CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Excellent
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 02/23/2007
- Released on: 01/07/2007
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 Alpine IVA-W200 and 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.
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