When considering the home Audio video world, Sony is always a great choice with excellent models for televisions and home theater. The trusted brand also excels at giving you a similar experience behind the wheel of your car!
The Sony XAV-AX200 is one of the most reliable double-DIN DVD receivers you can buy to upgrade your car’s audio system performance while adding some really cool features. When we say “some” we mean way more than we normally find from many other manufacturers.
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This popular head unit connects with your smartphone for effortless voice control as you drive. With some of the most amazing connectivity features, it lets you make your drive more enjoyable and safer.
In this article, we dive deep into the features and offerings of the Sony XAV-AX200 digital media receiver to help you find out how it can improve your in-car life.
An ideal choice for smartphone integration, the Sony XAV-AX200 comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity to let you control all your favorite features right from the touchscreen or with voice commands.
Design and Interface
Touchscreen. The Sony XAV-AX200 DVD receiver features a 6.4-inch responsive touchscreen with full-color display. It offers a Gesture Control to allow performing common operations by swiping the finger in preset direction on the screen.
The interface is user-friendly and lets you customize it with wallpapers, aspect ratio, dimmer and picture EQ settings.
Rotary Dial. Apart from the touchscreen control, the head unit comes with a 3-way rotary dial that makes operation distraction-free. You can use the dial and button to control the functions.
Remote Control. The Sony XAV-AX200 includes an IR remote control and is compatible with the steering wheel remote adapters to let you retain factory steering wheel controls on replacing the factory radio with a head unit.
Smartphone Integration
Apple CarPlay. The Sony XAV-AX200 receiver allows using all the iPhone functions with Apple CarPlay. Connect the Apple device using a lightning to USB cable to see the interface displayed on the touchscreen of the receiver.
Tap the icons to make calls and check messages or bring up maps. Access your phone’s music library and iTunes Radio using the screen. You can even talk to Siri to control functions with voice commands.
Android Auto. With Android Auto compatibility, the receiver lets you connect your Android smartphone through USB and operate the phone’s functions using the touchscreen. You can use it to get lane guidance, traffic information and real-time navigation help from Google Maps right on your dashboard. It even allows handling phone calls, checking messages and voicemail through the receiver.
With voice-recognition technology, Sony XAV-AX200 allows controlling everything with voice commands. Make calls, send messages, get direction and control music without taking your hands off the wheel.
Smartphone Charging. The USB connection provides power to keep your connected Android smartphone or iPhone charged.
Built-in Bluetooth
Hands-Free Communication. The Sony XAV-AX200 features integrated Bluetooth to let you handle phone calls wirelessly through the head unit while streaming music from the smartphone. Simple Secure Pairing lets you pair a Bluetooth enabled device to the receiver without having to enter a pin code or go through settings.
The unit also facilitates hands-free communication for your smartphone to minimize distraction while driving. You can use the head unit controls to make a call, answer or end a call. An external microphone and car’s speaker facilitate hands-free conversation.
Incoming call details are displayed on the screen of the receiver. You can handle the calls and even make phone call adjustments using the controls.
Wireless Audio Streaming. The Sony XAV-AX200 supports wireless playback and control of audio from a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or player. It is possible to stream the stored music and apps from the device to the receiver. The head unit screen displays the music track and album information and allows controlling the basic playback functions.
Variety of Music
Discs. The Sony head unit has a front-loading disc slot which supports loading CD-audio and DVD-video discs.
USB Playback. The rear panel port allows connecting a USB mass storage device like a digital audio player or flash drive. You can play a variety of audio, photo and video files from the device and control the playback while the screen displays the information. The head unit supports formats like MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, FLAC, WMV, MPEG4, MKV, Xvid, FLV, JPEG and more. You can search folders and files stored on the device using the head unit’s screen and control the playback functions for USB and CD/DVD.
Expandability
SiriusXM-Ready. The DVD receiver is SiriusXM-Ready and comes with the Vehicle Tuner that supports SiriusXM programming with access to more than 175 channels through subscription.
Digital Clarity Tuner. The Sony XAV-AX200 also features a digital clarity tuner for clear AM/FM sound and offers five memory bands to store and receive stations.
Sound Quality
Amplifiers. The Dynamic Reality Amp gives enough power to play the music as softly or loudly as you may like. The amplifier offers increased output and natural, clear sound at any volume.
Preouts + Subwoofer. The receiver comes with five pre-outs that provide endless possibilities to expand your setup. You can easily plug in your own subwoofers and amplifiers to customize the sound the way you like.
Filters. The subwoofer preout features a low and high pass filter with selectable cut-off frequency. The 10-band equalizer also lets you select from a range of preset EQ curves.
Dynamic Storage Organizer. Your speakers can give unclear sound if they are under the dash or in the doors. DSO adjusts the signal to improve your stereo positioning, giving you the feel that sound comes from the dashboard.
ExtraBass. You can activate ExtraBass function at a button touch for an instant boost. This feature reduces distortion at all volume levels.
Video/Camera/NAV Connectivity
Video Output. The head unit features a composite video output jack to add external monitors such as overhead monitor or rear headrest.
3-Camera Inputs. Three composite video camera inputs allow connecting rear, front and side view cameras. The rear camera gets auto-switched when the car is in reverse gear. You get parking guide lines on the rear camera.
Navigation Ready. The Sony XAV-AX200 supports a GPS navigation module through its multi-pin port.
What’s In the Box
- Digital Media Receiver with 6.4-inch touchscreen monitor
- Remote control
- Wiring harness
- Microphone with bracket
- ISO screws
- Two-sided tape
- Owner’s manual
- Warranty card
Summary
The Sony XAV-AX200 is an easy-to-use, feature-rich DVD receiver with excellent sound quality that impresses anyone. If you are looking for powerful smartphone integration, this receiver is definitely worth considering.
