Sony MHC-EC55 Operating Instructions

Mini Hi-Fi
Component System
Operating Instructions
Owner's Record
The model and serial numbers are located on the rear of the unit. Record the serial number in the space
provided below. Refer to them whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product.
Model No. ______________ Serial No. ______________
MHC-GX99
MHC-EC77/EC55
© 2007 Sony Corporation
Printed in China
WARNING This appliance is classified
as a CLASS 1 LASER
product. This marking
To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, is located on the rear
exterior.
do not expose this apparatus to rain or
moisture.
Don't throw away the battery with
To prevent fire, do not cover the ventilation of the
general house waste, dispose of it
apparatus with news papers, table-cloths, curtains, etc.
correctly as chemical waste.
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.
NOTICE FOR THE CUSTOMERS IN
Install this system so that the power cord can be
THE UNITED KINGDOM
unplugged from the wall socket immediately in the event
A moulded plug complying with BS1363 is fitted to this
of trouble.
equipment for your safety and convenience.
Do not install the appliance in a confined space, such
Should the fuse in the plug supplied need to be replaced,
as a bookcase or built-in cabinet.
a fuse of the same rating as the supplied one and
approved by ASTA or BSI to BS1362, (i.e., marked with
Batteries or batteries installed apparatus shall not be
or mark) must be used.
exposed to excessive heat such as sunshine, fire or the
If the plug supplied with this equipment has a detachable
like.
fuse cover, be sure to attach the fuse cover after you
change the fuse. Never use the plug without the fuse
cover. If you should lose the fuse cover, please contact
your nearest Sony service station.
Hooking up the system securely
When carrying this system
1
Remove all discs to protect the CD mechanism.
2
Hold down CD   on the unit, and press   until
"STANDBY" appears.
3
After "LOCK" appears, unplug the power cord.
FM lead antenna
(Extend it horizontally.)
Antennas
Find a location and an orientation that provide good
reception, and then set up the antenna.
Keep the antennas away from the speaker cords and the
AM loop antenna power cord to avoid picking up noise.
Voltage selector
For models with a voltage selector, set
VOLTAGE SELECTOR to the local
power line voltage.
Subwoofer
*Saudi Arabian model: 120 – 127 V/220 – 240 V/
(MHC-GX99 only)
NO OPERATION
Connect the subwoofer
to the SUBWOOFER
OUT jack with the
subwoofer cable
(supplied).
Right speaker
(High freq.)
Power
Connect the power cord to a wall socket.
Right speaker
If the plug does not fit the wall socket,
(Low freq.)
detach the supplied plug adaptor (only
for models equipped with an adaptor).
Wall socket
NOTICE FOR THE CUSTOMERS IN CAUTION
THE U.S.A.
You are cautioned that any changes or modifications
2-899-084-12(1)
not expressly approved in this manual could void your
authority to operate this equipment.
GB
This symbol on the product or on its packaging indicates
that this product shall not be treated as household
waste. Instead it shall be handed over to the applicable
collection point for the recycling of electrical and
This symbol is intended to alert the
electronic equipment. By ensuring this product is
user to the presence of uninsulated
disposed of correctly, you will help prevent potential
"dangerous voltage" within the
negative consequences for the environment and human
product's enclosure that may be of
health, which could otherwise be caused by inappropriate
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk
waste handling of this product. The recycling of materials
of electric shock to persons.
will help to conserve natural resources. For more detailed
information about recycling of this product, please
This symbol is intended to alert the
contact your local Civic Office, your household waste
user to the presence of important
disposal service or the shop where you purchased the
operating and maintenance (servicing)
product.
instructions in the literature
accompanying the appliance.
The manufacturer of this product is Sony Corporation,
1-7-1 Konan Minato-ku Tokyo, 108-0075 Japan. The
CAUTION
Authorized Representative for EMC and product safety is
Sony Deutschland GmbH, Hedelfinger Strasse 61, 70327
The use of optical instruments with this product will
increase eye hazard. Stuttgart, Germany. For any service or guarantee matters
please refer to the addresses given in separate service or
WARNING guarantee documents.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply
Note on DualDiscs
with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant
to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed A DualDisc is a two sided disc product which mates
DVD recorded material on one side with digital
to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment audio material on the other side. However, since the
audio material side does not conform to the Compact
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed and used in accordance with the Disc (CD) standard, playback on this product is not
guaranteed.
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that
Music discs encoded with copyright
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If
this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio protection technologies
or television reception, which can be determined by
This product is designed to playback discs that conform
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged
to the Compact Disc (CD) standard. Recently, various
to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
music discs encoded with copyright protection
following measures:
technologies are marketed by some record companies.
 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Please be aware that among those discs, there are some
 Increase the separation between the equipment and
that do not conform to the CD standard and may not be
receiver.
playable by this product.
 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
MPEG Layer-3 audio coding technology and patents
technician for help.
licensed from Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson.
MHC-EC55 only
Subwoofer (MHC-GX99 only)
Place the subwoofer vertically to obtain a better bass reproduction.
Also, position the subwoofer:

on a solid floor where resonance is unlikely to occur.

at least a few centimeters away from the wall.

away from the center of the room or place a bookshelf against a wall, to avoid
generating a standing wave.
Speaker pads
Attach the supplied speaker pads to the bottom of the front speakers
and subwoofer to prevent slipping.
Speakers
Insert only the
stripped portion
of the cord.
Front speakers:
4 pads for each speaker
Solid (Blue/)
Left speaker (High freq.)
Solid (Gray/)
Solid (Red/)
Left speaker (Low freq.)
Solid (Black/)
Basic Operations
*
Disposal of Old Electrical & Electronic
Equipment
(Applicable in the European Union and
other European countries with separate
collection systems)
* Except for North American model
Before using the system
To use the remote
Slide and remove the battery compartment lid
insert the two R6 (size AA) batteries (supplied),  side
first, matching the polarities shown below.
Notes on using the remote
 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.
To set the clock
1
Turn on the system.
Press  (on/standby)  .
2
Select the clock set mode.
Press CLOCK/TIMER SET  on the remote. If the
current mode appears on the display, press /
 on the remote repeatedly to select "CLOCK, " and
then press ENTER  on the remote.
3 Set the time.
Press /  on the remote repeatedly to set

the hour, and then press ENTER on the remote.
Use the same procedure to set the minutes.
The clock settings are lost when you disconnect the
power cord or if a power failure occurs.
Subwoofer:
Selecting a music source
4 pads (MHC-GX99 only)
Press the following buttons (or press FUNCTION
repeatedly).
To select Press
CD CD  on the remote.
Tuner TUNER/BAND
Tape TAPE  on the remote.
1)
Component (connected FUNCTION repeatedly
2)
using an audio cord) (or AUDIO IN
the remote) 
"AUDIO IN" appears.
1) Except for North American model.
If the component has the AVLS (Automatic Volume Limiter System)
2)
or BASS BOOST function, turn off the function to avoid distorted
sound from the speakers.
3) North American model only.
Notes on playing multisession discs
Adjusting the sound
 If the disc begins with a CD-DA (or MP3) session, it is recognized
as a CD-DA (or MP3) disc, and playback continues until another
session is encountered.
To adjust the volume  A disc with a mixed CD format is recognized as a CD-DA (audio)
disc.
Press VOLUME +/– on the remote (or turn the

VOLUME control on the unit) .
To add a sound effect Listening to the radio
To Press
Generate a more dynamic  1
DSGX on the unit. Select "FM" or "AM. "
sound (Dynamic Sound
Press TUNER/BAND
Generator X-tra)
2
Select the tuning mode.
Set the sound effect EQ  .
Press TUNING MODE
appears.
To turn on the subwoofer (MHC-GX99 only)
3
Tune in the desired station.
Press SUBWOOFER ON/OFF in the lower part of the
Press +/– on the remote (or TUNING + or – on the
subwoofer until the indicator on the subwoofer lights up.

* To adjust the sound output level for the subwoofer, turn the unit) .
SUBWOOFER LEVEL in the lower part of the subwoofer. Once you
Scanning stops automatically when a station is tuned
have made the adjustment, the overall sound level can be adjusted
in, and then "TUNED" and "STEREO" (for stereo
using VOLUME +/– on the remote (or turn the VOLUME control
 programs) appear.
on the unit) .
Playing a CD/MP3 disc
1
Select the CD function.
To stop automatic scanning
Press CD on the remote (or FUNCTION repeatedly)
Press  (stop) 
 .
2
Place a disc. To tune in a station with a weak signal
Press  (open/close)  on the unit, and place a If "TUNED" does not appear and the scanning does
disc with the label side up on the disc tray. To place not stop, press TUNING MODE
additional discs, slide the disc tray with your finger as "MANUAL" appears and press +/– on the remote (or
shown below. TUNING + or – on the unit)
desired station.
To close the disc tray, press  (open/close)  on the
unit.
To reduce static noise on a weak FM stereo
Do not force the disc tray closed with your finger, as
station
this may damage the unit.
Press FM MODE
"MONO" appears to turn off stereo reception.
Playing a tape (Except for North
American model)
1
Select a tape function.
Press TAPE on the remote (or FUNCTION on the
unit repeatedly)
3
Select a disc. 2
Insert a tape.
If the discs are currently stopped, press DISC SKIP on Press  (stop/eject)
the remote (or DISC SKIP/EX-CHANGE on the unit)
tape into the cassette holder. Make sure there is no
 . To change discs while in other functions, press slack in the tape to avoid damaging the tape or the
DISC 1 – 3  on the unit.
tape deck.
4 3
Start playback. Start playback.
Press  (play) (or CD  (play/pause) on the unit)
Press  (play)
 , and
 .
To
To exchange other discs during playback, press DISC
Pause playback
SKIP/EX-CHANGE  on the unit.
To Press Stop playback
Pause playback  (pause) on the remote (or CD
Rewind or fast
 on the unit)  . To resume
forward*
play, press the button again.
* Be sure to press  (stop/eject)
Stop playback  (stop)  .
been wound or rewound to the end.
Select a folder on an
+/–  .
Note
MP3 disc
Do not turn off the system during playback or recording.
 (go back/go forward)
Select a track or file
on the remote ( on the
 Changing the display
unit) .
Hold down / (rewind/fast
Find a point in a
track or file forward)  during playback, and
To
release the button at the desired
Change
point.
information on the
Select Repeat Play REPEAT  on the remote
display*
repeatedly until "REP" or "REP1"
Change Display
appears.
mode (See below.)
* For example, you can view CD/MP3 disc information, such as the
To change the play mode
track or file number or folder name during normal play, or the total
Press PLAY MODE  repeatedly while the player is playing time while the player is stopped.
stopped. You can select normal play (no display for all The system offers the following display modes.
discs or "1 DISC" for a disc or " " for all MP3 files
Display mode
in the folder on the disc), shuffle play ("SHUF" for
Power Saving
all discs shuffle, "1 DISC SHUF" for one disc shuffle
Mode
2)
or " SHUF*" for folder shuffle), or program play
("PGM").
Clock
* When playing a CD-DA disc, (SHUF) Play performs the same 3)
operation as 1 DISC (SHUF) Play.
The STANDBY indicator
1)
Notes on Repeat Play off.
 All tracks or files on a disc are played repeatedly up to five times. You cannot set the clock in Power Saving Mode.
2)
 You cannot select "REP" and "SHUF" (all discs shuffle) at the same 3) The clock display automatically turns to Power Saving Mode after
time. eight seconds.
 "REP1" indicates that a single track or file is repeated until you stop
Notes on the display information
it.
 Characters that cannot be displayed appear as "_".
Notes on playing MP3 discs
 The following are not displayed;

 Do not save other types of tracks or files or unnecessary folders on a  total playing time for an MP3 disc.
disc that has MP3 files.  remaining playing time for an MP3 file.
 Folders that have no MP3 files are skipped.
 The following are not displayed correctly;
 MP3 files are played back in the order that they are recorded onto
 elapsed playing time of an MP3 file encoded using a VBR (variable
the disc.
bit rate).
 The system can only play MP3 files that have a file extension of
 folder and file names that do not follow either the ISO9660 Level
 .
".MP3".
1, Level 2 or Joliet in the expansion format.
 If there are files on the disc that have the ".MP3" file extension,
 The following are displayed;
but that are not MP3 files, the unit may produce noise or may
 total playing time for a CD-DA disc when the play mode is "1
malfunction.
DISC".
3) on  The maximum number of:
 remaining playing time for a track.
until loadable sessions on a single disc is 10.
 ID3 tag information for MP3 files when ID3 version 1 and version
 folders is 150 (including the root folder).
2 tags are used (ID3 version 2 tag information display has priority
 MP3 files is 255.
when both ID3 version 1 and version 2 tags are used for a single
 MP3 files and folders that can be contained on a single disc is 300. MP3 file).
 folder levels (the tree structure of files) is eight.  up to 15 characters of ID3 tag information using uppercase letters
 Compatibility with all MP3 encoding/writing software, recording
(A to Z), numbers (0 to 9), and symbols ('< > * + , – / @ [ \ ] _).
device, and recording media cannot be guaranteed. Incompatible
MP3 discs may produce noise or interrupted audio or may not play
at all.
Using optional audio components
To connect an optional headphones
Connect headphones to the PHONES jack  on the
unit.
To connect an optional component
Connect additional audio source components to the
AUDIO IN jack  on the unit using an analog audio
cord (not supplied). Turn down the volume on the
 repeatedly.
system, and then select the AUDIO IN function.

repeatedly until "AUTO"
.

repeatedly until

repeatedly to tune in the
 on the remote repeatedly until
 .
 on the unit, and insert the
 on the unit.
Press
 (pause)  on the unit. To resume
play, press the button again.
 (stop/eject)  on the unit.
/  on the unit.

on the unit after the tape has
Press
DISPLAY  repeatedly when the
system is turned on.
DISPLAY  repeatedly when the
system is turned off.
When the system is off ,
1)
The display is turned off to conserve
power. The timer and clock continue
to operate.
The clock is displayed.
 on the unit lights up when the system is