Sony Mobile ES CDX-C6850

Price Paid:  $250.00 from Abt Electronics

Year / Model Reviewed:
 cdx-6850

Summary:
The first and only head unit ive ever owned, it has served me and three different cars quite well. As the brain for my system (sony xplod amps, infinity kappa speakers, kicker subs, sony cd/mp3 changer, sony dvd video, and recently an XM tuner) it has handled a lot of tasks and keeps going. Although not sonys top of the line player this one sounds quite nice. I firmly belive that although some sony products are made poorly, they make the best cd players around. Great sound... 4 volt preouts send a meaty signal, and i love the cd text - with almost 100 hrs worth of mp3s in the changer it comes in handy. menus are quick and to the point and functional. switching between audio and video sources is quite easy. well worth the money.

Strengths:
4 volt preouts, sub out, cd text, easy to use interface, simple design

Weaknesses:
yes the lever does get loose after a while and may evetually piss you off, and the tuner isnt the best around, but with a cd player like that, who cares?

Similar Products Used:
sony xm-2150, xm-475, xm-1600 amps, cdx-757 cd changer, xvm-h6 video monitors, dvx-100 dvd changer

Price Paid:  $240.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
 Sony Mobile ES cdx-6850

Summary:
I like it for running my amps but I am not totally satisfied. However it has a reasonable list of features for the price. This deck helped me achieve 7 db more from my Kenwood in spl competition. 2 12" XS phoenix gold and 2 Qx2180 amps (145.6 db) in a trunk model Toyota Camry!!!!!!

Strengths:
I like the BUS line for a TV , three sets of 4volt outputs, and the easy to operate menus.

Weaknesses:
I hate the tuner b/c it is so weak
You can't go from the last track to the first by pressing track ahead
I never received an instruction manual with it
not sure if i'm using all the details b/c of no manual

Similar Products Used:
panasonic, and clarion and eclipse are way better!!!!!

Price Paid:  $280.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
 00

Summary:
I bought this deck because I was desperate for a cd player in my car and it was in my price range at the time.
I regret selling me alpine but I was desperate for cash at the time.
This(the sony) is not a deck I would include in my future system.

It fares well with the JVC I used to own, but not even close to the alpine.
The alpine didn't have a great tuner but it was superior to the sony. Cd
performance is hard to compare because I didn't have both the alpine and
sony at the same time. One interesting thing is that both units rate their
line outputs at 4 volts, But the alpine required much less amplifier gain.

Next deck I think I will look at the Nakamichi CD-45Z.

Strengths:
Display is easily legible in Day or night.
CD performance is just O.K.
lots of features for the dollar.

Weaknesses:
The tracking lever cheap , after 3 months it started sticking in the advance track position.
Tuner is the worst I have ever listened to period!!!!!!!

Similar Products Used:
JVC (can't remember model), Alpine CDA 7939 (best deck I ever owned.)

Summary:
I got the 6850 at a very good price as a last yr's model. I never like the new Xplode series with the red lighting scheme anyways. The 6850 provides good sound, quite a lot of features (CD Text, subwoofer output, scrolling of screen to display clock, disc information, time ... ) I've been pretty happy with it.

Strengths:
Good price, nice sound, features

Weaknesses:
None ....

Similar Products Used:
Sony UX-900 ... old Sony HU that can't compare to the ES series.