3-294-664-11 (2) Mini HI-FI Component System Operating Instructions MHC-EC68USB © 2008 Sony Corporation
WARNING To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture. To prevent fire, do not cover the ventilation of the apparatus with news papers, table-cloths, curtains, etc. And don’t place lighted candles on the apparatus. To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not place objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on the apparatus. Install this system so that the power cord can be unplugged from the wall socket immediately in the event of trouble.
Disposal of waste batteries (applicable in the European Union and other European countries with separate collection systems) This symbol on the battery or on the packaging indicates that the battery provided with this product shall not be treated as household waste. By ensuring these batteries are disposed of correctly, you will help prevent potentially negative consequences for the environment and human health which could otherwise be caused by inappropriate waste handling of the battery.
Table of Contents Guide to parts and controls.............. 5 Hooking up the system securely..... 9 Setting the clock.................................11 Creating your own program (Program Play) . ...................................23 Presetting radio stations..................24 Using the Timers..................................25 Basic Operations Others Playing a CD/MP3 disc......................12 Listening to the radio........................14 Recording from a disc onto an USB device...............
This manual mainly explains operations using the remote, but the same operations can also be performed using the buttons on the unit having the same or similar names.
Remote Unit: (play/pause) (page 10, 12, 18, 19, 29) Remote: (play) (page 12, 18, 23, 29) (pause) (page 12, 19) Press to start or pause playback. (stop) (page 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 30) Press to stop playback. FUNCTION (page 20, 30) Press to select the function. CD (page 12, 23, 30) Press to select the CD function. TUNER/BAND (page 14) Press to select the TUNER function. Press to select FM or AM reception mode.
Unit: USB (page 17, 19) Unit: DISC SKIP/EX-CHANGE (page 12) Press to select the USB function. DISPLAY (page 11, 21, 23) Press to select a disc. Press to exchange a disc while playing. Press to change the information on the display. Remote: DISC SKIP (page 12, 23) Unit: DSGX, EQ (page 21) Remote: EQ (page 21) Unit: ERASE (page 17) Press to select the sound effect. (open/close) (page 12) Press to select a disc.
REPEAT/FM MODE (page 12, 14, 19) Press to listen to a disc, an USB device, a single track or file repeatedly. Press to select the FM reception mode (monaural or stereo). TUNER MEMORY (page 24) Press to preset the radio station. PLAY MODE/TUNING MODE (page 13, 14, 16, 19, 23, 24, 27) Press to select the play mode of a CD, MP3 disc or an optional USB device (Digital music player or USB storage media). Press to select the tuning mode.
Getting Started Getting Started Hooking up the system securely Front speaker (right) Wall socket Front speaker (left) AM loop antenna FM lead antenna (Extend it horizontally.
Antennas Find a location and an orientation that provide good reception, and then set up the antennas. Keep the antennas away from the speaker cords, the power cord and the USB cable to avoid picking up noise. Speakers Use buttons on the unit. 1 Remove all discs to protect the CD mechanism. 2 Hold down on the unit, and press / on the unit until “STANDBY” appears. Insert only the stripped portion of the cords into the SPEAKER jacks.
To use the remote Setting the clock Use buttons on the remote to set the clock. 1 2 Notes With normal use, the batteries should last for about six months. Do not mix an old battery with a new one or mix different types of batteries. If you do not use the remote for a long period of time, remove the batteries to avoid damage from battery leakage and corrosion. Batteries installed devices shall not be exposed to excessive heat such as sunshine, fire or the like.
Basic Operations Playing a CD/MP3 disc 1 Select the CD function. Press CD . 2 Place a disc. Press on the unit, and place a disc with the label side up on the disc tray. To place additional discs, slide the disc tray with your finger as shown below. To close the disc tray, press on the unit. Do not force the disc tray closed with your finger, as this may damage the unit. 12GB 3 Select a disc. 4 Start playback. 5 Adjust the volume. If the discs are currently stopped, press DISC SKIP .
To change the play mode * When playing a CD-DA disc, (SHUF) Play performs the same operation as 1 DISC (SHUF) Play. Notes on Repeat Play All tracks or files on a disc are played repeatedly up to five times. You cannot select “REP” and “ALL DISCS SHUF” at the same time. “REP1” indicates that a single track or file is repeated until you stop it. Notes on playing MP3 discs Do not save other types of files or unnecessary folders on a disc that has MP3 files.
Listening to the radio 1 Select “FM” or “AM.” Press TUNER/BAND repeatedly. 2 Select the tuning mode. 3 Tune in the desired station. 4 Adjust the volume. Press TUNING MODE repeatedly until “AUTO” appears. Press +/ (or TUNING +/ on the unit) . Scanning stops automatically when a station is tuned in, and then “TUNED” and “ST” (for stereo programs only) appear. Press VOLUME +/ . To stop automatic scanning Press .
Recording from a disc onto an USB device You can easily record an entire disc onto an USB device. 1 Connect a recordable USB device to the (USB) port as shown below. Basic Operations You can connect an optional USB device (Digital music player or USB storage media) to the (USB) port on the unit and record music from a disc to the USB device. You can record from a CD-DA disc or MP3 disc only. The audio format of files recorded by this system is MP3.
3 Press PLAY MODE repeatedly to select the play mode when the CD player is stopped. The play mode automatically changes to normal play mode, if you start recording in shuffle play mode, repeat play mode or in program play mode (when no tracks or MP3 files are programmed). For details about the play mode, see “To change the play mode” (page 19). 4 Press USB SYNC REC/REC1 on the unit.
To remove the USB device 1 Check that there is no data being transferred through the USB device while recording, erasing, etc. 2 Hold down on the unit until “NoDEVICE” appears on the display. Tip When first recording to an USB device, a “MUSIC” folder is created directly below the “ROOT.” Folders and files are generated within this “MUSIC” folder as follows according to the recording method.
Notes Do not connect the system and the USB device through an USB hub. When recording from a CD, the tracks are recorded as 128 kbps MP3 files. When recording from an MP3 disc, MP3 files are recorded with the same bit rate as the original MP3 files. While recording from an MP3 disc, no sound is output and “HI-SPEED” appears. CD text information is not recorded in the created MP3 files. If you cancel the recording partway, an MP3 file is created up to the point when the recording was stopped.
Note Some files may not be detected by the unit even if the file format is supported. In such case, see page 27, 28 for details. To change the play mode 2 Check that there is no data being Notes on the USB device To remove the USB device transferred through the USB device while recording, erasing, etc. 3 Hold down on the unit until “NoDEVICE” appears on the display. 4 Remove the USB device. Tip You can also remove the device safely after the system is turned off.
Folders that have no MP3 files are skipped. The system can only play MP3 files that have a file extension of “.mp3.” If there are files on the USB device that have the “.mp3” file extension, but that are not MP3 files, the unit may produce noise or may malfunction. Up to 999 MP3 files or 997 folders can be contained on a single USB device. The maximum number of MP3 files and folders may vary depending on the MP3 file and folder structure.
Changing the display To add a sound effect To Change information on the display* Change Display mode (See below.) To Generate a more dynamic sound (Dynamic Sound Generator X-tra) Set the sound effect Press DSGX on the unit. EQ . Press DISPLAY repeatedly when the system is on. DISPLAY repeatedly when the system is off. * For example, you can view CD/MP3 disc information or the USB device information, such as: track or file number during normal play.
Notes on the display information Characters that cannot be displayed appear as “_”. The following is not displayed: total playing time and remaining playing time for an MP3 disc and USB device. The following are not displayed correctly: elapsed playing time of a file encoded using a VBR (variable bit rate). folder and file names that do not follow either the ISO9660 Level 1, Level 2 or Joliet in the expansion format.
Other Operations 5 Press ENTER to add the track or file to the program. CD “ . ” appears when the total program time exceeds 100 minutes for a CD or when you select an MP3 file. Use buttons on the remote to create your own program. USB The total program time cannot be displayed, so “ . ” appears. (Program Play) 1 Select the desired function. CD Press CD to select the CD function. USB Press USB to select the USB function.
Presetting radio stations You can preset your favourite radio stations and tune them in instantly by selecting the corresponding preset number. Use buttons on the remote to preset stations. 1 2 Tune in the desired station (see “Listening to the radio” (page 14)). Press TUNER MEMORY . Preset number 3 Press +/ repeatedly to select your desired preset number. If another station is already assigned to the selected preset number, the station is replaced by the new stations. 4 24GB Press ENTER .
Using the Timers The system offers two timer functions. If you use both timers, the Sleep Timer has priority. Press SLEEP repeatedly. If you select “AUTO,” the system automatically turns off after the current disc or USB device stops or in 100 minutes. Do not select “AUTO” during Synchro Recording to a USB device, or during the erase operation. Play Timer: You can wake up to CD, tuner or optional USB device at a preset time. 1 2 3 Prepare the sound source. Press VOLUME +/ to adjust the volume.
Others Troubleshooting 1 Make sure the power cord and speaker cords are correctly and firmly connected. 2 Find your problem in the checklist below, and take the indicated corrective action. If the issue persists, contact your nearest Sony dealer. If “PROTECT” appears on the display Immediately unplug the power cord, and check the following items.
CD/MP3 player The sound skips, or the disc will not play. Wipe the disc clean, and replace it. Move the system to a location away from vibration (for example, on top of a stable stand). Move the speakers away from the system, or place them on separate stands. At high volume, speaker vibration may cause the sound to skip. Starting playback takes more time than usual. The following discs take a longer time to start playback. a disc recorded with a complicated tree structure.
Files are not played back in the recorded order. When recording after the erase operation has been performed, the new folders and files are registered to the erased locations, so files may not be played back in the recorded order. Files or folders on the USB device cannot be erased. Check if the USB device is writeprotected. The USB device was disconnected or the power was turned off during the erase operation. Delete the partially-erased file.
Erroneous display Send the music data to the USB device again, as the data stored in the USB device may have been corrupted. The character codes that can be displayed by this system are numbers and alphabet only. Other characters are not displayed correctly. The USB device is not recognized. Turn off the system and reconnect the USB device, then turn on the system. Connect the supported USB device (page 35). The USB device does not work properly.
Tuner Severe hum or noise, or stations cannot be received. (“TUNED” or “ST” flashes on the display.) Connect the antenna properly. Find a location and an orientation that provide good reception, and then set up the antenna again. Keep the antennas away from the speaker cords, the power cord and the USB cable to avoid picking up noise. Consult your nearest Sony dealer if the supplied AM antenna has come off the plastic stand. Turn off nearby electrical equipment.
Messages General CD/MP3 player, Tuner LOCKED: The disc tray does not open. Contact your nearest Sony dealer. NO STEP: All of the programmed tracks have been erased. TIME NG: The Play Timer or start and end times are set to the same time. OVER: You have reached the end of the disc while pressing during playback or pause. PUSH SELECT: Select “PLAY SELECT.” PUSH STOP: Stop playback, then select the play mode. READING: The system is reading information of the disc. Some buttons are not available.
Precautions Discs that this system CAN play Audio CD CD-R/CD-RW (audio data/MP3 files) Discs that this system CANNOT play CD-ROM CD-R/CD-RW other than those recorded in music CD format or MP3 format conforming to ISO9660 Level 1/Level 2, Joliet CD-R/CD-RW recorded in multisession that have not ended by “closing the session” CD-R/CD-RW of poor recording quality, CD-R/CD-RW that have scratches or are dirty, or CD-R/CDRW recorded with an incompatible recording device CD-R/CD-RW which is finalized
Be careful when placing the unit or speakers on surfaces that have been specially treated (for example, with wax, oil, polish) as staining or discoloration of the surface may result. If the system is brought directly from a cold to a warm location or is placed in a very damp room, moisture may condense on the lens inside the CD player, and cause the system to malfunction. In this situation, remove the disc, and leave the system turned on for about an hour until the moisture evaporates.
CD player section System: Compact disc and digital audio system Laser: Semiconductor laser (λ=770 810 nm) Emission duration: continuous Frequency response: 20 Hz 20 kHz Signal-to-noise ratio: More than 90 dB Dynamic range: More than 88 dB Tuner section FM stereo, FM/AM superheterodyne tuner Antenna: FM lead antenna AM loop antenna FM tuner section: Tuning range: 87.5 108.0 MHz (50 kHz step) Intermediate frequency: 10.
Playable/Recordable USB devices You can use the following Sony USB devices on this system. Other USB devices cannot be used on this system. Verified Sony digital music player (as of December 2007) ® Verified Sony IC Recorder (as of December 2007) The unit is unable to read data in NTFS format. The unit is unable to read data other than that saved in the first partition of a hard disk drive. Do not use USB devices other than these USB devices. Operation of models not listed here is not guaranteed.
Printed in China
