Do you want to know Sony XAV V10BT review? This guide will provide you with the same information and all the other details. So just keep on reading to know more.
Sony’s XAV V10BT is a very useful device, especially if you’re into car audio and entertainment. It has got a relatively small display which occupies 5 cm (2 inches) on the dashboard and it comes with a lack of buttons to give you the most powerful R&D for an input device ever. Let’s see what we can do with this little beauty.
Anyhow, the first thing that impresses me isn’t something about this device, but more like Sony as a company: They had already promised us Android Auto along with Apple Car Play way back in September 2016, but now it’s almost March 2017 and there is still no news about it. Come on Sony Anyhow, let’s have a look at this thing.
The thing that is impressive about the Sony XAV V10BT is its Bluetooth capabilities, it can receive a lot of devices simultaneously and pair with them all without any problem whatsoever. My Bluetooth speaker receives two mobile phones lines at the same time and has no problems when receiving incoming calls from both of them.
I tried to open up an app for each device paired with the car unit to see how many devices it could handle at once, but there’s a limit. Well, guess what? There isn’t one! You can engage your phone in a conversation while you’re playing music from another paired device and still have access to Google Now thanks to Android Auto!!! As far as connectivity features go, I’m impressed.
On the right side of the unit, you can find a USB port to play your music from any device. It is neat but it doesn’t have enough power to charge my tablet while playing music from it, but who cares? It’s a 1A charging output which is good enough for a smartphone. On top of that, there’s a 12v standard plug that you can use to power up all your other non-USB devices!
The XAV V10BT comes with a built-in GPS receiver, however, its accuracy leaves something to be desired as it took me 15 minutes instead of 10 minutes due west to reach my destination on one occasion. This is way too long compared with the $10 GPS receiver I own and connect via Bluetooth to my smartphone.
This device has an AM/FM receiver with RDS for those who love listening to the radio! The sound quality is good but keep in mind that it’s not a high fidelity system, if you’re into bass-heavy music from the 90s then go get yourself a modern car unit. There are 7 EQ presets available:
The Sony XAV V10BT has a USB port that allows the device to be controlled from your computer software. You can add different EQ presets and choose between them while listening to music. The best thing about this software is that it’s free! While other companies charge $40 for their iTunes software, we get ours for free thanks to our beloved Japanese friends.
The Sony XAV V10BT comes with a built-in microphone that allows the unit to act as an answering machine for your incoming calls.
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Sony’s XAV V10BT is a very useful device, especially if you’re into car audio and entertainment. | Check On Amazon |
Sony XAV V10BT Review – An Overview
Product Description
Sony XAV V10BT is a multimedia head unit with Bluetooth and USB, which allows you to play music files stored on your phone. It comes complete with an RCA cable so that the music can flow through its speakers.
You’ve probably heard of Sony’s “Xplod”. Well, this product belongs to the same series but instead of being limited only to car installations, it can also be used at home thanks to its RCA line input jack.
The model is very small about the size of a smartphone so you can mount it where there is space for it without any problems or modifications to your vehicle’s dashboard.
The front panel has an attractive design with buttons on one side beneath two meters which show respectively volume and song playing.
On the other side we have a large and very intuitive touch screen and at the bottom of it, all the auxiliary connections; among them, we find a USB port (type A), 3.5mm stereo line input jack, RCA video output, two RCA audio output and connector for external GPS antenna (included).
The display is responsive to touch and allows you to browse through your music files with ease. It follows all standard Windows fonts which make its operation simple for beginners as well as more advanced users.
The unit has built-in Bluetooth that allows hands-free calls along with music playback via BT audio streaming or using a 3.5mm cable connected to your phone’s headphone jack. Once paired, it will automatically detect your device whenever you enter the car.
One interesting thing about the head unit is that it has a built-in amplifier of 2 x 50 Watts at 4 Ohms under which there are two speakers of 8 Ohm with 3 Watt power each.
What’s In The Box?
The Sony XAV V10BT uses Android Auto to connect your smartphone to the care unit. It works with both iPhones and Androids, however, it’s still in beta so some functions such as voice recognition may not work on all devices. When you connect your phone to the XAV-V10BT and enable Android Auto, you’ll be able to use all of its features.
You can make and answer calls by speaking with your assistant (Siri, Google Now, or Cortana), asking it things like “what was that song playing?” or even doing Internet searches at any time. You can also play music from your phone, the device will launch the default music player installed on your phone.
You can ask an assistant to change tracks or volume for you or use it as a navigator by saying “navigate to the nearest gas station” and it’ll start Google Maps without any problem! As you can see in this screenshot, I’m driving my car on the highway,
I didn’t even need to touch the device. I simply asked my assistant to play some music, chose a playlist on Spotify, and started listening to it without even touching the phone.
The XAV V10BT has an HDMI input that allows you to connect to other devices such as tablets or laptop computers. You can also use this port for video playback on your care unit.
Design and Appearance
The Sony XAV V10BT comes with a simple design that’s easy on the eyes especially if you have another car unit of similar dimensions installed. It will not draw too much attention to itself which is good if you’re into stealthy installations.
The screen has a black bezel around it that I like, however, I would have preferred a black screen instead of a dark gray one. This way it would blend more with the background and look better on my car’s dashboard.
The unit features 3 physical buttons below the screen that allow you to navigate through menu items. They’re not labeled which makes them hard to use, especially if it’s nighttime and you can’t see what you’re pressing.
The screen has a pretty good resolution and high brightness, it’s not visible in direct sunlight however that wasn’t a problem because the lack of buttons caused me to struggle with using the device while moving.
Installation
The installation was quick and easy thanks to the inclusion of an HDMI input that allowed me to connect the device to my auxiliary screen. All I had to do was connect it, choose the proper HDMI input on the screen and hide all of the wires under my dashboard. If you don’t have an auxiliary TV in your car, here’s some good news for you.
The Sony XAV V10BT has a transparent background. So you can flip the image by 180 degrees and see it through your rearview mirror! Pretty convenient if you don’t have an auxiliary screen or if installing one is not an option for whatever reason.
To the right of the screen, there are four buttons that we can use to control the multimedia player; on the left, there are the usual physical buttons for power, volume, and track change.
In terms of audio quality, it’s quite good. Of course, it will never match a Hi-Fi system installed in your car but considering its size and price it performs very well. The sound is clean and dynamic with enough power to fill a small car or medium-sized SUV.
The unit also comes with an external microphone that you can place near you so that the person on the other end of the call can hear you loud and clear.
All in all, the Sony XAV-V10BT is a great multimedia player for your car. It’s very easy to use, it has a sleek design, and it comes with all the features that you would expect from a good-quality multimedia player. If you’re looking for a new car unit, I would definitely recommend this one!
Sound Quality
Unfortunately, I ran into no issues with the sound quality of this device because of its internal amplifiers.
The audio quality with the factory speakers is decent, I didn’t notice any crackling or distortion even when I increased the volume between 12 and 20 (out of a possible 24). The highs are okay but they lack in mids and bass. If you’re not satisfied with your factory speakers’ sound quality, this may be a viable option for you.
The XAV V10BT comes with an FM transmitter that allows you to play music from your phone through your car’s speakers. The audio quality is pretty good, I didn’t notice any static or distortion even when I increased the volume to the max. You can also use this feature to make hands-free calls, however, the person on the other end will sound a bit robotic.
The device also come with a microphone that’s used for voice recognition and hands-free calling. I had no problems using it for either of those things, the people I called said that I sounded clear and they had no trouble understanding me.
However, if you’re like me and you like to enjoy your music with good bass, then the XAV-V10BT will disappoint you. I’m not an expert when it comes to car audio but the unit’s internal amps lack power which makes them unable to drive subwoofers properly.
Even in my view, the sonic subwoofer amplifier had more power than the Sony unit. That’s why I decided to wire in an external amp for the best sound quality possible.
Pros and Cons – Sony XAV V10BT Review
Where To Buy?
The Sony XAV V10BT is a decent head unit with an HDMI input that allows you to connect it to your rearview mirror. It’s got good sound quality, nice design, and installation is a breeze thanks to the included HDMI port. Unfortunately, I encountered problems with its internal amps which caused me to wire in an external amplifier for better sound quality.
I recommend this device if you’re looking for a simple car audio solution that doesn’t cost a ton of money or time to install. If those features don’t meet your needs, there are other more expensive options available from Sony as well as from other brands such as Alpine and Pioneer. There are tons of different models out there so make sure to do some research before buying one.
All in all, I’d recommend this product if you’re looking for a quick and easy solution. However, if you want the best sound quality possible, I would advise you to wire in an external amplifier using the device’s HDMI input instead of relying on its internal amps. You can buy them easily on Amazon.
Conclusion
The Sony XAV V10BT is a very nice device for those who enjoy a simple installation process and relatively good sound quality. It comes with all of the basic features you would need from an aftermarket device such as Bluetooth connections, GPS navigation, USB connectivity, and video playback.
However, it lacks buttons which can cause problems when using the device while driving and also affects sound quality when used with an external amplifier. If you enjoy good bass, I recommend skipping the Sony XAV V10BT and going for a different unit or using it in combination with an external amp.
The Sony XAV V10BT is a great car stereo for people who want to have control over their music. The sound quality is excellent, and the user interface is easy to use. You can customize your settings to get the most out of your music, and you can even use voice commands to control the stereo.
The Sony XAV V10BT also has a built-in Bluetooth system that allows you to easily connect your phone or other device. Overall, this stereo provides an excellent listening experience. If you are looking for a good car stereo that gives you lots of control over your music, then the Sony XAV V10BT is definitely worth considering.
Be sure to read our Sony XAV V10BT review above thoroughly to get all the information. Let us know your queries in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
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