Customer Reviews

Sony CMTBX5BT CMT Micro Component System with Bluetooth Technology

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Picked this one up at Best Buy (sorry, Amazon, but they had it marked down to $129.99) yesterday, along w/a Bluetooth dongle for my PC.

I brought a burned MP3 CD into the store with me, and not only did this little guy read it promptly, but it delivered quite crisp and (comparatively) loud playback. Lined up, side-by-side, with many other styles of shelf systems, the SONY looks stylish and slick (like the PSP). Of course, a lot of the others look like low-budget, B-movie rocket ships!! (My wife's observation).

So now, I have the unit at home, unpacked and plugged in. Here's where TWO major observations about the Bluetooth functionality became evident, and worth mentioning:

*This unit basically works like a pair of Bluetooth headphones. You must open your audio player on the PC, set up the playlist / music folders and you must begin the playing from the PC. This unit does NOT allow you to browse folders and choose playlists from within the stereo itself. Windows Media Player or WinAmp or the like MUST be running, and set up to play. This was a mild disappointment for about 2 minutes, until I remembered that the unit was only $130. The functionality is STILL a pretty nifty extra.

* I have an Ibook with OS X version 10.4 running, and built-in Bluetooth. Well, OS X 10.4 DOES NOT support the necessary communication protocols to work with this stereo. Won't work. However, version 10.5 (due in October 2007) reportedly DOES support these protocols. So, if you only have Macs in your home, be prepared to wait a bit. I'm not sure if plugging that Bluetooth dongle into the Mac USB port will add this functionality, but I doubt it.

So, to summarize:

Nice looking; clear, non-strident playback; well-priced; nicely-built; cool functionality.

Also, it has all the basics you expect; sleep and alarm functions (with separate vol. settings for each), shuffle, repeat, folder jumping (for MP3-burned discs), ID3 tag support, a nice little remote, etc.

I'm very pleased, all in all.

(This review is being written prior to even having heard the system due to lack of information either by Amazon or Sony with regards to Bluetooth. I will add an update if and when I get a Bluetooth paired connection.) (Edited: review is updated after I got a Bluetooth adapter that works.)

I've been wanting a way to access the MP3 collection on my PC from my bathroom for a while now. What can I say, it's relaxing to take a bath and have some music playing, but not so convenient to have to change CDs, not to mention there's plenty of CDs I own that have songs on them I dislike, and forget about listening to the radio. When I saw this item I was pretty excited, thinking that it would be a great way to create playlists of nothing but songs I like.

After reading the information on Amazon's page for this system there was no indication of any special needs for a Bluetooth connection, so I ordered the system and an Iogear GBU211 Bluetooth to USB adapter which has support for A2DP and AVRCP, not that those acronyms meant anything to me at the time, or that the Sony item required it (which it does, and more.) I get the Sony system and put it on the vanity in the bathroom, and wait until the adapter arrives.

After the adapter shows up in the mail I installed it and read the Sony manual to figure out how to get the devices to talk to one another. Seemed easy enough, the Bluetooth device wizard searches for any Bluetooth devices, you select it, then follow the steps to establish a connection. The wizard found the Sony unit easily enough, but strike one is the 30 second window to enter a PIN number. You see, the Sony is upstairs, and my computer is downstairs. I tried to make a mad dash up the stairs to enter the PIN on the Sony unit, and gave up after two tries. I couldn't enter the numbers fast enough before the unit exited the PIN entry mode. Ok, annoying. I unplug the unit and bring it downstairs and plug it in. I enter the Bluetooth settings again on the PC and successfully enter a PIN on the Sony unit. The Sony unit is now listed in the Bluetooth devices control panel. Ok, ready to start playing, right? Wrong.

I press the Bluetooth/Play button on the Sony unit, and I get the message NOT IN USE flashing on the screen. Uh, what the hell is that supposed to mean? I look in the manual and it says it means it's not connected to a device that supports AVRCP. I look at the Iogear package again, and it says right on the back that does in fact support AVRCP. (By the way, for those of you who don't know what AVRCP stands for, it's "Audio/Video Remote Control Profile" which is a protocol for controlling devices remotely.) The Sony manual also says it supports A2DP ("Advanced Audio Distribution Profile", which apparently is the protocol for streaming wireless high quality audio.) Again, on the back of the Iogear packaging it says it supports A2DP. I'm at a loss at this point, so I start scouring the web for troubleshooting the Sony unit and Iogear adapter. The search was in vain, since there's not a lot of info for either of them from people who have had problems. I suppose it's because the Sony unit is such a new item.

I decided to contact Sony technical support and see if they had any ideas as to why the unit would flash this message with a Bluetooth device that seemed to have everything it needed in order to establish a connection. This was using their online chat service support, since it was free and late at night and I didn't feel like being on hold forever. I get ahold of a support advisor name Adrian. I explained the message I was getting, and the Bluetooth-enabled configuration on the PC. Adrian asked if the device supported AVRCP, and I replied that it does. That was the end of Sony's effort. The next response was "we don't support 3rd party hardware, contact the manufacturer of the Bluetooth device and see if they can help." I've been in this infinite loop many times, where one manufacturer blames the other, and the problem is never solved because neither company will bother trying to figure out WHY things aren't working, and stated that fact to Adrian and then promptly closed the chat window on him without so much as a "thanks for nothing." Strike two, this time on Sony for worthless support people who don't make even the smallest attempt to look at potential problems.

Anger rising at this point, I scour the specifications in the back of the Sony manual. Oh, what's this? The Bluetooth communication system uses Bluetooth 2.0? Let's see what system the Iogear has... 1.2. Well gee, that's more than likely the problem. Of course, there's nothing on Amazon's site, Sony's site, and Sony's own technical support staff can't even ask what Bluetooth version the device the unit is trying to pair with has. Strike three for not giving the customer pre-purchase information on requirements.

So to sum up, you need a Bluetooth device that uses Bluetooth 2.0, and don't count on Sony to help you figure out why the Bluetooth connection can't be established because their support people are either too lazy or too stupid to give anything outside of canned responses. Jeers to Amazon for not listing the 2.0 requirement (although I don't know if it's truly their fault, it's probably Sony's for not giving any requirements beyond "it supports Bluetooth."

Again, I'll update my review after I get a Bluetooth 2.0 adapter. Hopefully I'll have better things to say after it's paired and connected with my PC, but so far I'm just annoyed.

*********************************************
(((And now for the follow-up, as promised!)))
*********************************************

I ordered the correct bluetooth USB adapter, and I can say that it's pretty dang cool. I do have issues with range. The music does some really bizarre things such as speed up and slow down as the signal seems to have a hard time being received by the Sony. I will point out that my PC is downstairs while the Sony is upstairs. I'm sure I can overcome this with a USB extension cable. That way I can position the adapter a little bit closer to the ceiling where it will hopefully strengthen the communication between the two. Sometimes the signal is so bad that the music completely drops out.

On the plus side, I remember reading a comment that someone couldn't control their media player in Windows with it. Perhaps they have a new revision for the CMTBX5BT, because I have full control over my Windows Media Player (I believe I have WMP 11 installed.) It's really cool to be able to remotely stop/pause/skip songs, etc.

Sound quality is OK. I wasn't blown away, but then again I wasn't looking for a superior audiophile level player either.

My final overall review would be Very Satisfied with this product. It works as advertised, although setup is a little klunky and the range is fairly small. The main feature of this product that people should be interested in is accessing their digital media remotely.

**Last edit to add the dongle which actually worked**

I've finally remembered to update this review with the USB adapter that worked for me. It's an MSI Star Key 2.0 Long Range Bluetooth Dongle. Cost me about $23.00.

On my last vist to Circuit City, I had the chance to play with one of these. Unlike the gentleman with the Bluetooth problems, I was able to pair this stereo with my Bluetooth phone in a matter of minutes (without a manual, I might add). Cranked it up and listened to my MP3's, while I walked around Circuit City shopping. The Sony unit perfomed extraordinarily with adequate volume and good sound for a standard sized room. I would buy this if I was in the market for a mini-stereo system.

I bought this after finally dumping my 16-year-old JVC bookshelf system. This cost me 25% of what I paid for the JVC even at today's inflated prices. And the auxillary jack on the front of the Sony is connected to my PC for some Internet radio stations while I work. Very compact, so I also dumped my lousy-sounding PC speakers. I have a subscription to www.naxosradio.com, and spend most of my computing hours listening to one of its 70+ CD quality channels.

If you like classical music and want a pair of speakers at the sides of your PC, get this and a $19/yr subscription to Naxos Radio. I'll probably order another one of these for my computer at work.

This product is reasonably cheap, and the sound is decent for the price. I bought a pair of cheap speaker stands ($34) from Amazon, and it has improved the sound a lot. I would suggest anyone who buys this system does the same. I also got the bluetooth adapter so I can play music from my computer's itunes, and it works perfectly, although you should avoid the drivers on the CD that comes with the product as they messed up my Microsoft Office and I had to reinstall it. I suspect Vista is causing the problems, but plug and play worked fine with this device for me. Overall, a great buy!

It's been a while since I got a CMT-BX5BT and there are several things I would like to point out.

-It's very convenient and important to have a remote with a music system today. When I received the box, I wanted to make sure there was a remote included but couldn't find any descriptions on the box mentioning about it. I read in someone else's review here that it was included so I decided to open it anyway, and there WAS indeed a remote included in the box! :)

-Another very important quality is sound, and this system offers a good sound quality. It is pretty loud too, compared to other similar products of this price range.

-Bluetooth was a neat feature, but I personally didn't find it too useful. If you are like me, CMT-BX1 is strongly recommened which is almost the same minus the bluetooth function. I compared it with this product at a store one day -- the sides of speakers were slightly narrower, and a different material was used for the cabinet of the main unit.

-Being able to play mp3 files on a CD is a great feature. However we are not able to browse through the folders while we are still listening to a song though.

-I do have a few complaints though. The button layout is a little confusing, and buttons are tiny. On top of that, you have to press the buttons firmly in order for them to function. Also the remote sensor is not too sensitive compared to the previous Sony system I had. With this one, you actually have to aim the remote right at the sensor of the main unit.

This stereo is great for a desktop office or a small room. The sound is excellent for the price. I enjoy a lot of classical music so I like speakers that are clear and accurate. I don't need booming bass, even when I play Led Zeppelin. I got my computer hooked up to it via bluetooth, but I do have a minor complaint. Every time I change from my bluetooth connection to my computer to my audio in connection for my dvd player I have to reconnect when I switch back to bluetooth. It's merely the click of an icon on the computer, so maybe I shouldn't complain. There is no bluetooth button on the remote. Not a big deal, since you can use the function button to switch to bluetooth in three pushes. I was skeptical about the sound quality I would get through the bluetooth but I can't tell the difference between it and the wire connection, but my unit is right next to my computer. It would be nice if I could play it a little louder (only when I get drunk) but then the neighbors might have issues. The sound quality improved significantly when I moved the speakers further apart from my original placement.

Sorry Amazon, but I got a refurbished unit directly from sony for only $90, plus tax and shipping ($108). I have also bought an excellent Olympus camera refurbished. It was a great deal and I couldn't tell the difference between the refurbished Sony or the Olympus from a new unit at a much heftier price.

I am extremely pleased with the Sony stereo. I am ecstatic about the bluetooth feature as I store all of my music on my computer and it works great. Very clear. I also benefit from the Graphic Equalizer built into Media Player.

This is not a high end microcomponent but something basic to enjoy your music -MP3 and CD's- without worries. If you're a big fan of HI-FI audio, this system is not for you. The equalizer offers bass and treble adjustment only. Size and appearance are stylish. Overall, a decent deal.

This is a great bluetooth product. I use it to listen to the music I have on my computer and online radio stations. The only problem is the fact the system is analog and it does not have any outputs other than the speaker outputs.