Sony MEX-1HD CD Receiver/Hard Drive Recorder

General Features
Hard Drive Features
Memory Stick Features
Note

General Features

Network Walkman Compatible: Using the digital I/O terminal, you can connect a Network Walkman to the MEX-1HD, allowing you to transfer files recorded on the hard drive to the Network Walkman.

Motorized Tray CD Mechanism: When loading a CD, the motorized face folds down and the motorized tray extends. After the disc is loaded, the tray retracts and the face returns to its normal position. The motorized tray mechanism does more than just add ease of operation, and impressive motorized function. It helps to seal the playback chamber, keeping CDs dust-free, and isolates the playback process from airborne vibration, especially in extreme SPL conditions. Note: Please allow at least 4.5" in front of the face for the motorized tray mechanism to open and close.

Spectrum Analyzer: You can select from the following spectrum analyzer display patterns: "Auto", "13Band Vertical", "19Band Oblique", "3Band Horizontal", "Smooth", "Wave", "Desert", "Heat Haze", or "Off".

Screen Saver: You can select one of the following screen saver display patterns: "Water Watch", "Tile", "Sound Wave", "Aquarium", "Water Surface", "Snow Fall", "Tunnel", "Convex Lens", "Fireworks", "Infinity", "Marbles", or "Space Travel".

EQ7: You may select one of the following EQ presets: Vocal, Club, Jazz, New Age, Rock, Xplod, or Custom. For each preset, you can adjust the following frequencies: 62Hz, 157Hz, 396Hz, 1kHz, 2.5kHz, 6.3kHz, and 16kHz. The level of each frequency can be adjusted from +10dB to -10dB in 1dB increments.

Dynamic Soundstage Organizer (DSO): 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 function can be turned On or Off.

SSIR-EXA Adaptive Reception: The SSIR-EXA tuner is equipped with "Adaptive Reception". The Adaptive Reception feature has two modes ("IF Auto" and "Wide") for optimizing FM reception. The "Wide" mode decreases the tuner's selectivity but results in better frequency response. The "IF 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.

Best Tuning Memory (BTM): This feature selects stations with the strongest signals within the selected band and stores them in order of their frequency.

Station Memo: You can assign a name of up to 31 characters in length to each tuner preset station. Station Memos can be used with the List-up function to locate a station.

G-Protection: G-Protection offers superior protection against mis-tracking, providing virtually skip-free playback. G-Protection features a motorized tray isolated from shock by gel filled dampers, a Quick Focus pickup and a 3 second electronic memory circuit, which acts as a buffer. Unlike other skip protection systems, G-Protection doesn't need a huge memory buffer to prevent skipping. Instead, the mechanical components of the G-Protection system do most of the work, and the 3 second buffer plays only a small part in skip prevention.

MP3 Playback: This unit can play MP3 files recorded on CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW discs in ISO9660 Level 1/Level 2, Joliet, and Romeo formats.

Mono Subwoofer Preamp Outputs: In addition to stereo front and rear preamp outputs, this unit includes one set of mono subwoofer preamp outputs. Although there are two female RCA subwoofer outputs, the same signal is carried by both connections. A low-pass filter (see below) can be used to filter high frequencies from the signals output by the subwoofer outs. The subwoofer volume level can be adjusted from -10dB to +10dB in 1dB increments.

High-pass Filter: The front and rear preamp outputs have a selectable high-pass filter that may be set to 78Hz, 125Hz, or Off.

Low-pass Filter: The subwoofer preamp outputs have a selectable low-pass filter that may be set to 78Hz, 125Hz, or Off.

Auxiliary Input: Stereo RCA preamp inputs are hardwired to the back of the unit on a 9" lead, allowing you to connect 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. You can adjust the level of the auxiliary input from -6dB to +6dB in 1dB increments.

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

Dimmer: This unit is equipped with a wire that Sony calls an illumination lead, however, it acts as a dimmer lead. 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 dimming does not take place when the illumination lead receives power. You may choose to dim the display at all times by setting the dimmer mode to "On". Note: For this feature to work, the unit's illumination wire must be connected to your vehicle's dash lights wire.

Hard Drive Features

10GB Hard Drive: The MEX-1HD has an internal 10GB hard drive that allows you to store over 165 hours of music.

Recording on the Hard Drive: You can record a single track, a selection of tracks, or an entire disc from the internal CD player to the hard drive. When recording, you can select a bit rate of 105k or 132k. The recording speed can be set to x1-REC (normal speed recording) or HI-REC, which records the track up to 8 times faster than normal speed recording. Note: You cannot record from a Memory Stick to the hard drive and MP3 files cannot be recorded onto the hard drive. Music recorded to the hard drive is stored in ATRAC3 format.

Move Out: This feature allows you to move music data from the hard drive to an MG Memory Stick. The music data must be downloaded from a "Pay-Per-Music" site. These sites will associate some type of "signature" with the downloaded music, indicating that the music has been paid for.

Move In: This feature allows you to move music data from an MG Memory Stick to the hard drive. The music data must be downloaded from a "Pay-Per-Music" site.

Import: This feature allows you to import audio files from an MG Memory Stick to the hard drive. The music must be downloaded from a "Pay-Per-Music" site.

Editing on the Hard Drive: To allow easy access to the music stored on the hard drive, you have several editing functions available to you:

• Creating a Folder/Album: allows you to add a new folder or album
• Name In: allows you to give titles to folders, albums, and tracks
• Move Function: allows you to change the order of tracks once they have been recorded. When you move tracks, they are automatically renumbered.
• Erase Function: allows you to erase a folder, album, or track

Repeat Play: You can repeat the current track, current album, or current folder.

Shuffle Play: You can select one of the following shuffle play modes: Album Shuffle, Folder Shuffle, or Shuffle All. In Album Shuffle mode, the tracks in the current album are played in random order. In Folder Shuffle mode, the tracks in the current folder are played in random order. In Shuffle All mode, all the tracks of all the folders are played in random order.

Play List: Up to 400 tracks can be programmed and played in any order.

Memory Stick Features

Recording with the Memory Stick: When using a Memory Stick in the MEX-1HD, you have access to the following recording functions:

• Check-Out:  allows you to check out music data from the hard drive to an MG Memory Stick
• Check-In: allows you to return checked-out music from an MG Memory Stick to the hard drive
• Backup: allows you to temporarily store any digital camera data from a Memory Stick or voice data from an IC recorder to the hard drive
• Restore: allows you to return backed-up data to the original Memory Stick

Editing on the Memory: To allow easy access to the music stored on a Memory Stick, you have several editing functions available to you:

• Creating a Folder: allows you to add a new album
• Labeling an Album: allows you to give a title an album
• Move Function: allows you to change the order of tracks once they have been recorded. When you move tracks, they are automatically renumbered.
• Erase Function: allows you to erase unwanted tracks

Note

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. 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 and face/button illumination operation.