Sony Head Unit - CDX-M800 - 12 Volt Tuning

Standard Bass and Treble controls give you fast access to basic tone shaping, and the normal front/rear fader and balance controls are nearby. For more control, you have the EQ7 capability. This is a seven-band graphic EQ that can be adjusted in 1dB increments to a maximum of +/-10dB. Seven factory presets have already been created for you and each allows further adjustments to be made. Sony also allows for these presets to be turned off. The EQ settings are retained separately for each source. Loudness gives you more lows and highs at lower volumes to make up for the way your ear processes sound. The DSO (Dynamic Soundstage Organizer) creates the illusion of the speakers being higher than they are by changing the frequency response and phase of the signal, and has three levels. The front/rear line outputs have high-pass filters to cut off the bass frequencies at either 78Hz or 125Hz. The opposite low-pass filters are provided on the mono subwoofer output, effectively providing you with a built-in active crossover. The subwoofer output has a level setting that is easily accessible from the Sound menu, with an adjustment range of 10dB of cut or boost, and it actually goes to infinite attenuation (off!) when you go past -10dB.

RCA connections for line level output (to your power amps) are hard-mounted in the rear of the deck, with the exception of the mono/sub output, which is handled with the more common "pigtail" style wires. A set of Aux In RCA connectors next to the front/rear ouputs gives you a way to connect portable devices or other accessories. These inputs are used when you add a CD or MD changer. The speaker outputs and other leads are connected through a multi-pin connector, making your install easy. A special connector is provided for the bus control of external changers. Additional connections include antenna power, amplifier remote turn-on, cell phone attenuate, and illumination control.

Overall, I found the CDX-M800 to be very solid and easy to use. It is not difficult at all to switch between using the remote with the full display, and using the controls on the opened faceplate. This is a good value for the money, and has styles to fit multiple cosmetic tastes.