Sony Mobile ES CDX-C5850

Price Paid:  $199.00

Strengths:
gives quality sound when surrounded with quality components, changable green/amber display, CD text, automatic programming radio stations, CD change hookups, preouts for front and rear amps, detachable face

Weaknesses:
will only play SOME CD-R's, CDs get too hot, only 40x4, no subwoofer controls

Summary:
this product is a quality deck and has done its job for me, i would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a better "cheaper" deck on the market

Similar Products Used:
has some nice options on it, it sounds pretty good for the price

Strengths:
Green/Amber display switching, CD Text info reading, Great sound from CD Section, Great controls, good power for a deck amp. CHEAP even though mine was a gift this is a great value

Weaknesses:
Reading cd's makes them VERY HOT - like an oven when you eject them. This is why I suspect some have had defective ones. WILL NOT READ a CD-R for nothing, and this is my main beef with this particular brand/model.

Summary:
It's a sony: I expect the "Honda" of electronics to deliver, and that's exactly what it does. Unfortunately, this deck is now going for sale on Ebay due to my AIWA CDC-MP3 coming in off of backorder (MP3 FOREVER!!!!!!)

Similar Products Used:
Every other brand of CD deck out there - Sony is on the upper end of the value scale of CD Recievers IMHO. Definitely not a Clarion or Eclipse.

Price Paid:  $199.00

Strengths:
This reciever has a nice layout. Good sound. 4V preout. Ability to change the LCD display from amber to green. Lots of features.

Weaknesses:
Not enough power (40x4) peak. No subwoofer controls.

Summary:
I paid 199.00 for this deck which is a great value. Works a lot better with a amplifier. Otherwise the deck distorts a little at high volume. CD player works great as does the tuner. Tuner comes in better then my pioneer did.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer deck.

Strengths:
CD section is detailed and crisp sounding. Nice, simple layout. 4 volt preamp outputs are nice too.

Weaknesses:
It stopped playing CDs after 3 months! It hasn't been repaired yet, but it won't play them at all. The first few times I tried after it broke, it scratched my CDs horribly. The tuner wasn't affected, I'm assuming it's a mechanical part that died.
-Also, the tuner is pretty weak, no volume at all
-The display is dim

Summary:
I paid $240 for it from Crutchfield. It really was disappointing when it broke, because I was fairly satisfied until then. Several people I've talked to have reported similar things happening. If the damn thing wouldn't break, I'd recommend it based on the cd section and layout. The tuner needs some help though.

Similar Products Used:
Kenwood, Alpine: these units performed better

Strengths:
MD/CD Changer control. 20FM preset(much better than the factory radio 4-10)

Weaknesses:
Broke after 4 months of use

Summary:
Would not recommend Sony any More. The problem is their quality is not consistant. This unit worked fine for the first few months and now whenever you touch the face place it shuts itself off. I will now call Sony and see what they suggest. My guess is it's somewhere in the contacts in the face place. When it did work it worked well and the ability to control the CD player in the trunk was great. The sound quality was fine for what I wanted. It wont knock you out the door or blow the doors off of the car, but I really don't want to be deaf before my time. It was pretty good on the value side, but the unit failed after only 4 months so overall I'm rating quite low.

Similar Products Used:
other sony receivers