Aiwa CDC-X217R Car CD Player

When I was writing a review for my 2001 Subaru Outback wagon (it will be published shortly), I had to basically skim over the audio section because the car did not come with the factory system. Instead, it had an Aiwa CDC-X217 stereo system in its place.

Appearance

A radio system needs easy-to-locate controls in order for the driver to change stations and change the volume level quickly without fuss. Aiwa probably knew this and created a design that incorporates a high-tech appearance with an intuitive control layout. The volume knob dominates the left side of the radio, with a mute/off button just above it. To the left are a couple buttons that change which band the system is in (AM 1 and 2, AUX, or PM 1, 2 and 3) and the stereo settings (Bass, Treble, Fade, Balance, and H-Boost). To the right are six buttons that allow for 18 radio presets in FM and 12 presets in AM, numbered one through six, and double as the controls for the CD player.

The screen itself has large numbers that normally display the time, other instances being volume level, radio station, and numbers relating to different adjustments. Underneath is an interactive sound bar that rises with the sound, acting as a faux sound meter of some sort that looks neat at night.

The radio can be set to two different ambient back lights; red or blue. The blue is calming with an icy winter sky look to it, and red is the total opposite with an angry, deep, intense glow that shows even during the day.

As the exterior goes, this is one sharp-looking radio system.

Ease of Use/Features

When I bought the car I did not expect it would take me so little time to understand how all the buttons worked. And this was without a manual.

One feature I like is the removable face. It supposedly deters thieves because what's the use of stealing the radio if you can't use it? In a world where they're more likely to steal the entire car instead, this seems like a minor yet kindhearted attempt at keeping your radio where it is.

The most confusing part of the system was easily the Mute button. I could not figure out how the heck the system shut off, so I left it on until I got sick of it. If mute cuts down the sound, I thought, then holding it must shut it off. Bingo! It turned off and I was on my way.

The mute feature is disappointing to say the least, though. Rather than fully muting the sound, it instead cuts the sound to a whisper. This is all right in situations where the radio has to be turned down in a split second, but when I hear of a mute button I expect it'll ease all sound from the speakers.

While I'm on the topic of things I dislike, I must say the screen is unbelievably hard to read during the day. When I first got the car I could not see the small letters for the life of me. The system does not have the ability to brighten during the day and dim during the night, so it instead stays at one brightness no matter what time of day it is. I had to find my way around the settings like I was blindfolded as I tried finding the bass adjustment. On the bright side (no pun intended), I now know my way around the settings without even looking at the screen.

Last but certainly not least is the convenient "AUX" jack for iPods, satellite radios, et cetera. I like this because I can easily hook up a tape player or my Sirius satellite radio without a fuss. The radio automatically enters AUX mode when it senses a connection, and the sound quality from the satellite is superb thanks to a direct feed from the radio.
So what about the CD Player, Scott?

To be perfectly honest, I hadn't used the CD player until recently. One of the reasons why I bought the Subaru was because of that feature, and yet when I bought a new CD, I popped it into the radio and got a loud grinding noise from inside the device. I ended up with a scratched CD and hurt feelings. It turns out the part that holds the CD in place while it spins was not working properly, so when I put the CD in all it did was fling itself around the player's internals. I did not use it again for over a month.

When I did get around to trying a CD again, the player worked perfectly. i have driven with a CD playing and from what I've experienced so far the player doesn't skip unless I hit a large enough bump.

When I saw reviews on other sites, owners have also mentioned problems with the CD player. I rarely, if ever, use the CD player because I got Sirius, though I can see how this can be a problem with many people.

How's the sound?

The Aiwa CDC-X217 is made to work with any car that has a four-speaker stereo system. It pumps out 45 watts per speaker (180 watts total), and while this may not seem like a lot, it takes advantage of its H-Boost to really impress the non-audiophiles. Even with the Subaru's stock speakers, it has amazing bass and clarity. I have cranked up the volume to "50" and even "60" (out of "80") and the whole car starts to vibrate well before the speakers ever think about giving up. I can see this system absolutely rocking with more powerful speakers, but as it is I'm giving the sound quality a big two thumbs up.

Overall

For about $70 brand new, the Aiwa CDC-X217 stereo is an impressive system for those wanting some flash for a low amount of cash. It has certainly deserved a recommendation from me, but with my insecurity with the CD player, I cannot recommend it 100%.

~Scott