Reviews

younggle Sydney, NSW · 19 posts

3mo ago

Great sounding with modern features let down by low resolution

Pros:
Big touch screen makes it easy to operate while car is moving
Single DIN chassis for cars that don't have a double-DIN space
Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay plus Bluetooth connectivity
HDMI input for phone mirroring or as a screen input
Clean, good sounding unit with equaliser settings to tailor the sound profile
Fast start up
Physical buttons on the unit for key functions
Ability to accept Steering Wheel Control signals
Multi-adjustable screen

... Read moreScreen is a separate unit that connects to the chassis, making it much easier to install Cons: Big floating screen - it doesn't integrate as nicely as other options Screen is low resolution, the size of the screen makes it even worse Resistive touch screen tech which isn't as responsive as a capacitive screen No AUX input No chassis cage included I installed this into a 2013 Fiat 500. The original stereo is a single DIN installation so the chassis is a fit into the factory slot without having to make extensive modifications to fit a double DIN unit. This size screen is quite large and may block other functions of the car - in my car it obstructs the centre air vents and some buttons on the dash. The screen can be adjusted - in/out, up/down and tilt angle - before being locked into place. Excellent build quality and the sound quality is a massive improvement over the factory unit. The factory steering wheel controls (SWC) can be retained however an additional module is required. The extra parts I used are listed at the end. The SWC's can be customised and you'll probably need to do it as the default mapping isn't right. There's also physical buttons on the bottom of the screen which is good, many touchscreen head units are exclusively touchscreen controlled. It starts up very quickly after starting the car; I've read that many multimedia head units can be slow to start up. A safety warning message always displays at start up, annoyingly it can't be turned off however it disappears after about 10-15 seconds. Apple CarPlay is wired only (via USB) but works perfectly and being wired is rock solid and reliable and also charges your phone. I don't have an Android phone so can't comment on that but I expect it works perfectly as well. You can also connect your phone via Bluetooth which supports music streaming and phone calls. The sound levels can be adjusted between the different functions which is good so you're not blasted with volume when, for example, SIRI responds. It has an external wired microphone which provides good clear voice pickup. It also comes with a USB cable to feed through the dash to somewhere discrete like the glovebox, but you can ignore this and plug in your phone cable directly into the back of the screen unit. It allows phone mirroring via HDMI but no HDMI cable is included. HDMI can also be used as a screen input which I tried with an Amazon Firestick streaming device. It worked perfectly. There is no AUX input. A wireless remote is also included. You can also connect a rear reversing camera to the unit, either the factory camera or an aftermarket one. I think the biggest downside is the low resolution screen, made worse by the size of the screen. Images are average - no sharp, crisp images here sadly. The icons and text are large but that's probably a good thing when trying to operate a touchscreen in a moving vehicle. Overall a great sounding unit with great functionality let down by the low resolution and less responsive touch technology. Additional parts purchased: Aerpro steering wheel control module CHFT2C Aerpro wiring harness for Sony APP9SP4 Aerpro single DIN fascia FP9091 Aerpro antenna adaptor AP349

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Details

Category	GPS Navigation Systems and Car Stereos
Price (RRP)	$949
Screen Size	8.95"
Display Type	Touchscreen
Connectivity	Bluetooth
Features	Siri Integration and Voice Control
Dimensions	136 x 229 x 253 mm
Weight	2.4 kg
Manufacturer Warranty	1 year(s)
Manual	Download manual

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MPN: XAV-AX8100

Sony XAV-AX8100