Sony today announced its first CarPlay-supported in-car audio system, the XAV-AX100, which the company touts as offering "everything you need" for long car journeys, including smartphone connectivity, a high-quality sound system, and voice command features. Following Alpine, Kenwood, JVC, JBL, and Pioneer, Sony is the newest company to manufacture aftermarket CarPlay systems.

Thanks to the inclusion of CarPlay, Apple's in-car software platform, users with Sony's new system installed can access Apple Maps, Apple Music, make phone calls, send text messages, and control various functions with the help of Siri. The XAV-AX100 system is also compatible with Android's CarPlay alternative, Android Auto.

sony carplay In its announcement, Sony focuses on its new system's sound quality, which it says can "overcome engine noise and reproduce clear sound at any volume with deep and punchy bass." Users can even expand the system with other external amplifiers to get a more customized listening experience in their vehicle.

High power sound comes full throttle with the XAV-AX100 in-car audio system. 55 watts x 4 Dynamic Reality Amp 2 and EXTRA BASS™ low boost circuitry overcome engine noise and reproduce clear sound at any volume level with deep and punchy bass.

The 10-band graphic equalizer gives an astonishing variety of sound, perfectly complementing EXTRA BASS™ for an enjoyable drive. 3-pre out connectivity allows system expandability to connect external amplifiers with a wide range of speaker connections, allowing sound enthusiasts to build their own bespoke system

Users will be able to purchase Sony's XAV-AX100 in-car audio system with included CarPlay support for $499.99 when it goes on the market sometime in late November. The company listed a full roster of the system's technical specifications in its press release.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology

Top Rated Comments

lunarworks Avatar
lunarworks
104 months ago
Wow, a company managed to put out a touchscreen car stereo with an interface that doesn't look like it was designed by someone on a caffeine-fuelled '90s Photoshop filter binge. I never thought I'd see the day.

Plus, an actual knob for controlling the volume.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lunarworks Avatar
lunarworks
104 months ago
Does it say anywhere about the car models it can fit into?
Aftermarket car stereos are pretty universal, there's two standardized sizes: Single DIN and double DIN. This one would be double.

If your car doesn't have all kinds of integrated entertainment system ****ery, it should pop right in. Might need a bracket, though.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ike1707 Avatar
ike1707
104 months ago
..an actual knob for controlling the volume.
This. It's a good looking unit, but that physical volume buttons would be the most relevant selling point to me. For the sake of safe operation while driving, I think a physical volume button is a no-brainer.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yg17 Avatar
yg17
104 months ago
How many cars don't? My work recently replaced my 8 year old base model Vauxhall Corsavan, which had an integrated stereo, with a brand new base model Vauxhall Corsavan, which has an integrated stereo. At least the new one has DAB, Bluetooth, and USB - the old one didn't even have aux in, and the CD meant I couldn't even use one of those endless tapes. I found myself listening to Radio 1!
My 2015 WRX stereo isn't integrated and I was able to swap it with a Pioneer unit, but it is a rarity on newer cars. I'm not sure how much longer aftermarket car stereos are going to be around.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macs4nw Avatar
macs4nw
104 months ago
.....Sony are great with sound quality too. Brilliant headphones, brilliant speakers, and brilliant car audio systems.
OK, Kazuo Hirai, no need to convert me :D, I'm a big life-long fan of their TVs, and hope they don't pull out of that market in light of their staggering losses in that business segment. (past TV division losses totaling $7.8 billion over a decade)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rolsskk Avatar
rolsskk
104 months ago


Well, there aren't many standard WRXs, so they probably made it easy to change since a large proportion of the drivers would anyway - they need a loud stereo so they can hear it over the aftermarket exhaust! ;)
Aftermarket....nooooo, it came from the factory like that. :cool: (sarcasm)

Aside from changing out the swaybars/endlinks and the shifter, I'd say that changing the stereo is the biggest night and day difference in a WRX.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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