Audio Innovations

Car Stereos, Auto Customizing, Mobile Electronics

1105 Jim's Lane, Conway, AR 72032 501-358-6545
  • Home
  • Services
    • Car Audio
    • Driver Safety Systems
    • Marine Audio
    • Motorcycle Audio
    • Radar and Laser Detector Systems
    • Remote Starters
  • About Us
  • Location
  • Customer Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Product Spotlight: Compustar Pro T13 Remote Starter

Compustar Pro T13

Only a handful of reputable companies manufacture remote car starters, but one stands out for its innovative solutions—Compustar. Their flagship Pro T13 is the industry’s longest-range radio-frequency car starter remote. Combine that with features like proximity unlocking, an LCD screen, and intuitive controls, and this is the ultimate remote control solution. Let’s explore why range is vital to making your vehicle more comfortable.

Compustar Pro T13 Remote Control

Compustar makes it easy for mobile enhancement retailers to design a car starter system tailored to your vehicle and needs. The Product Specialist you are working with can choose from several control modules, with the right one depending on your car’s specifications and desired features. For instance, the CM-X controller is ideal if your vehicle has a manual transmission. For consumers, these decisions typically happen behind the scenes as your quote is prepared.

What matters to you is the system interface. The factory remote coded to start the car when you press the lock button three times in short succession might be adequate if the range doesn’t matter much. If you want more range and features, your retailer can pair any of Compustar’s RF remote kits with the control module to meet your needs. If you want a simple one-button solution with two or three times as much range as the factory fob, they have it. Need two-way communication with trunk release? No problem! But if you want maximum range, two-way communication, security alerts, and much more, the Pro T13 remote is the ultimate option.

The Pro T13 is impressively compact at 2.84 inches tall, 1.57 inches wide, and only 0.44 inches deep. It features a vibrant color display that indicates whether your vehicle is locked, unlocked, or running.

Simple and Elegant Interface

The remote includes three buttons to access 50 commands and configuration settings. Locking, unlocking, or remotely starting your car is just a button press away. Double-tapping the lock or unlock buttons activates auxiliary outputs one and two. These outputs can control features like power sliding doors or rear defrost. The latter can even be configured to activate automatically if the interior temperature drops below a specific threshold. Your retailer can provide more details. Car Finder, trunk release, and much more are also easily accessible.

Compustar Pro T13
The T13 remote includes a charging cable, antenna, and all the wiring your installer needs to integrate with a Compustar remote start control module.

Class-Leading Range and Reliability

The key factor that sets the Pro T13 apart from other remote starters is its range. Range is the maximum distance from which the remote can communicate with your vehicle. Compustar specifies the Pro T13’s range at up to three miles under ideal conditions. We’ve measured the performance in real-world situations, which bested other remotes by more than 20%!

More importantly, the Pro T13’s powerful transceiver works excellently indoors. For instance, you can be at the far end of a shopping mall, in an apartment or office building, or inside a large factory and still communicate with your vehicle. This exceptional range ensures your car or truck has enough time to warm up in winter or cool down in summer long before you arrive at it.

Color Display and Two-Way Communication

The Pro T13’s two-way communication ensures reliability. When you press the lock button, the remote confirms the action with a beep and a visual indicator on the color LCD screen showing that the vehicle is locked. Unlike one-way remotes, which act like TV remotes, this feature gives you peace of mind, as you always know your vehicle’s status.

The color display not only tells you what the car is doing using intuitive icons but also shows the vehicle battery voltage, the temperature in the vehicle, and the battery level of the remote itself.

Compustar Pro T13
The Pro T13 remote offers two-way communications to ensure you always know what’s happening with your vehicle.

Proximity Unlocking Adds Convenience

Another standout feature of the Pro T13—and its smaller one-button counterpart, the Pro R5—is proximity unlocking. When you’re within five to six feet of your car or truck, the remote automatically communicates with the vehicle to unlock the doors—no need to press any buttons! Whether carrying groceries, holding a child, or juggling tonight’s pizza, this feature makes life easier.

Rechargeable Battery Pack and Rugged Design

Unlike most remotes, which use disposable coin-cell batteries, the Pro T13 features a built-in rechargeable battery. Connect the provided mini-USB cable to a USB outlet for a few hours to recharge it. You can even charge it while driving your vehicle.

This remote is as durable as possible, with an IPX-7 water resistance rating. This means it can survive being submerged in water, whether it’s a pool, puddle, or snowbank. Compustar backs the Pro T13 and other Pro Series remotes with a three-year warranty, giving you confidence in your investment.

Compustar Pro T13
The durable design of the T13 is backed by a three-year warranty.

Security System Ready for Added Protection

Are you concerned about theft or vandalism? Most Compustar remote car starters with the Pro T13 can be upgraded with advanced security features. Compustar’s alarm enhancements include a starter kill, a high-output siren, an optional horn-honk output, and a robust digital security sensor.

This sensor monitors impacts, motion, glass breakage, or vehicle tilting. If triggered, the Pro T13 remote alerts you with a loud beep and a display notification. This lets you take immediate action if needed.

Drone Smartphone Control Included

The T13 Remote kit includes the Drone smartphone control interface. Drone allows you to use the DroneMobile app on your smartphone to control your vehicle. You can lock or unlock the doors, remote start the engine, or even pop the trunk with a tap on your phone screen. You can even log into the dronemobile.com website and send commands from your desk at home or work.

The Drone can be upgraded with GPS-based location and geofence alerts. Tracking service plans are ideal if you let your kids drive the family car or want to monitor how your staff uses a company vehicle. Your local authorized Compustar retailer can explain the different service plans available.

Compustar Pro T13
The Drone smartphone control system provides effectively unlimited range and advanced tracking options to protect your vehicle.

Why Is Remote Starter Range Important

Let’s say you work in a large building like a hospital, warehouse, or factory. When you finish your shift, you can remote start your car or truck while packing up to leave. Your vehicle will have several minutes for the climate control to start making the interior more comfortable. In the winter, the rear window defroster can be activated automatically, so cleaning the car off is easier.

If the remotes that come with your car or low-cost car starters don’t have enough signal transmission power, you’ll have to wait until you are at the door or even outside in the parking lot to activate the starter. Now, you’ll have less than a minute for the engine to warm up. Inadequate range negates the benefit of having the starter.

The Ultimate Remote Starter Solution

If these features sound like the ultimate remote car starter recipe, you’re right. With industry-leading range capabilities, two-way communication, a color display, rugged durability, a rechargeable battery, and advanced security options, the Compustar Pro T13 is in a class of its own.

Visit an authorized Compustar Pro retailer today to learn how they can configure a system for maximum comfort and security. Use the Dealer Locator on Compustar’s website to find a retailer near you. Also, follow Compustar on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for updates on their amazing products.

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.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, Remote Car Starters, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Compustar

Do I Need a Line Output Converter To Add a Car Amplifier?

Output Converter

We’ve talked at length about how car audio line output converters work and have even compared a few to see which sound best. We skipped over a discussion on whether a car audio amplifier upgrade needs a line-output converter. Let’s dive in!

What Does a Line Output Converter Do?

A high-quality line output converter serves three purposes. First and foremost, it can reduce the voltage from a radio or amplifier output to something acceptable on the preamp input of an amplifier. Second, it converts a bridge-tied load (BTL) signal to a single-ended signal that works with all amplifiers. Thirdly, it can provide a remote turn-on signal to activate an amplifier when you turn on a factory radio.

Most car audio amplifiers can only accept up to 5 or 6 volts on their preamp inputs. This voltage is equivalent to the output of an amplifier that produces a maximum of 9 watts of power into a 4-ohm load. Since most car radios can produce at least 20 watts, equivalent to just under 9 volts of signal, we need circuitry to reduce that level and not over-drive the input stage on the amplifier.

All car radios we’ve tested use the bridge-tied load speaker output configuration. This speaker driving method allows a radio to provide more power than a single-ended design without needing a dedicated switching power supply. If you’ve asked a technician to install an inexpensive or poorly designed amplifier, it will likely need a single-ended signal.

If you have a factory-installed radio in your car, truck or SUV, the chances of a wire going live only when the radio is on is quite unlikely. You’ll need a way to tell the new amplifier when it’s time to wake up and get to work. A good-quality line output converter can do that.

Modern Amplifier Features – Automatic Turn-On Circuits

If you look at most high-quality amplifiers on the market, you’ll see they include some sort of remote turn-on detection circuitry. Some of these circuits monitor the input connections on the amplifier for a presence of an audio signal. This is usually called a signal-detect turn-on circuit. Others look for the 55 to 6 volts of DC offset found on the output of BTL amplifiers as would be used in a car radio. These circuits are called DC offset or BTL detection solutions.

Output Converter
The DPower 1 from Hertz includes their ART Auto Turn On/Off Circuitry to simplify installation.
Output Converter
The XM-4ES from Sony’s Mobile ES line includes a switch that will activate the remote turn-on detection feature.
Output Converter
Rockford Fosgate’s Prime-Series R2-300X4 four-channel amplifier includes an Auto Remote Turn-On option.
Output Converter
X2-Series amplifiers from ARC Audio include both signal and DC offset detection remote turn-on circuits for maximum installation flexibility.

Car Audio Amplifier Differential Inputs

Decades ago, car audio amplifiers used the same single-ended RCA input circuitry as a home stereo receiver. Reputable car audio equipment manufacturers realized that switching to balanced differential circuitry inputs dramatically reduced the chances of ground loops that could cause unwanted engine noise in an audio system. This balanced input circuitry also helps eliminate any unwanted noise that the interconnect cables might have picked up as they run through the vehicle.

We’ve written a few detailed articles on the importance of balanced differential inputs and how to test an amplifier to make sure it has this feature. Don’t bother with amplifiers that don’t use differential inputs. You’re only asking for headaches and noise.

Too Much Preamp Voltage

It’s not often you hear the phrase “too much voltage” in the context of car audio discussions. With that said, if you feed too much signal to the RCA inputs on an amplifier, both the input and output can add huge amounts of distortion to your audio system. This distortion is called clipping.

Designing a car audio system upgrade requires an understanding of how the factory-installed audio system works. Your installer might need to take frequency response and amplitude measurements before recommending products. Some factory-installed subwoofer amplifiers can produce just shy of 40 volts of signal.

If you’re shopping for an amplifier to add to a factory-installed radio or amplifier, choose one that can accept a wide range of voltages. Some amplifiers have dedicated speaker-level input terminals. Others have a switch that attenuates the signal on the RCA jacks. Some DSP-equipped amplifiers have digitally selected input voltage ranges.

Output Converter
The Audison Forza AF M4D four-channel amplifier can accept up to 22 volts of signal on its speaker-level inputs.
Output Converter
Sony’s Mobile ES Amplifiers will accept up to 16 volts on the RCA jacks when set to their high-voltage range.
Output Converter
Rockford Fosgate’s Punch-Series P600X4 amplifier can accept up to 12V on the RCA inputs without any switches or adapters.
Output Converter
The Blackbird DSP amplifier from ARC Audio will accept up to 32 volts on the RCA inputs. Four input ranges are selectable in the ARC DNA software.

Questions To Ask When Purchasing Audio Upgrades

If you want to add an amplifier to your car audio system, you’ll want to ask the product specialist you’re working with some questions. Aside from everything we’ve suggested in our Buyers Guides, you need to know what accessories they plan to use for the installation. If they say you need a line output converter, ask what it would cost to move up to an amplifier that can accept the full signal from the source unit and turn itself on and off automatically without any adapters. The chances are good that the higher-quality amplifier won’t just simplify the installation but will likely sound better. If they insist a line-output converter is still required, ask why.

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.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, Driver Safety, New Category Name, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY, UTV Audio, Vehicle Security, Vinyl Graphics, Vinyl Wraps, Wheels and Tires, Window Tint

Don’t Suffer with Slow Smartphone Vehicle Control Solutions

Smartphone Vehicle Control

If you’ve been in the market for a new car, truck or SUV recently, you’ve likely encountered the convenience of smartphone control options. These features allow you to perform tasks like locking the doors or starting the vehicle remotely from your smartphone. However, the reality is that many of these factory-installed systems can be frustratingly slow – a common pain point for many of us. You’re not alone in this: A member of our team has two brand-new vehicles in their driveway, both with comparatively sluggish smartphone control systems. Let’s delve into how these systems function, why they’re slow and, most importantly, what solutions can alleviate this frustration.

What Is a Smartphone Control System?

It should come as no surprise that computers control modern cars and trucks. Decades ago, a fuel-injected vehicle might have had a computer to control the spark plugs and fuel injectors. Today, everything from the headlights and infotainment system to the suspension, collision-avoidance systems and engine is controlled by computers. These computers are typically linked through a network data bus. In the not-so-distant future, vehicles will be able to communicate with each other, opening up a world of possibilities. The intention is to reduce accidents and traffic congestion using machine-learning software and your vehicle’s real-time location. These are called vehicle-to-vehicle systems, or V2V for short.

The benefit of linking all the features and systems in a car or truck is that one can respond to another. For example, some luxury vehicles will lower the air conditioning or heater fan speed to make using Bluetooth hands-free calling easier. Some advanced collision-avoidance systems produce warning sounds through different speakers in the vehicle, depending on where an object is. A turn-signal activation might trigger the infotainment system to display the image from a camera on the side of the car. A parking sensor on the vehicle’s rear might apply the brakes to prevent a collision.

We love the simplicity and ease of troubleshooting electrical systems that use mechanical switches and relays. However, the benefits of computer control can’t be denied.

Smartphone Vehicle Control
The ability of the multitude of computers in a vehicle to communicate with each other improves convenience and safety.

Smartphone Control Integration

So, how can an app on a smartphone communicate with the computers in your car or truck? It uses cell phone towers and cellular radios or modems. Unlike an old cell phone optimized exclusively to transmit and receive voice information, modern cellular radio modules are just as good at sending massive amounts of data. Those of us who like to watch YouTube on our phones understand this. Essentially, the phone acts like a modem connected to our home’s cable or phone service provider. However, rather than a wired connection, the information is broadcast over the air to a nearby cell phone tower. From there, it’s on the internet, and you can reach whatever server and website you want.

Most new cars and trucks include a cellular data radio to communicate with a centralized server to provide vehicle information. This connectivity allows commands from the app on your smartphone to be relayed to the vehicle and vice versa.

Say you want to use your smartphone to make sure your truck’s doors are locked before you go to bed. You launch the app on your phone, then press the lock button. The app will send a message, along with your username and password, to a server operated by the vehicle manufacturer or a third-party company contracted to provide the telematics service. The message is already on the internet if connected to your home Wi-Fi. If you aren’t home and are using a cellular data connection, the message is sent to the cell phone tower, which then passes it along to the cell phone provider’s connection to the internet.

After the server has authenticated the message, a new message with the command is sent to your vehicle. This message travels through the internet to the cell phone service provider tied to your car. From there, the message goes to a cell tower near your vehicle. The message is broadcast digitally to the cellular radio in your car. That radio will recognize the command and send a digital message to the body control module to lock the doors.

Once locked, the process reverses. The vehicle confirms that the door lock request has been executed and returns that confirmation to the smartphone app along the same path.

These messages might travel the entire length of a state or province or even across the country to authenticate and execute commands. It is truly fascinating that any of this can happen in a reasonable amount of time.

Smartphone Vehicle Control
Commands from your smartphone app use the cellular data network to communicate with your vehicle.

Benefits of Smartphone Vehicle Control

Having smartphone control of some of your vehicle’s features is extremely convenient. For example, being able to check to make sure the vehicle is locked from your home or office is excellent. With that said, this isn’t a time-sensitive process from the perspective of waiting for the information. However, if you’re walking out of a store or your home and you want to pop the trunk or open the hatch, it would be nice if that were done by the time you got to the car. The same goes for unlocking the vehicle. Sure, most vehicles with smartphone apps also have keyless entry systems. Nevertheless, the app should work fast enough that you are never waiting.

In reality, the choice of cellular data providers and the companies that host the authentication services plays a considerable role in determining the time it takes for your vehicle to respond to commands. If Mazda wanted to reduce operational costs on the MyMazda service, they could select a less expensive, lower-priority service from the cellular data provider. We’ve seen smartphone control systems that take more than a minute and others under two seconds. That’s a significant difference.

Testing Smartphone Apps on Modern Vehicles

We’ll examine smartphone app responsiveness with the MyNissan app and a 2023 Nissan Rogue. After the vehicle had been sitting idle for a few hours, we sent an unlock command from the smartphone. It took 10.8 seconds for the vehicle to respond. We followed this by sending a lock command. That took 3.7 seconds.

Next, we have the MyMazda app and a 2025 Mazda CX-70 PHEV. The test criteria are the same. The vehicle has been sitting idle for several hours. The delay between sending the unlock command and the vehicle responding was 16.6 seconds. The delay to relock the vehicle was 4.7 seconds.

As you can see, sending a second command is much faster. We hypothesize that some of the account authentication processes on the server have already been completed, and your information is now in the cache rather than buried on a storage device.

One MyMazda function regularly used on the Mazda is checking the battery charge status. Oddly, this process takes an abnormally long time – we measured 31 seconds. It’s faster than walking to the vehicle, but not much.

To put these wait times into perspective, the average adult walks about 17 meters or almost 56 feet in 17 seconds. If you are leaving a store and want to remote-start the vehicle, you might be halfway across the parking lot before it gets the start command.

Drone Response Time

Let’s compare this response time to an aftermarket vehicle control solution like Drone from Firstech. You should be familiar with Firstech, which manufactures Compustar remote car starters and Momento dashcams. Sending an unlock command to a vehicle requires less than two seconds. The lock command was executed in under two seconds. We’ve seen a few instances where, just like the OE systems, the first request takes a bit longer than the subsequent, but they are always a fraction of what the OE systems we’ve tested provide.

When the Drone updates, it also provides battery voltage and the temperature inside the vehicle. All of that takes only 2 seconds.

Smartphone Vehicle Control
Smartphone vehicle control solutions like Drone from Firstech provide nearly instant responses to commands.

What about Bluetooth Control?

Some OE and aftermarket smartphone control solutions can communicate with your vehicle using a Bluetooth data connection. Tesla uses this technology in many of its vehicles. Once in range, your smartphone will connect to the vehicle using Bluetooth, and pressing a button in the app will result in a near-instantaneous response from the vehicle. The drawback here is range. Bluetooth might work up to 100 feet under absolutely ideal conditions. This will work as an entry authentication solution but not for something like a remote starter when you are far away.

Shopping for Smartphone Control Solutions

If you want to be able to control and monitor your car, truck or SUV from anywhere in the world where you can access the internet, visit a specialty mobile enhancement retailer and ask them about the solutions they offer.

Before committing to purchasing anything, ask for a real-life demonstration. How long does it take for the vehicle to respond to commands from the phone? Is it a second or two, or slow? Next, ask what functions the system can control in your vehicle. We would expect that door locks are a minimum and that you will likely add this control system to a remote car starter. Beyond that, you may have the option of automatic rear window defroster, heated seat and heated steering wheel activation if your vehicle has those features. Hatch or trunk release is another popular feature, along with sliding door control on minivans.

These days, we need to do everything in our power to keep our vehicles safe. Ask if the control system has geofencing options and if it will provide towing alerts. Find out if you can upgrade the system with a security sensor to monitor for impacts, motion, tilting or glass breakage. Advanced security features are never offered on factory-installed smartphone control systems.

Smartphone Vehicle Control
Ensure that the solution you choose can provide security alerts to help keep your vehicle safe.

Once you have a clear image of the options available, you can choose those that meet your needs. Of course, features and pricing aren’t all that matter when selecting a shop to upgrade your vehicle. Do your research to make sure that the technicians working on your car or truck are appropriately trained, use reliable connection methods and pay attention to the details when integrating the system into your vehicle. Look to see if the shop uses seat, steering wheel and fender covers while working on the vehicle. Find out if they put the vehicle battery on a charger to keep it topped up while they have the doors open. All these small items seem simple, but they are signs that the shop you are researching cares about their work and your car or truck.

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.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY

Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX3700 Multimedia Receiver

Sony XAV-AX3700

Car audio source unit manufacturers are constantly developing new products to fill the gaps between entry-level and flagship models. Sony recently released a new 2-DIN digital multimedia receiver called the XAV-AX3700, which slides into the mix just below the XAV-AX4000. This new radio features a 6.95-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay connectivity and iDatalink Maestro vehicle integration. Read on to learn about what else it offers.

Sony XAV-AX3700 Source Features

The XAV-AX3700 starts with extensive support for digital media files stored on a USB flash drive. The radio can decode MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, DSF and DSDIFF audio files. It also has Bluetooth, which includes the A2DP and AVRCP profiles, which allow music to stream from a smartphone or digital media player. The radio supports LDAC for impressive wireless sound quality and SBC and AAC for maximum device compatibility.

Of course, the radio has a high-quality AM/FM receiver, which captures RDBS information so you can see album and song title information if the station provides it. The retailer installing the radio can upgrade it with a SiriusXM satellite radio receiver, allowing you to listen to genre-specific music or your choice of entertainment channels nonstop from coast to coast. Sony provides a rich SiriusXM interface, including the channel logo and the album art for the track being played if the station you’re tuned in to provides it.

Sony XAV-AX3700
The XAV-AX3700 can be upgraded with a dedicated SiriusXM satellite radio receiver for uninterrupted entertainment.

Apple CarPlay Smartphone Connectivity

The XAV-AX3700 includes support for wired Apple CarPlay. Plug your phone cable in, and you’ll have access to all the music on your phone or your favorite streaming services. You can choose whatever you want using intuitive voice commands. Of course, you can make phone calls, send text messages or get detailed turn-by-turn directions to any address or business in North America using your favorite app.

Sony XAV-AX3700
Wired Apple CarPlay connectivity makes it easy to communicate while driving.

Vehicle Interface Features

As mentioned, the XAV-AX3700 supports the iDatalink Maestro SR, RR and RR2 interfaces. These modules allow communication with the computers in your vehicle to provide access to climate controls, as well as factory-installed infotainment components like microphones, steering wheel controls and a rear-vision camera.

If your application does not have an RR or RR2 module, your installer can integrate steering wheel controls using other modules, like the Maestro SW. Talk to the Product Specialist you are working with for details about your vehicle’s specific make, model and trim level.

Sony XAV-AX3700
The Sony XAV-AX3700 supports the Maestro SR, RR and RR2 vehicle integration interfaces.

Intuitive Interface Simplifies Operation

Sony is the benchmark when it comes to human-machine interfaces. Not only does the XAV-AX3700 boot incredibly quickly, but the button layout on the screen and the menu functions are super-intuitive. The 6.95-inch touchscreen display is bordered by a row of six buttons along the bottom edge.

The main display menu includes five user-configurable options. You can set your favorite sources or commonly used functions, like the backup camera display, to be readily available. When an iPhone is connected, a dedicated icon for Apple CarPlay appears to the left of the clock.

You can also customize the wallpaper image behind the icons from several included options or upload your own image to personalize the radio. A new customizable clock layout feature gives you an option for either an analog or digital clock in the center of the screen, or a smaller digital clock in the top right corner.

Sony XAV-AX3700 Audio Features

This new Sony radio includes a full suite of audio integration features to maximize the sound system’s performance. A five-channel time alignment screen helps improve staging and imaging. A 14-band graphic equalizer can smooth out peaks and dips in the system frequency response. Built-in electronic crossovers with adjustable slopes maximize the performance of your speakers.

The radio includes a four-channel amplifier rated to produce 20 watts per channel, making driving the factory speakers easy. Thanks to dedicated front, rear and subwoofer preamp outputs, you can easily upgrade the radio with an external amplifier. An integrated subwoofer level control makes fine-tuning your system to suit your music or mood easy.

Sony XAV-AX3700
Time alignment, a 14-band equalizer and adjustable crossovers make it easy to fine-tune your audio system.

Single-DIN Chassis Simplifies Installation

A feature that car audio installers will love is the single-DIN chassis behind the 2-DIN display. This 2-inch tall chassis design leaves room for wiring, integration modules and wire harness adapters. Notably, the space is available beneath the radio, where these parts typically rest. The depth of that chassis is shallow as well, allowing use in vehicles with a tight fit behind the radio screen.

Upgrade Your Driving Experience with Sony

Whether you’re looking to add Apple CarPlay or high-quality audio streaming to an older vehicle, or you have to replace a factory-installed radio that’s kicked the bucket with one that requires the use of a Maestro module that retains some factory features or settings, the new Sony XAV-AX3700 is an excellent choice. Drop by a local Sony car audio retailer today and ask for a demonstration. You can find a retailer using their online locator tool. Also, follow Sony on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the latest new car audio products.

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.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Car Audio, Sony

Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX8500 Multimedia Receiver

Sony XAV-AX8500

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.

Sony XAV-AX8500
The 10.1-inch High-Definition capacitive-touch screen features an anti-glare design so information is easily visible.

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.

Sony XAV-AX8500
The chassis of the XAV-AX8500 is a shallow-mount, single-DIN design, making it compatible with many vehicles.

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.

Sony XAV-AX8500
The XAV-AX8500 will automatically connect to your smartphone for communication, entertainment and navigation through wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

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.

Sony XAV-AX8500
Support for the iDatalink Maestro RR and RR2 allows the Sony XAV-AX8500 to communicate digitally with the computers in your vehicle.

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.

Sony XAV-AX8500
Two-way crossovers, signal delay settings and a 14-band graphic equalizer allow your installer to fine-tune the performance of your car audio system.

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.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Sony

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 13
  • Next Page »

Recent Articles

Compustar Pro 2WG18 LTE

Product Spotlight: Compustar Pro 2WG18 LTE

July 7, 2025 

At their heart, most remote car starters are the same. When you press a button on a wireless remote, a remote start controller integrated into the vehicle will start the engine. In … [Read More...]

A dashcam and batteries hovering over a car engine

Dashcam Battery Upgrades: Extend Parking Mode and Protect Your Vehicle

July 6, 2025 

Undoubtedly, having a dashcam in your car or truck is one of the best ways to protect yourself from false accusations. Whether you experience a hit and run or are involved in a … [Read More...]

various subwoofers and speakers

Features That Improve Subwoofer Performance

June 29, 2025 

We spend significant time pondering helpful content that will educate consumers about the options available to upgrade their car audio system. We’ve written dozens of articles … [Read More...]

Two cars facing off with a multitude of speakers behind them

How Many Subwoofers Does My Car Stereo Need?

June 22, 2025 

We recently saw someone ask how many subwoofers they should use in their car audio system. They qualified the question by adding that cost and space weren’t issues and that their … [Read More...]

Customer Reviews

Subscribe to Our Website

Enter your email address to subscribe to our website and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Location


Get Directions to Audio Innovations

Audio Innovations

1105 Jim's Lane
Conway, AR 72032
Phone: 501-358-6545

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Services

  • Car Audio
  • Driver Safety Systems
  • Marine Audio
  • Motorcycle Audio
  • Radar and Laser Detector Systems
  • Remote Starters

Store Hours

SundayClosed
Monday9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
SaturdayClosed

Copyright © 2025 Audio Innovations · Privacy Policy · Website by 1sixty8 media, inc. · Log in

 

Loading Comments...