Sony Unveils New Version of Its Top-Rated Aftermarket CarPlay System

[fairuz]

What is the point of touting wireless connectivity if it has to be plugged in for CarPlay anyway? I'm tired of all these overpriced wired systems, many of which are resistive touch. I can get an iPad for $300 or a Nintendo Switch for $250 but not a little display that plugs into my car and interfaces with my phone? It's also annoying that all the high end models have crap we don't need like DVD players. This market is prime for someone to come in and shake it up.

I shake it up by placing my iPhone right on my dash, with the fan control knob underneath holding it up and the volume control knob to the left holding it in place. In my old car it was the cupholder. Then I use it for nav and music. Actually better than CarPlay.
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Because they can and some of us still have good’ol CD/DVD in our collections.

Yeah, it's actually kinda nice to burn songs onto a DVD and leave it in your car so you can always have music built in. One DVD stores a TON of songs. I'd do it if both my Mac Pro's DVD drives weren't broken

 

[kingtj]

I bought an XAV-AX100 as well, because I just needed something on a budget that would replace a terrible, base factory stereo in a little Smart4Two car. (The car didn't even cost me close to $5,000 so no way I was going to dump a lot of money into the stereo system. I did, however, put a couple of upgraded 6.5" speakers in the doors.)

I find the need to plug in a cable to use CarPlay is pretty annoying, but the up-side is that my iPhone recharges while driving that way. I ran the cable to the glovebox in the Smart car, so the phone can just plug in and be dropped in there.

One issue I've run into with it is sometimes, it doesn't seem to launch CarPlay after I attach the phone. I've had to unplug it and plug it back in several times to get it to start working, in a few cases. If it doesn't launch CarPlay, it winds up playing music off my phone over Bluetooth but I can't use the GPS functionality or even change artists or albums I'm listening to from the radio. Not sure if this is a Sony firmware issue or what? I did already upgrade the XAV-AX100 firmware once to what I think is still the latest version. (It addresses the issue where the warning box telling you not to enter stuff on the screen while driving wouldn't go away on its own after a few seconds.)

I have the XAV-AX100 and i'm very happy with it. It is resistive but I don't even notice. For the price it was really nice and BestBuy installed it for free. I've heard that wireless carplay consumes battery fast but I haven't used it myself. Plus the wireless carplay systems were more than double of the $300 that I paid. I really don't mind plugging in my phone especially if i'm going to be in the car for awhile.

 

[Coffee50]

I have the XAV-AX100 and i'm very happy with it. It is resistive but I don't even notice. For the price it was really nice and BestBuy installed it for free. I've heard that wireless carplay consumes battery fast but I haven't used it myself. Plus the wireless carplay systems were more than double of the $300 that I paid. I really don't mind plugging in my phone especially if i'm going to be in the car for awhile.

This was the aftermarket unit I was looking at (primarily for the price point & the fact that it states that Best Buy does free installs)

So overall you're pleased with it? Any issues or anything that you feel could be improved upon?

I'm still thinking of getting this, but may wait to see what the new systems offers (and hope for maybe a reduction of this current one)

 

[mistertomlinson]

What is the point of touting wireless connectivity if it has to be plugged in for CarPlay anyway? I'm tired of all these overpriced wired systems, many of which are resistive touch. I can get an iPad for $300 or a Nintendo Switch for $250 but not a little display that plugs into my car and interfaces with my phone? It's also annoying that all the high end models have crap we don't need like DVD players. This market is prime for someone to come in and shake it up.

I think it's already underway. I have an Eonon radio in my car. It's basically an Android tablet but it's designed in such a way that the housing for the radio matches my dashboard such that I don't need a dash kit to install it. The result appears factory. They are specifically designed for your car. They even interface with your steering wheel controls, factory amp and no soldering or wiring harnesses are needed (my car also has a cheesy LCD screen on that dash that shows the radio source and it also functions). It's completely plug and play. It has wifi, bluetooth, an octo-core processor, 4GBs of RAM and 32GBs of internal storage as well as USB and microSD slots. I paid around $350 for mine.

When tethered to my phone, I can watch Netflix, Plex, YouTube, etc. (not while driving
of course, though you could). As of yet, however, I haven't seen any that support CarPlay. But having a fully functional 8" Android tablet in my car is kinda nice.

There are a lot of companies making them now. Demand for them seems to be high.

 

[ekwipt]

Still don‘t get why these things come with DVD/CD...

this times 1000, why!!!

 

[silvertech]

Still don‘t get why these things come with DVD/CD...

Whats a CD?

 

[spiddyman007]

Sony today introduced its new XAV-AX210 receiver, which doubles as an aftermarket CarPlay and Android Auto system.

The XAV-AX210 is an update to Sony's year-old XAV-AX200 receiver, with the headline new feature being support for iDatalink Maestro, a car audio system that seamlessly interfaces with steering wheel controls, amplifier functions, on-screen vehicle settings, and more when used outside of CarPlay mode.

The receiver has a 6.4-inch touchscreen, but Sony hasn't specified if it's resistive or capacitive. Other key features include hands-free phone calls and music playback via Bluetooth, SiriusXM compatibility, rear view camera readiness, a built-in four-channel amplifier, and a built-in CD/DVD player.

This product is ideal for vehicles that don't come with factory installed CarPlay, mirroring several apps onto the dashboard, including Phone, Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Spotify, and starting with iOS 12, Google Maps and Waze. As a wired system, an iPhone must be connected via Lightning cable.

Sony said XAV-AX210 pricing and availability in North America will be announced in the fall of 2018. It will likely have a similar price as the XAV-AX200, available on Amazon for between $399 and $499 depending on configuration.

Of note, the XAV-AX100 and XAV-AX200 have received favorable reviews from publications such as The Wirecutter.

Other brands with aftermarket CarPlay and Android Auto receivers include Alpine, Pioneer, JVC, Kenwood, and Clarion.

Article Link: Sony Unveils New Version of Its Top-Rated Aftermarket CarPlay System

I don’t get CarPlay. It’s stupid and wired. Bluetooth is in almost every aftermarket stereo and is easy to use.

 

[macduke]

I shake it up by placing my iPhone right on my dash, with the fan control knob underneath holding it up and the volume control knob to the left holding it in place. In my old car it was the cupholder. Then I use it for nav and music. Actually better than CarPlay.

I use this iOttie wireless charging mount, which is fantastic, and do the same thing as you. It's not bad, but the only good spot I have for a mount in my Outback is on the left side so my wife can't really use it to change the music while driving. Sometimes I wish I had a bigger display in the car, though. Anyway, it's a great device. From what I can tell a good chunk of the negative reviews are from people who don't know you need to adjust the bottom of the holder to the sweet spot for wireless charging. Once I did that it was golden. Also a few of the reviews mentioned not being able to run navigation. I have an iPhone X and I use it to run navigation and streaming music at the same time (LTE to app to BT) and it trickle charges somewhere between 5-10% per hour when doing that. I don't use the supplied charger though, but an existing Anker one that I already had, which might be the difference. It's one of my top favorite tech things from the past year.
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I think it's already underway. I have an Eonon radio in my car. It's basically an Android tablet but it's designed in such a way that the housing for the radio matches my dashboard such that I don't need a dash kit to install it. The result appears factory. They are specifically designed for your car. They even interface with your steering wheel controls, factory amp and no soldering or wiring harnesses are needed (my car also has a cheesy LCD screen on that dash that shows the radio source and it also functions). It's completely plug and play. It has wifi, bluetooth, an octo-core processor, 4GBs of RAM and 32GBs of internal storage as well as USB and microSD slots. I paid around $350 for mine.

When tethered to my phone, I can watch Netflix, Plex, YouTube, etc. (not while driving
of course, though you could). As of yet, however, I haven't seen any that support CarPlay. But having a fully functional 8" Android tablet in my car is kinda nice.

There are a lot of companies making them now. Demand for them seems to be high.

Yeah mine is gonna be trickier. I have an Outback Limited and while it has the premium Harmon Kardon whatever sound system, for whatever reason this specific model wasn't spec'd with the nav system with LCD display. But I got a great deal on it (about $5000 under bluebook) so I'm not gonna complain too much.

 

[fairuz]

I don’t get CarPlay. It’s stupid and wired. Bluetooth is in almost every aftermarket stereo and is easy to use.

It also freezes and glitches the heck out of my phone whenever I plug it in. Then shows a CarPlay logo blocking my entire screen for a few seconds each time. Like why. I just want to play my music!

 

[spiddyman007]

It also freezes and glitches the heck out of my phone whenever I plug it in. Then shows a CarPlay logo blocking my entire screen for a few seconds each time. Like why. I just want to play my music!

Jeeze. And I was pissed for a sec I didn’t have it

 

[auriconis]

Hmm i'm not sure. Honestly I don't talk on the phone a lot but I don't recall anyone mentioning that to me. I do feel like maybe the microphone doesn't pick up my voice very well.

Are you doing the call through the built-in phone w/bluetooth or through CarPlay. I'm not really sure if either would have a different outcome though.

Sorry for the delay, I've tried both ways and still get the doubling effect. Really annoying, and I may try to get it replaced under warranty.