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 :I wonder why this model was discontinued?
The chrome finish combined with the 32,000-color TFT screen is a nice touch and ahead of it's time. However over owning this product for about 15 or so months I have slowly explored some of the features and made some disappointing discoveries. None of the "defects" with the device make it inoperable, however it just makes the Sony MEX-5DI irritating to own and the unit somewhat fussy.
Here are some of the problems in the sequence which I found them: 1) Two pixels solid blue (will not change). 2) Start-up screen that used to display "Sony" simply turns on to a white greyish screen and seconds later goes from grey to bright white to the normal screen (repeats every hard and soft restart.) 3) When in CD mode combined with the "image view" of the CD jacket mode (the most complicated of the different available view modes) when switching source the image freezes. 4) Upon exiting the "Sound" menu, the screen freezes up. 5) The XM logo in XM mode disappeared and I can't get it back.
Most of the problems I have described are just irritants. Some problems can be alleviated by simply restarting the unit with a hard restart (holding the off button down.) However if you plan to compete with a $600 piece of equipment, I would probably pick a different brand. I spoke with their Sony customer care rep and they said that because I owned the unit past the initial warrantee I would have to send them $125 flat fee to look at it. Forget that... Talking to the Sony people was just about as irritating. I called them once about a year ago and again yesterday. Their answers apparently are canned off a flowchart. Most of the solutions involved resetting the CD player with the reset switch or turning the unit off which again alleviates the problem until the next time the unit freezes. For $439 I can buy the M9900 model which hopefully they worked the bugs out.
None of the problems I mentioned were enough alone to send the unit back, but for such a large investment, was a disappointment.
 :Top of the line, but not perfect
Let's start by getting the obvious out of the way. This CD player is gorgeous. From the chrome face and LCD screen, to the amount of features the Mex-5di offers, it's quite an amazing head unit. CD/mp3 playback quality is great, but keep in mind that the Mex-5di has no built-in amplification, so for good sound quality you'll also need good aftermarket amplifiers.
The motorized CD tray is a nice touch, and coupled with Sony's G-protection, you'll never hear another distracting "chirp" of the CD skipping when you drive through a pothole.
Also nice is the ability to personalize your CD player with pictures and short movie clips. Sizing the movie clips for playback takes some work however, as the image cannot be over 64x64 bytes and cannot be more than 10 frames long. The Mex-5di is more flexible with still pictures, and will automatically size pictures to fit the display.
Most important to keep in mind is the fact that the short movie clips and slideshows will play back WHILE DRIVING, and it is completely legal for it to do so.
I do however have one complaint about this CD player, and that is the lack of a detachable face. For one, anyone who sees you drive by will most likely see your bright expensive CD player shining back at them. Sony did come up with an alternative method to deter theft, but without giving away what it is... let's just say it won't work, and without an alarm system on your car you'll spend a lot of time worrying about the safety of your CD player.
Also, I live in New England and in the winter the temperature in the car will often times drop below freezing. Without a detachable faceplate, the liquid crystal display is subject to the elements and it will freeze. This won't be a problem unless you turn the unit on while the temperature in the car is below freezing. When the Mex-5di's display turns on while the crystals are frozen, the rapid heating will cause the crystals to expand and crack, ruining the display. So remember to keep the unit off for a good 10 minutes while the car is warming up.
All in all, the Mex-5di is a top-notch CD player. If Sony came out with this same model tomorrow with a detach face, I would sell my Mex-5di and buy the new model. But as of right now, this CD player is hands-down the best on the market.
:Just missed being great.
Very functional with excellent sound, clarify, and aesthetics. Very clean look out front but lots of solid gear under the chrome hood here.
Use of MP3, CD and including the memory stick is a nice touch. Lot's of flexibility here.
Fun to take photos and download them to the display. Doesn't record like Sony's most expensive model but why would you want to? For [a higher price] I would rather see this unit include a LCD display for a in-dash roll out monitor for a GPS system. Also the ability to change the LED lighting from blue to green or red and an optional black to the chrome plated cover would be welcome additions. That said, this unit is top notch or it would not be residing in my Lexus SC400's $6K system. I hooked this Sony MEX-5DI up with Boston Acoustics' top-of-the-speakers front and rear with 2 ea. additional 10" BA sub woofers in the trunk. I used 2 ea. Extant X-series amps to finish off and power the entire system. Many people tell me it's the finest system they have ever heard. That pretty much speaks for itself in my view.
 
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