Display Features
Audio Section
Radio Functions
Disc Playback
Aux/USB/iPod Connection
Remote Control

Display Features

Detachable Face: The CDX-GT540UI 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 front-panel, the caution alarm will sound for a few seconds. The alarm will only sound if the built-in amplifier is used.

Black 13-Segment LED Display: The Sony Xplod CDX-GT540UI features a 13 Segment black LCD with negative display for viewing 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 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-GT540UI 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 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.

Audio Section

True Fidelity Sound Construction: The Sony Xplod CDX-GT540UI FM/AM compact disc player 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.

24 Bit D/A Converter: The Sony CDX-GT540UI utilizes a 24-bit digital to analog converter for superior CD sound quality.

CEA2006 Compliant Amplifier: The power specifications for the Sony Xplod CDX-GT540UI 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-GT540UI 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 Xplod CDX-GT540UI 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), and High (10 kHz) frequencies from +/-10dB.

Loudness: This features reinforces bass and treble for clear sound at low volume levels.

Two Pairs Of 2V Preamp Outputs: The CDX-GT540UI contains two pairs of 2-volt RCA preamp outputs - a front pair and another pair that can be set for the rear channels or for subwoofer operation. When set to subwoofer, the output becomes non-fading and a low pass filter is activated with a selectable cut-off frequency of 80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 140Hz, 160Hz, or Off. You can adjust the subwoofer preamp output's volume level independently from the headunit's volume control from -10 to +10 in 1dB increments. In addition, you can select the phase of the subwoofer output from Normal or Reverse.

High-Pass Filter: The front and rear speaker outputs offer a selectable high-pass crossover frequency of 80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 140Hz, 160Hz, or Off.

Radio Functions

SSIR-EXA AM/FM Tuner with RDS: The Sony CDX-GT540UI features a built-in SSIR-EXA AM/FM Tuner with RDS. Radio Data System (RDS) feature displays radio broadcast information such as artist, title, and album when listening to compatible AM/FM stations. The CDX-GT540UI offers manual, seek and preset tuning.

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.

HD Radio Ready: The CDX-GT540UI is compatible with Sony's optional XT-100HD add-on HD Tuner (158XT100HD, 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.

Satellite Radio Ready: There are several options for connecting an optional  satellite radio receiver to this head unit:

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

Disc Playback

MP3/WMA/AAC Playback: The Sony CDX-GT540UI allows you to playback CD-Rs or CD-RWs loaded with MP3, WMA, or AAC songs (up to 320 kbps) recorded in ISO 9660 level 1 or 2, Joliet/Romeo, or Multi-Session. The CDX-GT540UI can support up 150 folders, and a combined 300 folders and files on a disc. The headunit will also display song information for MP3, WMA, and AAC music files (Joliet: up to 32 characters, Romeo: up to 64 characters).

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.

Quick-BrowZer: The unit's Quick-BrowZer feature allow you to search for a track on a CD, iPod, or from your connected USB Mass Storage Device easily by category (Genre, Artist, Album, or Playlist).

Jump Mode: Jump Mode gets you closer to the song you want by allowing you to fast forward through a music category in 10 percent increments.

Zappin: With the Zappin feature, you can play music (files or folders) in 6, 9, or 30-second clips until you find the song you are looking for on your CD or connected USB device.

Digital Music Plus Advanced: The Sony CDX-GT540UI features Digital Music Plus Advanced which is an enhancer technology used to reproduce detail and high frequency sound from compressed audio.

Off 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 20 seconds or more.

Mounting Angle: For proper CD playback, this unit must be mounted between 0 (horizontal) and 45 degrees

Aux/USB/iPod Connection

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 digital music 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 does not appear as an available source.

USB Input: The receiver's front-panel Type-A USB input can be used for plugging in a (MSC) Mass Storage Class or MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) type USB device. The head unit can play music files stored on the USB device in MP3, WMA, or AAC formats (up to 320 kbps). When playing a USB device, the display can indicate track/album/artist/genre number, track/artist/album/genre name, elapsed playing time, text information, or clock. The headunit can recognize up to 128 folders with 500 tracks each when connected to a USB Mass Storage Device. A sliding cover protects the USB input when it is not in use.

USB 1-Wire iPod Control: USB 1-Wire for iPod lets you directly connect, charge, and control select iPods via the USB jack on the front of the unit, as well as view metadata like song title and artist on the front display. The GT540UI has a front panel USB port which allows you to connect your iPod via a single cable (iPod dock connector-to-USB--cable not included with the head unit). The headunit will allow audio playback, control, and charging of your connected iPod. When the headunit is placed in the Passenger Control mode, you can control the iPod directly using the "click-wheel" or "touch-screen" on the iPod. The Sony GT540UI is "Made for iPod/iPhone" compatible and supports the following iPod/iPhone model features (as of Nov. 2009):

Remote Control

Wireless Remote Control: The headunit comes supplied with an IR wireless remote control (RM-X151) for easy operation. The included wireless remote allows you to control the basic functions of the Sony Xplod headunit while keeping your eyes on the road.

Optional Wired Remote Control: This unit has a 3.5mm minijack input for adding the optional PAC SWI-PS steering wheel remote interface (127SWIPS, sold separately). 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.