Review: Sony’s Xplod Car Stereo Rocks Out With the iPhone
11:59 pm, October 23rd, 2009, Leander Kahney
My beloved truck used to be behind the times. The factory-installed stereo had a cassette deck. Remember them? No iPod/iPhone connection and worse, no hands-free cellphone.
But now its got a shiny Sony Xplod aftermarket stereo, which features both iPod and Bluetooth connectivity.
There’s a lot of replacement stereos, but the Xplod has the easiest Bluetooth setup ever, and it always makes a seamless connection with my iPhone. It just works, every time, period. Now I’m always chatting it up in while I’m driving, and I love streaming music via Bluetooth. I should have got one years ago.
Full review after the jump.
For donkeys, I’ve carried things like Bluetooth headsets and sun-visor speakerphones in the truck, but I hate them. Too fiddly.
It makes all the difference to see calls displayed on the stereo, which automatically pauses the music, then hit the main volume button to answer the call. Couldn’t be easier. You have the conversation through the car’s speakers and an external microphone, which is mounted up near the rear-view mirror. Before, I used to ignore calls while I was driving. Now I’m chattier than Kathy Lee.
For this review, Sony provided a $299.99 Xplod MEX-BT5700U car audio system with iPod/iPhone front end integration.
The unit features a USB port on the front that charges the iPod/iPhone while also controlling music playback via the stereo’s controls. Music can be selected by artist, genre, playlist and so on, and the song info is shown on the unit’s 4-line LED display.
The faceplate flips down to reveal the CD player and is detachable. The Xplod plays multiformat CDs (MP3/WMA/AAC) and supports satellite radio and HD Radio (via adapters sold separately. Didn’t test). Of course, there’s a FM/AM radio built in.
It’s easy to switch between modes. Hit a button to toggle between CD, FM radio, Bluetooth Audio, and Aux.
The front auxiliary jack is a blessing. On long trips, the kids watch movies on my MacBook with the soundtrack blasting through the trucks’ speakers. Instead of using a cassette adapter, the MacBook now just plugs straight into the stereo with a standard 3.5mm audio cable.
The kids like the included remote control, which allows them to control the stereo from the back seats. But I hid it after they kept switching from 107.7 The Bone (Led Zeppelin) for stations that play the Black Eyed Peas and other abominations.
Controls are pretty straight forward although a little cramped. I sometimes hit the wrong button because they’re so close together and not easily distinguishable in peripheral vision. The LED display is also prone to glare.
What I really enjoy is the Bluetooth. Wireless music streaming is great, and oddly magical and miraculous. Still get a kick out of it.
Thanks to the iPhone OS 3 update, the iPhone and iPod Touch can now stream music in glorious stereo. Too bad Apple didn’t other Bluetooth features. The Xplod supports a ton of Bluetooth profiles, including PBAP (Phone Book Access Profile), which is not supported on the iPhone. Instead of importing my full address book, I have to enter caller IDs manually into the unit, which I gave up on after about three entries. It’s easy to recognize most numbers anyway.
There’s only four problems with the unit:
* Voice calls can be a bit quiet. I have to crank volume to max sometimes to hear properly.
* The controls are a bit small and fiddly. It’s easy to hit the “source” button when aiming for the radio seek control.
* There’s no RDS (Radio Data System), which displays song and artist info playing on the FM radio. Several of Sony’s other head units do (but lack many of the other features of the 5700U).
* The menu system isn’t the easiest to navigate. I had to crack the manual several times to figure out what to do. Still, it’s not as bad as your average Nokia phone.
As you’d expect, the stereo sounds pretty good. It pumps out 52 watts of peak power to the speakers.
It sounds even better than the factory stereo it replaced, part of the highly-regarded Harman Kardon sound system built into all Land Rover Discovery IIs. It helped that I fiddled with the EQ, pumping up the subwoofer a few notches.
So the sound is better than before, and its got modern conveniences like Bluetooth and a wireless remote control. The Xplod is highly recommended. Time to bring your creaky old car stereo into the iPhone age.
Full disclosure: Sony provided the unit to keep and paid for installation.
Company: Sony
Model: Xplod MEX-BT5700U
List Price: $299.99
Compatible: iPhones and iPod Touch running OS 3. Myriad other music devices and cell phones with Bluetooth or audio-out jacks.
Buy Now: The Xplod MEX-BT5700U is available from Amazon for $250.90 with free shipping.
Posted by Leander Kahney in Reviews, iPhone, iPod Accessories, iPod Touch | Comment on this article
i just put a stereo jack into the front of my JVC, all works great! And I can use the ipod itself to select music!
kermit, on October 24th, 2009 at 1:58 am
Yay a full disclosure statement! Thanks for doing the right (and now/soon-to-be legal) thing.
kb, on October 24th, 2009 at 7:44 am
I LOVE my Sony BT 3700 head unit. It connects to my 3GS instantly and sounds better than the CD player. Only drawback is no dash controls but that’s minor. It works great!.
solar, on October 24th, 2009 at 7:46 am
The ergonomics on most all of these aftermarket car stereos are atrocious. They jam so many buttons, rockers and do-dads on the face to control a bunch of features most people will never use, or can never figure out how to use. And if the location of the unit is low on the dashboard it’s even worse. Also, don’t even consider doing anything in cold weather with gloves on.
That gripe aside, if you want superior sound and features you just have to put up with it. I’m glad Leander enjoys the Sony and that it fulfills his needs, but I hope he’s keeping his eye on the road.
Chris, on October 24th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Just buy a Audi with MMI
Nuno, on October 24th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I’m glad to read that your happy with your new Sony provided radio. I’m very happy with my JVC KD-AHD59 HD Radio/CD Receiver which works very well with my iTouch via the front wired USB port. I could purchase the bluetooth module if I desired but I don’t have an iPhone and don’t need it now.
The problem is that your review skirts the journalistic line between a paid advertisement and a candid review. I’m glad that you included full disclosure but readers need to remember that there are numerous models / manufacturers of vehicular head units (radios or receivers to the layman) that may meet their needs just as well if not better than the Sony referenced in the article.
Ultimately, your advice is sound but shouldn’t necessarily be the deciding factor in your reader’s decision on a replacement head unit. They need to decide on the capabilities that they need in a new head unit; get as much advice and research as they need to make an informed decision; and then procure it.
Cheers,
Will
Will, on October 24th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
The features of this don’t sound a bit different from my $170 (install kit included) Dual HD7714, except that the Sony has a fancier LCD and no built in HD radio. Wish the Dual supported address books too.
Are there kids who still listen to the Black Eyed Peas?
Are there grown ups who still listen to Led Zeppelin?
Different Computers, on October 26th, 2009 at 8:16 am
my problem with sony (and by extension, aiwa) car stereos is reliability. all the ones i’ve had died a fairly quick death. i switched to jvc and have never looked back.
firesign3000, on October 26th, 2009 at 8:37 am
I have the same stereo, though a cheaper version ($159 at Fry’s), and it works great with my iPhone. The hands free calling works very well and the sound is very good. Now for the speakers …
Yes, there are grown ups who still listen to Led Zepplin.
Ed, on October 26th, 2009 at 10:18 pm