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(More customer reviews)Sony has been making micros for over a decade by now, and with digital music almost completely replacing the likes of cassette tapes and even CDs to some, the AV manufacturer has been slowly removing tape decks from their smaller systems. The FX300i is no exception. Some of Sony previous year's offerings, like the CMT-EH15 and EH25, still comes with a capable, albeit high profit margin tape deck that reminds you of those boomboxes from the 80s.
The primary purpose of the FX300i is to dock and charge your iPODs, and Sony could not be making this statement any clearer. Without any support for iPhones, the device will generate alot of noise when an iPhone is docked to the system without the airplane mode switched on. There is also no support for USB playback or recording, which can be found on the FX300i's equally new cousin, the FX200, which focuses on USB playback.
Compared to its older siblings, the FX300i offers a surprisingly fuller sound, and this is true when it is put up against EH15, EH25 and a few models from 2007-2008 like the CMT-EH10. Sony doesn't seem to have added anything new to the main unit, which contain essentially face-lifted parts from EH15/EH10. A good way to repackage something old and sell it as something new. Therefore, what's most likely to be responsible for the FX300i's sound are the new 4 Ohm speakers. The new deminutive full range drivers(8cm diameter each) seem to be producing more bass than treble, which makes the system sound more fluid than the EH15/EH25/EH10. The speaker's model model number is SS-CFX200, which is the same as those for the FX200. Therefore, given that both unit outputs 5W+5W of audio, it should be safe to assume that FX300i sounds as good as the FX200.
There is a new feature that comes with the FX300i, although not an important one. The system is now programmed to automatically shut down in 30 mins if it is not doing anything (no music, no signal). This function, called Auto Standby, may be switched on or off.
So here's a list of things for the FX300i that you may want to be aware of before deciding on buying this system:
1) Ipod support up to 2009's classic, but no support for iphone. The system will charge your iphones and ipods when switched on, however is not shielded from the GSM/3G signals.
2) Full Ipod/Iphone controls (on remote controller), including menu browsing, but menu browsing is very slow, as per any Ipod docks out there such as the JBL onstage IIIp.
3) No Ipod adaptors are given, so prepare to get one ready for your ipod.
4) Timer/Sleep functions as per any standard Sony micros.
5) No USB input.
6) One front line-in via a stereo 3.5mm jack and one 3.5mm headphone jack.
7) Amplifier output is 5W+5W RMS
8) DSG-X and preset EQs (Flat, Rock, Pop, Jazz) for sound control.
9) 8cm full-range drivers for two compact wooden speakers with frontal bass-reflex ports. Bass is very heavy around the 125-150Hz range, so do not expect deep thuds from this system unless you intend to pair it with better speakers. System support speakers with impedance 4 Ohms and above. Uses standard wire-clamps for speaker leads.
10) CD-RW support, including MP3 files recorded on CD-RWs. No ATRAC3 support.
11) No tape deck.
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Sony CMT-FX300i - Micro system with iPod cradle - radio / CD / MP3 - gloss black
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