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Floating-face car radios are popular because of their flexible installation options and relatively massive displays. The Sony team has been hard at work updating their products, and the new 10.1-inch XAV-AX8500 digital multimedia receiver is their latest offering in this hot market segment. Let’s see what’s been added to the platform to keep it at the forefront of the category.

High-Definition 10.1-inch Floating Face Display

The first thing you’ll see in the XAV-AX8500 is its classy 10.1-inch HD display. The screen has a resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels. The touch panel has an anti-glare coating and features a capacitive-touch interface. Compared with a resistive-touch interface, the capacitive design obscures the display less, making the information on the display easier to see. The gapless design around the screen lets it blend into the display chassis. Sony leads the industry in clean and classy styling. While it might not be flashy or attention-grabbing on a display board, it looks as though it belongs in your car or truck rather than at the helm of an intergalactic spacecraft.

One of the most interesting features of this model is the multiple adjustments that can be made during and after installation in the dashboard. During installation, your technician can set, in relation to the chassis, the vertical height, the horizontal left to right position, and the depth between the screen and the chassis mount, and can tilt the screen forward and back to accommodate most dashboard slopes.

After installation, during normal use, you can adjust the screen position, with no tools or disassembly. You can swivel the screen up to 15 degrees left or right to fine-tune the viewing angle in relation to your seating position or for a passenger to view it easier, and tilt the screen forward or backward up to 15 degrees as well to mitigate any direct sunlight shining on it or to improve visibility.

The screen interface is similar to what we experienced in the XAV-9500ES Test Drive Review, with five icons across the bottom. You can pull up a complete list of additional source and setting options and swap any of them into these five primary locations. You can also upload custom wallpapers to the radio to add some personalization or choose from several preset color schemes.

This radio includes six physical buttons along the bottom of the display, making it intuitive to adjust the volume, change sources or activate voice recognition for CarPlay and Android Auto. Hard buttons, as they are called, are crucial to using the radio while keeping your eyes on the road.

Source Features

Nowadays, most people stream music from online services like Pandora, iHeartRadio or Spotify. The XAV-AX8500 includes Bluetooth streaming with radio-based control over track selection. As a Sony product, this unit also includes the high-quality LDAC codec to improve performance with modern Android-based smartphones.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is included, and wireless connectivity means your phone connects just after the radio finishes booting. Speaking of which, the Quick Wake-up design ensures that you have a rearview camera image and music playing seconds after you start the vehicle.

Of course, you can connect a USB memory stick to play MP3, WMA, WAV, ACC, FLAC, ALAC, DSF and even DSDIFF audio files. You can view AVI, MKV, MPEG-4, WMV and ASF video files to pass the time when parked. Speaking of video, there’s a micro-HDMI input beside the USB-C port on the rear panel that will work with a smartphone, laptop or even a media player. It supports video file resolutions up to 720p.

The integrated AM/FM receiver includes RBDS to show station information so you know what track is playing. Your installer can add a SiriusXM satellite radio receiver at installation time for uninterrupted entertainment from coast to coast.

Vehicle Integration and Safety Features

A significant highlight of the Sony XAV-AX8500 is that it supports the iDatalink Maestro RR and RR2 vehicle integration modules. If a Maestro RR is available for your vehicle, the radio can communicate with the vehicle computers to display information like speed, engine rpm, etc. In some applications, Maestro RR interfacing includes climate control and vehicle setting menus. Check with the retailer you’re working with for additional details.

Regarding audio features, the radio has a four-channel amplifier rated for 20 watts RMS per channel into a 4-ohm load at less than 1% THD+N. The front, rear and subwoofer preamp outputs can produce 5 volts of signal, so the gains on amplifiers can be set nice and low.

On the topic of audio features, the radio has a 14-band graphic equalizer and adjustable high-pass crossovers for the front and rear powered and preamp channels. A subwoofer crossover with polarity and level control for the preamp signal is also included. Signal delay settings are available for the front, rear, and mono subwoofer output to fine-tune the soundstage and imaging in your vehicle. Be sure to ask your installer about configuring these features during installation.

The Sony has a dedicated backup camera input and two additional video camera connections that can be used with a forward-facing camera or blind spot monitoring solutions. These camera inputs can be integrated with the Maestro module for automatic activation in a supported vehicle, or by the hardwire triggers included in the video harness. The radio includes an external Bluetooth microphone to optimize outgoing voice clarity.

Upgrade Your Vehicle with the Sony XAV-AX8500 Digital Multimedia Receiver Today!

If you’re shopping for a high-performance radio for your car, truck or SUV, visit an authorized Sony car audio retailer and ask about the new XAV-AX8500. Be sure to bring your smartphone to experience the intuitive interface and the fantastic responsiveness in person. For more information about this radio or any of Sony’s car audio products, visit their website or Facebook page.

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.

Although talking about a trunk full of high-performance subwoofers powered by big amplifiers is fun, Sony knows that many people want a more cost-effective bass upgrade for their cars and trucks. On the heels of their entirely new Mobile ES amplifiers, source units, speakers and subwoofers, Sony has launched the latest iteration of the GS series speakers and subwoofers. This Product Spotlight will look at the 12-inch XS-W124GS and 10-inch XS-W104GS car audio subwoofers.

Features of the Sony XS-W124GS Subwoofer

The 12-inch (30-cm) XS-W124GS and 10-inch (25-cm) XS-W104GS subwoofers feature five-spoke, heavy-gauge stamped steel frames. Each spoke has an embossed element to add stiffness and rigidity. The frames also feature integrated vents below the spider mounting ledge. These vents allow heat to escape from the voice coil and motor assembly and prevent pressure from building up in the spider at high excursion levels. This design feature offers direct benefits regarding increased power handling, reduced power compression and improved linearity.

The motor assembly at the base of the chassis features a pair of ferrite magnets for good efficiency. The T-yoke has a cooling vent in the center, serving the same purposes as the vents in the frame. Heat can escape from the motor, and pressure won’t build up under the dust cap. The result is an additional reduction in thermal compression and reduced distortion at high volume levels.

Each subwoofer features a pair of progressive-rate spiders attached to the cone assembly to the basket. These spiders are a feature that Sony has brought from the Mobile ES drivers. The spiders provide the necessary cone control and compliance while keeping everything centered. Sony chose moderately stiff spiders to give the drivers a higher Qts value, which translates to improved output efficiency. Tinsel leads are sewn to the spider so they won’t hit the cone and cause unwanted noises at high output levels.

Sony GS Series Subwoofer Moving Components

Both GS series subwoofers feature a rigid paper cone bonded to the voice coil former. You can see in the cutaway image that the upper spider has a reinforcing collar at the base of the cone that strengthens the joint to the voice coil former and spider to improve reliability. A full-size parabolic dust cap made from injection-molded polypropylene attaches to the surround to form the cone assembly’s face. A rubber surround serves as the upper compliance for the woofer cone. Rubber lasts much longer than foam so these woofers will sound great in your car or truck for many years. A custom-tooled trim ring adorns the outer edge of the subwoofer to give it a tidy appearance.

XS-W124GS Physical Dimensions and Driver Specifications

The XS-W124GS subwoofer has an outside diameter of 13 1/8” (332 cm) and requires a mounting hole with a diameter of 11 1/8” (280 cm). The mounting depth is 5 3/4” (143.4 cm), but your installer will want to leave some room for the vent in the T-yoke. Sony rates the XS-W124GS as capable of handling 300 watts of power using the IEC 60286-5 standard and 420 watts using the ANSI/CTA-2031 standard. Peak power handling is 1,800 watts.

Regarding Thiele/Small parameters, the driver has a resonant frequency of 31.9 ohms, an equivalent compliance value (Vas) of 49.194 liters and a Total Q (Qts) of 0.724. As mentioned, the moderately high Q-value will help increase efficiency and output. Suggested enclosures are 0.91 cubic foot for a sealed design and 1.16 cubic feet tuned to 37 hertz for bass reflex applications. The graph below shows the predicted free-field response of the two enclosures, with the driver receiving 420 watts of power.

XS-W104GS Physical Dimensions and Driver Specifications

The 10-inch XS-W104GS has an outer diameter of 11 inches (279 mm), requires a mounting hole with a diameter of 9 1/4 inches (234 mm) and requires 5 1/8 inches (129.8 mm) of depth. Rated power handling is 300 watts continuous and 350 watts using the ANSI/CTA-2031 standard. Peak power handling is 1,500 watts.

The 10-inch subwoofer has an Fs of 30.9 hertz, an equivalence compliance of 36.47 liters and a Total Q of 0.505. By way of enclosures, Sony suggests an acoustic suspension design with a volume of 0.88 cubic foot or a bass reflex enclosure with a volume of 0.91 cubic foot tuned to 38 hertz. Given the similarity in suggested enclosure volumes, we’d go with the bass reflex design and enjoy the increased efficiency.

Sony backs the new 10- and 12-inch GS series subwoofers with a three-year warranty against manufacturing defects and workmanship issues. This generous warranty doesn’t mean you can hook one to a 1,000-watt amp or clip the daylights out of a 400-watt amp and melt the voice coil, then expect to get a new subwoofer.

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with Sony GS series Subwoofers

If you’re looking for an affordable, high-quality subwoofer from a company that stands behind its products, drop into a local authorized Sony car audio retailer today. Ask about the new GS series subwoofers like the XS-W124GS we looked at here. They can match the driver to an enclosure and suggest an amplifier that will perform great. Adding bass to your car stereo is one of the best upgrades you can make. With the Sony GS subwoofers, great sound doesn’t have to cost a small fortune. You can find an authorized Sony Car Audio retailer near you using their dealer locator tool. Also, follow Sony on Facebook to stay up-to-date with their 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.