Sony CDX-CA400 - Compact Disc Changer System User manual

© 2002 Sony Corporation
Operating Instructions
Mode d’emploi
US
CDX-CA400
FM/AM
Compact Disc
Player
For installation and connections, see the supplied installation/connections
manual.
En ce qui concerne l’installation et les connexions, consulter le manuel
d’installation/raccordement fourni.
Owner’s Record
The model and serial numbers are located on the bottom of the unit.
Record these numbers in the space provided below.
Refer to these numbers whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this
product.
Model No. CDX-CA400 Serial No.
3-238-719-11 (1)
FR

2
Welcome !
Thank you for purchasing this Sony Compact
Disc Player. You can enjoy its various features
even more with:
•Optional CD/MD units (both changers and
players)*.
•Supplied controller accessory
Card remote commander RM-X115
*Only one optional Sony CD/MD unit can be
connected.
Warning
This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions,
may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined
by turning the equipment off and on, the user
is encouraged to try to correct the interference
by one or more of the following measures:
— Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
— Increase the separation between the
equipment and receiver.
— Connect the equipment into an outlet on a
circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
— Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/
TV technician for help.
You are cautioned that any changes or
modifications not expressly approved in this
manual could void your authority to operate
this equipment.
CAUTION
The use of optical instruments with this
product will increase eye hazard.

3
Table of Contents
Location of controls .................................................. 4
Precautions ................................................................ 6
Notes on discs ........................................................... 6
Getting Started
Resetting the unit ................................................. 7
Detaching the front panel ................................... 8
Setting the clock ................................................... 9
CD Player
CD/MD Unit (optional)
Playing a disc ........................................................ 9
Display items ...................................................... 10
Playing tracks repeatedly
— Repeat Play ............................................... 10
Playing tracks in random order
— Shuffle Play ............................................... 10
Radio
Display items ...................................................... 11
Storing stations automatically
— Best Tuning Memory (BTM) ................... 11
Storing only the desired stations ..................... 12
Receiving the stored stations ............................ 12
Other Functions
Adjusting the sound characteristics ................ 13
Quickly attenuating the sound ........................ 13
Canceling the beep sound ................................. 13
Selecting the sound position
— “My Best sound Position (MBP)” .......... 14
Boosting the bass sound
— D-bass ........................................................ 14
Additional Information
Maintenance........................................................ 15
Removing the unit ............................................. 16
Specifications ...................................................... 17
Troubleshooting.................................................. 18
Error displays ..................................................... 19

4
Location of controls
1SOURCE (Power on/Radio/CD/MD)
button 9, 10, 11, 12
2MODE button 10, 11, 12
3SEL (select) button 9, 13, 14
4DSPL (display mode change) button
9, 10, 11
5Display window
6 MBP (My Best sound Position) button 14
7Z(eject) button 9
8D-BASS button 14
9VOL (volume) –/+ control dial 9, 13
0RELEASE (front panel release) button 8
qa Receptor for the card remote
commander
qs RESET button (located on the front side of
the unit, behind the front panel) 7
qd ATT (attenuate) button 13
CDX-CA400
SOURCE
SEL
DSPL
MODE
BTM
MBP
OFF
12
–+3 4
REP DISC SHUF
5 6 SENS ATT
RELEASE
D-BASS
Refer to the pages listed for details.
qf Number buttons 12, 13
(1) DISC – 10
(2) DISC + 10
(3) REP 10
(4) SHUF 10
qg SENS button 12
qh BTM (Best Tuning Memory) button 11
qj OFF (Stop/Power off) button*8, 9
qk SEEK/AMS –/+ control dial 9, 12
*Warning when installing in a car
without an ACC (accessory) position
on the ignition key switch
Be sure to press (OFF) on the unit for 2
seconds to turn off the clock display after
turning off the engine.
Otherwise, the clock display does not turn
off and this causes battery drain.

5
Card remote commander RM-X115
The corresponding buttons of the card
remote commander control the same
functions as those on this unit.
1DSPL button
2SOURCE button
3SEEK (–/+) buttons
4OFF button
5VOL (+/–) buttons
6MODE button
7DISC/PRESET (+/–) buttons
8ATT button
Note
If the unit is turned off by pressing (OFF) for 2
seconds, it cannot be operated with the card
remote commander unless (SOURCE) on the unit is
pressed, or a disc is inserted to activate the unit
first.
Tip
Refer to “Replacing the lithium battery” for details
on how to replace the batteries (page 15).
ATTOFF
DSPL MODE
SOURCE
VOL
+
–
PRESET
+
PRESET
–
SEEK
–
SEEK
+

6
Precautions
•If your car was parked in direct sunlight,
allow the unit to cool off before operating it.
•Power antennas will extend automatically
while the unit is operating.
If you have any questions or problems
concerning your unit that are not covered in
this manual, please consult your nearest Sony
dealer.
Moisture condensation
On a rainy day or in a very damp area,
moisture condensation may occur inside the
lenses and display of the unit. Should this
occur, the unit will not operate properly. In
such a case, remove the disc and wait for about
an hour until the moisture has evaporated.
To maintain high sound quality
Be careful not to splash juice or other soft
drinks onto the unit or discs.
Notes on discs
•To keep the disc clean, do not touch the
surface. Handle the disc by its edge.
•Keep your discs in their cases or disc
magazines when not in use. Do not subject
the discs to heat/high temperature. Avoid
leaving them in parked cars or on
dashboards/rear trays.
•Do not attach labels, or use discs with sticky
ink/residue. Such discs may stop spinning
when used, causing a malfunction, or may
ruin the disc.
•Do not use any discs with labels or stickers
attached.
The following malfunctions may result from
using such discs:
– Inability to eject a disc (due to a label or
sticker peeling off and jamming the eject
mechanism).
– Inability to read audio data correctly (e.g.,
playback skipping, or no playback) due to
heat shrinking of a sticker or label causing
a disc to warp.
•Discs with non-standard shapes (e.g., heart,
square, star) cannot be played on this unit.
Attempting to do so may damage the unit.
Do not use such discs.
•You cannot play 8 cm (3 in.) CDs.

7
Getting Started
Resetting the unit
Before operating the unit for the first time or
after replacing the car battery, you must reset
the unit.
Remove the front panel and press the RESET
button with a pointed object, such as a ball-
point pen.
Note
Pressing the RESET button will erase the clock
setting and some stored contents.
RESET button
•Before playing, clean the discs with a
commercially available cleaning cloth. Wipe
each disc from the center out. Do not use
solvents such as benzine, thinner,
commercially available cleaners, or antistatic
spray intended for analog discs.
Notes on CD-R/CD-RW discs
•You can play CD-Rs (recordable CDs)/CD-
RWs (rewritable CDs) designed for audio use
on this unit.
Look for these marks to distinguish CD-Rs/
CD-RWs for audio use.
These marks denote that a disc is not for
audio use.
•Some CD-Rs/CD-RWs (depending on the
equipment used for its recording or the
condition of the disc) may not play on this
unit.
•You cannot play a CD-R/CD-RW that is not
finalized*.
*A process necessary for a recorded CD-R/CD-RW
disc to be played on the audio CD player.

8
Detaching the front panel
You can detach the front panel of this unit to
protect the unit from being stolen.
Caution alarm
If you turn the ignition switch to the OFF
position without removing the front panel, the
caution alarm will beep for a few seconds.
If you connect an optional amplifier and do not
use the built-in amplifier, the beep sound will
be deactivated.
1Press (OFF)*.
CD/MD playback or radio reception stops
(the key illumination and display remain
on).
*If your car has no ACC position on the
ignition switch, be sure to turn the unit off by
pressing (OFF) for 2 seconds to avoid car
battery drain.
2Press (RELEASE), then pull it off towards
you.
Notes
• If you detach the panel while the unit is still
turned on, the power will turn off automatically
to prevent the speakers from being damaged.
• Do not drop or put excessive pressure on the
front panel and its display window.
• Do not subject the front panel to heat/high
temperature or moisture. Avoid leaving it in
parked cars or on dashboards/rear trays.
Tip
When carrying the front panel with you, use the
supplied front panel case.
Attaching the front panel
Attach part Aof the front panel to part Bof
the unit as illustrated and push the left side
into position until it clicks.
Note
Do not put anything on the inner surface of the
front panel.
(OFF)
A
B
(RELEASE)

9
Setting the clock
The clock uses a 12-hour digital indication.
Example: To set the clock to 10:08
1Press (DSPL) for 2 seconds.
The hour indication flashes.
1Turn the VOL control dial to set the
hour.
2Press (SEL).
The minute indication flashes.
3Turn the VOL control dial to set the
minute.
2Press (DSPL).
The clock starts. After the clock setting is
completed, the display returns to normal
play mode.
CD Player
CD/MD Unit (optional)
In addition to playing a CD with this unit, you
can also control an external CD/MD unit.
Only one optional CD/MD unit can be
connected.
Playing a disc
(With this unit)
Insert the disc (labeled side up).
Playback starts automatically.
If a disc is already inserted, press (SOURCE)
repeatedly until “CD”appears to start
playback.
To Do this
Stop playback Press (OFF).
Eject the disc Press Z.
Skip tracks Turn the SEEK/AMS
–Automatic control dial.
Music Sensor [once for each track]
Fast-forward/ Turn the SEEK/AMS
reverse control dial.
–Manual Search [hold to desired point]
Notes
•When the last track on the disc is over, playback
restarts from the first track of the disc.
•With an optional unit connected, playback of the
same source will continue on to the optional CD/
MD unit.
continue to next page t

10
(With optional unit)
1Press (SOURCE) repeatedly to select
“CD”or “MD.”
2Press (MODE) repeatedly until the
desired unit appears.
Playback starts.
To Press
Skip discs (1) (DISC –) or
–Disc selection (2) (DISC +)
Tip
With the optional MG Memory Stick System-up
Player MGS-X1 connected to this unit, press
(SOURCE) to select “MD,”then press (MODE) to
select the unit number of the MD (MD1 or MD2,
etc.).
Display items
To Press
Switch display (DSPL)
item
Playing tracks repeatedly
— Repeat Play
The disc in the main unit will repeat a track or
the entire disc when it reaches the end. For
repeat play, you can select:
•REP 1 —to repeat a track.
•REP 2*—to repeat a disc.
*Available only when an optional CD/MD unit is
connected.
During playback, press (3) (REP)
repeatedly until the desired setting
appears in the display.
Repeat Play starts.
To return to normal play mode, press (3)
(REP) repeatedly until “REP”indicator
disappears.
Playing tracks in random
order — Shuffle Play
You can select:
•SHUF 1 —to play the tracks on the current
disc in random order.
•SHUF 2*—to play the tracks in the current
optional CD (MD) unit in random order.
*Available only when an optional CD/MD unit is
connected.
During playback, press (4) (SHUF)
repeatedly until the desired setting
appears in the display.
Shuffle Play starts.
To return to normal play mode, press (4)
(SHUF) repeatedly until “SHUF”indicator
disappears.
Source
“REP”indicator is displayed.
“SHUF”indicator is displayed.
Displayable items
•Clock
•Track number/Elapsed playing time