The Sony XAV-AX7000 is an in-car touchscreen infotainment solution that could be the perfect head unit for the aftermarket. But what does it offer, how does it work and who is it for? We discover.
In-vehicle touchscreen infotainment systems have become an essential product in vehicles these days. Vehicles these days are separated from the “haves” and “have-nots” when it comes to touch screens in the center of the dashboard. While almost all modern cars in the Indian market are offered, they are usually reserved for the higher trim levels. So if you just want a touchscreen AV receiver in your car, but don’t want to shell out the extra money for a more capable version, just for a touchscreen, luckily the aftermarket industry has several options. at different prices.
One of the most popular brands in the audiovisual industry is Sony. Sony products are generally considered to be one of the most reliable technology products that one can buy. But coming to the topic under consideration, Sony also offers a wide range of products for in-car audio systems and head units. So they sent us a test unit of one of their models, the Sony XAV-AX7000.
The aftermarket is littered with touchscreen infotainment systems which mostly fall between the price range of Rs 15,000 to Rs 35,000. These devices generally follow the ‘more you pay, more features you get’ philosophy. The AX7000 is a top-of-the-line model in the Sony lineup, and sits just a notch below the top-of-the-line AX8000, but not by much. At Rs 31,900 MRP, the AX7000 isn’t exactly cheap, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve that make it a better option than spending a lot more on a new, fully specified car or adding a little color to it. an older vehicle.
What is cool about the design of the Sony XAV-AX7000?
The AX7000 offers a 6.95-inch anti-glare capacitive touchscreen. The screen takes up most of the front of the device for a somewhat bezel-less design. But it doesn’t miss the buttons on the front for volume control, a voice command button and a few others for a seamless integrated design. In addition, the front of the main unit is a double DIN but integrated into a compact mono-DIN chassis.
Sony XAV-AX7000 1 Din chassis, two USB portsWhat are the features of the Sony XAV-AX7000?
The AX7000 comes with features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Weblink. All of this is integrated into Sony’s native user interface. The system offers two USB ports, one supporting fast charging. If your vehicle has steering controls, you can also wire them to the unit. In addition, it offers voice control and the ability to associate with a rear view camera.
However, if you’re an audiophile, the party part of the AX7000 is that the head unit itself comes with a built-in Class D amplifier with 2.1-channel subwoofer direct mode. This eliminates the need for an external amplifier in the vehicle. The unit itself can power 4 speakers at 4 ohm and 2 ohm loads, sending 50W RMH to each. As you browse through the menus, you can see that even though there are some preset EQ settings. The AX7000 also has a customizable 10-band equalizer and many more features for sound adjustments. This allows those fine adjustments to be made to perfectly match the sound to your car. On top of that, if you like or even don’t like heavy bass thumps, there is also an Extra Bass mode with three settings – off, 1 and 2.
How does the Sony XAV-AX7000 perform?
While we only had a demo unit, we were unable to properly test some of the functionality of the system as a whole. We cannot guarantee the sound quality at this time, but if other Sony systems have to pass we can say that one will not be disappointed. The same goes for the quality of the microphone which we were not able to test.
Sony XAV-AX7000 anti-reflective coatingWhat we were able to put to the test was the touchscreen and the way the system reacts and feels good. First, the system wake-up time is actually quite fast. There are many OEM systems that take much longer to wake up. Once it’s powered up, the boot time is almost immediate.
Sony XAV-AX7000 Weblink Screen MirrorThe screen has an optical filter that helps reduce glare. However, it does take some of the clarity and crispness off the screen. Additionally, it appears to affect the touch response and screen feel as well, which could be improved. Although that shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. The screen resolution is 800 × 480 which means the screen is not HD. As the world has moved to higher resolution formats in other applications, onboard infotainments still seem a bit behind the times.
Sony XAV-AX7000 Compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android AutoWith the AX7000, Bluetooth is available for music and phone calls. But a USB connection is required to use Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which both work as expected.
Weblink, on the other hand, is not something I would recommend buying the AX7000 for. It is incredibly slow and when using the video playback function it can be very annoying while driving. Although there is a fail-safe parking brake lock, it can be easily bypassed which can be a safety concern.
Who is the Sony XAV-AX7000 designed for?
The AX7000 is a perfect all-rounder. While we haven’t tested the sound quality inside a vehicle in an ideal setup, having a Class D amplifier built into the unit is pretty cool. This means that you don’t have to buy an external amp, which reduces the weight of the vehicle. If that’s what you’re looking for, the AX7000 is a no-brainer. The screen itself can be improved slightly and also upgraded to support HD quality. If anyone is looking for the perfect balance between good sound and a good user experience, the Sony XAV-AX7000 is the perfect choice.
Get Live Stock Quotes for BSE, NSE, US Market and Latest Net Asset Value, Mutual Fund Portfolio, Calculate Your Tax by Income Tax Calculator, Know the Top Winners market, the best losers and the best equity funds. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.