R E P O R T

DSX-S100

BY GARY SPRINGGAY

DIGITAL MEDIA RECEIVER
he popularity of compressed digital formats and portable music players have changed the way most of us buy, store and listen to music for quite a few years now. Obviously, this isnt lost on the aftermarket head unit manufacturers who are producing more and more Digital Media Receivers or DMRs that dont even have a CD slot or mechanism. The new Sony DSX-S100 is a very modestly priced digital media receiver offering loads of performance and integrated features for just $149.95 US
FEATURES The Sony DSX-S100 is a single DIN sized receiver with a fold down removable faceplate. This big news behind the faceplate is something Sony calls a tune tray that rotates out with a USB cable to securely hold your portable media player or USB drive, and then allows it to be totally concealed behind the faceplate with no wires showing. A special connector to adapt an iPod to the USB connection is also included, so your iPod cable is not required. Also located on the right side of the faceplate is an auxiliary input jack allowing connectivity to any non-USB based media player. Also included of course is a high performance AM/FM RDS tuner which is compatible with Sonys optional Satellite Radio or HD Radio tuner module for even more stations and selection in CD quality. A wireless remote control is also included for those who prefer not reaching for the dash to adjust basic functions. Even though the DSX-S100 is definitely on the value-priced end of the scale, Sony has included many of the same features and functions found in their much more expensive units. The DSX-S100 incorporates Sonys innovative and handy Zappin function that
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plays 6, 9, or 30 second snippets of songs until you find the one you want. If you prefer, you can also quickly search and select songs by category, including artist, album, genre, or playlist., or using Sonys Jump Mode to allow you to fast forward through a music category in 10 percent increments. It also has a built in 3 band EQ with preset curves as well as the ability to customize your own frequency shaping. Then there is a feature called DSO (Dynamic Soundstage Organizer) which uses special circuitry to virtually raise the soundstage and spread it wider across the dashboard. This can be a welcome feature for vehicles with badly compromised speaker positioning. Sonys Digital Music Plus is an enhancer technology designed to improve detail and high frequency definition in compressed music formats. The DSX-S100 has its own set of respectable credentials as well, with 2 pairs of 2 volt pre-outs, with one pair selectable as sub or rear outputs. An independent volume control for the sub out channel offers bass level control from the drivers seat, and there are even adjustable built in high and low pass crossovers. A built in power amplifier is rated at 17 watts x 4 for a total of 68 watts of continuous power, and because the rating follows the
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SONY DSX-S100 DIGITAL MEDIA RECEIVER

DIGITAL REVOLUTION

Sony offers three diverse DSX series head units to suit your needs. Find the one thats right for you at www.sonystyle.com
impressed with the speed of the interface. Finding a particular song on either storage device was fast and simple. If you are one of those people who are constantly looking for the song you want, youll get the hang of the Sony quickly, and its very fast at searching or scrolling through folders and files. Making adjustments was also pretty straight forward, with a simple menu driven system that is quite easy to navigate. The removable faceplate comes on and off positively, and folds down far enough to not be in the way when inserting or removing your iPod or digital media device. LISTENING For an economically-priced unit, the Sony DSX-S100 pleasantly delivers a rather fine sounding performance. The tuner did a good job of pulling in all the usual stations, and the sound of the tuner was very competitive with other receiv-

ers costing hundreds more. When playing MP3 tracks recorded at 192kbits or higher, the Sony actually sounded great in all respects. And this was with all of the DSP trickery and enhancements turned off. The frequency response sounded very natural and flat, with very good low extension and excellent detail in the upper registers as well. Female vocal, acoustic guitar and grand piano all came across with very natural and realistic timbre. I wont claim that its as good as my expensive reference lab CD player, but for playback of compressed digital media, it sounds very good indeed. I experimented with the EQ and crossover functions, and everything seemed to work as youd expect. TESTING I connected the DSX-S100 to the test bench and fired up my trusty Audio Precision analyzer. I put the unit through
the full battery of tests, and it met or exceeded all of its published specifications for audio performance. Output impedance measured a respectable 146 ohms, and distortion numbers were well below anything approaching audibility. Frequency response was also nice and flat, especially for a USB-based device. CONCLUSION The Sony DSX-S100 is proof that you dont have to spend a fortune to get a good quality, easy to use, very good sounding digital media receiver. It wasnt all that long ago when CD players would struggle to meet the kind of performance specs laid down by this impressive unit. When you consider the Sony DSX-S100 allows you to take thousands of your favorite songs with you, and costs less than an average cassette player did in 1990, the value is obvious.
stringent CEA-2006 guidelines, you can be sure of getting all the power advertised. CONTROLS AND ERGONOMICS I really liked the look and feel of the DSXS100 from the moment I turned it on. The rotary volume control, and the fact that
it uses a very easy to read 2 line fluorescent LCD display make it easy to use. Other controls and buttons are logically laid out, and most of the functions settings and adjustments can be made without even reading the printed manual. My iPod and USB drive fit perfectly inside the chassis, and were recognized instantly, and I was quite
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DSX-S100

The 2-line fluorescent LCD display makes it easy to read song information and the front auxiliary input lets you connect almost any portable audio device to your car's sound system. Tune Tray compartment lets you easily connect your iPod2 via USB 1Wire5. Your iPod and connector are secured inside the receiver, and the reminder alert ensures you dont leave your iPod behind. USB5 1-Wire for iPod2 products and other USB DMPs lets you directly connect, charge, and control your digital music player via the USB jack in the front of the unit, as well as view metadata like song title and artist on the front display. Quick-BrowZer feature allows users to search and select songs by category, including artist, album, genre, or playlist. Jump Mode allows you to fast forward through a music category in 10 percent increments. Use ZAPPIN function to play 6, 9, or 30-second music clips until you find the song you want. Hear the music on your recorded music files in their original vibrancy with DM+ (Digital Music Plus), an original Sony codec enhancer that reproduces detailed and high-frequency sound from compressed audio (same descriptive as above DM+). The DSX-S100 integrates seamlessly with Satellite Radio3 and Sony Bus HD Radio4 adaptors so you can receive digital satellite radio or HD Radio broadcasts. The DSX-S100 delivers 52 watts of peak power to all four speakers while DSO and EQ3 stage 2 lets you adjust the mix for a dynamic sound experience. Built-in Front and Rear/Subwoofer selectable pre-outs with selectable LPF/HPF functionality gives you the power to customize the sound to your external amplifiers and other components. Radio Data System (RDS) feature displays radio broadcast information such as artist, title, and album when listening to compatible AM/FM stations. The included Wireless Card Remote (RM-X151) lets you control the basic functions of your Sony system while keeping your eyes on the road.

Features

Flip-down Face with Front Aux In The 2-line fluorescent LCD display makes it easy to read song information and the front auxiliary input lets you connect almost any portable audio device to your car's sound system. Integrated Tune Tray Tune Tray compartment lets you easily connect your iPod2 , Walkman player or other USB device via USB 1-Wire5. Your iPod and connector are secured inside the receiver, and the reminder alert ensures you dont leave your device behind. Quick-BrowZer with Jump Mode feature Search and select songs by category, including artist, album, genre, or playlist. Jump Mode allows you to fast forward through a music category in 10 percent increments. ZAPPIN function Use ZAPPIN function to play 6, 9, or 30-second music clips until you find the song you want. MP3/WMA playback1 with DM+ Hear the music on your recorded files in their original vibrancy with DM+ (Digital Music Plus), an original Sony codec enhancer that reproduces detailed and high-frequency sound from compressed audio. Satellite / HD Radio The DSX-S100 integrates seamlessly with Satellite Radio3 and HD Radio4 Sony Bus adaptors so you can receive digital satellite radio or HD Radio broadcasts. EQ3, DSO and 52 Watts x 4 High Power The DSX-S100 delivers 52 watts of peak power to all four speakers while DSO and EQ3 stage 2 lets you adjust the mix for a dynamic sound experience. Selectable Pre-outs with LPF/HPF Built-in Front and Rear/Sub selectable pre-outs with selectable LPF/HPF functionality gives you the power to customize the sound to your external amplifiers and other components. Radio Data System Radio Data System (RDS) feature displays radio broadcast information such as artist, title, and album when listening to compatible AM/FM stations. Wireless Card Remote included The included Wireless Card Remote (RM-X151) lets you control the basic functions of your Sony system while keeping your eyes on the road. Radio3 ready4 Amplifier Section
Speaker Impedance: 4-8 Ohms Max power output: 52 watts x 4 at 4 ohms
FM Usable Sensitivity: 10 dBf Selectivity: 75 dB at 400 kHz S/N Ratio: 70 dB (mono) Frequency Response: FM: 20-15,000 Hz Stereo Separation: 40 dB at 1 KHz
Output Power: CES 2006 Standard Power Output: 17 Watts RMS X 4 at 4 Ohms <1% THD+N Current Drain: 3 - 5 amps during playback mode Input Voltage: 12 V DC car battery (negative ground)

Inputs and Outputs

RCA Audio Output(s): Front and Rear/Sub selectable RCA pre-amp outputs Digital Audio Input(s): Ability to use all forms of USB devices may vary as not all devices are compatible. This unit can be connected to the following iPods. Update your iPod to the latest software before you use it. iPod Nano 1st generation* iPod Nano 2nd generation (aluminum) iPod Nano 3rd generation (video) iPod 5th generation (video)* iPod Classic iPod Touch iPhone This unit is compliant with MSC (Mass Storage Class) and MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) type USB devices compliant with the USB standard. This unit cannot recognize USB devices via a USB hub. If you have any questions or problems concerning your unit that are not covered in the owners manual, consult your nearest Sony dealer. USB Port(s): USB - Full Speed Antenna Terminal(s): Aerial Input Terminal 12V Trigger Output(s): Power antenna and amplifier turn on Remote Jack: Optional wired remote terminal Audio In: Front Auxillary and USB inputs with Sony-Bus input Infrared Port: Wireless remote input

Specifications

Audio Features
Level Control: -8dB +18dB on front aux input

Convenience Features

On-Screen Clock: 12H Dimmer Adjust: Slectable Auto adjust or manual on/off Key Illumination: Blue

Dimensions

Weight: 1.3Kg Measurements: 178 x 50 x 179mm
Preout Impedance: 220 ohms Preout Voltage: 2 volt Station Preset(s): 18 FM / 12 AM Digital-to-Analog Converter: 24bit Tuner Frequency Range: FM:Tuner Frequency Range(MHz): 87.5-107.9, AM:Tuner Frequency Range(kHz): 530-1710 Tone Control(s): Low +/- 10 dB at 60 Hz Mid +/- 10 dB at 1 kHz High +/- 10dB at 10 kHz Tuner Type: SSIR-EXA with RDS Volume Control: Tel/Nav Attenuation Band: AM / FM

Supplied Accessories

Parts for installation and connections (1 set) RM-X151 wireless remote XA-50IP USB connector for iPod

Optional Accessories

Replacement remote: RM-X151 CD changer (6 discs): CDX-T69 Source selector: XA-C40 Aux-in selector: XA-300 HD Radio tuner: XT-100HD Walkman player USB adapter: XA-50WM Color: Dark Titanium UPC Code: 027242787438
1. Not all MP3, WMA, AAC files may playback due to file variations. Copyright protected ACC-LC files cannot be played back. 2. Ability to use all generations of iPod products may vary as not all products are compatible. Compatible with iPod touch, iPod Nano 3rd generation, iPod classic, iPod Nano 2nd generation, iPod 5th generation, iPod Nano 1st generation, iPod 4th generation, iPod mini. 3. Satellite radio service requires a satellite radio tuner and service subscription, sold separately. 4. HD Radio capability requires an optional HD Radio tuner (XT-100HD). 5. Ability to use all forms of USB devices may vary as not all devices are compatible. 2010 Sony Electronics Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Sony, Quick-Browzer, Walkman, Xpld, ZAPPIN, and the Sony and Xpld logos are trademarks of Sony. iPod is a trademark of Apple Inc. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Features and specifications are subject to change without notice. Non-metric weights and measures are approximate and may vary.

Convenience

Tilt Range: 0-45 mounting angle

Display

Technology: LCD Color: Dark Titanium Display Color: Negative LCD with white characters Text Displayed: Source, artist, track, playback time, menu and clock Text Lines: 2 lines of information
Please visit the Dealer Source for current information at www.sony.com/dealersource Sony Electronics Inc. 16530 Via Esprillo San Diego, CA 92127 1.800.222.7669 www.sony.com Last Updated: 07/07/2010