Sony Xplod MEX-BT2600

Features

Drive-S: The MEX-BT2600 uses the Drive-S chassis platform. Drive-S 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, and a fast low-current pickup that improves durability and CD playback accuracy. The 52W x 4 S-MOSFET Power IC produces clear, accurate sound, with little distortion, and a high signal-to-noise ratio.

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.

MP3/WMA Capability: The CD receiver will also play MP3 and WMAfiles stored on a CD-R or CD-RW. Below are the following requirements for MP3/WMA 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 files or tracks and folders contained in a disc (300 if a folder/file names contain many characters, this number may become less than 300).
  • Displayable characters for a folder/file name is 32 (Joliet), or 64 (Romeo).
  • ID3 tag versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 apply to MP3 only. ID3 tag is 15/30 characters (1.0 and 1.1) or 63/126 characters (2.2, 2.3. and 2.4). WMA tag is 63 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.

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

Radio Tuning: The MEX-BT2600 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. 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.

EQ3 Stage 2: EQ3 Stage 2 offers 7 EQ presets, each of which has a preset value for 3 bands: Low (60Hz), Middle (1kHz), and High (10kHz). 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
• Off (flat): Low: 0, Middle: 0, High: 0
• Custom: Adjustable -10dB to +10dB for each band (Low, Middle, High)

Loudness: This feature allows you to listen to your music clearly at low volume levels by reinforcing the bass and treble. The bass level is increased to +4 dB at 100 Hz while the treble level is increased to +2 dB a 10 kHz.

Two Pair Of Preamp Outputs: The MEX-BT2600 contains two pair of 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 125Hz, 78Hz, 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.

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.

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 MEX-BT2600 to one of two dimmer modes - Dimmer Off (deactivates the dimmer) or Dimmer On (display always dim).

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.

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

Remote Control: The MEX-BT2600 comes with the RM-X304 wireless remote commander for operating the basic audio functions of this unit, as well as the Bluetooth Communication functions. Dimensions: Width = 1.667", Height = 3.938", Depth = 0.443".

Optional Wired Remote Control: This unit also has a 3.5mm minijack input for the optional RM-X4S wired rotary commander. In addition, the PAC SWI-PS steering wheel remote interface 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

Bluetooth Wireless Communication: The MEX-BT2600 has built-in Bluetooth hardware to integrate with Bluetooth enabled cellular phones and audio players, including the Apple iPhone. Bluetooth (Standard Bluetooth version 2.0) is a two-way wireless communication system allowing you to make and receive cell phone calls, and listen to a Bluetooth audio device. Up to nine phones or audio devices can be registered with the MEX-BT2600. You can adjust the volume for each connected Bluetooth audio device from -8 to +18dB. Bluetooth wireless technology operates on a 2.4GHZ frequency band within a range of about 10 meters (about 33 feet). The MEX-BT2600 supports the following Bluetooth profiles:

• Hands-Free Talk (HFP 1.5/HSP): Incoming calls can be received through this head unit, and the ring tone is output from your car speakers. Incoming calls can be rejected if desired. To make a call from this unit, only redial is used. To call another phone, you will need to dial the number on your cell phone, and then transfer the call to the head unit. The unit can be set to automatically reconnect to the last connected Bluetooth device when the ignition is turned on. The phone rings, and you hear the caller's voice through the front speakers (left, right, or both). The microphone is built into the front of the radio. The MEX-BT2600 also supports Voice Dial Activation which allows you to activate voice dialing with a compatible Bluetooth enabled mobile-phone by saying the voice tag stored in your cellular phone.
• Music Streaming (A2DP/AVRCP): You can listen to music from an audio device that supports A2DP Bluetooth technology. Cellular phones that support A2DP and have music stored in its memory can be played through this head unit. You can listen to and perform some operations on an audio device that supports AVRCP Bluetooth technology. On some devices, you can pause and resume playback and skip tracks by pressing buttons on the head unit.

Note: The Apple iPhone does not support wireless music audio streaming.

HD Radio Ready: The MEX-BT2600 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.

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, you can connect the optional CNP2000UC XM Mini Tuner (220CNP20UC) and the Sony CNP-SON1 adapter cable (package item number 700XMSON1).
• SIRIUS Satellite Radio: To receive SIRIUS Satellite Radio, you can connect the optional SIRIUS SIR-SNY1 Satellite Tuner for Sony (item # 607SIRSNY1).
• Auxiliary Input: A portable satellite radio receiver, such as the XM 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.

iPod Ready: The optional Sony XA-110IP iPod Control Interface (sold separately) allows an iPod (3rd generation or newer, but not the iPod shuffle) digital music player with a dock connector to be connected to and controlled by the Sony headunit. All the iPod buttons will be disabled when connected to this adapter and it will be controlled from the Sony receiver. With this interface, you'll be able to play your iPod music files through the Sony receiver and have all the titling information appear on the headunit's display. Using the optional XA-C40 (item number 158XAC40), this adapter and two other compatible Sony UniLink devices (satellite tuner, CD changer, etc) can be controlled by the same receiver.

Note: The optional XA-110IP will not charge the iPod nano 4th generation and the iPod touch 2nd generation

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. 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.