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Car Audio

Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX5500 Bluetooth Media Receiver

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Sony XAV-AX5500

Sony’s new XAV-AX5500 media receiver not only covers all the ground, but it also raises the bar in terms of smartphone connectivity. Equipped with WebLink 2.0, you can see and control your compatible smartphone right from the 6.95-inch touchscreen on the radio. Of course, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, high-quality Bluetooth audio streaming and all the digital media support you’d ever want are also included. Let’s check it out!

Same Great Look with New Features

Sony XAV-AX5500The Sony XAV-AX5500 is an evolution of Sony’s famous XAV-AX5000 media receiver. The upgrades include WebLink 2.0 smartphone display technology that lets you cast most apps to your radio to see and hear all the action. Commands from the radio screen are fed back to the phone for easy and intuitive control. Waze and YouTube are two of the most popular applications for WebLink, and both offer an app icon on the WebLink home screen.

Users can upload home screen background images to the the XAV-AX5500 to express their style by personalizing the installation to their vehicle.

The XAV-AX5500 includes 5-volt preamp outputs instead of the 2 volts of signal available from the AX5000. This extra voltage will allow your installer to turn down the sensitivity controls on any external amplifiers to reduce background noise.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Smartphone Connectivity

Sony XAV-AX5500The AX5500 continues to offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity with its plug-and-play USB port. Both of these phone interface technologies use voice recognition to make it quick, safe and easy to access your music, make phone calls or send text messages using plain-English voice commands. Likewise, you can get turn-by-turn navigation directions to the address of your choice by simply asking.

Classic Style and Intuitive Interface Look Great in the Dash

Sony XAV-AX5500Sony has eschewed fancy colors and lines to offer a clean look that looks great in the dash of your car or truck. Six hard buttons, a large bezel-less 6.95-inch display with a capacitive touch interface and easy-to-understand menu options make this radio look great while streamlining the process of learning all the functions.

The AX5500 includes Bluetooth hands-free calling with an external microphone and high-quality audio streaming with album art display capability, thanks to AVRCP 1.3. You can have your retailer upgrade the radio with an SXV300v1 SiriusXM satellite radio tuner module for genre-specific music, information and entertainment.

Dual USB ports allow you to connect your smartphone for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto or WebLink Cast connectivity and play MP3, WMA or FLAC audio, or MP4, WMV or MKV videos from a USB memory stick connected to the other port. The USB ports provide 1.5 amps and 500 mA of charging current.

Vehicle Integration Features

Sony XAV-AX5500The XAV-AX5500 has a dedicated backup camera input jack so your installer can connect a backup camera and have it display automatically when the vehicle is in reverse. The radio also includes support for steering wheel audio control interfaces so you can use the factory buttons to change volume, tracks or stations.

The amplifier built into the AX5500 is rated to produce 20 watts of power into each of four channels. The radio includes adjustable electronic crossovers so that the built-in amp can be optimized for use with an external subwoofer system. Speaking of signal processing, the radio includes Sony’s Dynamic Soundstage Organizer. It helps create a realistic soundstage across the dash of your vehicle and is adjustable to accommodate any type of vehicle. Your installer can further fine-tune the sound of your system with the built-in 10-band equalizer and Extra Bass processing.

Installer-Friendly Design

Sony XAV-AX5500Your installer will love integrating the XAV-AX5500 into the dash of your vehicle, thanks to the compact chassis design. Instead of being 4 inches tall by about 6 inches deep, the rear chassis is 2 inches tall and an inch shorter. This design leaves more room for interface modules, wiring and RCA cables that are typically tucked behind the unit.

Upgrade Your Driving Experience with the Sony XAV-AX5500

If you’re shopping for a new radio for your car or truck, drop by your local authorized Sony car audio retailer and ask for a demonstration of the XAV-AX5500. From its intuitive interface, great looks and quick start-up process to the fantastic features and sound quality, we are sure you’ll be impressed. To learn more about this radio or any of the amazing Sony car audio products, visit their website. Be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up-to-date with the latest product releases.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Adding Navigation To The Factory Color Screen In Your Vehicle

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Adding NavigationLet’s say you purchased a brand-new Dodge Journey, Chevy Silverado or Ford F-150. The vehicle has a big color display for the audio system, and it may even show the heating and air conditioning controls on the same screen. But alas, it would have cost several thousand dollars to add the factory navigation system because the option package it was in included features you didn’t want. A sunroof, leather upholstery or automatic climate controls are all great options – but if adding navigation is what you want, then why pay for options you don’t need? Fear not – your local specialist car audio retailer can help you out.

Add-On Navigation Systems

Adding Navigation
The NTV-KIT607 Toyota Navigation Kit From NAV-TV.

Companies like NavTV and Advent have developed add-on navigation systems that work with factory radios and their color displays. The systems include a navigation computer and an integration module that allows graphics to be displayed on the factory screen. Many vehicles with a factory touchscreen can have those input commands fed into the navigation module. There are also some navigation kits that include their own touchscreen overlays for vehicles that don’t include a touch interface.

Expert Installation Required

The installation of these systems is plug-and-play. That being said, a great deal of vehicle disassembly is often required to make all the connections to the factory screen. Some vehicles require the touchscreen panel itself to be taken apart. Taking your new car apart is not something that should be done by someone without extensive experience. Panels can easily be scratched or crack if they are not maneuvered properly. It is best to seek out the assistance of a trained and experience installation technician. He or she will also need to locate the GPS antenna, connect to the factory audio system wiring for voice prompts and tap into the vehicle CAN bus.

Benefits Of Navigation

Adding Navigation
iGo offers enhanced safety and convenience while driving.

Navigation is more than just an intelligent mapping system. If you are traveling in an area that you are not familiar with, having maneuver prompts before having to turn or exit an interstate is not only convenient, but can reduce the chances of having to make a sudden and potentially dangerous lane change. It has also been proven that navigation systems save fuel by reducing the chances of getting lost or missing an exit.

Navigation Software

Adding Navigation
Full-Feature controls are offered by the iGo navigation systems.

Different manufacturers use different navigation software applications – Garmin and iGo are amongst the most popular. The mapping in the systems can be upgraded in the same manner as an aftermarket navigation radio: with downloads available from a manufacturer’s website. These systems include street addresses as well as Points of Interest (POI) information, so you can search for the name of a restaurant or hotel.

Want To Learn More About Adding Navigation?

If you have a vehicle from Ford, Chrysler, GM, Nissan, Honda or Toyota and would like to find out if you can add navigation to the factory screen, visit your local BestCarAudio.com specialist. They would be happy to research availability for the make, model and trim level of your vehicle. They can provide an estimate to supply the product, as well as install it for you. Give them a call today.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: Hertz Mille Pro Speakers

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Hertz Mille Pro

Hertz Mille Pro speakers are designed for car audio enthusiasts who demand world-class performance and impressive value. The Mille Pro series includes five component speaker systems, a pair of coaxial speakers, or drivers in a-la-carte pairs for an actively filtered system. Trickle-down technology from the esteemed Legend Series helps to ensure that music lovers can find a solution that fits their needs.

Hertz Mille Pro Speaker Systems

Starting with the flagship MPK 1650.3 Pro, this two-way component speaker set includes a pair of 6.5-inch MP 165P.3 woofers, two MP 28.3 1 3/8” tweeters and a set of MPCX 165.3 passive crossover networks. The woofers are based on a cast aluminum alloy basket and use a 1-inch polyamide voice coil former with a 0.55-inch tall winding. The woofers have a nominal impedance of 3 ohms to maximize the power production capabilities of the connected amplifier. Xmax is specified at 4.5 mm, and power handling is a healthy 125 watts continuous. The woofer cones are made from a pressed pulp paper with cotton fibers, and they feature an exponential-curve deep-V shape. The cone is attached to a rubber surround that Hertz calls “Boundary Free” in reference to the smooth transition between the area that attaches to the cone and the outer roll. The MP 28.3 tweeters have a 1.1-inch voice coil and use lightweight CCAW wiring to assist with amazing transient response. The Tetolon fiber domes work with tuned rear chambers to deliver an extremely low resonant frequency of 900 Hz. This low Fs value allows for low crossover points and improves the overall dispersion performance of the set. The passive crossover networks include tweeter level attenuation switches and two contour settings to compensate for different tweeter installation positions.

The MPK 165P.3 Pro set uses the same 6.5-inch MP 165P.3 woofers as the above system with a set of MP 25.3 1.14-inch tweeters. These smaller tweeters are more suitable for integration into factory pods in sail panel, A-pillar and door locations. The crossover point in the included MPCX 2P.3 crossovers is at 4 kHz instead of 3 kHz, as in the 1650.3 Pro set.

Hertz Mille Pro
The MP 165P.3 Pro woofers feature a large 95 mm ceramic magnet for great efficiency in a package with a mounting depth of only 2.52 inches. Optional mesh grilles are available for custom installations.

The MPK 165.3 Pro Set uses the MP 25.3 tweeters with a set of 6.5-inch MP 165.3 woofers. These woofers retain the cast aluminum basket, pressed cotton and pulp-paper cone, the Boundary Free surround and a 1-inch voice coil design. Power handling is somewhat more modest at 110 watts, and Xmax is plus or minus 4 mm. The MPCX 2.3 crossovers have a 0 or +2 dB tweeter adjustment and filter the drivers at 3.5 kHz.

For those who require a three-way speaker solution, the MPK 163.3 Pro system adds a pair of MP 70.3 3-inch midrange drivers to the MPK 165.3 set. The mids feature a cast basket, dual neodymium magnets, cotton and pressed-pulp cones, and the Boundary Free rubber surround design. With a resonant frequency of 110 Hz and Xmax spec of 1.5 mm, these mids play down to 450 Hz with the included MPCX 3.3 passive networks.

Hertz Mille Pro
The three-way MPK 163.3 Pro set is a great upgrade solution for factory-installed audio systems that use a woofer, midrange and tweeter in the front stage speaker system.

For those who need a 5.25-inch component set, Hertz offers the MPK 130.3 Pro system. The system uses the MP 25.3 tweeters with a pair of MP 130.3 woofers. The woofers have cast baskets, and the same cone and surround design as their big-brother 6.5-inch speakers. The system includes the same MPCX 2.3 crossovers as the MPK 165.3 set.

High-Performance Coaxial Speaker Sets

There are two coaxial speaker options in the Hertz Mille Pro Series. The MPX 165.3 Pro set is a pair of two-way 6.5-inch speakers that use a 1-inch tweeter mounted at the very base of the woofer cone. The woofer uses a 1.42-inch voice coil former so that there is enough room for the tweeter to fit inside. The same paper-cotton cone and surround woofers design complement soft Tetolon diaphragms in the tweeters. Hertz added an acoustic lens on top of the tweeter to help improve off-axis performance.

Hertz Mille Pro
This cutaway view of the MPX 165.3 Pro shows the complexity involved in integrating a tweeter into the pole-piece of a woofer. The capacitor for the tweeter crossover is integrated into the assembly that bolts into the woofer.

The MPX 690.3 Pro is a set of 6×9-inch three-way speakers. The large oval woofer is complemented by a 1.4-inch soft-dome tweeter and a 1.14-inch super-tweeter. Both use the soft-dome Tetolon design with crossover points of 4 and 10 kHz, respectively, to deliver even dispersion both on- and off-axis. Power handling is rated at 130 watts, and the woofer has an Xmax spec of plus or minus 4 mm.

Premium Speaker Upgrades for Every Application

The Hertz Mille Pro series fits perfectly between the Mille Legend and the Energy speakers. The offerings combine great power handling, flexible installation options and the reputation for performance that has made Hertz one of the best-known speaker manufacturers in the car audio industry. For more information about these speakers, visit the Hertz website and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

What Is Android Auto?

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Android AutoWhen it comes to staying in touch with your family and friends while behind the wheel, we all know that it’s best to keep your cellphone in your pocket or purse. What do you do when you just have to communicate? Do it intelligently and safely with a smartphone integration system like Android Auto. Let’s look at the functionality of this unique communication solution.

What Is It?

Android AutoAndroid Auto is a software suite that runs on a multimedia source unit. Android Auto will work with most Android-based cellular phones running version 5 (Lollipop) or newer of the Android operating system.

Android Auto provides users with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that allows them to make phone calls, send and receive text messages, play music, and use Google Maps for GPS-based navigation. The entire interface was designed specifically to be used while in the car. The icons are large and easy to read, and you can use Google’s voice recognition interface to execute commands for most functions.

How Do I Use It?

Android AutoIt’s very easy to use Android Auto. Start by downloading and installing the Android Auto application on your smartphone from the Google Play store. Pair your phone to the radio over Bluetooth. Plug the USB cable into your phone. Depending on the model of your source unit, Android Auto should launch automatically or may require that you should press the Android Auto button. From there, you will see the home screen with information such as recent navigation searches and weather information. All you have to do to start using Android Auto is press the microphone button and talk. If you prefer to press buttons, there is a row of smart keys at the bottom of the screen.

What Can I Do?

Android AutoLet’s say you get stuck in traffic and you need to call someone with whom you have an appointment. Press the voice button and simply say, “Call Sam Smith” or “Call 321-555-1234.” The radio and phone will take care of the rest. The same goes for sending a text message; simply press the voice button and say “Send Sam Smith a text message.” The system will respond by asking what you want to say, to which you can reply, again verbally, “Hi, Sam, I’m stuck in traffic. I will be 20 minutes late. Please accept my apologies.” Google will send your text message. If and when Sam responds, you can ask Android Auto to read you the reply message.

Picking a song from the music stored on your phone is just as easy. Press the voice button and ask it to “Play Lorde” or anything else you have available.

Android AutoYou can use the voice recognition system to select a navigation destination just as easily. Simply press the voice button and say, “Take me to the nearest gas station” or “Find me an Italian restaurant” or “Plot a route to 555 Renegade Road in Bismarck.” There are several benefits to using Google Maps to assist in planning your route. You have access to the latest destination information from the inconceivably massive Google database. You always have the latest mapping. There is never a need to buy anything. Google provides real-time traffic flow information to help plan your route efficiently.

Additional Android Auto Applications

Android AutoAndroid Auto has released a development kit to allow third-party companies to create applications that will integrate with Android Auto. These apps include Pandora, iHeartRadio, Spotify Music, TuneIn Radio, Skype and many more. You also get access to Google Play Music for free for 90 days when you first start using Android Auto. That’s 30 million songs, right at your fingertips.

If you have an Android phone and are looking for a safe way to stay in touch, be entertained and get the best driving directions available, all while driving, then drop into your local car audio specialist retailer. Bring your phone along – chances are they will have a unit on display that you can try out.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

How Does the Drone Vehicle Smartphone Control System Work?

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How Drone Works

Drone is the world-class vehicle telematics system from Firstech – the manufacturer of Compustar security and remote start systems. Drone will let you remote start your vehicle, control the door locks and trunk release, pinpoint the GPS location, monitor driving behavior and much more using the DroneMobile app on your smartphone or their website. How all these features work may seem like magic, but it’s actually quite logical. Let’s look at how the Drone system works.

A Look at the Drone Telematics System

In terms of hardware, Drone is a small computer module that a professional technician can integrate into your vehicle to provide remote control functionality. The module includes a cellular data radio to communicate with your smartphone. The vehicle hardware works with the DroneMobile app on an iOS or Android smartphone or the accounts.dronemobile.com web interface to send commands to and display information from your vehicle.

How Drone Works
The compact Drone module is mounted inside the dash of your vehicle and serves as a high-speed interface between your smartphone and your car or truck.

What Can Drone Do?

Remote control functions like remote start, door lock control, trunk release and auxiliary output activation are just one aspect of the Drone solution. Each Drone module includes a GPS receiver that receives information from several of the 32 GPS satellites that orbit the earth at any given time. Tapping on the map button in the DroneMobile app sends a command to the vehicle module to report its location. The longitude and latitude are relayed back to your phone and overlaid onto Apple Maps (in iOS devices) or Google Maps (on Android smartphones). Accuracy is usually within several meters, so you will always know exactly where your vehicle is located.

Any command or request from the app is sent from your phone using WiFi or a cellular data connection to the Drone servers. Drone uses Amazon Web Services to host their servers because their service is one of the fastest and most robust Cloud connectivity solutions available. The command, which includes security authentication information, is checked by the servers, then forwarded to the Drone hardware in your vehicle using a cellular data connection. The Drone module receives the command and activates the appropriate function, or returns the requested information. In most cases, the entire communication process takes only a second or two.

The beauty of Drone is that there are no range limits. If your vehicle is in range of a cell-phone tower and you have access to the Internet, you are in complete control. You could be in your house, an office building, or lying on a beach in Mexico – you are still connected.

How Drone Works
Users can log in to accounts.dronemobile.com from any browser to control and locate their vehicle or configured the Drone system.

Drone Security and Vehicle Tracking Features

If you have chosen a Compustar, Arctic Start, FTX or iDatastart security system or upgraded a remote starter with security features, alerts from the vehicle will be sent to your smartphone and displayed as notifications. Firstech’s DAS-II sensor will monitor your vehicle for impacts, tilting (if someone were to jack up the vehicle to steal a wheel or the catalytic converter), glass breakage and motion or acceleration. The X1-MAX has the features of the DAS-II built into the unit. You can also configure Drone to send notifications when the ignition is turned on or off, or when the remote starter is activated. Speed limit warnings, curfew alerts and geofence notifications are also available.

How Drone Works
With push notifications, you’ll know in seconds if someone is tampering with your vehicle.

Easy and Fast Remote Control from Almost Anywhere

If you are shopping for the easiest-to-use, fastest remote-control system for your vehicle remote starter or security system, look no further. We can demonstrate the features of this amazing product and let you know what it will take to upgrade your car or truck. For more information about Drone, visit their website. You should also follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Their YouTube channel contains hundreds of videos that offer in-depth explanations of specific Drone features and technologies.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.