Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony MEXBT3700U CD Receiver Bluetooth Hands-Free with Integrated Microphone (Black)

I saw this on a shelf in a local Fry's. I had already tried and returned the MEX-BT2700U last year. I had a few minutes to spare so I tried it. Looked and sounded good. When I confirmed that you can use the Bluetooth Phone with the Internal mike, or get an External mike, I bought it on the spot. For $200, I might add.

The Bluetooth works well, even with the Internal mike, which is behind the faceplate. I'm still amazed that it works as well as it does. May spend the $30 and get the XA-MC10 External mike when Sony has them in stock.

The music sounds great, too. Much better than my 2-year-old CDX-GT630UI. But the best part? Sony added a circuit called DM+. It's for digital music only thru USB, like iPod or my Sansa Clip. It adds quite a bit of punch and re-EQ's things. Sounds way better than thru the AUX port. And you can navigate the music selection on the Sony's faceplate. On iPod, you can let the iPod guide things, but I use the Sony to navigate.

For $150, it's a great buy. If I get a new car, I'm buying another one of these quick.

I got this head unit because I got an iphone 3GS (previous iphone models do not have Bluetooth audio streaming (A2DP)) and wanted something that would give me as many options of integrating it with the car stereo as possible without spending a ton of money. I also didn't want to have to pay extra for the bluetooth attachments that you have to add on to the bluetooth ready head units.

-BLUETOOTH AUDIO STREAMING
The audio bluetooth streaming is great sound quality is very good (I am not a picky audiophile so can't say if sensitive ears would notice anything wrong with the quality), I actually listen to local radio stations through their internet streams through the iphone then bluetoothed to the car stereo because its better sound quality then what I get out of the tuner (any tuner not just this one, I live in a bad radio reception area between 2 markets). The stereo usually picks up my phone (for both phone and audio) within 30 seconds of turning on the car. I have had to reset the bluetooth (takes about 20 seconds, push one button twice) every few weeks because it will start to get skippy but it is a pretty minor inconvenience. Listening to Pandora through the Iphone to the car stereo is awesome, and has greatly improved my commute.

-Bluetooth Phone connection
Connects within 30 seconds of starting the car. Sound quality is good. And the microphone that is built in actually works well, this shocked me I was sure I would have to either yell or buy an external mic but the one that comes in the head unit picks up my voice fine I have not had a complaint about people on the other end of the call not being able to hear me. Another good thing about the mic being built in is that it saved me $60 on the installation that they would have charged me to install an external mic. The transition between phone call and what was playing before the call is automatic and fluid.

-USB input
I have not gotten a chance to use this because the bluetooth has worked well. It would be nice if it had a USB on the back of the unit in addition to the one on the front so that you could run a wire hidden behind the console plastic and have it connect where ever you wanted it to without it cluttering up the car (that is the main reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars).


Overall I love this unit because it was fairly cheap and it does exactly what I wanted it to do in respect to integrating with my Iphone.

This product is great. The bluetooth handsfree system works great, great sound, very easy to install and just a great deal.

The Sony MEX-BT3700U is quite an advanced unit for the money. I'll have to concur with most all "thumbs-up" reviews on this unit. Very easy to install, instructions quite clear even for an oldster like myself. I've very much enjoyed the Bluetooth features and was the selling point for me. Many states are turning against hand-held cell phone usage while operating motor vehicles. This unit solves the "legal" aspect of cell phone operation while driving with its Bluetooth/Cellphone hands free operation. The amazing part is the audio clarity given the "internal" microphone is actually located behind the faceplate. One caution here, be mindful that your girlfriend doesn't call you while your wife is riding along. ;)

I have one major complain on this unit that few reviewers comment on or wish to be honest about. If you view a photo of this unit, you'll see the round control dial on the left of the display. Immediately around this control dial you'll notice a white ring. That white ring is illuminated! During daytime operation, that illuminated ring is not objectionable. However, during night time driving, the illuminated ring is VERY bright and hazardous. I'm sure the "youthful" may deem it unobjectionable and cool because it "shows me off" while cruising, however... to us older folk... that bright blue/white light is very irritating and dangerous. For the life of me, I see absolutely NO reason for that ring to be illuminated! Sony no doubt is catering to the youth and the "halo ring light" craze.

To date, I've not found any control or updates on this unit to either turn the illuminated ring off, or dim it down. There are configurable settings to dim the alpha/numeric display, however those settings have NO effect on the illuminated ring around the control dial. I'm quite positive the illuminated ring is digitally controllable because during the "demo" feature, this illuminated ring flashes on and off.

Wonderful, feature rich unit!! However, Sony needs to come up with an update before it is forced to due to a recall because of the night time road hazard this unit may be contributing to.

definately has alot of good capabilities for the price, but the quality of the jacks to hook it up weren't sufficient for my system which has an amplifier. I had to return this and purchase one of two other similar products for $200 instead, and these had heavy duty transmitters that could handle the feed.

One was a pioneer DEH-P6100BT and the other JVC KDR900; both of these have the same blue tooth capabilities as the sony but better quality hardware for nicer systems.

hope this helped, I sat at the installer and wasted a half day to learn this!