Sony ICD-BX800 Manual

 PLAY/STOP•ENTER

FOLDER/MENU



–, +

  Press and hold FOLDER/MENU to enter 

the menu mode.
The menu mode window will be 

displayed.

  Press – or + to select the menu 

item for which you want to make setting, 

and then press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press – or + to select the setting 

that you want to set, and then press 

 PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press  (stop) to exit the menu mode.

If you do not press any button for 1 minute, 

the menu mode is automatically cancelled and 

the window will return to the normal display.

Press FOLDER/MENU during menu mode.

Press  (stop).



Sets the recording mode.

SHQ*: 

Super high-quality monaural recording mode (44.1 kHz/192 kbps)

You can record with monaural super high-quality sound.

HQ: 

High-quality monaural recording mode (44.1 kHz/128 kbps)

You can record with monaural high-quality sound.

SP: 

Standard play monaural recording mode (44.1 kHz/48 kbps)

You can record with standard quality sound.

LP: 

Long play monaural recording mode (11.025 kHz/8 kbps)

You can record for a longer time with monaural sound.

Sets the microphone sensitivity.

*:

To record a sound far away from the IC recorder or a low sound, such as 

a recording made in a spacious room.

:

To record dictation with a microphone in front of your mouth, a sound 

near the IC recorder, or a loud sound.

Sets the VOR (Voice Operated Recording) function. 

ON:

Recording starts when the IC recorder detects sound and pauses when 

no sound is heard, eliminating recording during soundless periods. The 

VOR function is activated when 



 REC/PAUSE is pressed.

OFF*:

The VOR function does not work.

Adds a recording to a previously recorded message or adds an overwrite 

recording during playback.

ON:

You can add a recording or overwrite a recording.

ADD*: 

You can add a recording.

OVER: 

You can overwrite a recording.

OFF*:

You cannot add a recording or overwrite a recording.

Sets the DPC (Digital Pitch Control) function.

ON:

You can adjust the speed of the playback in a range from +100% to 

–50%, by 10% increments for the + setting and by 5% increments for the 

– setting.

–30%*

OFF*:

The DPC function is cancelled.

Sets the noise cut function.

ON:

The distortion of very low and high frequencies which are outside the 

human voice range is reduced, therefore you can hear the human voice 

more clearly.

OFF*:

The noise cut function does not work.

Sets the easy search function.

ON: 

You can go forward for about 10 seconds by pressing 



+ and go back 

for about 3 seconds by pressing –



. This function is useful when 

attempting to locate desired point in a long recording.

OFF*:

The easy search function does not work. When you press 



+ or 

–



, a message will be moved forward or backward.

Plays back the messages in the selected folder continuously.

ON: 

The CONT function is activated.

OFF*: 

A message is played back and the IC recorder stops at the beginning of 

the next message.

ELAPSE*:

During recording, the recording time of the current message

During playing back, the elapsed playback time of one message

REMAIN:

During recording or being stopped, the available recording time

During playing back, the remaining time of the message

REC DATE:

Date recorded

REC TIME:

Time recorded
Notes

If the remaining recording time is less than 1 minute, the display will 

change automatically to the remaining time display and the display will 

flash.

If the IC recorder is left unoperated for more than 3 seconds in the stop 

mode, the display will return to the current time, regardless of the display 

setting.







Sets the clock by setting year, month, day, hour, and minute in sequence.

Sets the clock display.

12H: 

AM12:00 = midnight, PM12:00 = noon

24H*: 

0:00 = midnight, 12:00 = noon

Sets whether a beep will be heard or not.

ON*:

A beep will sound to indicate that an operation has been accepted or an 

error has occurred.

OFF:

No beep sound will be heard.
Note

The alarm sounds even if you set “BEEP” to “OFF” in the menu.



Turns the operation indicator on or off during operation.

ON*:

During recording or playback, the operation indicator lights or flashes.

OFF:

The operation indicator does not light or flash, even during operation.

Sets the alarm.

ON: 

To set the alarm, select “ON” and set the date, time or day of the week, or 

choose “DAILY” for playback.

B-PLAY*: 

The selected message will be played back after the alarm when the 

alarm time comes.

BEEP: 

Only the alarm will sound when the alarm time comes.

PLAY:

Only the selected message will be played back when the alarm time 

comes.

OFF*: 

The alarm setting is cancelled.

You can set only one alarm each one message.

“ALARM OFF (or ON)” will not appear and the alarm cannot be set if the 

clock has not been set or no message has been recorded in the selected 

folder.

When the clock has not been set or no messages are recorded, you cannot 

set the alarm.

The alarm sounds even if you set “BEEP” to “OFF” in the menu.

If you try to set the alarm to play back a message at a previously set 

time on another message, “PRE SET” will be displayed, preventing new 

settings.

If the alarm time comes during recording, the alarm will sound after the 

recording is finished. “



” will flash when the alarm time comes.

If the alarm time comes while you are updating data, the alarm will be 

cancelled automatically.

If more than one alarm time comes, only the first message will be played 

back with an alarm.

Once the alarm is set, the alarm will not be cancelled, even after the 

message is played back.

If the alarm time comes while another message is being played back with 

an alarm, the payback stops and the new message will be played back.

If you divide a message you have set an alarm for, the alarm setting 

remains on only the first part of the divided message.

If you delete a message on which you have set an alarm, that alarm will be 

also cancelled.

If the alarm time comes during erasing operation, alarm will sound for 10 

seconds after the erasing is finished and playback begins.



























Locks the message so that you cannot move it, erase it, add a new message 

to it, add an overwritten message to it, or divide it.

ON: 

The lock function is activated.

OFF*: 

The lock function is cancelled.

The selected message will be moved to the selected folder ( ,  ,  ,  

, or  ).

Before attempting to move a message, select the message to be moved, and 

then go to the menu window.

All messages in the selected folder will be erased.

Select a folder from which all messages are to be erased, and then go to the 

menu window and press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER while “ALL ERASE” is 

flashing.

If you connect commercially available 

headphones to the  (headphone) jack 

before you start, you can monitor the 

recording. You can adjust the monitoring 

volume by pressing VOL +/–, but the 

recording level is fixed.

You can select the recording mode in the 

menu when the IC recorder is in the stop 

mode.

  Press and hold FOLDER/MENU to enter 

the menu mode.
The menu mode window will be 

displayed.

  Press – or + to select “MODE,” 

and then press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press – or + to select “SHQ,” 

“HQ,” “SP,” or “LP,” and then press 

 PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press  (stop) to exit the menu mode.

For details about the settings, see “Menu 

settings.”

To record with better sound quality, select 

the SHQ or HQ mode.

The recording mode is set to “SHQ” when 

you purchase the IC recorder.

You cannot set the recording mode while 

recording.



You can set the microphone sensitivity in 

the menu when the IC recorder is in the 

recording or stop mode.

  Press and hold FOLDER/MENU to enter 

the menu mode.
The menu mode window will be 

displayed.

  Press – or + to select “SENS,” 

and then press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press – or + to select “

” or  

“

,” and then press 

 PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press  (stop) to exit the menu mode.

For details about the settings, see “Menu 

settings.”

The microphone sensitivity is set to “

” 

when you purchase the IC recorder.

You can divide a message during recording 

so that the message is divided into two 

parts, and a new message number is added 

to the newer part of the divided message.

Once a message is divided, you cannot re-

combine the divided messages.

  Press DIVIDE during recording.

“DIVIDE” and a new message number 

flash in the display window and the new 

message number is added at the point 

you pressed the button. The message will 

be recorded as two messages, however 

recording continues without stopping.

Message is divided.

Message 2 and Message 3 are recorded 

without stopping.

Message 1

Message 2

Message 3

You can divide the currently recorded message 

during recording pause.



You need a certain amount of free space in 

the memory to divide a message.

You cannot divide a message at the very 

beginning (0.5 seconds from the beginning) 

of the message.

When you divide a message into two, at the 

point of division, the end of the first message 

and the beginning of the second message 

may be interrupted.

If you divide messages too frequently while 

the IC recorder is recording them, the 

following phenomenon may occur: The 

operation indicator keeps flashing, and you 

cannot operate the IC recorder for a certain 

period. This is not a malfunction. Wait until 

the operation indicator goes off.

When you divide a message into two, at the 

point of division, the end of the first message 

and the beginning of the second message 

may overlap. You may hear the same sounds 

at these points in both messages.

If the remaining recording time is less than 3 

seconds, you cannot divide a message.















  Connect an external microphone or 

other equipment to the  (microphone) 

jack when the IC recorder is in the stop 

mode.
When the recording mode is set to 

“SHQ” or “HQ,” and a stereo microphone 

is used, you can record sound in stereo.
When you use an other equipment, 

connect the audio output connector 

(stereo mini-plug) of other equipment 

to the  (microphone) jack of the IC 

recorder using an audio connecting cable 

(not supplied).
For details about the audio connecting 

cable, see “Specifications.”

  Press FOLDER/MENU to select the 

folder in which you want to record 

messages ( ,  ,  ,  , or  ).

  Press  REC/PAUSE to start recording.

The built-in microphone is automatically 

cut off.
If the input level is not strong enough, 

adjust the microphone sensitivity on the 

IC recorder.
When a plug in power type microphone 

is connected, power is automatically 

supplied to the microphone from the IC 

recorder.

  Press  (stop) to stop recording.

When “REC-OP” in the menu is set 

to “OVER,” you can add an overwrite 

recording after a selected point in a 

recorded message. The remainder of the 

message after the selected point is deleted.

The starting point of an overwrite recording

Message 2

Message 4

The deleted part of 

Message 2

Message 3 Message 4

Message 2

Message 3

Added overwrite recording in Message 2

  Press and hold FOLDER/MENU to enter 

the menu mode.
The menu mode window will be 

displayed.

  Press – or + to select “REC-OP,” 

and then press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press – or + to select “ON,” and 

then press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press – or + to select “OVER,” 

and then press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press  (stop) to exit the menu mode.

  When the message to be overwritten is 

played back, press  REC/PAUSE.

 and “OVER” will flash and the IC 

recorder stops in the recording pause 

mode.

  While “OVER” is flashing, press  REC/

PAUSE again.
The operation indicator will light in red, 

and recording starts.

  Press  (stop) to stop recording.

You cannot overwrite a recoding if the 

remaining memory is insufficient.

The overwritten portion of a message will be 

recorded in the same recording mode.

If 10 minutes have passed after step 6, you 

must start the procedure again from the 

beginning.









Connect a supplied or commercially 

available headphones to the  

(headphone) jack. The built-in speaker 

will be automatically disconnected.

Connect an active or passive speaker (not 

supplied) to the  (headphone) jack.

When “EASY-S” is set to “ON” in the menu, 

you can quickly locate the point at which 

you wish to start playback by pressing 

– or + repeatedly during playback.

You can go back approx. 3 seconds by 

pressing – once, or advance approx. 

10 seconds by pressing + once. This 

function is useful for locating a desired 

point in a long recording.

Press and hold + during playback and 

release it at the point you wish to resume 

playback.

Press and hold – during playback 

and release it at the point you wish to 

resume playback.

The IC recorder searches at slow speed with 

playback sound first. This is useful to check 

one word forward or back. Then, if you 

press and hold the button, the IC recorder 

starts to search at higher speed. 









When you play back or fast play back 

to the end of the last message, “END” 

flashes up for 5 seconds and the operation 

indicator lights up in green. (You cannot 

hear the playback sound.) 

When “END” and the operation indicator 

go off, the IC recorder will stop at the 

beginning of the last message.

If you press and hold – while “END” 

is flashing, the messages are played back 

rapidly, and normal playback will start at 

the point you release the button. 

If the last message is long and you wish 

to start playback at a later part of the 

message, press and hold + to go to the 

end of the message and then press – 

while “END” is flashing to go back to the 

desired point.

For messages other than the last one,  go 

to the beginning of the next message and 

play backward to the desired point.

During playback, press and hold  PLAY/

STOP•ENTER until “ ” appears. The 

selected message will be played back 

repeatedly.

To resume normal playback, press 



 PLAY/STOP•ENTER again.













When the noise cut function is set to “ON” 

in the menu, the distortion of very low 

and high frequencies which are outside the 

human voice range is reduced, therefore 

you can hear the human voice more clearly.

  Press and hold FOLDER/MENU to enter 

the menu mode when the IC recorder is 

in the stop or playback mode.
The menu mode window will be 

displayed.

  Press – or + to select “N-CUT,” 

and then press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press – or + to select “ON,” and 

then press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press  (stop) to exit the menu mode.

The effect of the noise cut function may 

be different depending on the condition 

of the recorded voice.

When you are using the built-in speaker 

or monitoring the recording, the noise cut 

function may not be effective.

Set “N-CUT” to “OFF” in step 3.







  During playback, press   (repeat) A-B 

to specify the starting point A.
“A-B B” flashes.

  Press   (repeat) A-B again to specify 

the finishing point B.
“ ” and “A-B” are displayed and 

the specified section is played back 

repeatedly.

Press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

Press  (stop).

During A-B Repeat playback, press 

 (repeat) A-B again to specify a new 

starting point A. Then specify a new 

finishing point B, as in step 2.

You cannot specify the finishing point B 

before the starting point A has been set.

You cannot set point A and point B at 

the very beginning (0.5 seconds from the 

beginning) or at the very end (0.5 seconds 

prior to the end) of the message.







You can record the sound of the IC recorder 

with other equipment.

Before you start recording, we recommend 

you to make trial recording first.

  Connect the  (headphone) jack of the 

IC recorder to the audio input connector 

(stereo minijack) of other equipment 

using an audio connecting cable (not 

supplied).
For details about the audio connecting 

cable, see “Specifications.”

  Press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER to start 

playback and at the same time set the 

connected equipment to the recording 

mode.
A message from the IC recorder will be 

recorded on the equipment connected.

  Press  (stop) on the IC recorder and 

the connected equipment at the same 

time to stop recording.

You can divide a message during playback, 

so that the message is divided into two 

parts and a new message number is added 

to the newer part of the divided message. 

By dividing a message, you can easily find 

the point from which you want to play back 

when you make a long recording such as at 

a meeting. You can divide a message until 

the total number of messages in the folder 

reaches 99.

  Press DIVIDE while you are playing 

back the message you want to divide.
The current message number and 

“DIVIDE” flash.

  Press DIVIDE.

“DIVIDE” appears, a new number is 

added to the newer part of the divided 

message, and the message numbers 

of the following messages will be 

incremented by one.

Message 1

Message 2

A Message is divided.

Message 3

Message 1

Message 4

Message 2 Message 3

The message numbers are incremented.

Press  (stop) before step 2.

You need a certain amount of free space in 

the memory to divide a message.

If 99 messages have been recorded in a 

folder, you cannot divide a message. In that 

case, reduce the number of messages to 98 

or less by erasing unwanted messages or by 

moving some of the messages to another 

folder before dividing a message.

When you divide a message with a title and 

artist name, the newer part has the same title 

and artist name.

Once a message is divided, you cannot 

combine divided messages using the IC 

recorder.

If you divide a message frequently, the unit 

may become unable to divide the message 

further.

If you divide a message with an alarm 

setting, the same alarm setting remains only 

with the former message divided.

You cannot divide a message at the very 

beginning (0.5 seconds from the beginning) 

or at the very end (0.5 seconds prior to the 

end) of the message.

If you divide a message during A-B Repeat 

playback or one message repeat playback, 

the repeat setting will be cancelled.

If more than 10 seconds have passed after 

step 1, you must start the procedure again 

from the beginning.

Press – or + to display the message 

number, as the divided messages now each 

have message numbers.





















Operate the unit only on 3.0 V or 2.4 V DC. 

Use two LR03 (size AAA) alkaline batteries 

or two NH-AAA rechargeable batteries.

Do not operate the unit while driving, 

cycling or operating any motorized vehicle.

Do not leave the unit in a location near 

heat sources, or in a place subject to direct 

sunlight, excessive dust or mechanical 

shock.

Should any solid object or liquid fall into 

the unit, remove the batteries and have 

the unit checked by qualified personnel 

before operating it any further.

Be careful not to allow water to splash 

on the unit. The unit is not water-proof. 

In particular, be careful in the following 

situations.

When you have the unit in your pocket 

and go to the bathroom, etc.

When you bend down, the unit may 

drop into the water and may get wet.









When you use the unit in an 

environment where the unit is exposed 

to rain, snow, or humidity.

In circumstances where you get sweaty.

If you touch the unit with wet hands 

or if you put the unit in the pocket of 

sweaty clothes, the unit may get wet.

You may feel pain in your ears if you 

use the headphones when the ambient 

air is very dry. This is not because of 

a malfunction of the headphones, but 

because of static electricity accumulated 

in your body. You can reduce static 

electricity by wearing non-synthetic 

clothes that prevent the emergence of 

static electricity.

Noise may be heard when the unit is 

placed near an AC power source, a 

fluorescent lamp or a mobile phone 

during recording or playback.

Noise may be recorded when an object, 

such as your finger, etc., rubs or scratches 

the unit during recording.











Capacity (User available capacity)

2 GB (approx. 1.79 GB = 1,924,136,960 Byte)

A part of the memory capacity is used as a 

management area.
Frequency range

SHQ: 75 Hz - 20,000 Hz

HQ: 75 Hz - 17,000 Hz

SP: 75 Hz - 15,000 Hz

LP: 80 Hz - 3,500 Hz

MP3 bit rate and sampling frequency for 

recording mode

SHQ: 44.1 kHz, 192 kbps

HQ: 44.1 kHz, 128 kbps

SP: 44.1 kHz,  48 kbps

LP: 11.025 kHz, 8 kbps

Speaker

Approx. 28 mm 

(1 1/8 in.)

 dia.

Input/Output

Microphone jack (minijack, stereo)

input for plug in power, minimum 

input level 0.4 mV, 3 kilohms or lower 

impedance microphone

Headphone jack (minijack, stereo)

output for 16 ohms - 300 ohms 

headphones

Playback speed control (DPC)

+100% to –50%
Power output

300 mW
Power requirements

Two LR03 (size AAA) alkaline batteries 

(supplied): 3.0 V DC

Two NH-AAA rechargeable batteries (not 

supplied): 2.4 V DC
Operating temperature

5˚C - 35˚C 

(41˚F - 95˚F)


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

Dimensions (w/h/d) (not incl. projecting 

parts and controls) (JEITA)*

1

37 mm × 111 mm × 21.2 mm 

(1 1/2 in. × 4 3/8 in. 

× 27/32 in.)

Mass (JEITA)*

1

Approx. 71 g 

(2 1/2 oz)

 including LR03 (size 

AAA) alkaline batteries

*

1

  Measured value by the standard of JEITA 

(Japan Electronics and Information 

Technology Industries Association)

Supplied accessories

See “Step 1: Checking the Contents of the 

Package.”
Optional accessories

Active speaker SRS-M50

Electret condenser microphone ECM-DM5P, 

ECM-Z60 (U.S.A. only), ECM-CS10, 

ECM-CZ10, ECM-DS70P, ECM-DS30P, 

ECM-TL1

Audio connecting cable* RK-G136, RK-G139 

(excluding Europe)

Rechargeable battery NH-AAA-B2K

Battery charger BCG-34HS2KA (excluding 

Latin America), BCG-34HLD22K (Latin 

America only)
* Audio connecting cable

RK-G139  Stereo 

mini-plug

Mini-plug 

(monaural)

RK-G136  Stereo 

mini-plug

Stereo 

mini-plug

Your dealer may not handle some of the 

above listed optional accessories. Please ask 

the dealer for detailed information.

Design and specifications are subject to 

change without notice.

The maximum recording time of all the folders is as follows.
SHQ mode

22 hr. 15 min.

33 hr. 20 min.

89 hr.

534 hr. 25 min.

(hr. : hours/min. : minutes)

*

2

  When you are going to record continuously for a long time, you may have to replace the batteries 

with new ones in the midst of recording.

*

3

  The maximum recording time varies if you record messages in mixed recording mode.

When using Sony LR03 (SG) (size AAA) alkaline batteries (with continuous use)
Recording mode*

5

Recording

Approx. 34 hr. 

Approx. 34 hr.

Approx. 39 hr.

Approx. 55 hr.

Playback*

6

 through 

speaker

Approx. 12 hr. 

Approx. 12 hr.

Approx. 12 hr.

Approx. 12 hr.

Playback using the 

headphones

Approx. 36 hr. 

Approx. 36 hr.

Approx. 36 hr.

Approx. 36 hr.

(hr. : hours)

When using Sony NH-AAA rechargeable batteries (with continuous use)
Recording mode*

5

Recording

Approx. 22 hr. 

Approx. 22 hr.

Approx. 27 hr.

Approx. 37 hr.

Playback*

6

 through 

speaker

Approx. 10 hr. 

Approx. 10 hr.

Approx. 10 hr.

Approx. 10 hr.

Playback using the 

headphones

Approx. 25 hr. 

Approx. 25 hr.

Approx. 25 hr.

Approx. 25 hr.

(hr. : hours)

*

4

  The battery life is measured in testing using methods proprietary to Sony. The battery life may 

shorten depending on how you operate the IC recorder.

*

5

  For details about the recording mode, see “Menu settings.”

*

6

  When playing back music through the internal speaker with the volume level set to 27

MPEG Layer-3 audio coding technology 

and patents licensed from Fraunhofer IIS 

and Thomson.

All other trademarks and registered 

trademarks are trademarks or registered 

trademarks of their respective holders.

Furthermore, “ 

TM

 ” and “ 



 ” are not 

mentioned in each case in this manual.

When “REC-OP” in the menu is set to 

“ADD,” you can add a recording to the 

message being played back. The added 

recording will be placed after the current 

message, and will be counted as a part of 

the message.

During playback of Message 3

Added recording

Message 3

Message 4

Message 3

Message 4

After adding a recording

  Press and hold FOLDER/MENU to enter 

the menu mode.
The menu mode window will be 

displayed.

  Press – or + to select “REC-OP,” 

and then press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press – or + to select “ON,” and 

then press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press – or + to select “ADD,” 

and then press  PLAY/STOP•ENTER.

  Press  (stop) to exit the menu mode.

  When the message to be added is played 

back, press  REC/PAUSE.

 and “ADD” will flash and the IC 

recorder stops in the recording pause 

mode.

  While “ADD” is flashing, press  REC/

PAUSE again.
The operation indicator will light in red, 

and the recording will be added at the 

end of the current message.

  Press  (stop) to stop recording.

You cannot add a recording if the remaining 

memory is insufficient.

The added portion of a message will be 

recorded in the same recording mode.

If 10 minutes have passed after step 6, you 

must start the procedure again from the 

beginning.

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Before you start recording, we recommend 

you make a trial recording first.

If the input level is not strong enough, 

connect the headphone jack (minijack, 

stereo) of other equipment to the 



 (microphone) jack of the IC recorder and 

adjust the volume level on the equipment 

connected to the IC recorder.

Stereo microphone with shirt-clip is supplied 

with some models in some regions only. 

(The clip is detachable.)

You can use the Sony ECM-DM5P, 

ECM-Z60 (U.S.A. only), ECM-CS10, 

ECM-CZ10, ECM-DS70P, ECM-DS30P 

electret condenser microphone (not 

supplied).

You can use the ECM-TL1 headphone-

type electret condenser microphone (not 

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supplied) to record sound from a telephone 

or a cell phone.

For details on how to make the connection, 

refer to the operating instructions supplied 

with the ECM-TL1 microphone.

After you have made the connection, check 

the sound quality of the conversation 

and the recording level before you start 

recording.

If the beep of the telephone or a dial tone is 

recorded, the conversation may be recorded 

with lower level of sound. In this case, start 

recording after the conversation has started.

The VOR function may not work, depending 

on the kind of telephone or the line 

condition.

We assume no responsibility whatsoever 

for any inconvenience, even if you cannot 

record a conversation using the IC recorder.

Your dealer may not handle some of the 

optional accessories. Please ask the dealer for 

detailed information.

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To clean the exterior, use a soft cloth 

slightly moistened in water. Do not use 

alcohol, benzine or thinner.

If you have any questions or problems 

concerning your unit, please consult your 

nearest Sony dealer.

To avoid potential risk of data loss 

caused by accidental operation or 

malfunction of the IC recorder, we 

recommend that you save a backup copy 

of your recorded messages on a tape 

recorder, etc.