when used with the optional XA-300 UniLink Auxiliary Input Adapter. The XA-300 uses the UniLink and Bus Audio inputs on the back of the receiver, and allows you to connect an optional CD/MD changer in addition to the auxiliary audio source.