Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony CDX-DAB6650 - In Car CD player with DAB Radio

After a very long wait, Sony have finally released a DAB head unit. It is an excellent stereo which only drops a star for not including a CD/MD changer option. It is very easy to use, sounds great and has exceptional DAB coverage with the included DAB antenna which fits to the inside of the windscreen (very unobtrusively). Like all Sony car audio, it also looks the part. As my car has no clock, I like the fact that this stereo also has the time permanently displayed. All in all, I can highly recommend this unit IF you do not need the CD/MD changer controls. I am just wondering how useful the remote control will be seeing as the head unit is all of about 12" away from my left hand when driving!

Fitting the sony was quite a straight forward job using the uso connectors.Make sure you get the dab aerial in the correct place because its hard to move once fitted. I would also strongly recommend that you read the manual before fitting.Good sound well laid out good features such as DSO easy to use equalisers.I also got very good results playing my MP3 player through the audio input. If you have a resonable idea of fitting any hi-fi equipment together, then I would see no problem fitting this item DIY.

After waiting for what seems to be an awful long time, Sony have entered the car stereo/DAB market. After putting up with an inferior Goodmans DAB car radio for the past 18 months, I was relieved to be able to upgrade to a reputable brand again. This head unit is fab, it does everything bar control a boot changer (which I don't possess so isn't a problem for me but maybe for others). I was pleased to be informed by the fitter that the DAB aerial was included in the box (see review below re:aerial) and was easily attached to the windscreen. The unit is simplicity itself to use. Didn't need to refer to the manual at all to get all the basic functions up and running. It sounds great as well even with the 2 original speakers in my car. It drops a star for not controlling boot changers as originally quoted in the spec way back when it was supposed to be released as the option to upgrade would always be nice...

Main reason for buying this was the DAB radio which I listen to at home and work, mostly 6 MUSIC , also I wanted a mp3 compatable cd player, the Sony has it all, DAB reception is excellent and the mp3 playback is very good.
Fitting the aerial was a bit fiddly but worth taking time over, hiding the cable was easy in my primera, setting up the unit was also a bit fiddly as the instructions arn't brilliant, i couldn't understand why it couldn't find any DAB stations until i'd worked out you had to press and hold the "next station" button and leave it for a minute or two, shame it doesn't have an auto volume control and i can't see any real use for the remote but that aside its a great piece of kit

Well now....cracking piece of kit! I have to say first of all, this is £90 cheaper than Halfords! Get it for that reason alone if you want a tidy bit of DAB in your motor.

Having changed stereos in the car before i thought this may be a bit too much for me having read some of the reviews beforehand about the dash work involved in installing it. Pleasantly surprised however to find that there wasnt....took me longer getting the old radios cradle out than putting this one in. Managed to find a path for the DAB aerial to go down between the door hinge and the join of the dashboard and under the glove box at the back.....little bit of sticky tape does wonders if you dont want to rip your car apart.

Once installed (looks very good by the way) the sound quality is excellent. My twin door speakers helps i'm sure, but theres no interference that i can hear anyway. When i tuned to my local station i was again chuffed....the DAB kicked in automatically for that one. Managed to find a few more with some manual tuning, slightly limited however due to my location.

MP3 discs do indeed play the tag details, very handy in fact when you consider how many tunes you can squeeze onto CD's in this format.

All in all, loving my new radio, listen to it more often now that the quality is vastly improved. Only slightly bigger than my old one so the case is reasonable to carry. Equaliser settings give good thump to the driving anthems (again, possibly dependent on how good your car speakers are). A shout to another reviewer though....when you install it take the guys advice....stick the aerial to the windscreen with blue tack first to ensure you get a reception from DAB and you know where the wiring is going, it will be a nightmare removing it as once its stuck it certainly seems stuck for good. This will be a pickle as its definitely coming with me when i trade the car!

At £140 though..........need i say more?!