Product Spotlight: Sony Mobile ES XS-690ES and XS-680ES Speakers

Consumer reception of the new Sony Mobile ES speakers has been incredible. These solutions were designed to offer benchmark performance at very accessible price points. A while back, we looked at the 6.5-inch component set and coaxial speakers. In this BestCarAudio.com spotlight, we’ll check out the features of the XS690ES 6-by-9 and the XS-680ES 6-by-8-inch speaker sets.

Sony Mobile ES XS-690ES

The XS-690ES speaker set is a drop-in replacement for the most popular speaker size of all time – the ubiquitous six-by-nine. Sold in pairs, the set includes mesh grilles for custom installations. These two-way speakers feature a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter and a mica-reinforced cellular aramid fiber matrix woofer cone. The tweeter uses a synthetic fiber diaphragm that balances mass and rigidity to deliver excellent clarity and extension to an as-claimed 40 kHz. The woofer cones are well-damped and rigid to ensure uncolored midrange performance and great bass production. The rubber surround features Sony’s Separated Notch Edge Surround design that helps to damp unwanted oscillations that add distortion at high excursion levels. In addition, Sony notes that the progressive spider is designed to deliver “rapid and precise” control over the woofer for crystal clear performance.

Mobile ES Speakers — Staggered notches molded in the surrounds help eliminate unwanted resonances and deliver precise audio reproduction.

Physically, the speakers are based on a five-beam composite basket that offers both rigidity and excellent damping characteristics. This construction allowed Sony to integrate a cooling system around the ceramic magnet that they call the Dynamic Air Diffuser. As a result, hot air from the voice coil can escape from under the spider to optimize power handling and reduce compression and rarefication at high excursion levels.

In terms of specifications, the XS-690ES speakers are rated to handle 110 watts as per the CTA-2031 specification and efficiency is specified as 90 dB at 1-watt, 1-meter, with a tolerance of 4 dB. When choosing these speakers for upgrades in vehicle doors, note that the mounting depth is 2.875 inches with a protrusion height of just 0.50 inch from the mounting surface. Last but certainly not least, the speakers have a nominal impedance of 3.2 ohms.

Sony Mobile ES XS-680ES

The XS-680ES speakers are explicitly designed as an OE speaker upgrade solution. These drivers share the same five-spoke composite basket with their integrated Dynamic Air Diffuser cooling technology. The woofer cones feature the same balanced-performance mica-reinforced cellular aramid fiber matrix construction. It’s worth noting that the mica mineral not only improves damping but it also increases thermal stability. This physical robustness is crucial around the joint with the voice coil.

Sony has done its homework in terms of delivering smooth output between the midrange and tweeter. Aside from the high-quality polypropylene capacitor that serves as the crossover, the XS-162ES 6.5-inch coaxial speakers and these XS-680ES six-by-eight drivers use the same 13/16-inch (2.0 cm) tweeters. The XS-690ES uses the larger, more efficient 1-inch design used with the XS-160ES component set. The crossover in the component set includes attenuation circuitry, so the output efficiency matches that of the woofer while offering improved low-frequency output.

In the case of all three coaxial driver solutions, the tweeters are mounted atop a custom-tooled composite post that extends up through the center of the driver. The post features a smoothly tapered shape and finned outer edge to help control midrange-information reflections. Likewise, the top of the tweeter is positioned so that it doesn’t extend past the front edge of the woofer surround. Other drivers aren’t always like this, and their tweeters can present issues when mounted behind factory grilles. It’s clear that every square inch of these drivers is optimized for the best possible performance.

The XS-680ES drivers also use a progressive spider at the base of the driver and Sony’s new Separated Notch Edge Surround for compliance at the top of the cone. In terms of specs, power handling is rated at 75 watts (CTA-2015 compliant), efficiency at 89 dB with a tolerance of 4 dB, and nominal impedance at 3.2 ohms. The mounting depth for these six-by-eight speakers is 2.125 inches.

Distortion-Reducing Shorting Ring

With respect to both the XS-680ES and XS-690ES, we’ve already mentioned the woofer cone material as well as the notched surround as crucial factors in delivering clear sound at high volume levels. However, another vital feature that Sony included is an aluminum shorting ring inside the motor assembly. This seemingly simple addition helps damp unwanted magnetic fields that are created as the voice coil moves forward and rearward from rest. Those fields would oppose the efforts of the fixed ceramic magnet and dramatically reduce output at the top end of the midrange and add distortion. The aluminum shorting ring, quite simply, acts as a short-circuit to those unwanted high-frequency magnetic currents, allowing the drivers to deliver uncannily clear midrange clarity.

If you haven’t heard car audio speakers with this technology, it’s well worth making a special trip to audition them. Quite simply, they sound different and better than speakers that don’t include this technology. Oh, and most products that include shorting rings cost at least twice as much, if not three times.

Experience Sony Mobile ES Speakers Today!

If it’s time to upgrade the audio system in your car or truck, drop by your local authorized Sony Mobile ES retailer and audition the new XS-690ES and XS-680ES. Be sure to bring your favorite music with you and give the volume on the display a good crank. You won’t believe how great they sound!

For more information on Mobile ES products, visit the Sony website. Be sure to follow Sony on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to stay on top of future additions to the Mobile ES line.

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 Mobile ES XS-160ES and XS-162ES Speakers

In the first week of May 2021, Sony Electronics introduced its new Mobile ES series of speakers and subwoofers. If you’ve been into the car audio industry for a while, then you’ll recognize the Mobile ES (Elevated Standard) name from classic products like the CDX-X90 CD player. The new Mobile ES speakers include 6.5-inch coaxial and component sets, a set of 6×8 and 6×9-inch coaxials and a 10-inch subwoofer. Let’s dive into the 6.5-inch sets and explain what makes them an excellent solution for an enthusiast wanting amazing sound from their car audio system.

Sony Mobile ES XS-162ES Speakers

The XS-162ES is a 6.5-inch component speaker set that includes a pair of woofers with removable grilles, a set of 1-inch tweeters and a pair of passive crossover networks. The woofers are based on a proprietary lightweight composite material, designed to integrate cooling vents around the perimeter of the magnet to help keep the motor assembly cool. Sony calls this its Dynamic Air Diffuser. The five-spoke baskets also include venting under the spider mounting plateau to increase linearity at high excursion levels. There are 10 mounting holes in the thick upper flange to accommodate three-, four- and six-position fastener locations. A phase plug in the center of each woofer is supported by a finned aluminum bobbin with its own Dynamic Air Diffuser for added cooling.

The woofers are formed using Sony’s third-generation Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) cone material. The mixture combines mica mineral powder to increase damping and thermal stability with aramid fibers to provide good strength and rigidity. Sony reports that this new material helps suppress cone resonances to deliver improved bass and midrange performance. The cone is suspended by a progressive spider that helps control motion at extreme excursion levels. The design of the Separated Notch Edge Surround at the top of the cone, with its curved grooves, reduces distortion by equalizing compliance for inward and outward motion and damping the synthetic rubber material’s resonances.

Speaking of distortion reduction, Sony has included an aluminum shorting ring around the inside of the magnet to help control unwanted magnet flux in the motor assembly. This feature results in a significant reduction in speaker inductance and smoother upper midrange performance.

The set of tweeters included in the system uses a soft-dome design with a large surround. The voice coil is connected directly to the base of the diaphragm. A large neodymium magnet slug serves as the motor for the tweeter. The voice coil is immersed in a magnetic fluid that improves power handling, increases efficiency and damps unwanted resonance.

Sony claims these tweeters deliver output to 40 kHz. As such, they are ideal for Hi-Res source units that can play FLAC and DSD files. The tweeters can be flush-, surface- or angle-mounted using the included hardware.

The passive crossover networks each feature high-quality mylar capacitors and an air-wound inductor. There’s an output level control switch that will allow your installer to attenuate the tweeter by 3 dB to balance the system.

XS-160ES Coaxial 6.5-inch Speakers

The XS-160ES is the coaxial version of the XS-162ES drivers. They share the same basket and woofer design but feature a 13/16-inch soft dome tweeter instead of the 1-inch driver found on the component set. The tweeter is mounted on top of the composite center post and, just like its big brother, includes an integrated waveguide to help increase efficiency. The tweeter crossover capacitor is mounted in the center of the pole extension for a clean and tidy appearance.

An important consideration in choosing a coaxial speaker for your car or truck is to ensure that the tweeter doesn’t protrude too far out the front. The product development team at Sony took this into account and made the top edge of the tweeter even with the top of the woofer surround so it won’t come into contact with the stock grille in your car or truck.

Mounting Requirements and Specifications

Both the XS-160ES and XS-162ES have a mounting depth of 2.125 inches and require a 5-inch cutout diameter. When installed, the grilles stick out 29/32 of an inch. The tweeters in the XS-162ES require a 2.128-inch mounting hole and need 0.75 inch of depth when mounted flush. The overall outer diameter is 2.5 inches. Both speakers are rated for up to 60 watts of continuous and 270 watts peak power handling as per the IEC 60268-5 spec. The CTA-2031 spec is 90 watts per driver. Efficiency is specified at 89 dB with a tolerance of 2 dB at 1 W/1M. The frequency response is 45 Hz to 40 kHz for the XS-160ES and 40 Hz to 40 kHz for the XS-162ES system with no specified tolerance.

Upgrade Your Car Audio Experience with Sony Mobile ES

Based on the feature set alone, the new Mobile ES speakers put themselves in competition with products costing two to three times as much. The new Sony speakers are available to audition and purchase from authorized Sony Mobile ES retailers across the U.S. and Canada. If you’re looking for a way to improve the audio system in your car or truck dramatically, the XS-162ES and XS-160ES speakers are a great option.

You can learn more about Sony Mobile ES car audio products by visiting their website or visiting an Authorized Sony Mobile ES retailer near you. Of course, be sure to follow Sony on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to stay on top of future additions to the Sony Mobile ES line.

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: Firstech FT-DAS II Security Sensor

A laptop bag in the back seat, a smartphone in the center console or shopping bags in the rear of an SUV – each is the perfect temptation for a thief. In seconds, items you’ve spent your hard-earned money to acquire are gone forever. Protecting your vehicle with a premium car alarm that includes the Firstech FT-DAS II security sensor is one of the best options for stopping theft, vandalism or damage.

This impressive device includes four security sensors in one compact, reliable package. The FT-DAS II is also a key component in why Compustar or Arctic Start remote car starters are the safest solutions for vehicles with manual transmissions. Let’s take a look at the FT-DAS II in detail.

Firstech FT-DAS II Features

The FT-DAS II uses a high-sensitivity, multi-axis digital motion accelerometer to detect attempts to break into your vehicle or damage from shopping carts or another vehicle. If the device detects a moderate impact, the system chirps the siren a few times to scare off thieves or alert another driver that they may have touched your vehicle. If the impact is significant, the full alarm will sound instantly. The impact sensor is excellent protection against someone using a battery-powered reciprocating saw to try to steal a catalytic converter or using a cordless impact gun to steal your wheels. Your Firstech dealer (Compustar or Arctic Start) can fine-tune the sensitivity of the impact sensor to keep your vehicle safe without having false alarms when it’s windy or noisy.

The FT-DAS II includes programming logic that monitors the accelerometer to detect when the vehicle is being lifted. If someone is trying to steal your wheels or the car is being hoisted onto a flatbed or raised by a tow truck, the tilt-detection feature will trigger the alarm.

The most obvious difference between the original FT-DAS and the FT-DAS II is the inclusion of glass-breakage detection. If a thief uses a hammer or punch to break a window, the microphone will detect the sound of the glass shattering and trigger the alarm.

FT-DAS II Security Sensor — Thieves commonly use automatic center punches to break windows without triggering an impact sensor. The FT-DAS II’s glass-breakage detection will trigger the alarm instantly.

Forward-Motion Detection Delivers Class-Leading Remote Start Safety

The FT-DAS II is required anytime a CM7 or CMX control module is installed as a remote car starter on a vehicle with a manual transmission. The forward motion sensor is active during the remote start process and will shut the engine down immediately if it detects the car or truck moving forward. Even if all the safety systems have been bypassed (which is very difficult to do), you can be confident that your vehicle won’t drive through your garage when you activate the remote starter. No other brand of manual-transmission-compatible remote starter offers this level of safety and security.

Get Security Alerts Remotely

If your remote starter or security system is equipped with a two-way remote like the T13, R5, T12, T11, Q9, 901 or the T9, you’ll get alarm alerts as long as you’re within range of your vehicle. The remote will beep and, depending on the model, tell you which security zone was triggered. The security alerts include warnings for the door, hood and truck triggers and those from the FT-DAS II. For ultimate protection, the DroneMobile telematics system will show alarm alerts as notifications on your smartphone no matter where you are, as long as your phone has access to the internet.

Factory-Installed Security Systems Don’t Offer Damage Protection

You may have been told that your vehicle came from the factory with a security system. In most automobiles, these systems are typically just a transponder key that helps prevent vehicle theft. They do nothing to protect you against smash-and-grab intrusions as they don’t include an impact or shock sensor. A dedicated Compustar or Arctic Start system that includes the FT-DAS II will provide an instant alert if someone is attempting to damage or break into your car, truck or SUV.

Protect Your Vehicle with A Premium Digital Security Sensor

Whether you’re worried about theft, damage in a parking lot or vandalism, a security system or remote car starter that includes the Firstech FT-DAS II is the best protection you can buy. Drop by an authorized Compustar or Arctic Start dealer to ask about a vehicle protection system today. You can learn more about Compustar remote starter and security solutions by visiting their website and following them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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: ARC Audio A-Series Shallow Car Audio Subwoofers

The team at ARC Audio in Modesto, California, has a solution for those who want big bass from compact enclosures. The ARC Audio A-Series shallow-mount subwoofers are available in both 10- and 12-inch sizes with your choice of dual 2- or 4-ohm voice coils. Most importantly, they can dish out impressively articulate and detailed bass from applications where conventional full-size subwoofers simply won’t fit. If you’ve been lucky enough to hear ARC Audio’s Ford Flex with three of the A10s in a 1.3-cubic-foot enclosure, we’re sure you’ll agree! Let’s check them out.

ARC Audio A-Series Subwoofer Features

The A-Series subwoofers are available in both 10- and 12-inch diameter in dual 2- and dual 4-ohm voice coil configurations. The subwoofers are based on heavy-gauge, deep-draw, stamped-steel chassis that are finished with a fine-textured Dark Charcoal Grey Powder Coat paint. The frame has four large open windows and four sets of twin spokes. All the opening edges are rolled over to add strength to the design and give it a cast-basket appearance. A custom-tooled, fiberglass-reinforced thermoplastic frame bolted to the rear of the basket provides a mounting surface for the twisted-pile polycotton and Nomex progressive spider. As this is a custom part, the driver can use a flat spider rather than a cupped design that might introduce unwanted linearity issues. This spacer also features the mounts for the pair of chrome-plated, spring-loaded terminals on opposing sides.

ARC Shallow Subwoofer — Spring-loaded chrome terminals recessed into the sides of the driver make speaker wire connections simple.

The bottom plate with its integrated T-yoke and massive cooling vent, along with a large-diameter ceramic magnet and the 9.8-mm-thick top plate, are bolted to the center of the assembly to form the motor structure. All of these components, along with the proprietary spider spacer, are secured with high-strength, high-temperature adhesives and mechanical fasteners, so there’s no concern over anything ever working loose.

In terms of soft parts (a term given to those components that move forward and rearward to produce sound), the A-Series subwoofers start with a spun-laced Nomex former surrounded by a Totoku triple-insulated copper voice coil winding. The ARC Audio transducer design team is passionate about its products meeting (and exceeding) thermal power handling specifications, so they always overdo things in this department – hence the premium shielded copper conductors. It’s also worth noting that the A12 drivers use a 3-inch diameter voice coil, with the A10 having a 2.5-inch one. This explains the difference in power handling between the 10s and 12s.

The voice coil assembly drives a progressive-taper, poly-injected, pulp paper cone that’s impressively rigid and well-damped for its weight. A reinforced polypropylene dust cap with the ARC Audio and A-Series logos on the front serves as the visible face of the drivers. The surround is made from UV-treated polyether to provide a flexible connection that will resist drying out or being damaged by humidity. It’s worth noting that polyether’s compliance doesn’t vary with temperature changes as much as other materials. If you live somewhere where it gets cold in the winter, you’ll still be able to enjoy your music.

A factor that many companies overlook in developing and constructing subwoofers and speakers is the application of adhesives. ARC Audio cleans and laser-etches all surfaces onto which adhesives will be applied to ensure a solid bond. Further, the assembly facility is temperature- and, crucially, humidity-controlled so that the application and curing process will result in the best adhesion and reliability possible. Yes, a manufacturer can have speakers constructed for a lot less money in a hot, humid and dusty warehouse, but guaranteeing that the products assembled there will stay together is a risky proposition.

A-Series Shallow Subwoofer Specifications

The A-Series subwoofers offer impressive output and efficiency from minimal amounts of power. The 10-inch drivers are rated for 250 watts of continuous power and 500 watts maximum. The 12-inch drivers bump those numbers to 300 and 600 watts, respectively.

From a Thiele/Small parameter perspective, the A-Series subwoofers are designed with a very low resonant frequency (around 25 to 26 Hz, depending on the model) and a very compliant (soft) suspension. The Qts values are mid-pack between low and high, so the drivers produce a natural bump in their response when used in small, sealed enclosures. The drivers work amazingly well in moderately sized vented enclosures if you have the room and want more low-frequency output.

What seems to matter most to those looking at shallow-mount subwoofer specifications are the driver’s cone excursion values. We were told that both the A10 and A12 subwoofers have an Xmax spec of 15.2 mm. The subwoofers are a little taller than some in their class, with a 3.77-inch mounting depth requirement for either size. As a side note, your installer will also want to leave some room behind the sizeable cooling vent in the center of the T-yoke to prevent pressure build-up under the dust cap.

If you’re shopping for a shallow-mount subwoofer system that will make listening to music exponentially more enjoyable, drop by your local authorized ARC Audio retailer and ask about the new A-Series subwoofers. You can find a retailer near you by using the Dealer Locator on the ARC Audio website. Be sure to keep up with the latest news from the lads and lasses from Modesto by liking their Facebook page, Instagram feed and the ARCtv 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: Audison Bit One HD Virtuoso

Long considered one of the forerunners in digital signal processing in the car audio industry, Audison continues their performance and technological evolution with the introduction of the new Bit One HD Virtuoso. This advanced processor builds on the success of the Bit One HD and includes upgraded premium audio components for improved sound quality, along with state-of-the-art signal routing and processing capabilities to cope with even the most-advanced and challenging of factory-installed source units and amplifiers.

Virtuoso Digital Signal Processor Basic Features

The new Virtuoso digital signal processor (DSP) includes six RCA inputs, 12 high-level inputs, a pair of RCA auxiliary inputs and two TOSLINK optical inputs. The high-level inputs are equipped with Audison’s Universal Speaker Simulator (USS), so factory-installed source units that use load-sensing to check for speakers will function normally.

The digital inputs will accept standard stereo audio data streams up to 24-bit depth and 96kHz sampling rates. There are 13 RCA preamp outputs, each rated to produce up to 4 volts of signal. Two sets of AD Link/AC Link connections are available to feed digital signals to Audison amplifiers like the Voce Series when equipped with the AV Bit IN HD digital input board. Using the AD Link/AC Link system eliminates the chance of picking up noise between a processor and an amplifier using analog connections.

Remote Volume Auxiliary Input

An interesting and unique feature of the Virtuoso is the Remote Volume Aux (RVA) feature, which lets you use the volume control on your source unit to control the output level of the processor when using its auxiliary input. The function can be enabled using a test tone stored on a USB memory stick or by connecting the RVA output to the aux input on the head unit. The Virtuoso monitors the level of the test tone and adjusts the output of the processor to match. This configuration maintains an appropriate level for Bluetooth, navigation prompts and warning chimes.

Premium Components for Superb Sound

Audison has included a variety of audiophile-grade components in the new Virtuoso processor. First, the output operational amplifiers are Texas Instruments OPAx134 SoundPlus units. These devices have a stunning 0.00008% distortion spec and add almost no noise to the signal. SILMIC series ELNA filter capacitors filter the power fed to the output op-amps to reduce the chances of noise. Finally, high-performance metalized polypropylene film capacitors in the audio path provide excellent high-frequency performance.

A pair of Cirrus Logic Advanced Multi-bit Delta Sigma Architecture 24-bit digital-to-analog converters handles conversion of data from the Analog Device ADSP-21489 SHARC Processor. This powerful processor was chosen for its ability to handle the complex math involved in implementing Finite Impulse Response (FIR) crossovers and equalization on many of the output channels. Audison suggests that the use of FIR filters over Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) processing eliminates phase anomalies associated with configuring and tuning the system to produce a more-coherent soundstage and improved listening experience.

Next-Level Factory Sound System Integration

The Bit One HD Virtuoso is equipped with advanced DE-EQ processing that includes phase analysis. Previous integration processing has been able to undo equalization and signal delay added to the output of an amplifier. The Virtuoso adds the ability to detect all-pass (Phase EQ) processing and apply a correction to produce a time-coherent signal for your installer to work with. The Virtuoso will also detect reverse-polarity speaker wire connections so the installer can swap the wiring and reduce processing requirements.

If your factory audio system doesn’t include an upmixer, the Virtuoso will work in the Automatic Routing Input Setup mode. This configuration sums and corrects EQ and Phase to produce a wide-bandwidth signal. The pass-through mode is best used with factory sound systems that include an upmixer and discrete center channel. No summing is applied in pass-through mode, and inputs are routed through to the outputs with provisions for equalization and filtering, depending on the requirements of the new speakers.

Experience the Audison Bit One HD Virtuoso for Yourself!

If you are shopping for an audio system upgrade for your vehicle, visit your local authorized Audison dealer and ask about adding the new Bit One HD Virtuoso to your system design. Beyond being an extremely capable integration processor, it will allow your installer to configure and calibrate each speaker in your mobile audio system so your listening experience can rival or exceed the detail and accuracy of the most-bespoke of home audio systems.

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 Mobile ES XS-690ES and XS-680ES Speakers

Sony Mobile ES XS-690ES

Sony Mobile ES XS-680ES

Distortion-Reducing Shorting Ring

Experience Sony Mobile ES Speakers Today!

Product Spotlight: Sony Mobile ES XS-160ES and XS-162ES Speakers

Sony Mobile ES XS-162ES Speakers

XS-160ES Coaxial 6.5-inch Speakers

Mounting Requirements and Specifications

Upgrade Your Car Audio Experience with Sony Mobile ES

Product Spotlight: Firstech FT-DAS II Security Sensor

Firstech FT-DAS II Features

Forward-Motion Detection Delivers Class-Leading Remote Start Safety

Get Security Alerts Remotely

Factory-Installed Security Systems Don’t Offer Damage Protection

Protect Your Vehicle with A Premium Digital Security Sensor

Product Spotlight: ARC Audio A-Series Shallow Car Audio Subwoofers

ARC Audio A-Series Subwoofer Features

A-Series Shallow Subwoofer Specifications

Product Spotlight: Audison Bit One HD Virtuoso

Virtuoso Digital Signal Processor Basic Features

Remote Volume Auxiliary Input

Premium Components for Superb Sound

Next-Level Factory Sound System Integration

Experience the Audison Bit One HD Virtuoso for Yourself!

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