Sony MHC-W550 User Manual

Mini Hi-Fi
Component
System

Operating Instructions

3-860-776-11(1)

f

MHC-W550

©1997 by Sony Corporation

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.

CAUTION

Do not, under any circumstances, place the CD
player/Stereo casette deck on top of the A/V
control ampilifier.

Laser component in this product is capable of
emitting radiation exceeding the limit for Class 1.

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

The following caution label is located inside the
unit.

This stereo system is equipped with the Dolby* B­type noise reduction system.
* Dolby noise reduction manufactured under license

from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.
“DOLBY” and the double-D symbol a are
trademarks of the Dolby Laboratories Licensing
Corporation.

The MHC-W550 consist of the following
components:
— A/V control amplifier STR-W550
— CD player/Stereo cassette deck HCD-W550
— Speaker system SS-W550G.

2

Table of Contents

Getting Started

Step 1: Hooking up the system............ 4

Step 2: Setting the time ......................... 6

Step 3: Presetting radio stations .......... 6

Connecting optional AV components . 7

Basic Operations

Playing a CD ......................................... 10

Recording a CD .................................... 12

Listening to the radio........................... 13

Recording from the radio .................... 14

Playing a tape........................................ 15

Recording from a tape ......................... 17

The CD Player

Using the CD display........................... 18

Playing the CD tracks repeatedly ...... 18

Playing the CD tracks in random

order ................................................ 19

Programming the CD tracks ............... 20

Playing CDs without interruption ..... 21

Sound Adjustment

Adjusting the sound ............................ 27

Selecting the audio emphasis ............. 27

Adjusting the audio emphasis............ 29

Making a personal audio emphasis

file .................................................... 30

Other Features

Singing along: Karaoke ...................... 31

Falling asleep to music ........................ 32

Waking up to music ............................. 33

Timer-recording radio programs ....... 34

Additional Information

Precautions ............................................ 36

Troubleshooting ................................... 37

Specifications ........................................ 40

Index....................................................... 42

EN

The Tape Deck

Recording on a tape manually ........... 22

Recording a CD by specifying track

order ................................................ 23

DJ Effects

Looping part of a CD ........................... 25

Flashing part of a CD ........................... 25

Waving the equalizer........................... 26

3

Getting Started

Step 1: Hooking up the system

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

If you set up the stereo system vertically

Be sure to place the A/V control amplifier on top of the CD player/Stereo cassette deck.

FM antenna

1

2 2

Connect the flat cord to the SYSTEM

1

CONTROL connectors with the
same color until it clicks.

To disconnect

AM loop antenna

4

2

6

Left SpeakerRight Speaker

3

5

Connect the speakers.

Connect the speaker cords to the
SPEAKER jacks of the same color.

Keep the speaker cords away from the
antennas to prevent noise.

Insert only the stripped portion.

R

+

L

+
–

Red (‘)

Black (’)

4

Set VOLTAGE SELECTOR to the

3

position of your local power line
voltage.

VOLTAGE SELECTOR

110-120V

Connect the FM/AM antennas.

4

Set up the AM loop antenna, then
connect it.

Extend the FM wire

AM loop
antenna

antenna horizontally.

220-240V

FM 75Ω

AM

Inserting two size AA (R6)
batteries into the remote

]

}

}

]

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.

When carrying this system

Do the following to protect the CD
mechanism.

1 Press FUNCTION repeatedly until “CD”

appears in the display.

2 Hold down PLAY MODE and press

POWER so that “LOCK” appears in the
display.

To attach the front speaker pads

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

Connect the power cord to a wall

5

outlet.

Demo mode appears in the display.

Deactivate the demo mode by

6

pressing DISPLAY/DEMO when
the system is turned off.

The demo mode is also deactivated
when you set the time.

5

Step 2: Setting the

Step 3: Presetting

time

You must set the time before using the timer
functions.

1 3,52,4

1 Press CLOCK TIMER SET.

The hour indication flashes.

2 Turn the jog dial to set the hour.

The clock is on a 24-hour system.

radio stations

You can preset up to 40 stations, 20 for FM, 10
for MW and 10 for SW.

POWER

1 Press TUNER BAND repeatedly

until the band you want appears in
the display.

Every time you press this button, the
band changes as follows:

FM n MW n SW

n

1263,54

3 Press ENTER/NEXT.

The minutes indication flashes.

4 Turn the jog dial to set the minutes.
5 Press ENTER/NEXT.

The clock starts working.

Tips

• If you’ve made a mistake, start over from step 1.

• Setting the time deactivates the demo mode.

If you want to display the demo mode, press
DISPLAY/DEMO when the system is off.

Note

When setting the time, set the equalizer display to
anything other than Spectrum analyzer pattern 3.
(See “To change the equalizer display” on page 28.)

6

2 Press TUNING MODE repeatedly to

select “AUTO”.

3 Turn the jog dial.

The frequency indication changes and
scanning stops when the system tunes in
a station. “TUNED” and “STEREO” (for
a stereo program) appear.

TUNED
STEREO

AUTO

VOLUME

MHz

4 Press MEMORY.

A preset number appears in the display.

Preset number

TUNED
STEREO

AUTO

VOLUME

5 Turn the jog dial to select the preset

number you want.

6 Press ENTER/NEXT.

The station is stored.

7 Repeat steps 1 to 6 to store other

stations.

To tune in a station with a weak
signal

Press TUNING MODE repeatedly to select
“MANUAL” in step 2, then turn the jog dial
to tune in the station.

To change the preset number

Start over from step 1.

Tip

The preset stations are retained for a day even if you
unplug the power cord or if a power failure occurs.

Connecting optional
AV components

To enhance your system, you can connect
optional components. Refer to the
instructions of each component.

Connecting audio
components

Select one of the following two connections,
depending on the equipment to be connected
and method of connecting.

Connecting an MD deck for digital
recording

You can record from CD into the MD deck
digitally by connecting an optical cable.

To the DIGITAL IN jack of the MD deck

continued

7

Connecting optional AV
components (continued)

Connecting an MD deck for analog
recording

Make sure to match the colour of the plugs
and the connectors. To listen to the sound of
the connected MD deck, press FUNCTION
repeatedly until “MD” appears.

Connecting a super woofer
speaker

You can connect an optional super woofer
speaker.

To super woofer

To the audio output
of the MD deck

Note

If you cannot select “MD” even when you have
pressed FUNCTION, press POWER while pressing
FUNCTION when the power is turned off.
“VIDEO 1” will be switched to “MD”. To return to
“VIDEO 1” do the same procedure.

To the audio input
of the MD deck

Connecting a VCR

Make sure to match the colour of the plugs
and the connectors. To listen to the sound of
the connected VCR, press FUNCTION
repeatedly until “VIDEO 1” appears.

To the audio output of the VCR

Note

If the sound is distorted when selecting “VIDEO 1”,
switch to “MD” (see previous “Note”).

8

Connecting a video game
player

You can enjoy video games with audio
emphasis by connecting a video game player.
To listen to and watch a video game, press
FUNCTION repeatedly until “VIDEO 2”
appears.

To the audio/video output of a
video game player

Connecting outdoor
antennas

Connect the outdoor antenna to improve the
reception.

FM antenna

Connect the optional FM outdoor antenna.
You can also use the TV antenna instead.

75-ohms coaxial cable
(not supplied)

FM 75Ω

Ground wire
(not supplied)

AM antenna

Connect a 6- to 15- meter insulated wire to the
AM antenna terminal. Leave the supplied
AM loop antenna connected.

Insulated wire
(not supplied)

AM

Screw
clamp

y

To the video input of a TV

FM 75

Ω

Screw clamp

AM

y

Ground wire
(not supplied)

Important

If you connect an outdoor antenna, connect a
ground wire to the y terminal with the screw
clamp. To prevent a gas explosion, do not
connect the ground wire to a gas pipe.

9

Basic Operations

Playing a CD

— Normal play

You can play up to three CDs in a row.

POWER

0 )

1/ALL DISCS

2

21 3

1

VOLUME

·P

1 Press 6 OPEN/CLOSE and place

up to two CDs on the disc tray.

If a disc is not placed properly it will not
be recognized.

With the label
side up. When
you play a single
CD, place it on
the inner circle
of the tray.

To insert a third disc, press DISC SKIP
EX-CHANGE to rotate the disc tray.

21 3

2 Press one of the DISC 1~3 buttons.

The disc tray closes and playback starts.
If you press ·P (or · on the remote),

playback starts from the CD loaded on
the tray whose button is lit green.

Disc tray number

ALL1DISCS

Track number

Playing time

VOLUME

10

DISC SKIP

EX-CHANGE

p

CD (
P

p
= +

0 )

V

bB

v

VOL +/–

To

Stop playback
Pause

Select a track

Find a point in
a track

Select a CD
in stop mode

Play only the
CD you have
selected

Play all CDs

Remove the CD
Exchange other

CDs while
playing

Adjust the
volume

Do this

Press p (p on the remote).
Press ·P (P on the remote).

Press again to resume
playback.

During playback or pause,
turn the jog dial clockwise (to
go forward) or
counterclockwise (to go back)
and release it when you reach
the desired track. Or press
+ (to go forward) or =
(to go back) on the remote.

Press and hold down ) or
0 (or )/0 on the
remote) during playback and
release it at the desired point.

Press one of the DISC 1~3
buttons or DISC SKIP
EX-CHANGE.

Press 1/ALL DISCS
repeatedly until “1 DISC”
appears.

Press 1/ALL DISCS
repeatedly until “ALL DISCS”
appears.

Press 6 OPEN/CLOSE.
Press DISC SKIP

EX-CHANGE.

Turn VOLUME (or press VOL
+/– on the remote).

Basic Operations

Tips

• Pressing ·P when the power is off
automatically turns the power on and starts CD
playback if there is a CD in the tray (One Touch
Play).

• You can switch from another source to the CD
player and start playing a CD just by pressing

·P or one of the DISC 1~3 buttons (Automatic
Source Selection).

• If there is no CD in the player, “CD NO DISC”
appears in the display.

• When a disc tray is selected or the CD placed on
that tray is playing, the DISC 1~3 button for the
respective tray lights green.

11

Recording a CD

— CD Synchro Recording

The CD SYNCHRO button lets you record
from a CD to a tape easily. You can use TYPE
I (normal) or TYPE II (CrO2) tapes. The
recording level is adjusted automatically.

DISC SKIP

EX-CHANGE

21 3

2

πp

§

2 Press 6 OPEN/CLOSE and place a

CD.

Then press again to close the disc tray.
If the indicator for the tray you want to

record is not lit green, press DISC SKIP
EX-CHANGE repeatedly so that it lights
green.

With the label
side up. When
you play a single
CD, place it on
the inner circle
of the tray.

21 3

3 Press CD SYNCHRO.

Deck B stands by for recording and the
CD player stands by for playback. ·
(for front side) lights up.

514

3

DOLBY NR

1 Press § and insert a blank tape into

deck B.

With the side
you want to
record facing
forward

ª

AUTO REVERSE

·S E

REC/PLAY

0)

B

4 Press DIRECTION MODE

repeatedly to select A to record on
one side. Select a (or RELAY) to
record on both sides.

5 Press PAUSE P on deck B.

Recording starts.

To stop recording

Press π on deck B or p on the CD player.

Tips

• If you want to record from the reverse side, press
ª so that ª (for reverse side) lights up.

• When you record on both sides, be sure to start
from the front side. If you start from the reverse
side, recording stops at the end of the reverse side.

• When you want to reduce the hiss noise in low­level high-frequency signals, press DOLBY NR so
that “DOLBY NR B” appears after pressing CD
SYNCHRO.

Notes

• You cannot listen to other sources while recording.

• Dolby NR and DIRECTION MODE ( a or
RELAY) is off when the mains AC power supply
is switched off.

12

Listening to the radio

–– Preset Tuning

Preset radio stations in the tuner's memory
first (see “Step 3: Presetting radio stations”).

POWER

2

STEREO/

MONO

VOLUME

13

2 Press TUNING MODE repeatedly

so that “PRESET” appears in the
display.

MANUAL n AUTO n PRESET

n

3 Turn the jog dial (or press = or

+ on the remote) to tune in the

desired preset station.

=

Turn counter­clockwise
(or press =
on the remote)
for lower preset
numbers.

Preset number

PRESET

To Do this

Turn off the radio Press POWER.
Adjust the volume Turn VOLUME (or press

=

Turn clockwise
(or press +

+–

on the remote)
for higher
preset numbers.

Frequency

TUNED
STEREO

VOLUME

MHz

VOL +/– on the remote).

Basic Operations

= +

V

bB

v

TUNER BAND

VOL +/–

1 Press TUNER BAND repeatedly

until the band you want appears in
the display.

Every time you press the button, the
band changes as follows:

FM n MW n SW

n

To listen to non-preset radio
stations

Press TUNING MODE repeatedly so that
“MANUAL” appears in step 2, then tune in
the station by turning the jog dial.

Tips

• Pressing TUNER BAND when the power is off
automatically turns the power on and tunes to the
last received station (One Touch Play).

• You can switch from another source to the radio
just by pressing TUNER BAND (Automatic Source
Selection).

• When an FM program is noisy, press STEREO/
MONO so that “MONO” appears in the display.
There will be no stereo effect, but the reception
will improve. Press the button again to restore the
stereo effect.

• To improve broadcast reception, reorient the
supplied antennas.

13

Recording from the

0)

REC/PLAY

B

ª

AUTO REVERSE

·S E

radio

You can record the radio program on a tape
by calling up a preset station. You can use
TYPE I (normal) or TYPE II (CrO2) tapes. The
recording level is automatically adjusted.

4 Press § and insert a blank tape into

deck B.

With the side
you want to
record facing
forward

POWER

2

DOLBY

NR

3

21 3

57 46

1

1 Press TUNER BAND to select the

band you want.

2 Press TUNING MODE so that

“PRESET” appears in the display.

3 Turn the jog dial to tune in a preset

station.

=

=

Turn counter­clockwise for
lower preset
numbers.

Turn clockwise
for higher

+–

preset numbers.

5 Press REC.

Deck B stands by for recording.

6 Press DIRECTION MODE

repeatedly to select A to record on
one side. Select a (or RELAY) to
record on both sides.

7 Press PAUSE P on deck B.

Recording starts.

To stop recording

Press π on deck B.

Tips

• If you want to record from the reverse side, press
ª so that ª (for reverse side) lights up.

• When you record on both sides, be sure to start

π

from the front side. If you start from the reverse
side, recording stops at the end of the reverse side.

•To record non-preset stations, select “MANUAL”
in step 2, then turn the jog dial to tune in the
desired station.

• When you want to reduce the hiss noise in low­level high-frequency signals, press DOLBY NR so
that “DOLBY NR B” appears after pressing REC.

• If noise is heard while recording from the radio,
move the respective antenna to reduce the noise.

Note

Dolby NR and DIRECTION MODE ( a or
RELAY) is off when the mains AC power supply is
switched off.

14

Preset number

PRESET

Frequency

TUNED
STEREO

MHz

VOLUME