Sony Mobile ES XR-C900

Price Paid:  $200.00

Strengths:
The best cassette deck EVER made for car audio! Laser Amorphous tape head (never needs demagnetising), Dolby B&C, Copper-shielded Chassis, +15/-15vdc converter, Diversity FM Tuner, Motorised Face w/3 viewing angles, Dual-Illumination, 4V Pre-Outs F/R/Sub, CD/MD/DSP/TV control via UniLink. Wired & Wireless remotes. Outstanding sound quality.

Weaknesses:
Lacks the ability to request CD-TEXT info from a CD-TEXT changer (it's too old a model), but CustomFile is good too... Display washes out easily in moderate to high sunlight, despite contrast at FULLMAX and despite face angle adjustment.

Summary:
I use it with a CDX-828 Mobile ES changer and it is awesome... The only real bad point is that the display is hard to read in sunlight and that it won't retrieve CD-TEXT from CD-TEXT CD's in the changer (although the changer reads CD-TEXT). Then again there aren't really many CD-TEXT discs out there. CustomFile programming is awesome but too bad it only lets you use 8 characters to title a disc. Sound quality is awesome. CD changer plays as if you were playing it in a CDX-C910 in the dash--no difference. The best setup if you want to keep cassette play capability and keep conrol of everything from one head unit.

Similar Products Used:
Panasonic CQ-R825/925, other Sony, JVC full-logic decks. The XR-C900 is way better than ANY mobile cassette deck out there. One of few cassette decks with Dolby C and with Sub output. The ONLY deck with Laser AM tape heads.

Price Paid:  $400.00

Strengths:
clarity-hardly any noise--i use tape and cd--all controllable through the unit

Weaknesses:
treble control has to be at a higher frequency and bass control needs to be at a lower frequency--this way the whole system would sound better...

Summary:
i should have bought the cdx91 version instead...

Similar Products Used:
None

Strengths:
Sounds great with a CD, Has adjustments for everything.

Weaknesses:
Can't see when light hits it.

Summary:
Was never able to get tuner to work with out background humming sound. Audio King finally took whole system back after many visits to their shop. Would not recommed. Have had better success with Alpine!!!!

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $240.00

Strengths:
Every feature desired in a tape deck. From ams forwarding & rewinding, to Dolby B & C noise reduction.

Weaknesses:
Hard to see screen in bright light even after adjusting the contrast and tilting the face.

Summary:
I love it since I still listen to tapes. I don't use the wired remote since it came with the wireless remote. It has great features such as:
detachable faceplate, tilt face, dimmer control, wired and wireless remote (included), ams fwding & rwding, basic EQ, ATA, repeat, blank skip,
Dolby b & c NR, front & rear rca outputs (radio can only be used with an amp), also rca for Subwoofer outputs, subwoofer volume control, cd/md/tv control....
I purchased it from a Sony Outlet store for $240. It was refurbished but I took the chance because I have heard about this unit before. No problems with it so far.

Similar Products Used:
None

Strengths:
Excellent sound, numerous configuration and operational features. Ability to control numerous outboard devices, both audio and video. Wired remote mounts on the steering column (or elsewhere) and gives the ability to control the system with your left hand. Wireless remote also included.

Weaknesses:
The display is difficult or impossible to read in bright daylight, even with tilt options engaged, and contrast adjusted. The legends that light up in red along the bottom of the faceplate are tough to read because of their size. Sony's 3 second window to make setup adjustments is highly annoying. The buttons on the wireless remote don't require very much pressure and they are easy to activate by mistake.

Summary:
It's a definite step up from the Sony XR-C610 it replaces and the annoyances are minor enough to live with considering the excellent sound and all of the features that do work so well. Paid $400.

Similar Products Used:
Have owned at least a dozen Sony mobile cassette head units back to the standalone Sony TC-20 in 1970.