Entered CNET Catalog: 02/17/2005
SKU: 0027242662681
Manufacturer: Sony Electronics, Inc.
Manufacturer description
Sony's worldwide reputation for creating unique, attractive, high-quality, advanced technology products rests on a long line of innovations embraced by people from all walks of life. With a diverse product lineup serving a variety of lifestyles and industries, Sony continuously strives to introduce new products and technologies to meet changing market needs.Product summary
The good: Great sound; flashy front-panel display; wireless remote.
The bad: Flimsy flip-down faceplate; difficult-to-read function buttons; lacks front auxiliary input or iPod support.
The bottom line: Sony's CDX-F7715X is a versatile CD/MP3 player, but its lack of a front input makes hooking in an MP3 player difficult.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 11/01/2005
Cool display
Once you fire up the ignition, your eyes will be drawn to the Sony CDX-F7715X's black aluminum faceplate with backlit buttons, where you'll find the unit's main attraction: a full-motion fluorescent display. The blue-lit display panel does more than show track numbers, song titles, MP3 ID3 tag data, and radio station frequencies; it provides an electronic light show of sorts. Using the Image button, you can choose between three types of wallpaper, five spectrum analyzer screens that move to the beat of the music, or three movie screens that show quick clips, one of which is a car driving through what appears to be a European city. Needless to say, movie mode can be distracting, especially for the driver, and it gets old quickly, but the spectrum analyzer screens are cool.
Our only real gripes with the Sony CDX-F7715X have to do with the flip-down style detachable faceplate and the lack of a front-panel auxiliary jack. Although this sort of faceplate is becoming more popular, having to flip it open to insert and remove discs is annoying. Additionally, the faceplate is susceptible to being knocked off by an errant elbow when it's open; it's also somewhat difficult to install and remove. Without a 1/8-inch auxiliary jack in front, an MP3 player can't be quickly hooked into the system. The unit has auxiliary input RCA jacks on the back, so an adapter could be wired through to be accessible from the dashboard. The unit does not include native iPod support, either.
We wish the tiny function buttons were easier to identify, but thankfully, the unit comes with a credit card-size remote so that you won't have to fumble around looking for the right button to push. Another option is to spend an extra $35 for Sony's RM-X4S wired rotary control and mount it on your steering column for easy access to the player's control features.
Set for surround sound
Below the brightly lit display are six numbered buttons used for storing preset radio stations (18 FM and 12 AM) and for activating repeat, shuffle, and pause functions when playing CDs. There's also a Source button for switching between radio, CD, and auxiliary devices, as well as a display button for toggling items to be shown on the screen. In CD mode, one of the numbered buttons is used to activate the BBE MP function, which restores and enhances the quality of compressed MP3 music. In addition to a customizable equalizer with six preset tone characteristics, the Sony CDX-F7715X has a DSO (Dynamic Soundstage Organizer) function button that produces a wider sound, similar to a virtual surround-sound effect. Of course, you can manually set bass, treble, balance, and front/rear fader levels, as well as adjust the subwoofer volume if you have one. A loudness button enhances bass response when listening to music at lower volumes.
The ability to create labels for your favorite radio stations is a nice touch. Rather than displaying the station call letters or frequency, you can use up to eight characters to name the channel and use the List Up function to select it by name. This also works with CD changers that support Sony's Custom File programming feature.
We were impressed with the power and audio quality of the Sony CDX-F7715X and its ability to lock on to distant FM radio signals. Equally impressive was the BBE MP compression-enhancement feature when playing MP3 files. Our MP3 version of the Who's Quadrophenia album never sounded better.
Despite our complaints about the faceplate and the auxiliary input, we think Sony's CDX-F7715X is a top-notch CD/receiver that will add pizzazz to your dash and fill your vehicle with a rich wall of sound.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4out of 4 user reviews
AWESOME!!!!
Pros: Love the all metal faceplate. Not cheap plastic like other models. Many hookup options. I use it with a 10 Disk CD Changer, XM Radio, High Power 2-ch Amplifier, and 2-6x9 rear component speakers. The Sound Is AWESOME!!!
Cons: Very small buttons on faceplate but the wireless remote compensates.
out of 4 user reviews
best sony unit ever
Pros: great layout, all the options you will need
Cons: not enough high pass or low pass options.
out of 4 user reviews
Good head unit for good price!
Pros: playback quality is good; doesnt skip; has a manual EQ input
Cons: needs the remote to access the menu
It was cheaper and had better functionality than the other units I was going to purchase. The playback quality of the unit is awesome and you can manually set the EQ's it also has 7 preset modes! You wont be dissatisfied.
out of 4 user reviews
VERY hard to beat for the money
Pros: Great sound, ease of use, classy design, choice of displays/animations, price
Cons: Screen washes out easily in direct sunlight
I must say I was impressed with the sound. In the past two years I owned a middle of the line Alpine and then Kenwood Excelon's top unit (KDC-X979). People...don't get caught up in names. Maybe my Alpine was legitimitly messed up, but it sounded bad...even to the inexperienced ear. The Excelon was very nice, but constructed poorly and to access anything required going through a series of menus. Enter Sony. So easy to use. Why? It uses what I think should be a standard on all head units; bass, treble, fade, balance, and sub level all controlled via pushing down on the rotary volume knob. Easy, fast, makes sense. SO many times I have set EQ's up only to find the sound muddy or harsh from one song to the next. This is unavoidable, but with simple bass & treble accessable via two clicks its easy to make small changes on the fly.
If 120db and 24 bit Burr Brown works for you then fine. I have heard units that advertise such numbers / technology only to sound average at best. However, this Sony advertises both and either due to them or something else in the circuitry (Drive S HX maybe?) the unit sounds GREAT. ANYONE can hear that this thing replicated music with as much clarity and purity as can be expected for a non-audiofile peice.
Small things like the CD insertion motor are designed well. The pick-up is quick, entrance is smooth, and ejection is also quick and linear. It seems small, but some recievers have a tendency to take the CD halfway and then slow or stop...forcing you to push it more.
Illumination. The screen is great at night or in overcast / low light. In the day it is so-so. Washes out...REALLY washes out way to easy.
I personally like the manual faceplate as opposed to an electric/motor driven one. Less chance of a component braking, plus its quicker.
You can find this headunit online for around $160 plus shipping. I'm actually thinking about getting another one just to have. Its combination of classic looks, sound and convienence is a rarity...and the price. I can't imagine anyone dissapointed using this unit, the Sony CDX-F7715X.
