Sony CDX-L550FP User manual

© 2001 Sony Corporation
Operating Instructions US
CDX-L550X
3-226-678-11 (1)
FM/AM
Compact Disc
Player
For installation and connections, see the supplied installation/connections
manual.
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-L550X Serial No.

2
Welcome !
Thank you for purchasing this Sony Compact
Disc Player. You can enjoy its various features
even more with:
•CD TEXT information (displayed when a CD
TEXT disc*is played).
•Optional controller accessories
Rotary commander RM-X4S
Card remote commander RM-X114
*A CD TEXT disc is an audio CD that includes
information such as the disc name, artist name,
and track names. This information is recorded on
the disc.
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
Playing a disc ........................................................ 9
Display items ...................................................... 10
Playing tracks repeatedly
— Repeat Play ............................................... 10
Playing tracks in random order
— Shuffle Play ............................................... 10
Radio
Storing stations automatically
— Best Tuning Memory (BTM) ................... 11
Receiving the stored stations ............................ 11
Storing only the desired stations ..................... 12
Storing station names
— Station Memo ........................................... 12
Locating a station by name
— List-up ....................................................... 13
Other Functions
Using the rotary commander ........................... 14
Adjusting the sound characteristics ................ 15
Quickly attenuating the sound ........................ 15
Changing the sound and display settings
— Menu .......................................................... 16
Selecting the sound position
— “My Best sound Position (MBP)” .......... 17
Setting the equalizer .......................................... 17
Additional Information
Maintenance........................................................ 18
Removing the unit ............................................. 19
Specifications ...................................................... 20
Troubleshooting.................................................. 21
Error displays/Messages .................................. 22

4
Location of controls
1 MBP (My Best sound Position) button 17
2Z(eject) button (located on the front side
of the unit, behind the front panel) 9
3MENU button 9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18
4Volume control dial
5LIST button 13
6Receptor for the card remote
commander
7Display window
8OPEN button 8, 9
9EQ7 button 17
0RESET button (located on the front side of
the unit, behind the front panel) 7
qa OFF (Stop/Power off) button*8, 9
qs SOUND button 15, 17
qd SOURCE (Power on/Radio/CD) button
8, 9, 11, 12, 17
CDX-L550X
Refer to the pages listed for details.
: During Playback : During radio reception : During menu mode
MENU
qf ENTER button
13
9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18
qg MODE button 11, 12
qh DSPL (display mode change) button
10, 13
qj Number buttons
(1) REP 10
(2) SHUF 10
11, 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.
CD
RADIO
CD RADIO
RADIO
MENU

5
(SEEK)
(–): to select
leftwards/
.
Card remote commander
RM-X114 (optional)
The corresponding buttons of the card
remote commander control the same
functions as those on this unit.
1DSPL button
2MENU button
3SOURCE button
4SEEK (</,) buttons
5SOUND button
6OFF button
7VOL (+/–) buttons
8MODE button
9LIST button
0PRESET (M/m) buttons
qa ENTER button
qs ATT 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 19).
(SEEK)
(+):to select
rightwards
/>
(PRESET)
(+): to select upwards
(PRESET)
(–): to select downwards
qk PRESET buttons (+/–)
11, 13
9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18
ql SEEK buttons (–/+) 15
9
11, 12
9, 12, 16, 18
RADIO
RADIO
CD
DISC
–
ATTOFF
DSPL MODE
SOURCE
DISC
+
VOL
+
–
PRESET
+
SEEK
+
SEEK
–
PRESET –
SOUND
ENTER
MENU
LIST
In menu mode, the currently selectable
button (s) of these four are indicated with a
“M” in the display.
MENU
MENU

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.
•Discs with special shapes (heart-shaped
discs, octagonal discs, etc.) 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.
•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.

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
Notes on CD-R discs
•You can play CD-Rs (recordable CDs)
designed for audio use on this unit.
Look for this mark to distinguish CD-Rs for
audio use.
This mark denotes that a disc is not for audio
use.
•Some CD-Rs (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 that is not finalized*.
*A process necessary for a recorded CD-R 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 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 (OPEN), then slide the front panel
to the right, and gently pull out the left
end of the front panel.
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
Place hole Aof the front panel onto the
spindle Bon the unit, then lightly push the
left side in.
Press (SOURCE) (or insert a CD) to operate the
unit.
x
Note
Do not put anything on the inner surface of the
front panel.
2
1
A
B

9
Setting the clock
The clock uses a 12-hour digital indication.
Example: To set the clock to 10:08
1Press (MENU), then press either side of
(PRESET) repeatedly until “CLOCK”
appears.
1Press (ENTER).
The hour indication flashes.
2Press either side of (PRESET) to set
the hour.
3Press the (+) side of (SEEK).
The minute indication flashes.
4Press either side of (PRESET) to set
the minute.
2Press (ENTER).
The clock starts. After the clock setting is
completed, the display returns to normal
play mode.
Tip
When D.INFO mode is set to ON, the time is always
displayed (page 16).
CD Player
Playing a disc
1Press (OPEN) and insert the disc
(labeled side up).
2Close the front panel.
Playback starts automatically.
If a disc is already inserted, press (SOURCE)
repeatedly until “CD”appears to start
playback.
To Press
Stop playback (OFF)
Eject the disc (OPEN) then Z
Skip tracks (SEEK) (./>)
–Automatic [once for each track]
Music Sensor
Fast-forward/ (SEEK) (m/M)
reverse [hold to desired point]
–Manual Search
Note
When the last track on the disc is over, playback
restarts from the first track of the disc.

10
Display items
When the disc/track changes, any prerecorded
title of the new disc/track is automatically
displayed (if the Auto Scroll function is set to
“ON,”names exceeding 8 characters will be
scrolled (page 16)).
Displayable items
•Music source
•Clock
•Function
Displayable items
•Disc name*1/artist name*2
•Track title*1
•Elapsed playing time
To Press
Switch display (DSPL)
item
*1“NO NAME” indicates there is no prerecorded
name to display.
*2Only for CD TEXT discs with the artist name.
Notes
• Some characters cannot be displayed.
• For some CD TEXT discs with very many
characters, information may not scroll.
• This unit cannot display the artist name for each
track of a CD TEXT disc.
Playing tracks repeatedly
— Repeat Play
The current track will repeat itself when it
reaches the end.
During playback, press (1) (REP)
repeatedly until “REP-1”appears in the
display.
Repeat Play starts.
To return to normal play mode, select
“REP-OFF.”
Playing tracks in random
order — Shuffle Play
You can select to play the tracks on the current
disc in random order.
During playback, press (2) (SHUF)
repeatedly until “SHUF-1”appears in the
display.
Shuffle Play starts.
To return to normal play mode, select
“SHUF-OFF.”