Sony CDX-MP70

Price Paid:  $250.00 from Sony Outlet

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 Sony cdx-mp70

Strengths:
Sound quality; design; interface.

Weaknesses:
Display went out after four years

Summary:
This is an excellent head unit. Highly recommend it, and I am very finicky and particular about music and stereo quality.

First, most car stereos have so many bells and whistles on the faceplate that the design becomes complicated and confusing. The simple yet-sophisticated design of this unit is perfect for my tastes. The interface also is simple to find everything you need rather intuitively and quickly.

Second, the sound is incredible and clean. Like another reviewer here, I bought it expecting it to be the first of a complete replacement for my car stereo, expecting to later add an amp, subwoofer and speakers. But this unit sounded so perfect, powerful and clean that I stuck with the stock speakers in my 1999 Camry. It is the best car stereo I have ever heard, including systems that cost over $10,000. The DBS sound enhancement is a gimmick, but I just keep it turned off.

The only problem is that, after four years, the power on the LCD display went out. The unit works fine, but just doesn't display, which makes adjustments difficult, especially when playing an MP3 CD with several different folders of music.

However, I still highly recommend this unit.

Price Paid:  $245.00 from 6ave.com

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 CDXMP70

Strengths:
Good build quality

Weaknesses:
Display color cannot be auto switched during play.

Summary:
This is a very good player. I was looking for an MP3 player that will resume the play where I stopped last. The graphic equalizer is very effective and so the the DSO function. I have one complaint, we cannot keep the id3 tag to scroll continuosly. It will scroll once and then stop. I wanted it to scroll continoulsy during play. Another thing is that the dispaly color cannot be set to auto so that the color will keep changing. It would have been great looking if the dispaly color switch when the spectrum analyzer is set to auto

Price Paid:  $189.00 from Circuit City

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 CDX MP70

Strengths:
The visuals, the sound control, the sound, the antishock protection, the visuals. And oh yeh, did I mention the visuals (the dot matrix display can be set to one of seven colors, or it can rotate between them). Also, the current price rocks.

Weaknesses:
None so far, but if you accidentally hit the CD tray when it is extended, you could mess it up (I did this on my old computer at home). It does retract, after a short time, if you don't push the retract button, on its own. Also, there are so many things to play with, you could get distracted while driving so drive smart and pull over to play with your new toy.

Summary:
Wow! At the price I paid, this is an awesome stereo. I got this for my wifes new (new to her) 93' Jimmy. I also got her 2 4x6 kenwood co-axials for the dash and 2 6x9 Alpine tri-axials for the mid-panels just behind the front seats.This setup ROCKS! She won't let me put in a subwoofer (yet). I knew it would be criminal to run this fine head unit thru stock speakers that were 10 years old. My wife wanted visuals, and this unit serves up plenty. The knobs, as well as the dot matrix display, should provide all the eye candy anyone could want in this price range. Last year this unit was going for around $450. I got the last one (floor model), at my local CC. The sound is great also, AS LONG AS YOU TAKE THE TIME TO ADJUST IT CORRECTLY! Using the DSO feature is a must. Turn it on, leave it on. The graphic EQ should be set next, and was very easy to do. And last, you have the standard Bass, Treble, Fader and Balance control. I just leave these in the middle position, except for the fader, which I set to favor the rear speakers. Disc loading is cool with the computer style motorized tray, and provides more eye candy as well as skip protection (becuse the disk goes onto a spindle). A cool feature is the ability to advance to a desired track, using a rotary knob (or the included remote). Also, sony plays just about any CD or CD-R I have thrown at it. Have not tried burning or playing MP3's yet, but its a Sony, so I'm sure that will work just fine also. In conclusion, if you can find this unit for $250 or less (I have seen a couple of online retailers at this price), get it, but don't cheap out on the speakers. Stock speakers stink!

Similar Products Used:
I have a CDX M730 in my 94' XLT Explorer running thru 4 5x7(ford is weird) Linear tri-axials (never heard of the brand before, paid $100 a pair, sound very good once they got broken in, believed the g

Price Paid:  $270.00 from Ebay

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 CDX-MP70

Strengths:
Great tuner, reads MP3's, DSO a big plus. The multi-color display and motorized CD tray are very cool. Never skips, the random shuffle seems to be very random.

Weaknesses:
None that I can think of.

Summary:
I have always been a fan of Sony's car stereo products, with the exception of their speakers. This head unit rates very high with me. I live out in the country, and wanted to get a very sensitive tuner so I can listen to radio stations in the city. This deck doesn't dissapoint! It pulls in everything! I was tuned into a station in San Francisco, and a friend was with me and liked it. He made a note of the station, and when he got in his truck he tried to tune it in with his brand new Pioneer. He could get the station, but it was mostly static. The Dynamic Soundstage Organizer works really well to change the internal equalizer to suit whatever kind of music you're listening to. I listen to everything from Rap, Jazz, New Age and Rock. I have this deck running through a Sony Mobile ES 4 channel 100 watt amplifier, driving the stock speakers in my Mercedes 400E. I was planning on upgrading the speakers down the road, since they sounded like crap with the Mercedes unit. (The stock Radio only cost me $1400... what do you expect for that?) I couldn't believe how good the stock speakers sound with this unit, and how hard you can drive them. I was also considering putting in a sub where the emergency 1st aid kit is between the rear headrests, but I have decided that I am done with this stereo. It could not sound better! Very tight, accurate sound... Rivals the best home stereo I've heard.

Similar Products Used:
I have always bought Sony. I have a Sony CDX-MP40 in my truck which works very well, too. My kid has a CDX-MP30 in his truck. I installed all three of these, very easy clean install.