Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX8100 Media Receiver

When it comes to floating-face or T-style radios, there are more options than ever. The Sony XAV-AX8100 combines all the most sought-after features with an 8.95-inch screen that will look perfect in your dash. Whether it’s staying connected with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration or having support for all your favorite digital media files to entertain you on a long drive, this solution has all the bases covered.

8.95-inch Floating Face

The center point of the XAV-AX8100 is its large 8.95-inch color touchscreen. The display has a resolution of 800 by 480 pixels and has been treated with an anti-glare coating to help ensure that its graphics are clear in bright sunlight. At the base of the screen are eight physical buttons that provide quick and easy access to source selection, volume control, track selection and voice recognition features. As with all Sony multimedia receivers, the styling and colors are specifically designed to create a look that’s right at home in the dash of your car or truck.

One of the big upgrades to the XAV-AX8100 over its predecessor is the inclusion of an HDMI input jack on the bottom of the display. Located just under the volume control rocker switch, the input allows you to connect a laptop, game system or media player to access while the vehicle is parked and the parking brake is set.

Sony XAV-AX8100 — An HDMI input on the bottom of the display makes it easy to connect a media player or laptop.

Smartphone Integration Technologies

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration remain at the top of the feature list for the 8100. Using the voice recognition features of your smartphone and its internet connection, you can make phone calls, send text messages or request navigation directions without having to enter information on the screen. Instead, press the voice button on the radio and ask for what you want. Your phone will take care of the rest.

The Sony XAV-AX8100 also includes support for Weblink. When installed on your Android or iOS-based smartphone, Weblink allows you to display images from many popular applications on the radio screen. In addition, touchscreen commands from the system are relayed back to your smartphone if the application is compatible, so navigating app menus is intuitive and seamless.

Sony XAV-AX8100 Audio Features

This media device includes an AM/FM receiver and one USB port for your smartphone or a USB memory stick. The system will play MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV and FLAC audio files, along with MP4, WMV and MKV video files (when parked). Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming are also built in, and the integration features provide direct access to iHeartRadio, Pandora, Spotify and Tidal streaming services. In addition, your authorized Sony retailer can add an SXV300 SiriusXM satellite radio receiver to deliver non-stop entertainment from coast to coast.

The XAV-AX8100 has a four-channel amplifier that can deliver up to 20 watts of power to each speaker. The front, rear and subwoofer preamp outputs are rated at 5 volts and include adjustable electronic crossovers. In addition, Sony includes their EQ10 10-band equalizer, the Extra Bass loudness feature and Digital Soundstage Organizer (DSO) processing to let you fine-tune the sound of your car audio system.

The radio is based on a single-DIN chassis, which will fit in vehicles that weren’t previously compatible with double-DIN aftermarket radios. Your installer can adjust the screen angle, extension and height so that the radio looks great and is easy to use. From an integration and safety standpoint, the XAV-AX8100 is compatible with most steering wheel audio control interfaces, and it includes a backup camera input with a reverse trigger wire.

If you’re looking for a reliable, high-performance radio upgrade for your car or truck, drop by your local authorized Sony car audio retailer and ask for a demonstration of the XAV-AX8100. Be sure to bring your smartphone to experience the voice command features. For more information about this radio and the other fantastic car audio upgrade products from Sony, visit their website. Also, be sure to follow them on Facebook page, Instagram and YouTube for the latest updates and new 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.

Product Spotlight Hertz Mille Legend Speakers and Subwoofers

In 2005, Hertz introduced the world to the Mille series of car audio speakers and subwoofers. These unique drivers featured the V-cone design to deliver impressive clarity and detail. Now in their third generation, Mille Legend tweeters, midrange drivers, woofers and subwoofers combine premium materials with state-of-the-art technologies to ensure that music enthusiasts can enjoy their music at elevated volume levels in amazing clarity and detail. Let’s take a close look at the technologies Hertz has implemented in its flagship speaker products.

Hertz Mille Legend Speakers – Moving Parts Technologies

From the detailed ML 280.3 Legend tweeter to the impact of the ML 2500.3 Legend subwoofer, the Hertz Mille Legend speaker family uses modern design elements and technologies that reduce distortion and improve performance.

The deep V-cone design is evident if you look at any Mille Legend midrange drivers, woofers or subwoofers. This one-piece cone design comes to a sharp inverted point in the center. Unlike a typical dome-shaped dust cap, the V-cone design resists resonance that can add distortion to the music signal. Hertz also claims that the design helps to improve off-axis performance, making a two-way speaker set sound better in the doors or dash of your car or truck.

The Boundary Free Surround design on all the drivers helps to reduce unwanted resonance and increase the effective area of the woofer cone. These surrounds are constructed from high-purity IIR butyl rubber that resists degradation from prolonged exposure to oxygen and ozone.

The stand-alone and coaxial tweeters use a diaphragm made from Hertz’ proprietary Tetolon fiber cone material. This lightweight textile provides an amazing balance of clarity and high-frequency extension. In addition, the inherent damping characteristics resist the addition of unwanted distortion at the highest of frequencies. The midrange drivers in the Legend series use cotton-damped pressed pulp paper cones that offer a near-perfect balance of rigidity and resonance-preventing damping. The subwoofers use a mineral-injected paper cone for added strength alongside the excellent damping characteristics.

To prevent power compression, Hertz has implemented large-diameter voice coil assemblies on all the drivers. There is a massive 4-inch coil in the 10-inch ML 2500.3 Legend and 8-inch ML2000.3 Legend subwoofers. There’s also the large-for-the-driver-size 0.8-inch coil in the 3-inch ML 700.3 Legend midrange speaker. Larger voice coils offer a significant increase in surface area that helps them dissipate heat and stay cooler.

Hertz designed this series of speakers using computer-based Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to optimize the connection between the voice coil former and the cone in all the midrange, woofer and subwoofer solutions. Ensuring that this crucial connection is both mechanically secure and thermally stable is another reason why the Mille Legend speakers sound great, even at high volume levels.

Motor and Basket Performance Features

All but the two coaxial drivers in the Legend series use neodymium ring magnets at the core of their motor design. These rare earth magnets help the speakers and tweeters deliver impressive efficiency without the need for large, heavy motors. The design also helps to reduce the overall depth of the drivers. Along the same theme, the top and back plates are forged and milled from low-carbon steel, which offers excellent magnetic permeability to further increase efficiency.

All the Mille Legend drivers use copper or aluminum shorting rings to help improve high-frequency performance. These rings short unwanted magnetic fields created as the voice coil assembly moves through the magnetic gap. In the midrange drivers and woofers, upper midrange clarity is dramatically improved, thanks to this technology. In addition, midbass performance on the subwoofers and enhanced tweeter clarity at the top end of the audible spectrum are also achieved.

Hertz Mille Legend subwoofers, woofers and midrange drivers are based on cast aluminum chassis that help ensure that every component is aligned perfectly. The design also serves as a heatsink to improve power handling and to isolate the cone and motor from vehicle vibrations while driving.

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with Hertz Mille Legend Speakers

If you’re shopping for new or upgraded speakers for your car audio system, visit your local authorized Hertz retailer and ask for a demonstration of the Hertz Mille Legend drivers. You can learn more about the impressive products from Hertz by visiting their website, Facebook page or their YouTube channel.

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: Sony XAV-AX5600 Multimedia Receiver

When it comes to bang-for-your-buck car audio receiver upgrades, the Sony XAV-AX5600 offers amazing value and performance. This double-DIN multimedia unit is based around a 6.95-inch capacitive touch display. In addition, it includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and support for playback of most of your digital media files. Best of all, the radio is easy to use and looks great in the dash of your car, truck or SUV.

Easy to Use and Looks Great!

Above everything else, the XAV-AX5600 radio features an intuitive interface and lightning-fast response to your input. Whether you want to access the tuner to listen to the news or your favorite radio station, stream audio from your smartphone using Bluetooth or play files from a USB memory stick, all the sources are quickly accessible from the main menu screen.

The XAV-AX5600 features two USB jacks on the rear of the chassis. USB1 is the primary connection to your smartphone for CarPlay and Android Auto integration. These technologies let you use simple voice commands to send text messages, make phone calls, get navigation directions or choose the entertainment options you want. The radio uses Bluetooth 3.0+EDR and includes A2DP with AVCRP, HFP and PBAP profiles to listen to music and place phone calls easily and intuitively. In addition, Sony includes an external microphone that your installer can mount in the center of your vehicle to deliver crystal-clear outgoing audio during Bluetooth calls and accurate responses to voice commands.

You can connect a USB memory stick to either port to play MP3, WMA and FLAC audio files. Playback of WAV and AAC audio along with MPEG-4, WMV, MKV and XviD video files is supported by USB1 exclusively. USB1 is rated for 1.5 amps and USB2 can provide 500 mA in terms of power to charge your phone. FLAC file compatibility is specified for tracks encoded with a bit depth of 24 and a sampling rate of 48 kHz.

Sony XAV-AX5600 — Twin USB pigtails on the rear of the XAV-AX5600 allow you to connect your phone and a USB memory stick simultaneously.

From an audio feature standpoint, the XAV-AX5600 includes a 20-watt per channel, four-channel amplifier along with front, rear and subwoofer RCA outputs. Each preamp output is rated to provide up to 5 volts of signal so your installer can keep the gains on your amps down. High-pass crossovers adjustable to 50, 60, 80, 100 or 120 Hz are available from the deck power and front/rear preamp outputs. The subwoofer output has an adjustable low-pass crossover with the same frequency options and an output level control that is easily accessible from the equalizer menu. Speaking of equalization, the radio includes a 10-band equalizer as well as Sony’s Extra Bass and Digital Soundstage Organizer (DSO) processing to help make your audio system sound amazing. The EQ has adjustment bands at 32 Hz, 63 Hz, 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 khz, 2 khz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz and 16 kHz to tame peaks and valleys in the response of the audio system.

Expansion Options Add Entertainment and Safety

A new feature from Sony for 2021 is the inclusion of an HDMI input on the back of the screen under the chassis. That way, when your vehicle is parked, you can play movies or video from a laptop, camera or game system right into the radio. Your car audio retailer can also add an SXV300 SiriusXM satellite radio tuner to the system so you can enjoy genre-specific content almost anywhere in North America without interruption. Another connectivity option is Weblink. You can connect your smartphone and mirror compatible apps from your device right to the screen of the radio.

The radio includes a dedicated video input for an optional backup camera. The camera image will display automatically when the vehicle is put in reverse. Sony includes customizable guidelines to help you back into a spot safely. If you’re towing a trailer, you can bring up the camera video feed any time (assuming your camera is powered) to ensure that everything is safe and secure.

Amazing Integration and Installer-Friendly Design

The radio’s chassis is designed for double-DIN mounting locations, but the body of the radio is only a single-DIN, shallow-mount unit. This unique design gives your installer extra room for interface modules and wiring. The radio includes a steering wheel control interface jack that works with optional modules from iDataLink, PAC, Axxess and Scosche. The radio includes inputs for illumination dimming, a reverse trigger input for the backup camera and a parking brake input for video lockout while driving. Sony includes a remote turn-on output for external amplifiers.

As we mentioned, the 6.95-inch display features a capacitive-touch interface that helps deliver excellent brightness and contrast. Sony has a bezel-less front fascia that makes the XAV-AX5600 look as if it came with your vehicle right from the assembly line. The control panel with the six hard buttons protrudes slightly from the face, and the white backlighting looks elegant in any vehicle. Adjustable illumination brightness allows you to match the intensity of other dash lighting, and has independent brightness settings for when the vehicle lights are on and off.

Upgrade Your Drive with the Sony XAV-AX5600

If the technology in your car or truck isn’t state of the art, drop by your local authorized Sony car audio retailer and ask for a demonstration of the new XAV-AX5600. With a suggested retail price of $499.99 US/$649.99 CDN and a complete set of smartphone integration and entertainment features, this radio is a value that’s hard to beat. You can learn more about Sony Car Audio products by visiting their website, their Facebook page and their Instagram feed.

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: Audison Speaker Upgrades for BMWs and Minis

BMW and Mini owners all over the globe have shown that there is a desire for a better sounding audio system in their vehicles. To meet the performance expectations of these discerning clients, Audison of Italy has developed six drop-in upgrades designed specifically for these vehicles. Best of all, the speaker and subwoofer upgrade solutions use factory wiring and mounting locations, so there are no modifications required. These are the perfect solution for leased vehicles!

Balancing Performance and Efficiency

Designing a loudspeaker requires that the engineer balance low-frequency and high-frequency extension with efficiency and output capability. For example, the upper midrange output may suffer if a driver is optimized to produce more bass. The engineers at Audison have optimized all these criteria for their Prima Series drivers to deliver amazing performance installations using small to moderately powerful amplifiers. As such, their BMW speakers are a perfect stand-alone upgrade with the factory radio or amplifier, or when used with a much more powerful solution like the 85-watts-per-channel AP F 8.9 bit DSP-equipped amplifier.

BMW Speaker Upgrade Solutions

The BMW speakers are broken into two categories: coaxial and component sets. So whether you have a new 2-series and want to upgrade the door speakers or are looking for the dash, front and rear speakers along with a subwoofer upgrade for a 2015 X5 with the Hi-Fi Sound system, there’s a solution from Audison.

The four speaker options are all based on the same basic platform. The 4-inch (100 mm) drivers feature high-quality rigid die-cast aluminum frames that include specific mounting provisions for the doors, the dash center channel or the rear parcel shelf of your BMW or Mini.

To deliver excellent efficiency, the drivers use neodymium magnets instead of conventional ceramic units. The woofer cones are constructed from pressed pulp paper to deliver an excellent balance of rigidity and damping characteristics. The cones are treated with a moisture-resistant finish to ensure their longevity in door installations. The woofers are driven by a large 1-inch (25 mm) fiberglass voice coil former. The large diameter of the coil contributes to the 40-watt continuous, 80-watt maximum power ratings for the drivers. Lastly, they all use a rubber surround instead of foam for an additional improvement in longevity.

The tweeters used in the coaxial and component set solutions once again feature neodymium magnets for excellent efficiency. The diaphragms are made of Audison’s Tetolon silk and cotton dome material to optimize rigidity and damping characteristics to prevent distortion. In the APBMW K4E and K4M component sets, the tweeters have a diameter of 29 mm. Most tweeters in this class, including these vehicles’ stock tweeters, are only 25 mm in size. The larger diameter allows for a nice, low resonant frequency and lower crossover points. The large diaphragm size also improves efficiency.

The component sets include the APBMW CXTM 1 passive filter networks for the tweeters. These filters include 0 and -3 dB output options, and OE-quality connectors are included for wiring. Angled mounting cups for the tweeters are included for rear parcel shelf installations. In the APBMW X4M and X4E coaxial speaker solutions, the tweeters use the same materials but have a diameter of 24 mm. Audison also offers the APBMW A4E accessory kit to allow for the unique installation applications of the F15 chassis X5, F16 chassis X6 and the G30 and G31 chassis 5-series sedans and wagons.

Audison BMW — The Audison APBMW K4E is a 4-inch midrange and 29 mm tweeter set designed specifically to bolt into your BMW or Mini with no modifications.

Prima Subwoofer for BMW and Mini Cars and SUVs

The APBMW S8-2 and APBMW S8-4 are 8-inch (200 mm) subwoofer solutions that are a direct drop-in replacement for the under-seat subwoofers found in BMW and Mini vehicles. These subwoofers feature graphite fiber-reinforced baskets with top-mounted neodymium motor structures. A pair of 5-millimeter polyurethane mounting gaskets are included to ensure a perfect seal with the factory enclosure. A 38 mm (1.5-inch) voice coil provides reliable performance at the speaker’s 150-watt power handling rating. The woofers’ cones are made from pressed pulp, and they use a rubber surround for longevity. A fabric cover over the face of the woofer cone prevents coins and rogue french fries from entering the speaker and causing buzzes or rattles. The woofers feature an Xmax specification of 7 mm in each direction for impressive output from the limited space and shallow mounting requirements.

The Audison engineers put some careful planning into the 2- and 4-ohm models. The 4-ohm S8-4 is slightly less sensitive than the 2-ohm model but offers a 40 Hz resonant frequency instead of 45, so it plays deeper. When the 4-ohm woofer is bridged onto a pair of channels from a Prima amplifier, the additional power allows it to play as loudly as the 2-ohm driver. If you plan a system that will use a larger subwoofer (10- or 12-inch) in the trunk or cargo area, the under-seat woofers function well as midbass drivers.

Visit Your Local Authorized Audison Dealer To Upgrade Your BMW Audio System

If your BMW or Mini sound system doesn’t give you goosebumps when you listen to it, drop by your local authorized Audison Retailer and ask about upgrading the speakers. The Product Specialist can design a solution that works with the existing source unit and amplifier or put together a Sound Pack solution with a dedicated DSP-equipped amplifier like the AP 8.9 bit. They can even create a bespoke solution for cars and SUVs that are equipped with fiber-optic MOST amplifiers. For more information about the Audison speaker upgrades available for your BMW or Mini, visit their website. Be sure to keep up with the latest news and product releases by following their Facebook page, Instagram feed and their YouTube channel.

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.

DroneMobile Is the Best Car Sharing GPS Tracking Solution

Just as Uber and Lyft have changed the way we move around when we don’t have access to a vehicle, car sharing is changing how we rent vehicles. If you’re sharing your vehicle through Turo, Getaround, HyreCar or Outdoorsy and you’re looking for the best GPS tracking and control solutions, DroneMobile is an excellent choice. Being able to check your vehicle’s location at any time gives you peace of mind, and best of all, the system is reliable, accurate and easy to use. Let’s take a close look at the features and information that make DroneMobile the top choice for people who own car-sharing vehicles.

Precision Vehicle Location Information

DroneMobile can be added to your vehicle as a stand-alone tracking solution or an accessory to a security or remote car starter system. This telematics solution provides state-of-the-art LTE-based communication with a vehicle using the DroneMobile app on your Android or Apple smartphone or tablet, or via the web interface on a laptop or personal computer. One key element is that the hardware is completely invisible and can’t be easily disabled by the end user.

Car Sharing GPS — As soon as you launch the DroneMobile app, the system displays the location of your car or truck.

Locating and tracking your vehicle in case of an emergency is as easy as launching the app on your device or logging in to the website. In a second or two, you’ll know the exact location of your car or truck. You’ll be provided with the address where the vehicle is, and you can check its speed if it’s in motion. You can even use your Apple Watch or a WearOS device to check the vehicle location.

Instant Alerts Add Peace of Mind

The DroneMobile system does much more than report a vehicle’s location. You can configure alerts for vehicle speed, operating hours and excessive idling. If you want, you can receive a notification any time the ignition is turned on or off. DroneMobile monitors battery voltage and can send you a warning message if its low, so the person renting your vehicle will never be stranded. If you add DroneMobile to a security system, you’ll know when the alarm is triggered and what caused the alert.

The system pushes instant notifications directly to your smartphone. LTE communication (with 3G fallback) between the vehicle and blazing-fast servers means you get these alerts usually within two seconds, if not faster!

Detailed Information Makes Managing Your Rental Easy

If you choose the DroneMobile Premium Plus or Ultimate service package, you can see turn-by-turn details of where the vehicle has been driven. The data includes the total distance traveled and timestamps for stop and start locations and each turn made during the trip. If your car-sharing service uses per-mile billing, this information is perfect for invoicing.

Monitor Your Car-Sharing Vehicle with DroneMobile GPS

Renting out your vehicle can be stressful. DroneMobile helps to alleviate this stress by letting you monitor the vehicle usage, its security and location. More than 2,000 dealers across the United States and Canada are available to install DroneMobile in your vehicle. You can find one near you using the Dealer Locator on the DroneMobile website. Learn more about DroneMobile products by following them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or their YouTube channel.

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.

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Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX8100 Media Receiver

8.95-inch Floating Face

Smartphone Integration Technologies

Sony XAV-AX8100 Audio Features

Product Spotlight Hertz Mille Legend Speakers and Subwoofers

Hertz Mille Legend Speakers – Moving Parts Technologies

Motor and Basket Performance Features

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with Hertz Mille Legend Speakers

Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX5600 Multimedia Receiver

Easy to Use and Looks Great!

Expansion Options Add Entertainment and Safety

Amazing Integration and Installer-Friendly Design

Upgrade Your Drive with the Sony XAV-AX5600

Product Spotlight: Audison Speaker Upgrades for BMWs and Minis

Balancing Performance and Efficiency

BMW Speaker Upgrade Solutions

Prima Subwoofer for BMW and Mini Cars and SUVs

Visit Your Local Authorized Audison Dealer To Upgrade Your BMW Audio System

DroneMobile Is the Best Car Sharing GPS Tracking Solution

Precision Vehicle Location Information

Instant Alerts Add Peace of Mind

Detailed Information Makes Managing Your Rental Easy

Monitor Your Car-Sharing Vehicle with DroneMobile GPS

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