Sony MHC-GN600, MHC-GN700, MHC-GN800, MHC-GN900, MHC-GX8800 Operating Instruction

4-244-569-13 (3)

Mini Hi-Fi

Component

System

Operating Instructions

Owner’s Record

The model and serial numbers are located at 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-GN900

MHC-GN800 MHC-GN700/GX8800 MHC-GN600

© 2003 Sony Corporation 1GB

MHC-GN800 4-244-569-13 (3)

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.

This appliance is classified as a CLASS 1 LASER product. The CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT MARKING is located on the rear exterior.

To prevent fire, do not cover the ventilation of the apparatus with newspapers, table-cloths, curtains, etc. 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.

Don’t throw away the battery with general house waste, dispose of it correctly as chemical waste.

NOTICE FOR THE CUSTOMERS IN THE U.S.A.

This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

WARNING

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

–Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

–Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

–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 technician for help.

CAUTION

You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.

Note to CATV system installer:

This reminder is provided to call CATV system installer’s attention to Article 820-40 of the NEC that provides guidelines for proper grounding and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the building, as close to the point of cable entry as practical.

ENERGY STAR® is a U.S. registered mark.

As an ENERGY STAR® partner, Sony Corporation has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR® guidelines for energy efficiency.

2GB

MHC-GN800 4-244-569-13 (3)

Notes on CD-R and CD-RW discs

This unit can play the following discs:

Type of discs Label on the disc

Audio CDs

MP3 files

•Disc recorded in CD-R/CD-RW drives may not be played back because of scratches, dirt, recording condition or the drive’s characteristics.

•You cannot play a CD-R/CD-RW that is not finalized*.

•Playback of multi-session CD-R/CD-RW is not supported.

*A process necessary for a recorded CD-R/CD-RW disc to be played back on the audio CD player.

About this manual

The instructions in this manual are for models MHC-GN900, MHC-GN800, MHCGN700, MHC-GX8800 and MHC-GN600. In this manual, the MHC-GN800 is used for illustration purposes unless stated otherwise.

The MHC-GN900 consists of the following components:

– Tuner/CD player/Stereo cassette
deck/Amplifier (main unit)	HCD-GN900
– Speaker System
• Front speakers	SS-GN900
The MHC-GN800 consists of the
following components:
– Tuner/CD player/Stereo cassette
deck/Amplifier (main unit)	HCD-GN800
– Subwoofer	SS-WG800
– Speaker System
• Front speakers	SS-GN800
• Surround speakers	SS-RS800

The MHC-GN700/MHC-GX8800 consists of the following components:

– Tuner/CD player/Stereo cassette
deck/Amplifier (main unit)	HCD-GN700/
	HCD-GX8800
– Speaker System
• Front speakers	SS-GN800
• Surround speakers	SS-RS800
The MHC-GN600 consists of the
following components:
– Tuner/CD player/Stereo cassette
deck/Amplifier (main unit)	HCD-GN600
– Speaker System
• Front speakers	SS-GN800

Table of Contents

List of Button Location and

Reference Pages

Main unit ...............................................	5
Subwoofer1) ............................................	6
Remote Control .....................................	6
Getting Started
Hooking up the system ..........................	7
Inserting two R6 (size AA) batteries into
the remote ........................................	9
Setting the clock ....................................	9
CD
Loading a CD ......................................	10
Playing a CD
–– Normal Play/Shuffle Play/
Repeat Play ...................................	10
Playing a disc with MP3 audio
tracks .............................................	11
Programming the CD tracks
–– Program Play ............................	13
1) MHC-GN800 only.
	continued
	3GB

MHC-GN800 4-244-569-13 (3)

Table of Contents (continued)
Tuner
Presetting radio stations .......................	14
Listening to the radio
–– Preset Tuning ...........................	15
–– Manual Tuning .........................	15
Tape
Loading a tape .....................................	16
Playing a tape ......................................	16
Recording to a tape
–– CD Synchro Recording/
Recording Manually/
Program Edit .................................	17
Timer-recording radio programs .........	18
Sound Adjustment
Adjusting the sound .............................	20
Selecting the sound system1) ................	20
Using the subwoofer2) ..........................	20
Selecting the preset effect ....................	21
Adjusting the graphic equalizer and
storing the personal file .................	21
Selecting the surround effect ...............	22
Display
Changing the spectrum analyzer
display ...........................................	23
Adjusting the brightness of the
display ...........................................	23
Changing the power illuminator ..........	23
Turning off the display
— Power Saving Mode .................	23
Using the CD display ..........................	24

Other Features
Enhancing the video game sound
— Game Sync ...............................	25
Mixing video game sound with other
sound source
— Game Mixing ...........................	25
Singing along .......................................	25
Falling asleep to music
— Sleep Timer ..............................	26
Waking up to music
— Daily Timer ..............................	26
Optional Components
Hooking up optional components ........	28
Listening to audio from a connected
component .....................................	29
Recording on a connected
component .....................................	29
Connecting external antennas ..............	29
Troubleshooting
Problems and remedies ........................	30
Messages .............................................	32
Additional Information
Precautions ..........................................	33
Specifications ......................................	34

1)MHC-GN800/GN700/GX8800 only.

2)MHC-GN800 only.

4GB

MHC-GN800 4-244-569-13 (3)

List of Button Location and Reference Pages

	How to use this page					Illustration number
							r	List
	Use this page to find the location of buttons and other					PLAY MODE 7 (10, 11, 13, 18, 31)
	parts of the system that are mentioned in the text.					R	R	of
						Name of button/part Reference page
	Main unit							Button
	ALPHABETICAL ORDER							Location
	AMP MENU rd (15, 23)			GAME INPUT (jacks) wj		(17, 25)	25)
	A - D			GAME MIXING ef (17, 25)			R - Z
	ALBUM +/– qg (12, 13)						REC PAUSE/START qk (17, 18,
				GROOVE ed (20)
	CD r; (9–13, 17, 18)			IR (receptor) rs			REPEAT 8 (11, 12)	and
				ILLUMINATION wl (23)
	CD SYNC qj (17, 18)						SURROUND (MHC-GN900/
	DECK A wk (16)			M - Q			GN600 only) w; (22)	Reference
	DECK B wd (16–18)			MD (VIDEO) ej (29, 30)			SURROUND SPEAKER MODE
							(except for MHC-GN900/
	DIRECTION 9 (16–18)
				MIC (jack) wh (25)
							GN600) w; (20)
	DISC 1~3 3 (10, 12, 13, 18)
				MIC LEVEL wg (25)
							TAPE A/B ek (16, 17)
	DISC SKIP EX-CHANGE 4 (10–12)
				MOVIE EQ qh (21)
							TUNER/BAND el (14, 15)
	Disc tray 6 (10)
				MUSIC EQ eg (21)
							TUNER MEMORY 7 (14)	Pages
	DISPLAY ra (23, 24)
				PHONES (jack) wf (30)
				OPEN/CLOSE Z5 (10–12)			VOLUME ws (20, 30)
	Display 2
				P FILE wa (21, 22)
	E - L			PLAY MODE 7 (10, 11, 13, 18,			SYMBOLS
	EDIT 9 (18)						@/1 (power) 1
				31)
	EFFECT ON/OFF rf (21)			Power illuminator e; (23)			hH (play) qa
	FM MODE 8 (15, 32)			PUSH ENTER q; (9, 13, 14, 18,			x (stop) qs
	GAME eh (25, 29)			19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27)			X (pause) qd
	GAME EQ ea (21)						– . (go backward) qf
		1 2	3	45	6		> + (go forward) qf
							m (rewind) qg
							M (fast forward) qg
							V/v/B/b q;
	rd rf						A A (Eject A) es
						7	A B (Eject B) ql
	ra rs					8
						9
						0
		r;				K
	el					L
		ek				M
	ej					N
		eh				O
	eg					qh
		ef				qj
	ed					qk
		es				ql
	ea					w;
		e;				wa
	wl					ws
		wk				W
			wj	wh wg	X			5GB

MHC-GN800 4-244-569-13 (3)

Subwoofer

	(MHC-GN800 only)		A B C
	ALPHABETICAL ORDER
	A - Z		D
	LINK (indicator) 2 (20)
			E
	MATRIX SURR 1 (indicator) 3	(20)	6
	MATRIX SURR 2 (indicator) 4	(20)

SUBWOOFER LEVEL 6 (20)

SUBWOOFER ON/OFF 1 (20)

SURROUND SPEAKER MODE 5 (20)

Remote Control

ALPHABETICAL ORDER

A - M

CD ql (9–13, 17, 18) CLEAR 7 (13, 18) CLOCK/TIMER SELECT 2

(19, 27)

CLOCK/TIMER SET 3 (9, 18, 26, 30)

D.SKIP 9 (10, 12)

ENTER qd (9, 14, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27)

EFFECT ON/OFF qf (21) GAME w; (25, 29)

MD (VIDEO) q; (29, 30)

P - Z

PRESET – wd (14, 15) PRESET + wf (14, 15) PRESET EQ qj (21)

P FILE qh (21, 22) SURROUND (MHC-GN900/

GN600 only) qs (22) SURROUND SPEAKER MODE

(except for MHC-GN900/ GN600) qs (20)

SLEEP 1 (26) TAPE A/B qa (16, 17)

TUNER/BAND qk (14, 15) TUNING – wa (14, 15)

6GB

TUNING + ws (14, 15)

VOL +/– 8 (20)

SYMBOLS

	@/1 (power) 4	A B C
	nN (play) wg
	X (pause) 5
	x (stop) 6
	.(go backward) wd
	> (go forward) wf	Y
	m (rewind) wa
	M (fast forward) ws	X
	M/m/</, qg	W
		V
		U
		T
		S
		R
		qj
		qh

D E

6

7

8

9

q; qa qs qd

qf

qg

MHC-GN800 4-244-569-13 (3)

Getting Started

Hooking up the system

Do the following procedure 1to 6to hook up your system using the supplied cords and accessories.

AM loop antenna

Subwoofer

(MHC-GN800 FM antenna only)

	4
	4
Front speaker	5	Front speaker
(Right)		(Left)

3

	1
1		2
	2	6

Main Unit

Surround	Surround
speaker (Right)	speaker (Left)
(MHC-GN800/	(MHC-GN800/
GN700/GX8800	GN700/GX8800
only)	only)

Started Getting

1Connect the front speakers.

Connect the speaker cords to the FRONT SPEAKER terminals.

Insert only the stripped portion. Red

R L

_

Red/Solid (3) Black/Stripe (#)

2Connect the surround speakers (MHC-GN800, MHC-GN700 and MHC-GX8800 only).

Connect the speaker cords to SURROUND SPEAKER terminals.

Insert only the stripped portion. Blue

R L

+

_

Blue/Solid (3) Black/Stripe (#)

Note

Keep the speaker cords away from the antennas to

prevent noise.

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MHC-GN800 4-244-569-13 (3)

3Connect the subwoofer (MHC-GN800 only).

Connect the subwoofer cords to the SUBWOOFER terminals and the system cord to the SYSTEM CONTROL jack. Be sure to match the color of the cord and terminals/jacks.

SUBWOOFER terminals

Insert only the stripped portion.

+	Grey

Grey/Solid (3) Black/Stripe (#)

SYSTEM CONTROL jack

To disconnect

Notes

•Be sure to make this connection before you connect the main unit’s power cord to a wall outlet.

•Place the subwoofer at least 0.3 meters (1 feet) away from the main unit.

4Connect the FM and AM antennas.

Set up the AM loop antenna, then connect it.

5For models equipped with a voltage selector, set VOLTAGE SELECTOR to the position of your local power line voltage.

VOLTAGE SELECTOR

230-

240V

220V

120V

6Connect the power cord to a wall outlet.

The demonstration appears in the display. When you press ?/1, the system turns on and the demonstration automatically ends.

If the supplied adaptor on the plug does not fit your wall outlet, detach it from the plug (only for models equipped with an adaptor).

To connect optional components

See page 28.

To attach the speaker pads

Attach the supplied speaker pads to the bottom of the speakers to stabilize the speakers and to prevent them from slipping.

FM75Ω COAXIAL

–AM

AM loop antenna

Extend the FM lead antenna horizontally

8GB

MHC-GN800 4-244-569-13 (3)

Positioning the speakers (Except for MHC-GN900/GN600)

Place the front speakers at an angle of 45 degrees from your listening position.

Main Unit Subwoofer *

Front	Front
speaker	speaker
(L)	(R)
	0.3m
	45º
Surround	Surround
speaker	speaker
(L)	(R)

*(MHC-GN800 only)

Place the subwoofer at least 0.3 meters (1 feet) away from the main unit.

Notice for carrying this system

Do the following to protect the CD mechanism.

1 Make sure that all discs are removed from the main unit.

2Hold down CD and then press ?/1 until

“LOCK” appears in the display.

3Release ?/1 first, then release CD.

4Unplug the AC power cord.

Inserting two R6 (size AA)

batteries into the remote

R6 (AA) batteries

		e
	E	E
	e

Tip

With normal use, the batteries should last for about six months. When the remote no longer operates the system, replace both batteries with new ones.

Note

If you do not use the remote for a long period of time, remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage.

Setting the clock

1 Press ?/1 to turn on the system.

2 Press CLOCK/TIMER SET on the remote.

3 Press M or m repeatedly to set the hour.

4 Press PUSH ENTER (or ENTER on the remote).

5 Press M or m repeatedly to set the minute.

6 Press PUSH ENTER (or ENTER on the remote).

The clock starts functioning.

To adjust the clock

1 Press CLOCK/TIMER SET on the remote.

2 Press M or m repeatedly to select “CLOCK SET?” and then press PUSH ENTER (or ENTER on the remote).

3 Do the same procedure as steps 3 to

6 above.

Note

The clock settings are cancelled when you disconnect the power cord or if a power failure occurs.

Started Getting

9GB

MHC-GN800 4-244-569-13 (3)

CD

Loading a CD

1 Press OPEN/CLOSE Z.

The disc tray slides out.

2 Place a CD with the label side up on the disc tray.

When you play a CD single, place it on the inner circle of the tray

To insert additional discs, press DISC SKIP EX-CHANGE to rotate the disc tray.

3 Press OPEN/CLOSE Z to close the disc tray.

Playing a CD

––Normal Play/Shuffle Play/Repeat Play

This system lets you play the CD in different play modes.

Disc tray	Track
number	number	Playing time
ALL DISCS		SURR
		EFFECT
		V - GROOVE LINK
		A	B

Disc presence indicator

1 Press CD.

2 When playback is stopped, press PLAY MODE repeatedly until the play mode you want lights up in the display.

10GB

Select	To play
ALL DISCS	All CDs in the disc tray
(Normal Play)	continuously.
1 DISC/ALBM	The CD you have selected in the
(Normal Play)	original order.
ALL DISCS SHUF	The tracks on all CDs in random
(Shuffle Play)	order.
1 DISC SHUF/	The tracks on the CD you have
ALBM SHUF	selected in random order.
(Shuffle Play)
PGM	The tracks on all CDs in the
(Program Play)	order you want them to be
	played back (see “Programming
	the CD tracks” on page 13).

3 Press hH.

Tip

You cannot change the play mode during playback. To change the play mode, press x to stop playback.

Other Operations

To	Do this
Stop playback	Press x.
Pause playback	Press X. Press again to
	resume playback.
Select a track	Press > (to go forward)
	or . (to go backward).
Find a point in a track	Press and hold down M or
	m during playback and
	release it at the point you
	want.
Select a CD when	Press one of the DISC 1~3
playback is stopped	buttons or DISC SKIP EX-
	CHANGE (or D.SKIP on
	the remote).
Switch to CD function	Press CD or one of the
from another source	DISC 1~3 buttons
	(Automatic Source
	Selection).

MHC-GN800 4-244-569-13 (3)

To	Do this
Play repeatedly	Press REPEAT repeatedly to
(Repeat Play)	select “REP”*1 or “REP 1”*2.
Cancel Repeat	Press REPEAT until “REP”
Play	or “REP 1” disappears from
	the display.
Exchange other CDs	Press DISC SKIP
while playing	EX-CHANGE.
Remove the CD	Press OPEN/CLOSE Z.

*1 All the tracks on the CD are played back repeatedly up to five times. You cannot select “REP” and “ALL DISCS SHUF” at the same time.

*2 The current track is played back repeatedly until “REP 1” is cancelled.

Tips

•When you press CD or one of the DISC 1~3 buttons to switch to CD function from tuner, you may require a longer time to access the disc. Set “CD POWER ON” by CD manage function (page 15).

•If you press CD while the power is off, the power turns on and CD is selected as a function.

Playing a disc with MP3

audio tracks

About MP3 audio tracks

MP3 (MPEG 1 Audio Layer-3) is a standard technology and format for compressing a sound sequence. The track is compressed to about 1/10 of its original size. Sounds outside the range of human hearing are compressed while the sounds we can hear are not compressed.

Notes on discs

You can play MP3 audio tracks recorded on CD-ROMs, CD-Rs (recordable CDs) and CD-RWs (rewritable CDs).

The disc must be in the ISO 9660* level 1, level 2 or Joliet format.

* ISO 9660 Format
The most common international standard
for the logical format of files and folders
on a CD-ROM. There are several
specification levels. In Level 1, file names	CD
must be in the 8.3 format (no more than
eight characters in the name, no more than
three characters in the extension “.MP3”)
and in capital letters. Folder names can be
longer than eight characters. There can be no
more than eight nested folder levels. Level 2
specifications allow file names and folder
names up to 31 characters long.

––Normal Play/Shuffle Play/Repeat Play

This system lets you play a disc with MP3 audio tracks in different play modes.

Disc tray	Track	Playing time
number	number

ALL DISCS

SURR

EFFECT

V - GROOVE LINK

A B

Disc presence indicator

1 Press CD.

2 When playback is stopped, press PLAY MODE repeatedly until the play mode you want lights up in the display.

continued

11GB

MHC-GN800 4-244-569-13 (3)