Entered CNET Catalog: 02/22/2007
SKU: 0027242710108
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 FEATURES: iPod Direct Resident 30 pin connector with 1.2m Cable; Front Panel Aux In & USB Input; SAT Radio Ready; 52W x 4 High Power; Rear/Sub Selectable Preout with LPF; Flip-down detachable faceplate; 13-Segment FL Display; Supplied wireless card remote.Product summary
The good: The Sony CDX-GT610UI car stereo offers lots of support for external digital-audio sources, a good range of sound adjustment options, and a very intuitive user interface.
The bad: Its lack of an On button puzzled us for a while.
The bottom line: The Sony CDX-GT610UI car stereo is a cost-effective and user-friendly option for digital audiophiles. Its USB and iPod compatibility set it apart from much of the single-DIN stereo competition.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 02/23/2007
The Sony CDX-GT610UI is the first car stereo we have reviewed with a generic USB port, enabling drivers to take their digital music on the road without the need for a separate MP3 player. It also comes with a built-in iPod dock connector and a generic auxiliary-input jack, making it one of the most adaptable single-DIN in-car stereo receivers currently on the market. The CDX-GT610UI plays a range of disc-based digital audio formats, including MP3, WMA, and ATRAC discs, as well as regular Red Book CDs. And, of course, it picks up AM and FM radio signals. To control all this functionality, the CDX-GT610UI features a very intuitive interface for navigating music from both built-in and external sources and from an accessible EQ-control system. Like the Sony MEX-BT5000 that we reviewed recently, the CDX-GT610UI is a member of the Xplod line of Sony stereos. Unlike the MEX unit, however, the CDX-GT610UI has a more sober design, eschewing the bold X control cluster for a more conventional rotary dial and a selection of hard buttons. Neon-blue backlighting for its trim and buttons, and a blue-on-black dot-matrix LCD screen complete the simple, but stylish design.
Made for iPod
The Sony CDX-GT610UI car stereo demonstrates its compatibility with the digital-audio age in a number of ways, starting with its dedicated "intelligent" iPod dock connector, which transfers all control of the iPod to the head unit. Many of the double-DIN sized audio visual units we have reviewed, including the Dual XDVD8182 have featured iPod connectivity with varying degrees of usability. With an iPod connected to the CDX-GT610UI, we found navigation of iPod files and albums very easy.
When an iPod is connected to the stereo, the controls on the iPod itself are disabled with all search, playback, and sound-adjustment inputs transferred to the buttons on the front of the stereo faceplate. With the iPod selected as a source, songs can be streamed according to artist, album, or playlist. Selections are made with the Source button, which also acts as the On button in the absence of a dedicated means of turning the stereo on. This was one of our only complaints with its usability.
Jumping between different albums, artists, or playlists is done with the press of the hard buttons numbered 1 and 2, which skip back and forward between tracks, albums, or playlists, depending on the playback mode selected. Browsing can be done quickly by holding down the 2 button, which gives you the chance to preview information on the eight-digit LCD display. When browsing, the current track remains playing until you make your selection, which is a thoughtful design feature.
In iPod mode, the stereo's single-line LCD display shows information on artist and album, track name, or track number, according to the user's preference selected using the DSPL button on the bottom left of the display. Although the display shows only eight characters of each information tag, a dedicated SCRL button scrolls the information enabling the curious driver to get all the relevant info. An option in the setup menu also enables users to configure the display to automatically scroll tag information when a new source, album, or track is selected.
In iPod mode, the CDX-GT610UI can be programmed with one of several playback settings for repeat and shuffle play, including repeat/shuffle track, repeat/shuffle album, repeat/shuffle artist, and repeat/shuffle playlist. We particularly like the resume function that enables drivers to disconnect or navigate away from the iPod to select another source, and then return to the same spot when reconnecting (this doesn't apply if the stereo is turned off before reconnection, however).
USB and CD support for music files
Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the Sony CDX-GT610UI is its ability to play MP3, WMA, and AAC digital-audio files from mass-storage class USB devices. To test out this function, we plugged a USB flash drive into our PC and dragged and dropped a bunch of (non-DRM-protected) audio files onto it. We then disconnected and plugged the flash drive into the front of the car stereo, which proceeded to play the tracks in order without any further encouragement.
With audio tracks playing from a USB drive, the track's title and artist name are displayed on the single-line LCD display. As with iPod tracks, the unit will resume from where it left off if you change sources and then change back again to USB. Tracks can be skipped through by using the forward seek buttons, but the browsing function that we like so much when playing iPod tracks is not available for files playing from the USB drive.
In addition to its compatibility with external sources, the CDX-GT610UI acts as a capable standalone CD receiver, having the ability to play store-bought CDs as well as MP3, WMA, AAC, and ATRAC discs (no DVD-Audio discs, though) via its single disc slot. With MP3 and WMA discs playing, tag information can be accessed by pressing the DSPL button, which gives users the chance to switch between the folder, track, album, and artist names; track number and elapsed playing time; and a clock. As with the iPod function, CD audio tracks resume from where they left off when users navigate away from them and then back.
The CDX-GT610UI switches between sources with impressive speed: The switch from AUX to iPod is almost instantaneous; from AM/ FM to disc takes a couple of seconds, from disc to USB is about three seconds; from USB to auxiliary is about one second.
EQ controls
Having established the usability of its broad range of audio sources, the next question is how does the CDX-GT610UI sound? To help users tweak audio output to their own preferences, the system features a range of preconfigured EQ settings, which can be accessed and adjusted by the EQ3 button at the top right of the main volume dial. Preset EQ categories range from Space, which is tinny and airy sounding, to Gravity, which accentuates low bass notes. A very intuitive three-bar graphic on the right of the LCD display gives a visual representation of the current EQ curve configuration, and users can tweak the low, medium, and high output levels by pushing in the main volume knob.
The Sony CDX-GT610UI has an output of 23.2 watts x 4 channels (52W x 4 maximum output) and a selectable sub-out for those who want to add a separate subwoofer to their in-car audio setup. It is also prewired for satellite radio.
In sum
The Sony CDX-GT610Ui is a multisource in-car stereo at a great value. Its range of external audio source support makes it attractive to digital audiophiles, while its user-friendly interface makes it simple enough to program on the fly.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12out of 12 user reviews
Annoying...
Pros: it plays music and is very versatile as to sources... i really like the aux in and usb on the front panel.
Cons: not easy to use while actually driving. the ipod control of my 160GBipod is useless... i have a better chance of finding the song i am looking for on the radio. i hate the '3 beeps' to remind me to remove the face plate
out of 12 user reviews
All well and good but.......
Pros: If you were to try any of these "features" on your ipod or radio while you are driving you'll likely end up dead. Might as well use your cell phone too.
Cons: don't really have any compliants
out of 12 user reviews
Lots of great features, only one BIG issue..
Pros: Looks great, sounds great
Cons: Only one set of pre outs
Now for the BIG letdown: It only has one set of pre outs, meaning that if you are planning to hook it up to a 4 way amp instead of using the built in amp, you will need some RCA splitters or use a passive EQ with its own fader control since using the former method makes the fader in the deck useless. I'm surprised that a unit of this high of quality overlooked this with other units having as many as 3 sets of pre outs.
Overall, its a great deck and is confusing as hell to figure out in the beginning, but if you are looking for a good midrange unit, this is worth checking out. My advice is to get it off eBay, since you an get a brand new one still in the bod from many whole sellers for about $40 cheaper than retail.
out of 12 user reviews
Would step up to a better radio next time.
Pros: Great features, I have used them all
Cons: after 6 months in operation, sound quality is not like when the unit was new. Not much bass when the unit was new or now.
out of 12 user reviews
Not "Really" IPOD Compatible
Pros: None of which I can think
Cons: 1. Not Really IPOD Compatible, simply a connection 2. Lousy Head Unit View and Scroll
The Sony Customer rep actually agreed that the use of the word compatible is misleading, but would not offer any kind of refund.
As my prior two sony stereos broke prematurely, I would never buy another Sony stereo.
out of 12 user reviews
Great Receiver and a Great Value
Pros: Expandibility, Functionality, Value, Sound
Cons: Single Line Display, Limited I-pod Functionality
out of 12 user reviews
Good head Unit
Pros: Excellent Sound
Cons: Aux plug doesn't work that well
out of 12 user reviews
Very pleased
Pros: Flexible; great value
Cons: Could sound a bit better
out of 12 user reviews
Do Not Buy This If You Have A Fully Loaded iPod
Pros: iPod, USB and Line-In Interfaces
Cons: Does Not Control iPods Well
First, you have only three top level choices - Artist, Album or Playlist. There are no additional options under these top levels. So if I want to play A Day in the Life by the Beatles, on my iPod I would choose the Beatles as the artist and Sgt. Peppers as the album, getting me to the song I want pretty quickly. On this unit, I can either scan through the 1000+ albums on my iPod and find Sgt. Peppers, or I can choose the Beatles as the artist and scan through every beatles song on my ipod until i find the beginning of the Sgt. Pepper album.
This might not be a big deal if you were able to scan through artists and songs on this unit as quickly as you can on the iPod itself. Unfortunately, this unit is painfully slow when it comes to scanning through artists, albums or playlists. It takes between 1 and 2 seconds to go from one artist, album or playlist to the next. So if I want to hear Nirvana, it takes me 1 to 2 seconds just to skip by each of the other A-N artists on my iPod. Because of multiple artist compilations and single songs purchased from iTunes, I have over 500 different artists on my iPod. Guessing that about half of them are before Nirvana, half after, it takes between 4 and 8 minutes just to go through the artist list to get to Nirvana! And this requires holding the "2" button on the deck continuously, which is not particularly comfortable or safe when driving.
Now if you could still use your iPod to select what you want to hear, this wouldn't be as big a problem. However, you cannot control the iPod with its click wheel when it is hooked up to the stereo through the dock connector - you HAVE to use the slow, inadequate stereo controls.
One solution would be to just use the line in port to play the iPod, and if I keep this stereo that is likely what I will do. However, then the track information would not be displayed at all on the unit - and I could have gotten a better unit for the same price if I did not get the iPod connectivity.
Until they find a better way to control your iPod through this car stereo, stay away unless you like frustration!
First, to be fair, my 4 rating only applies if your primary use of the deck is to control your iPod. The stereo sounds fine and the USB and line in work as advertised. However, the 4 stands if a primary use of the unit will be connecting your iPod!
I finally gave up and returned the Sony today. After looking online, I decided to consider three other units - the Pioneer DEHP5900IB, the Panasonic CQC7105U and the Alpine CDA-9883. I found that both Circuit City and Best Buy had connections set up so you could try an iPod with the decks. Quick piece of advice here - test using your own iPod - the demo iPod at Circuit City had only 5 songs by 5 artists on it, so navigation problems weren't as evident.
The Pioneer deck was only slightly better than the Sony deck for controlling an iPod. You could again scroll through only one artist at a time, but the lag between artists was much shorter than with the Sony. However, it still only gave you the top level menu options with no submenus (could not search for an artist and then search albums by that artist). It was still too slow to be useful for a large music library.
The Panasonic was a little better than the Pioneer - rather than pushing a knob to change artists, you turned a wheel, which was a little quicker. However, the lack of submenus and the inability to go backwards from A to Z (from Aerosmith to ZZ Top, for example) kept this from working well to manage an iPod. (too bad, because this was one cool looking deck!)
The Alpine was far and away the best budget car stereo for controlling an iPod. It wasn't even close.
First, scrolling through artists was substantially faster that the other three decks. Alpine is not blowing smoke when they say they offer a "full speed" iPod connection. Second, the Alpine unit actually lets you use submenus, just like on your iPod! So if you want to hear a song on Radiohead's "The Bends", you don't have to scroll through every song on every other album they did to get there - you just choose "Radiohead" from the first menu, then "The Bends" from the second, and you have all the songs on that album displayed. Third, and perhaps most importantly, Alpine uses what they call "percentage search" to speed up accessing your music even more. Basically, the way it works is that your library is divided into 6 sections based on whether you are searching for artist, album, playlist, etc... The 6 preset buttons on the Alpine unit will immediately take you to that point in your library. So if I wanted to find Nirvana, rather than having to scroll through every artist A-Z to get there, I could choose button 4, which would take me about halfway through my artist list. On any of the other units, i would have had to have scrolled through 300+ artists to get to the halfway point. The Alpine unit brought me there in about a second!
f you absolutely need a deck with a USB port and a line in, and either don't plan on using your iPod with it, have an iPod without much on it, I would still recommend the Sony. It has a great feature set for a low price, and the sound quality is pretty good for a budget deck, although the Alpine sounds better in my car. However, if you are planning to use your iPod with your car stereo frequently, I don't think you can get a better budget deck than the Alpine CDA-9883 - and any of the other three decks will drive you crazy with their inadequate navigation!
If you are considering ANY deck that controls the iPod through the car stereo controls, I highly recommend you try it with your own iPod before making your purchase and having it installed, if at all possible.
out of 12 user reviews
Great, but no gigabeat compatability.
Pros: great sound, easy to navigate, quick response time.
Cons: It doesn't recognize a gigabeat as a mass storage device.
out of 12 user reviews
Not the first to the game of USB Flash in-car
Pros: USB Flash Drive
Cons: Overprices, under featured.
It has all the features of this unit including the AUX port, USB flash drive reader, and has a SD flash card reader as well.
I've had mine for around 6-7 months at least.
So Kevin, no, this unit isn't the first with USB.
A no-go for this Sony. Sooorrryyy.
out of 12 user reviews
Made for iPod is right!
Pros: iPod, USB and front AUX connection
Cons: Lack of detailed EQ, wish it had more RMS power
