Sony ICF-CD843L User Manual

FM/MW/LW
CD Clock Radio

ICF-CD843L

Operating Instructions

Dream Machine is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

Printed on 100% recycled paper using
VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)-free
vegetable oil based ink.

 2004 Sony Corporation Printed in China

WARNING

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not
expose the unit to rain or moisture.

To avoid electrical shock, do not open the cabinet.
Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.
Do not install the appliance in a confined space, such
as a bookcase or built-in cabinet.
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not place objects
filled with liquids, such as vases, on the apparatus.
Connect the apparatus to an easily accessible AC
outlet. Should you notice an abnormality in the
apparatus, disconnect the main plug from the AC
outlet immediately.

Features

• FM/MW/LW 3 band PLL (phase locked loop)
synthesized clock radio

• Easy preset digital tuning with 20 memory presets

• Built-in CD player with CD-R/RW playback
function

• Easy to see large Display with small footprint.

•Triple Alarm (Radio, buzzer or CD) with the
extendable snooze function.

• Easy nap timer –one push operation.

• LCD with backlight which has a brightness control
switch.

•D.S.T. (Daylight Saving Time) –Summer time
calculation.

Setting the Clock
and Date

1 Plug in the clock radio.

The display will flash “AM 12:00”.

2 Press CLOCK for a few seconds.

You will hear a beep and the year will start to
flash in the display.

3 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – until the

correct year appears in the display.

4 Press CLOCK once.
5 Repeat steps 3 and 4 to set the month, day,

hour, and minute.

After setting the minutes, press CLOCK to start
the clock, and you will hear two short beeps.

3-263-621-22(1)

To display the year and date, press
SNOOZE•DATE/SLEEP OFF once for the date,
and within 4 seconds press it again for the year. The
display shows the date or year for a few seconds and
then changes back to the current time.

To set the current time rapidly, hold down
TUNE/TIME SET + or –.

In step 5, when you press CLOCK after the minute
setting to activate the clock, the seconds start counting
from zero.

To change the display to the
daylight saving time (summer time) indication

Press D.S.T./SUMMER T.

” is displayed and the time indication changes to

“
summer time.
To deactivate the summer time function, press
D.S.T./SUMMER T. again.

Changing MW
Channel Step

The MW channel step differs depending on areas. The
channel step of this unit is factory-set to 9 kHz.
Change the settings as shown below to be able to
listen to the radio.

Area Channel step

North and South American countries

Other countries/Regions 9 kHz

Note

When the MW channel step is changed, the preset
stations for MW/FM will be initialized.
When the MW channel step is changed, the FM
channel step is also changed.

1 Turn off the power.
2 While holding down OFF x•ALARM

RESET, keep pressing PRESET
TUNING 1 button for more than 5 seconds.

Two short beeps sound, and the AM
channel step will be changed.
If you proceed to step 2 again, the channel
step changes again.

10 kHz

Playing a CD

An 8 cm (3-inch) CD can be played without an
adaptor.

1 Push OPEN/CLOSE to open the CD

compartment lid and place a disc.

Labelled surface up

2 Close the CD compartment lid.
3 Press CD u.

“NCD” and “TRACK 01” appear on the display
to indicate that track 1 of the CD is playing.

4 Press VOLUME to adjust the volume.

To Press

Pause CD u

Resume play after pause CD u again

Locate the beginning of .**
the current track (AMS*)

Locate the next track >**
(AMS*)

Go back at high speed Hold down .**

Go forward at high speed Hold down >**

Locate the previous track . repeatedly**
(AMS*)

Locate the succeeding > repeatedly**
track (AMS*)

Stop play x

* AMS = Automatic Music Sensor
** These operations are possible during both play and

pause.

About CD-Rs/CD-RWs

This unit is compatible with CD-Rs/CD-RWs but
playback capability may vary depending on the
quality of the disc, the recording device and
application software.

Music discs encoded with
copyright protection technologies

This product is designed to play back discs that
conform to the Compact Disc (CD) standard.
Recently, various music discs encoded with copyright
protection technologies are marketed by some record
companies. Please be aware that among those discs,
there are some that do not conform to the CD standard
and may not be playable by this product.

To handle compact discs

Correct

Handle the disc by its
edge.

Incorrect

Do not touch the
surface.

Do not stick paper or
tape or write anything
on the surface.

Notes

• Discs with non-standard shapes (e.g., heart, square,
star) cannot be played on this unit. Attempting to do
so may damage the unit. Do not use such discs.

• If you press CD u when there is no disc in the CD
compartment, “00” flashes for about 5 seconds on
the display and the unit turns off automatically.

• After 20 minutes, playback will be stop when you
press CD u during play back.

Various Modes of CD
Playback

You can play tracks repeatedly or in random order.

Press CD PLAY MODE.
Each press changes the play mode as follows:

Display Play
Indication mode

none (normal play)

All the tracks are played once.

“REP 1” (single repeat)

A single track is played repeatedly.

“REP ALL” (all repeat)

All the tracks are played repeatedly.

“SHUFFLE” (shuffle play)

All the tracks are played once
in random order.

“SHUFFLE REP” (shuffle repeat)

All the tracks are played repeatedly
in random order.

m

m

m

m

Precautions

• Operate the unit on the power source specified in
the “Specifications.”

•The nameplate indicating operating voltage, etc. is
located on the bottom of the unit.

•To disconnect the power cord (mains lead), pull it
out by the plug, not the cord.

•The unit is not disconnected from the AC power
source (mains) as long as it is connected to the wall
outlet, even if the unit itself has been turned off.

• Do not leave the unit in a location near a heat source
such as a radiator or airduct, or in a place subject to
direct sunlight, excessive dust, mechanical
vibration, or shock.

• Allow adequate air circulation to prevent internal heat
build-up. Do not place the unit on a surface (a rug, a
blanket, etc.) or near materials (a curtain) which might
block the ventilation holes.

• Should any solid object or liquid fall into the unit,
unplug the unit and have it checked by a qualified
personnel before operating it any further.

• When the casing becomes soiled, clean it with a soft
cloth dampened with mild detergent solution. Never
use abrasive cleansers or chemical solvents, as they
may mar the casing.

If you have any questions or problems
concerning your unit, please consult your
nearest Sony dealer.

Troubleshooting

Should any problem occur with the unit, make the
following checks to determine whether or not
servicing is required. If the problem persists, consult
the nearest Sony dealer.

The clock does not show the correct time.

• Has an electrical power outage lasting more than
one minute occurred?

The CD, radio or buzzer alarm does not
sound at the preset alarm time.

• Hasn’t all ALARM indicator lights gone out?

The CD or radio alarm is activated but no
sound comes on at the preset alarm time.

• Has VOLUME been adjusted ?

The CD player does not operate.

• Did you close the CD lid?

• Did you place the disc correctly?
The disc should be placed with the labelled

side up.

• Dusty or defective disc — Clean the disc with an
optional cleaning cloth. Wipe the disc from the
center out.

•Take out the CD and leave the CD compartment
open for about an hour to get rid of moisture
condensation.

Sporadic loss of sound in CD operation.

• Dusty or defective disc — Clean or replace the disc.

•Volume too high — Reduce the volume.

• Strong vibration.

Specifications

CD player section

System: Compact disc digital audio system
Laser diode properties:

Material: GaAlAs
Wavelength: 780 nm
Emission duration: Continuous
Laser output: Less than 44.6 µW
(This output is the value measured at a distance of
about 200 mm from the objective lens surface on
the optical pick-up block with 7 mm aperture.)

Frequency response: 20-20 000 Hz
Wow and flutter: Below measurable limit

Radio section

Frequency range:

North and South America

Band Range Channel step

FM 87.5-108 MHz 0.1 MHz

MW 530-1 610 kHz 10 kHz

Other countries/Regions

Band Range Channel step

FM 87.5-108 MHz 0.05 MHz

MW 531-1 602 kHz 9 kHz

LW 153-279 kHz 9 kHz

General

Time display: 12-hour system
Speaker: 66 mm (2
Power outputs:

1.2 W + 1.2 W (at 10 % harmonic distortion)

Power requirements: 230 V AC, 50 Hz
Dimensions:

Approx. 185.5 × 176 × 210.5 mm (w/h/d)
(Approx. 7
projecting parts and controls

Mass: Approx. 1 870 g (4 lb 2

Design and specifications are subject to change
without notice.

5

/8 inches) dia., 4 Ω

3

/8 × 7 × 8 3/8 inches) incl.

Lead-free solder is used for
soldering.

Halogenated flame retardants are
not used in printed wiring boards.

oz)

+1

dB

–1.5

Setting the Brightness

P

-

MW P1 to 5 FM1 P1 to 5

FM2 P1 to 5LW P 1 to 5

2010 30 40 50 60

OFF

(current time)

10

20

90

120

60

30

off

(current time)

30 156090

of the Backlight

Press BRIGHTNESS to select high, middle or low for
the display according to your preference.

Operating the
Radio

—Manual Tuning
1 Press RADIO•BAND to turn on the radio.

“RADIO” appears on the display.

2 Press RADIO•BAND repeatedly to select

the desired band.

Each press changes the band as follows:

MW

When using FM1 or FM2 preset mode, you may
listen to the radio on either mode (See “Presetting
Your Favorite Station”).

FM1

FM2 LW

3 Use TUNE/TIME SET + or – to tune into a

station.

Two short beeps sound when the minimum
frequency of each band is received during tuning.

4 Adjust volume using VOLUME.

When you release TUNE/TIME SET + or – after
locating your desired station, the display returns to the
previous display after about 10 seconds.

To check the frequency of the tuned-in station, press
RADIO•BAND and the frequency appears for about
10 seconds.

To turn off the radio, press OFF x•ALARM
RESET.

Improving the
Reception

FM: Extend the FM wire antenna fully to increase

reception sensitivity.

MW/LW:

Rotate the unit horizontally for optimum
reception. A ferrite bar antenna is built into
the unit.

Do not operate the unit over a steel desk or metal
surface, as this may lead to interference of reception.

The PRESET TUNING 3 button has a
tactile dot.

FM wire
antenna

There is a tactile dot
beside volume to show
the direction to turn up
the volume.

AC power
cord

The CD u button has a tactile dot.

Presetting Your
Favorite Station

—Preset Tuning

You can preset up to 10 stations in FM (5 stations in
FM1, 5 stations in FM2), and 5 stations each in MW,
LW.

Presetting a Station
1 Follow steps 1 to 4 in “Operating the

Radio” and manually tune into the station
you wish to preset.

2 Hold down the PRESET TUNING button

you wish to preset until you hear two short
beeps.

Example: Display
window when you
preset FM 90 MHz
in the PRESET
TUNING 2 button
for FM2.

The frequency remains on the display for about 10
seconds and then returns to the previous display.

To preset another station, repeat these steps.
To change the preset station, tune into the desired
station and hold down the PRESET TUNING 1 to 5
button. The new station will replace the previous
station on the PRESET TUNING button.

Tuning into a Preset Station

1 Press RADIO•BAND to turn on the radio.
2 Press RADIO•BAND to select the band.
3 Press the desired PRESET TUNING

button.

4 Adjust the volume using VOLUME.

After about 10 seconds, the display will return to
the previous display but the PRESET TUNING
button number will remain.

Note

Holding down the desired PRESET TUNING button
for more than a few seconds in step 3 will replace the
previous station on the PRESET TUNING button
with the station you are tuned into.

Setting the Alarm

This clock radio is equipped with 3 alarm modes—
CD, radio and buzzer. Before setting the alarm, make
sure to set the clock (see “Setting the Clock and
Date”).

To Set the Alarm Time

To Set the CD Alarm:

For the CD alarm, the track you specified as the
Wake-up track is played first.
(If the CD play mode is set to “SHUFFLE” or
“SHUFFLE REP”, however, all the tracks are played
in random order.)

1 With the alarm turned on, adjust the volume

to the level you require.

2 Press ALARM SET CD for a few seconds.

“ALARM”, “CD” appear on the display.
After one beep, “ALARM” and the hour will start
to flash in the display.

3 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – until the

desired hour appears.

To set the hour rapidly, hold down TUNE/TIME
SET + or –.

4 Press ALARM SET CD.

The minute will flash.

5 Repeat step 3 to set the minute and press

ALARM SET CD.

The wake-up track number flashes on the display.

6 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – to select

the desired wake-up track number.

The wake-up track number can be set up to 99.

7 Press ALARM SET CD.

Two short beeps will confirm the setting.

To Set the Radio Alarm:

For the radio alarm, the station you specified as the
Wake-up station is played.

1 Tune into a station and adjust the volume.
2 Press ALARM SET RADIO for a few

seconds.

“ALARM” and “RADIO” appear on the display.
After one beep, “ALARM” and the hour will start
to flash on the display.

3 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – until the

desired hour appears.

To set the hour rapidly, hold down TUNE/TIME
SET + or –.

4 Press ALARM SET RADIO.

The minute will flash.

5 Repeat step 3 to set the minute and press

ALARM SET RADIO.

“WAKE UP STA” appears and the preset number
flashes on the display.

6 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – to select

the wake-up station.

Preset number changes in the order as follows:

“P–” is the last received station.
You can directly select the desired wake-up
station by pressing RADIO•BAND or the
PRESET TUNING button while the indication
“P–” is not displayed.

7 Press ALARM SET RADIO.

Two short beeps will confirm the setting.

To Set the Buzzer Alarm:
1 Press ALARM SET BUZZER for a few

seconds.

“ALARM” and “BUZZER” appear on the display.
After one beep, “ALARM” and the hour will start
to flash on the display.

2 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – until the

desired hour appears.

To set the hour rapidly, hold down TUNE/TIME
SET + or –.

3 Press ALARM SET BUZZER.

The minute will flash.

4 Repeat step 2 to set the minute and press

ALARM SET BUZZER.

Two short beeps will confirm the setting.

To Set the Alarm Mode

Before setting the alarm mode, be sure to set the alarm
time. (See “To Set the Alarm Time”.)
Repeat the pressing of ALARM MODE to select the
alarm mode you want. Every time you press ALARM
MODE, CD/RADIO/BUZZER indicator changes in
the order as follows:

CD

RADIO BUZZER

CD+RADIOOFF

CD+RADIO+
BUZZER

The alarm time which plays or sounds next is
displayed.

RADIO+
BUZZER

CD+
BUZZER

To Check the Alarm Setting

For ALARM SET CD, pressing once displays the
alarm time, pressing twice displays the wake-up track
number.
For ALARM SET RADIO, pressing once displays
the alarm time, pressing twice displays the wake-up
station.
For ALARM SET BUZZER, pressing once displays
the alarm time.
The display shows the alarm setting for a few seconds
and then returns to the previous display.

Alarm time in CD alarm, radio alarm and buzzer alarm
is set at AM 12:00 when you purchased the unit.

ALARM ON—

If you set the CD alarm and there is no disc in the CD
player, the buzzer alarm will sound in its place at the
time set.

For the buzzer alarm, the beeping of the alarm
becomes more rapid after every few seconds in three
progressive stages.

Note

When CD, radio and buzzer alarms are set for the
same time, the CD alarm takes precedence. If the CD
alarm is not set, the radio alarm takes precedence.

To Doze for a Few More Minutes

Press SNOOZE•DATE/SLEEP OFF.
The CD, radio or buzzer alarm turns off but will be
automatically activated again after about 10 minutes.
Every time you press SNOOZE•DATE/SLEEP
OFF, the snooze time changes as follows:

The display shows the snooze time for a few seconds
and returns to show the current time. When you press
SNOOZE•DATE/SLEEP OFF after the current time
appears, the snooze time starts from 10 minutes again.

The maximum length of the snooze time is 60 minutes.

ALARM OFF—

The CD, radio, or buzzer alarm is turned off
automatically after 60 minutes.

To Stop the Alarm

Press OFF x•ALARM RESET to turn off the alarm.
The alarm will come on again at the same time the
next day.

To Deactive the Alarm

Press ALARM MODE repeatedly until CD/RADIO/
BUZZER indicator go off.

Using the NAP Timer
(Count Down Timer)

The NAP timer sounds the buzzer after a preset time
duration.

Press NAP repeatedly until the desired minutes are
displayed.
Every press changes the display as follows:

“ ” and the NAP time is displayed for a few

seconds.
NAP timer starts counting down the NAP time.

When the selected NAP time has passed, a beep

sounds, and “

” appears in the display.

To Stop NAP Timer

Press NAP or OFF x•ALARM RESET to turn off
the buzzer.

To Deactive NAP Timer

Press NAP.

” goes off in the display.

“

Setting the Sleep
Timer

You can fall asleep to the CD or the radio using the
built-in sleep timer to turn off the CD or the radio
automatically after a preset duration.

Press SLEEP during CD or radio play.
You can set the sleep timer to durations of 90, 60, 30,
or 15 minutes. Every push changes the display as
follows:

“SLEEP” will appear in the display when the duration
time is set.
The CD or the radio will play for the time you set,
then shut off.

To turn off the CD or the radio before the preset time,
press SNOOZE•DATE/SLEEP OFF.

Other Useful
Functions

To Obtain Powerful Bass

Switch MEGA BASS to ON.
The “MEGA BASS” system produces a powerful bass
sound.