Sony DHC-MD373 User manual

Operating Instructions
Mini Hi-Fi
Component
System
3-867-542-13(1)
©1999 Sony Corporation
DHC-MD373

2
Do not install the appliance in a confined space,
such as a bookcase or built-in cabinet.
This appliance is classified as
a CLASS 1 LASER product.
The CLASS 1 LASER
PRODUCT MARKING is
located on the rear exterior.
The following caution label is located inside of the
unit.
Table of Contents
Getting Started
Step 1: Hooking up the system ................ 4
Step 2: Setting the time ............................ 6
Step 3: Presetting radio stations ............... 7
Saving the power in standby mode ........... 9
Basic Operations
Playing a CD ........................................... 10
Recording a CD on an MD
— CD-MD Synchro Recording ........ 11
Playing an MD ........................................ 12
Listening to the radio
— Preset Tuning............................... 13
Recording from the radio
— Manual Recording ....................... 14
The CD Player
Playing CD tracks repeatedly
— Repeat Play.................................. 16
Playing CD tracks in random order
— Shuffle Play ................................. 16
Programming CD tracks
— Programme Play .......................... 17
Using the CD display .............................. 18
Labelling a CD — Disc Memo ............... 19
The MD Deck — Play
Playing MD tracks repeatedly
— Repeat Play.................................. 21
Playing MD tracks in random order
— Shuffle Play ................................. 22
Programming MD tracks
— Programme Play .......................... 22
Using the MD display ............................. 24

3
The MD Deck — Recording
Before you start recording....................... 25
Recording your favourite CD tracks on
an MD
— CD-MD Synchro Recording ........ 26
Recording on an MD manually
— Manual Recording ....................... 27
Starting recording with 6 seconds of
prestored audio data
— Time Machine Recording ............ 28
Marking track numbers ........................... 30
Making a space between tracks
3 seconds long — Smart Space ........ 31
Adjusting the recording level .................. 33
Monaural recording ................................. 34
The MD Deck — Editing
Before you start editing........................... 35
Labelling an MD — Name Function ...... 36
Erasing recordings — Erase Function .... 37
Moving recorded tracks
— Move Function ............................ 40
Dividing recorded tracks
— Divide Function ........................... 41
Combining recorded tracks
— Combine Function ....................... 42
Undoing the last edit
— Undo Function ............................. 44
Sound Adjustment
Reinforcing the bass sound — DBFB ..... 45
Selecting the Preset Equalizer menu ....... 45
Other Features
Labelling the preset stations
— Station Name ............................... 46
Using the Radio Data System (RDS)
(European model only) ..................... 47
Falling asleep to music
— Sleep Timer ................................. 48
Waking up to music
— Daily Timer ................................. 48
Timer recording radio programmes ........ 50
Connecting optional
components
Connecting optional A/V components .... 52
Connecting external aerials ..................... 53
Additional Information
Precautions .............................................. 54
System limitations of MDs ..................... 55
Troubleshooting ...................................... 56
Self-diagnosis Display ............................ 58
Specifications .......................................... 60
Parts descriptions for the remote............. 61
Index ........................................................ 63

4
Getting Started
Step 1: Hooking up the system
Perform the following procedure 1to 4to hook up your system using the supplied cords and
accessories.
1Connect the speakers.
Connect the speaker cords to the SPEAKER
terminals on the unit and to the terminals on
the speakers as below.
Keep the speaker cords away from the aerials
to prevent noise.
+
R
+
L
––
2Connect the FM/AM aerials.
Set up the AM loop aerial, then connect it.
AM
FM
75
COAXIAL
AM loop aerial
Right speaker DHC-MD373
rear panel
FM aerial Left speaker
Black (#)
Grey (3)
Insert this portion
AM loop
aerial
Extend the FM
wire aerial
horizontally

5
Getting Started
3Set the VOLTAGE SELECTOR on the
bottom of the system to the position of
your local power line voltage (for
models with a voltage selector).
220V
240V
110V
120V
VOLTAGE
SELECTOR
4Connect the mains lead to a wall outlet.
If the plug of the mains lead does not fit your
wall outlet, attach the supplied adaptor on to
the plug (for models with a plug adaptor).
Inserting two R6 (size AA)
batteries into the remote
e
E
e
E
Tip
With normal use, the batteries should last for about
six months. When the remote no longer operates the
system, replace both batteries with new ones.
Notes
• If you do not use the remote for a long period of
time, remove the batteries to avoid possible damage
from battery leakage.
• Be sure to insert the batteries in correct direction.
• Do not mix new batteries with old ones.
• Do not use different types of batteries together.
• Do not use a battery that is leaking.
• If the battery leaks, clean the battery compartment
and replace all the batteries with new ones.

6
Step 2: Setting the time
You must set the time beforehand to use the timer
functions.
The clock is on a 24-hour system for the European
model, and a 12-hour system for other models.
The 24-hour system is used for illustration
purposes.
x
.>
H
`/1
X
M
m
4,6
3,5 3,5
1
2
4
CURSORT
DISPLAY
1Turn on the system.
2Press CLOCK/TIMER SET.
The clock appears and the hour indication
flashes.
3Press .or >to set the hour.
4Press ENTER/YES or CURSORt.
The minute indication flashes.
5Press .or >to set the minute.
6Press ENTER/YES.
The clock starts.
If you make a mistake
Press CURSORTor trepeatedly until the
incorrect item flashes, then set it again.
To change the preset time
You can change the preset time while the system
is off.
1Press DISPLAY to display the clock.
2Press CLOCK/TIMER SET.
3Repeat steps 3 to 6 of “Setting the time”.
Tip
The upper dot of the colon flashes for the first 30
seconds, and the lower dot flashes for the last 30
seconds of each minute.

7
Getting Started
Step 3: Presetting radio
stations
You can preset the following number of stations,
20 for FM and 10 for AM.
z
.m >M
Zx
ZHS x
`/1
HS
213
STEREO/
MONO FUNCTION
x
.>
H
`/1
X
M
m
5,6
55
4
1Press TUNER/BAND to select “FM” or
“AM”.
Pressing TUNER/BAND turns on the
system.
2Press TUNING MODE repeatedly until
“AUTO” appears.
3Press TUNING + or –.
The frequency indication changes and the
scanning stops when the system tunes in a
station. “TUNED” and “STEREO” (for a
stereo programme) appear.
4Press MENU/NO on the remote.
5Press .or >on the remote
repeatedly until “P.Memory ?” appears,
then press ENTER/YES on the remote.
A preset number appears in the display. The
stations are stored from preset number 1.
Preset number
6Press ENTER/YES.
“Complete !!” appears, and then the station is
stored.
7Repeat steps 1 to 6 to preset other
stations.
continued

8
Step 3: Presetting radio stations
(continued)
To stop scanning
Press TUNING MODE.
To tune in a station with a weak
signal
Press TUNING MODE repeatedly until
“MANUAL” appears in step 2, then press
TUNING + or – repeatedly to tune in the station
manually.
To set another station to the
exist preset number
Start over from step 1. After step 5, press .or
>on the remote to select the preset number
you want to store the other station.
You can add a new preset number after the last
preset number.
To erase a preset station
1Press MENU/NO on the remote.
2Press .or > repeatedly until “P.Erase ?”
appears.
Select “P.All Erase ?” when you want to erase
all the preset stations.
3Press ENTER/YES on the remote.
4Press .or > repeatedly to select the
preset number you want to erase.
5Press ENTER/YES.
“Complete !!” appears.
When you erase a preset number, the preset
number decreases by one and all preset numbers
following the erased one are renumbered.
To change the AM tuning interval
(except for the European model)
The AM tuning interval is factory-set to 9 kHz (10
kHz in some areas). To change the AM tuning
interval, tune in any AM station first, then turn off
the system. While holding down the FUNCTION
button, turn the system back on. When you change
the interval, all the AM preset stations are erased.
To reset the interval, repeat the same procedure.
Tips
• The preset stations are retained for about a day even
if you disconnect the mains lead or if a power failure
occurs.
• You can label the preset stations (see page 46).
• When an FM programme has static noise,
press STEREO/MONO until “MONO” appears.
There will be no stereo effect, but the reception will
improve. Press the button again to restore the stereo
effect.

9
Getting Started
Saving the power in
standby mode
In order to conserve power, you can select
whether or not to display the clock when the
system is off. The system is set at the factory to
not display the clock when the system is off
(Power Saving Mode). To display the clock
even when the system is off, deactivate the Power
Saving Mode.
`/1
x
.>
H
X
M
mDISPLAY
To activate Power Saving Mode
Press DISPLAY.
The clock display disappears.
Tips
• Each time you press DISPLAY in the Power Saving
Mode, the display switches between the Power
Saving Mode and the clock display.
•?/1 indicator lights up even in the Power Saving
Mode.
Note
When the timer is set, the Power Saving Mode does
not function.
,Press DISPLAY when the system is off.
The system switches off the Power Saving
Mode and the clock display appears.

10
Basic Operations
Playing a CD
To turn on the system, press ?/1 (power).
z
.m >M
Zx
ZHS x
`/1
HS
2
1
VOLUME CD x
MD/CD
.m/M>
To Do this
Stop play Press CD x.
Pause Press CD HS. The Sindicator
on the CD HS button lights
orange. Press again to resume play.
Select a track Press MD/CD .m or
M> repeatedly.
Find a point in a
track Keep pressing MD/CD .m or M> during play and
release it at the desired point.
“—OVER—” appears at the end
of the CD.
Remove the CD Press CD Z.
Adjust the
volume Turn VOLUME.
Tips
• If you turn on the system when there is a CD on the
disc tray, the CD indicator lights red.
• If there is no CD in the player, “CD No Disc”
appears in the display.
• Pressing CD HS when the system is off
automatically turns on the system and starts CD
play if there is a CD on the disc tray (One Touch
Play).
• You can switch from another source to the CD
player and start playing a CD just by pressing CD
HS (Automatic Source Selection).
• You can start playing from the desired track in
step 2.
1Press MD/CD .m or M> repeatedly
until the desired track appears.
2Press CD HS.
Or, press the numeric buttons on the remote.
The playback automatically starts. To enter track
numbers 10 or over, press >10 and the track
number. To enter 0, use the 10/0 button.
Notes
• Do not use a CD with tape, seals or paste on it as
this may damage the CD player.
• Do not push the disc tray to close it, as this may
damage the CD player. Press CD Zto close the
disc tray.
• If you press CD Zto open or close the disc tray
while listening to another sound source, the CD
indicator lights red even if there is no CD in the
tray.
To turn off the CD indicator, press FUNCTION
repeatedly to switch the function to CD.
CD indicator
1Press CD Zand place a CD on the disc
tray.
?/1 (power)
To close the disc tray, press CD Zagain.
2Press CD HS.
The disc tray closes and play starts.
The Hindicator on the CD HS button
lights green.
Track number Playing time
With the label side up. When you play a
single CD, place it on the inner circle of the
tray.

Basic Operations
11
Recording a CD on an
MD — CD-MD Synchro Recording
You can make a digital recording of a CD on an
MD, marking track numbers in the same sequence
as the original CD.
You can also record a programme of favourite
tracks (see page 26).
To turn on the system, press ?/1 (power).
z
.m >M
Zx
ZHS x
`/1
HS
5
4
MD ZMD x
2,3
1Insert a recordable MD.
z
. m >M
2Press CD Zand place a CD on the disc
tray.
With the label side up. When you play a
single CD, place it on the inner circle of the
tray.
3Press CD Zto close the disc tray.
4Press CD-MD SYNC.
The MD deck stands by for recording and the
CD player pauses for play.
5Press MD HS.
Recording starts. When the recording is
completed, the CD player and the MD deck
stop automatically.
To stop recording
Press MD x.
Before inserting an MD
When the system is on, make sure the MD
indicator is off. If the MD indicator is lit red,
another MD is already inserted. Press MD Zand
remove the MD.
?/1 (power) MD indicator
continued
With the arrow
pointing toward
the deck
With the label
side up, and the
shutter on the
righthand side

12
Tips
• If you use a partially recorded MD, recording starts
after the recorded tracks.
• The track numbers of the CD are recorded on to the
MD automatically.
• Depending on the disc, CD TEXT information may
also be recorded. If “TEXT” flashes during
recording, press NAME EDIT, and then press
ENTER/YES to record the title of the current track.
(If “TEXT” is lit, it is automatically recorded.)
• You can adjust the recording level to the desired
volume after performing step 4 (see page 33).
Before pulling out the mains lead
MD recording is completed when the MD Table
of Contents (TOC) is updated. The TOC is
updated when you eject the MD or press ?/1 to
turn off the system. Do not pull out the mains lead
before updating the TOC (while “TOC” is lit) or
while updating the TOC (while “TOC” is flashing)
to ensure a complete recording.
If the MD becomes full during
recording
The CD player and the MD deck stop
automatically.
Note
If the MD is record protected, “C11” and “Protected”
appear alternately and the MD cannot be recorded.
Remove the MD, then slide the record protection tab
to the closed position (see page 25).
Playing an MD
To turn on the system, press ?/1 (power). You
can play an MD just like a CD.
z
.m >M
Zx
ZHS x
`/1
HS
MD/CD
.m/M>
VOLUME
2
MD ZMD x
1Insert an MD.
z
. m >M
2Press MD HS.
Play starts. The Hindicator on the
MD HS button lights green.
Track number Playing time
?/1 (power) MD indicator
Recording a CD on an MD
(continued)
With the arrow
pointing toward
the deck
With the label
side up, and the
shutter on the
righthand side

Basic Operations
13
To Do this
Stop play Press MD x.
Pause Press MD HS. The Sindicator
on the MD HS button lights up
orange. Press again to resume play.
Select a track Press MD/CD .m or
M> repeatedly.
Listening to the radio
— Preset Tuning
Preset radio stations in the tuner’s memory first
(see page 7).
To turn on the system, press ?/1 (power).
z
.m >M
Zx
ZHS x
`/1
HS
213
VOLUME
STEREO/
MONO
1Press TUNER/BAND to select “FM” or
“AM”.
2Press TUNING MODE repeatedly until
“PRESET” appears.
3Press TUNING + or – to select the
desired preset station.
Preset number and frequency (or station
name*or RDS station name**)
*The station name appears only if you have
labelled the station (see page 46).
**European model only.
When you preset only one station, “ONE
PRESET” appears in the display.
Find a point in a
track Keep pressing MD/CD .m or M> during play and
release it at the desired point.
Remove the MD Press MD Z.
Adjust the
volume Turn VOLUME.
Before inserting an MD
When the system is on, make sure the MD
indicator is off. If the MD indicator is lit red,
another MD is already inserted. Press MD Zand
remove the MD.
Tips
• You can start playing from the desired track in
step 2.
1Press MD/CD .m or M> repeatedly
until the desired track appears.
2Press MD HS.
Or, press the numeric buttons on the remote.
The playback automatically starts. To enter track
numbers 10 or over, press >10 (press twice to enter
100 or over), then press the track number. To enter
0, use the 10/0 button.
• Pressing MD HS when the system is off
automatically turns on the system and starts MD
play if there is an MD in the system (One Touch
Play).
• You can switch from another source to the MD
deck and start playing an MD just by pressing MD
HS (Automatic Source Selection).
Note
Do not use an MD on which the label sticks out from
the edge or on which the label is not positioned
correctly. Such labels can cause the MD deck to
malfunction.
?/1 (power)
continued

14
Recording from the
radio — Manual Recording
You can analog record a radio programme on an
MD. If you use a partially recorded MD, recording
starts after the recorded tracks. To erase the
recorded contents, see “Erasing recordings” on
page 37.
To turn on the system, press ?/1 (power).
z
.m >M
Zx
ZHS x
`/1
HS
425
3
6
MD ZMD x
1Insert a recordable MD.
z
. m >M
Listening to the radio
(continued)
To Do this
Turn off the radio Press ?/1 to turn off the
system.
Adjust the volume Turn VOLUME.
To select the preset number
using the remote
Press the numeric buttons on the remote in step 3.
To enter preset numbers 10 or over, press >10 and
the preset number. To enter 0, use the 10/0 button.
Listening to non-preset radio
stations
• Press TUNING MODE repeatedly until
“MANUAL” appears in step 2, then press
TUNING + or – to tune in the desired station
(Manual Tuning).
• Press TUNING MODE repeatedly until
“AUTO” appears in step 2, then press TUNING
+ or –. The frequency indication changes and
the scanning stops when the system tunes in a
station (Automatic Tuning).
To cancel Automatic Tuning
Press TUNING MODE.
Tips
• Pressing TUNER/BAND when the system is off
automatically turns on the system and tunes in the
last received station (One Touch Play).
• You can switch from another source to the tuner
just by pressing TUNER/BAND (Automatic
Source Selection).
• To improve broadcast reception, adjust the supplied
aerials, or connect a commercially available
external aerial (see page 53).
• When an FM stereo programme has static noise,
press STEREO/MONO until “MONO” appears.
There will be no stereo effect, but the reception will
improve. Press the button again to restore the stereo
effect.
MD indicator
With the arrow
pointing toward
the deck
2Press TUNER/BAND to select “FM” or
“AM”.
3Press TUNING MODE repeatedly until
“PRESET” appears.
With the label
side up, and the
shutter on the
righthand side
?/1 (power)

Basic Operations
15
4Press TUNING + or – to select the
desired preset station.
Preset number and frequency (or station
name*or RDS station name**)
*The station name appears only if you have
labelled the station (see page 46).
**European model only.
When you preset only one station, “ONE
PRESET” appears in the display.
You can select the preset numbers with the
numeric buttons on the remote.
5Press zREC.
The MD deck stands by for recording and the
zREC button lights red.
6Press MD HS.
Recording starts.
To stop recording
Press MD x.
Before inserting an MD
When the system is on, make sure the MD
indicator is off. If the MD indicator is lit red,
another MD is already inserted. Press MD Zand
remove the MD.
Tips
• If noise is heard while recording an AM radio
programme, move the AM loop aerial to reduce the
noise or connect a ground wire to the Uterminal
(see page 53).
• If you select “MONO” in step 3, the MD is
recorded in monaural format. For details, see
“Monaural recording” on page 34.
• You can adjust the recording level to the desired
volume after performing step 5 (see page 33).
Before pulling out the mains lead
MD recording is completed when the MD Table
of Contents (TOC) is updated. The TOC is
updated when you eject the MD or press ?/1 to
turn off the system. Do not pull out the mains lead
before updating the TOC (while “TOC” is lit) or
while updating the TOC (while “TOC” is flashing)
to ensure a complete recording.
Note
If the MD is record protected, “C11” and “Protected”
appear alternately and the MD cannot be recorded.
Remove the MD, then slide the record protection tab
to the closed position (see page 25).

16
The CD Player
Playing CD tracks
repeatedly — Repeat Play
You can repeat a CD in normal play, Shuffle Play
and Programme Play.
z
.m >M
Zx
ZHS x
`/1
HS
REPEAT
,Press REPEAT until “REPEAT” or
“REPEAT 1” appears.
REPEAT: For all the tracks on the CD.
REPEAT 1: For a single track only.
To cancel Repeat Play
Press REPEAT until “REPEAT” or “REPEAT 1”
disappears.
Playing CD tracks in
random order — Shuffle Play
You can play all the tracks on a CD in random
order.
z
.m >M
Zx
ZHS x
`/1
HS
231
1Press FUNCTION repeatedly until
“CD” appears.
2Press PLAY MODE repeatedly until
“SHUFFLE” appears.
3Press CD HS.
Shuffle Play starts.
To cancel Shuffle Play
Press PLAY MODE repeatedly until “SHUFFLE”
and “PGM” disappear.
Tips
• You can start Shuffle Play during normal play by
displaying “SHUFFLE.”
• To skip a track, press MD/CD M>.

The CD Player
17
Last programmed
track number
Programming CD tracks
— Programme Play
You can make a programme of up to 25 tracks in
the order you want them to be played. You can
also make a Synchro Recording of the programme
on the MD (see page 26).
x
.>
H
`/1
X
M
m
2
1
6
3
4
3
1Press CD to switch the function to CD.
2Press PLAY MODE repeatedly until
“PGM” appears.
3Press .or >repeatedly until the
desired track appears in the display.
4Press ENTER/YES.
The track is programmed.
“Step” appears, followed by the number of
the track in the programmed sequence. The
number of the last programmed track
appears, followed by the total playing time of
the programme. If you have made a mistake,
you can clear the last programmed track from
the programme by pressing CLEAR.
Total playing time
5To programme additional tracks, repeat
steps 3 and 4.
6Press H.
All the tracks play in the order you selected.
To check the total number of
programmed tracks
Press DISPLAY in stop mode. The total number
of programmed steps appears, followed by the last
programmed track number and the total playing
time of the programme.
Last programmed
track number
continued
Total playing time
of the programme
Selected track
number Playing time of the selected track

18
Using the CD display
You can check the remaining time on the current
track or on the CD. When a CD TEXT disc is
loaded, you can check the information recorded on
the disc, such as the titles or artist names.
x
.>
H
X
M
mDISPLAY
,Press DISPLAY.
Each time you press the button during
normal play or in stop mode, the display
changes as follows:
During normal play
tElapsed playing time on the current track
x
Remaining time on the current track
x
Remaining time on the CD*
x
Track title of the current track**
x
Clock display
x
Effect name
To check the programme order
Press .or >repeatedly during Programme
Play.
To Do this
Cancel
Programme
Play
Press x, then press PLAY MODE
repeatedly until “PGM” and
“SHUFFLE” disappear.
Add a track to
the programme
(in stop mode)
Do steps 3 and 4.
Erase the entire
programme Press x, when Programme Play is in stop mode.
To select the desired track using
the remote
Press numeric buttons instead of performing steps
3 to 5.
To enter track numbers 10 or over, press >10 and
the track number. To enter 0, use the 10/0 button.
Tips
• The programme you made remains after
Programme Play finishes. To play the same
programme again, press H.
• “Step Full” appears when you try to programme 26
or more tracks (steps).
• “--m--s” appears when the total CD programme
time exceeds 100 minutes, or when you select a CD
track whose number is 21 or over.
Programming CD tracks
(continued)

The CD Player
19
Labelling a CD — Disc Memo
You can label up to 50 CDs with titles of up to 20
symbols and characters. Whenever you load a
labelled CD, the title appears in the display.
Notes
• You cannot label a CD for which “TEXT” appears
in the display.
•When labelling CDs for the first time, be
sure to perform the operations in “Erasing
all disc titles stored in the system memory”
on page 21 beforehand.
x
.>
H
`/1
X
M
m
1
1
4
7
2,3
5
4
1Press CD to switch the function to CD.
Make sure the total number of tracks and the
total playing time appear in the display in
stop mode. If “SHUFFLE” or “PGM”
appears in the display, press PLAY MODE
repeatedly until both disappear.
Total number
of tracks Total playing time
In stop mode
tCD disc title**
x
Artist name**
x
Total number of tracks and total playing
time
x
Clock display
x
Effect name
* The remaining time of the programme appears
during Programme Play.
**If a CD that has no title is loaded, nothing appears.
When the CD contains more than 50 tracks, CD
TEXT is not displayed from track 51 on.
continued

20
Labelling a CD (continued)
2Press NAME EDIT.
The text input screen appears, and the cursor
flashes.
Cursor
3Press CHARACTER to select the
desired type of character.
Each time you press the button, the display
changes as follows:
(Blank space) tA (Upper cases) ta
(Lower cases) t0 (Numbers) t!
(Symbols) t(Blank space) t…
4Press .or >repeatedly to select
the desired character.
To enter a black space
Press CURSORtwithout pressing .or
>. You cannot enter a space as the first
character.
To enter a symbol
You can use the following 24 symbols.
! ” # $ % & ’ ( ) + , – . / : ; < = > ? @ _ `
5Press CURSORt.
The character you selected in step 4 stops
flashing and the cursor shifts to the right.
Cursor
6Repeat steps 3 to 5 to complete the
entire title.
If you make a mistake
Press CURSORTor tuntil the character
you want to change flashes, then repeat steps
3 to 5.
To erase a character
Press CLEAR while the character is flashing.
You cannot insert characters.
7Press ENTER/YES to complete the
labelling procedure.
The disc title is stored in the system memory
and then the original display appears.
To cancel labelling
Press MENU/NO.
Checking the disc titles
1Press MENU/NO in stop mode.
2Press .or >repeatedly until “Name
Check ?” appears, then press ENTER/YES.
3Press .or >repeatedly to select the disc
titles stored in the system memory between 01
and 50.
To check the current disc title
Press SCROLL in stop mode.