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Sony MEX-BT3800U In-Dash CD Receiver MP3/WMA/AAC Player with Bluetooth

This is a brief review of my experience with the Sony MEX-BT3800U Bluetooth Head Unit which I’ve got set up in my Supra along with an external amp. I won’t talk much about the audio quality here because that’s going to depend mostly on the rest of your system/amp/speakers etc, but I’ve been more than pleased with the sound quality. This review talks about the features and connectivity of the head unit and might be of interest to you if you’re thinking of buying a MEX-BT3800U or a similar Sony head unit.



Sony MEX-BT3800U Connectivity

This is a great head unit offering loads of connectivity options including mini-jack input on the front, USB input on the front (for flash drive/mass storage device/iPod), phono input on the back, bluetooth audio streaming and bluetooth phone connectivity, along with the usual radio and CD. The CD player will also play CDs containing MP3/AAC/WMA files. A microphone input is included on the back in case you have an external microphone for phone, but if not, there is a built-in mic on the front panel.



Bluetooth Audio Streaming

One of the main features that attracted me to the SONY MEX-BT3800U was its bluetooth audio streaming feature. It allows you to play music from your other bluetooth audio device (phone/mp3 player) via A2DP. (Check whether your bluetooth music player supports A2DP before your commit to buying one). I use bluetooth streaming from an HTC Desire Android phone. All you have to do to get it working is to pair up the head unit and the music player once, which is easy, then whenever your phone/music player is in range the head unit will connect to it. You can then simple select BT Audio as a source from the head unit and it will play through the system. The bluetooth audio is not as good quality as CD or MP3. You will notice some hiss and glitches, but generally it’s fine for general listening. Oh, and one other quite annoying issue is when you start the engine and the head unit momentarily goes off, the bluetooth connection is lost and it has to connect up and be told to start playing again. But this problem isn’t unique to this head unit, of course.


Bluetooth Phone Access

Once the head unit is paired with your phone, you can use it as a proper hands-free phone system. You have the option to plumb in an external microphone to the back if you feel like wiring up a mic, or you can use the built-in mic which works ok. When you receive a call, your music will be interrupted and the phone will ring through the car speakers. You can answer the call by pressing the volumn knob on the head unit itself. I have found the sound quality good and callers can generally hear me clearly enough, but describe the sound as “distant”. One feature missing from this Sony head unit that you will find on some others is bluetooth phone book access, which downloads your phonebook to the headunit itself.


Wi-Fi Interference

I have found that the bluetooth audio streaming can sound choppy or glitchy. You can get a strange effect where the head unit temporarily speeds up the audio slightly after momentarily losing the bluetooth signal so the audio will “catch up” to where it was. You end up with a very odd “wow and flutter” effect. It seems that the phone searching for Wi-Fi signals interferes with the head unit’s bluetooth reception. Switching Wi-Fi off in the phone’s settings seems to alleviate the problem but it is quite annoying having to do this.

Forward/Back and pause work great from the head unit giving you complete control of audio from the phone. Annoyingly though, if you use some other software at the same time on your phone, such as sat-nav, these control fail to work, although the audio keeps playing fine. Voice commands from sat nav, or other audio coming from the phone gets mixed in with the music stream, which is a nice feature. Fast-forward and rewind is possible by holding the forward or back buttons down on the head unit but this seems a little unreliable and sometimes keeps fast forwarding for a while after you let go of the button.


Remote Control

Exactly how many people will actually use a remote control with their car head unit is debatable, but the MEX-BT3800U comes with a full featured remote control of its own.


USB Access

The MEX-BT3800U has a USB socket on the front panel which allows you to plug in pretty much any music player or music storage device. When you first plug in your USB device, the head unit will scan for music and then using the search button you can browse through your albums quickly and easily. I’ve been really impressed with this, and you can even use the USB socket simply to charge your phone up.


To Conclude

I’ve been really impressed with the new Sony head unit. I reckon it’s a great buy, especially at the bargain prices it can be had for on the Internet.


Product Info

Sony’s MEX-BT3800U is a great way to add Bluetooth and media power to your vehicle, with 52 Watts through four channels. Make hands-free calls or stream audio from your compatible devices. You can also play back CDs and CD-R/RWs, along with MP3/WMA/AAC files. A front auxiliary input is great for connecting external devices, and you can enjoy full iPod control right from the receiver.


Detachable Faceplate

The MEX-BT3800U features a detachable faceplate for added security, with a 1-line, 13-segment LCD display and blue control illumination.

Detachable faceplate for added security.

Bluetooth Functionality
The MEX-BT3800U features Bluetooth hands-free with an integrated microphone (or through an external microphone), as well as audio streaming functionality using your compatible Bluetooth music device.

A Bluetooth receiver that will play your digital music files. Click to enlarge.


USB 1-Wire for iPod, iPhone, and Other USB Devices
USB 1-Wire lets you directly connect, charge, and control your digital music player via the USB jack in the front of the unit, as well as view metadata like song title and artist on the front display.

Front panel auxiliary input and USB port.


Quick-Browzer Technology With Jump Mode and ZAPPIN Features
Quick-BrowZer lets you search and select songs by category, including artist, album, genre, or playlist. Jump Mode gets you closer to the song you want by allowing you to fast forward through a music category in 10 percent increments. With Zappin, you can play music in six-, nine-, or 30-second clips until you find the song you’re looking for.


MP3/WMA/AAC Playback With DM+
Multi-format playback lets you play CDs, CD-Rs, or CD-RWs loaded with hundreds of MP3, AAC, or WMA songs. Hear the music on your recorded CDs and MP3s in their original vibrancy with DM+ (Digital Music Plus), an original Sony codec enhancer that reproduces detailed and high-frequency sound from compressed audio.


Satellite and HD Radio Ready
The MEX-BT3800U integrates seamlessly with satellite radio Sony Bus adaptors (sold separately) so you can receive digital satellite radio broadcasts. HD Radio capability lets you receive digital audio broadcasts when used with an optional HD Radio tuner.


Radio Data System (RDS)
The Radio Data System (RDS) feature displays radio broadcast information such as artist, title, and album.


Front Auxiliary Input
The front auxiliary input lets you connect almost any portable audio device to your car’s sound system.


EQ3
Customize the sound with Sony’s EQ3 feature, which includes 7 preset tone curves and a 3-band equalizer.


What’s in the Box
MEX-BT3800U, Installation Hardware, User’s Manual



Product Features
AM/FM radio, CD, CD-R/RW, MP3/WMA/AAC receiver with Bluetooth
52 Watts x 4 peak power
Detachable face with 1-line, 13-segment LCD display
Includes front panel auxiliary input, USB port, iPod control; SAT/HD Radio ready with Sony Bus
One-year limited warranty


Technical Details
Brand Name: Sony
Model: MEX-BT3800U
Faceplate Type: Detachable