Has anyone used the Sony XAV-701HD or -602BT

[SirBrass]

I'm looking for a good HU to replace my stock HU and though the Pioneer DA-110 (AppRadio 3) basically fits the bill for android interfacing with my Samsung GS3, the hardware aside from the capacitive touch screen is "meh" at best for that.

However, the Sony XAV-701HD looks good in the hardware department and it can utilize mirror link among other things.

My question is: has anyone actually installed or used one or otherwise heard how well it does audio?

On a side note: I've heard that the official samsung drive link app is absolute garbage, but that there's a solid hacked version of drive link floating around. I've looked in XDA but there seems to be multiple versions, and I'm not sure which to go with. Any suggestions there?

I'm looking at making this the center piece of a solid "pretty damn good" audio system. This car isn't the right platform to go full audiophile retard, nor do I have audiophile quality audio sources (like FLAC or lossless WAV versions of my music), and I'm split on putting in a DSP into this system, but it's possible. The HU will send all 5 pre-outs into a JL 700/5 5channel amp, the amp will power a pair (eventually) of JL 8W1v2-4 subs wired in parallel (300Wrms @ 2ohms power handling needed), and I'm still debating how to handle the up-front sound, but pretty sure the doors are going to get Type R coaxials.

Anyway, that's the system the HU is going to be the signal source for, in essence.

[2beFrank]

I ordered and received the Sony XAV-601bt, which is really similar to the 701. Waiting on the wiring harness to come in, should have everything all together within 3 days. I'll post my feedback. The main thing that sold me on this head unit was the mirror link. I want to put my phone display on the screen.

[SirBrass]

I'm told that you really need the hacked drive link app from the XDA forums for this, as the standard Samsung app is garbage.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[2beFrank]

Originally Posted by SirBrass

I'm told that you really need the hacked drive link app from the XDA forums for this, as the standard Samsung app is garbage.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

I think you might be right about this. I'm on Galaxy 3, and so far, highly disappointed with the MirrorLink, as the DriveLink app kinda sucks. Still playing around with it, hoping to get it to work the way I want to. Other than that, I'm enjoying it so far.

I sat in my friend's car that had AppRadio 2 installed and he used ARLiberator to completely mirror his phone to the dash. That is a safe bet if MirrorLink goes wrong for you.

[SirBrass]

I had an app radio 2. The SQ was okay. It only has 2v pre-outs and only basic audio processing. Its equalizer is utterly worthless too.

I was fiddling with the hacked drive link app & I can add ANY app to the shortcut list.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[SirBrass]

I installed my XAV-701HD today, and I found out a few interesting things:

1) though the XAV-701HD does have 2 usb rear inputs, they are NOT the same. They will both work fine for USB flash drive in, but only one works for mirrorlink.

2) The mirrorlink USB port does provide enough power to charge my Samsung Galaxy S3.

3) Even the unlocked drivelink app sucks. It works alright, but unlocked MHL (on the Pioneer AppRadio 2 & 3 HU's) is vastly superior an interface protocol. However, the Sony unit has more than enough performance features and interface niceties to write over Samsung's gross deficiencies with their implementation of mirrorlink on their phones. I suspect that the Sony Xperia mirror link (when unlocked) is vastly superior. Simply put: Samsung's apps pretty much blow chunks. Nice hardware. Absolutely pathetic software. Sony, however, has really stepped up its game here.

4) Sony does their parking brake interlock better than pioneer. No need to get a bypass circuit or switch for this HU. Just wire to ground and leave it there. Now, I'm not certain if using the telenav app and the nav unit (sold separately) with the iPhone (the only thing that telenav works with) will override that, b/c the nav unit DOES send a "Speed in" signal to the HU through a dedicated wire. Since I don't use an iPhone and didn't get that unit, I don't know if this could be a problem for iPhone users who want to use telenav. As for this android user, it's moot. I was able to play USB drive videos just fine while driving today (didn't pay attention to the videos, as I was driving, but there were no screen or audio interruptions), with just the green parking wire wired permanently to ground (twisted the ground wire and green wire together and crimped to the ground wire on the harness adapter). VERY nice. Me likey!

5) Sound quality with stock speakers is okay. Less bass than with the stock HU, but I do have an unconnected harness plug that I have no idea what it does. This could be what sends LFE signals to the stock "subwoofers" (), but I've no clue. Either way, will be a moot point when the JL amp goes in, as those signals will be from the 5ch 5v preouts from the HU. But for now, it does sound nice. Not nice enough to justify $500 (cost of HU), but that's not the HU's fault now is it?

6) Bluetooth problems are no longer a concern it seems. The HU is very fast to connect the profiles, and can switch them on and off without hiccups. VERY nice.

So, it seems the only real headaches with this setup really belong to Samsung, and that Sony can't be held responsible for those issues as they have no control and their latest firmware update (can be found through a VERY easy google search for "Sony XAV-701HD firware updates"... it's the first hit from sony's esupport website) fixes the bugs on their end and improves the interface and adds mirrorlink capability and smooths out the settings very nicely.

Honestly, though I think pioneer does a nice job, sony has stepped up their game. Pioneer is still woefully behind on good-processing HUs that have good android interface support beyond pandora while they keep adding interface features for the iPhone, despite the face that more people use android phones than folks use iPhones. Stupid pioneer.... Thus why I jumped ship to Sony for the HU. Media playback interfaces are vastly superior to the stock BRZ Navi unit (bigger soft keys to hit, better sensitivity, etc).

And all this on a RESISTIVE touch screen. Resistive! yet the screen looks good and responds very swiftly (except through mirrorlink, but that's not due to HU processing speed... it's due to the very slow mirrorlink protocol).

If you want full android support as an important side feature alongside a good HU-based feature set, this is a good HU. If you want something that basically processes audio and otherwise is purely dedicated to being an android Mirror, then get an AppRadio 3 and a 3sixty.3 (b/c the AR3 and AR2 suck balls when it comes to the audio processing bit) before the amp. MHL, while sometimes more finicky due to the potential to get a loose HDMI connection (until the HU's start coming with a more solidly locking HDMI harness bracket for have them permanently wired in on a long dongle), is vastly superior and faster than mirrorlink. And I do mean VASTLY. ARL/ARUnchained spanks even the unlocked fully mirrored mirrorlink app. But for simplicity, mirrorlink is easier.

[soundman98]

are there any aftermarket radio's with capacitive touch screens? i'm not really aware of any...

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by soundman98

are there any aftermarket radio's with capacitive touch screens? i'm not really aware of any...

Pioneer App Radio 2 & App Radio 3 are capacitive touch screens. VERY nice touch screens, I might add. And probably why Pioneer then skimps in the audio processing department on those HUs... b/c to put both capacitive touch screens and good audio would up the cost per unit out of the ballpark they want to sell them for.

But seeing what this Sony HU's resistive touch screen is like, compared to my last resistive touch screen HU (JVC KW series HU I bought in early 2009), I'm impressed. Pioneer could definitely do better if they went resistive on the touch screen and upped the audio processing and output quality to something on par to their more iPhone-focused HUs (AVIC/AVH series).

[NIKOLA]

Just to add some input.


I recently purchased, installed, un-installed and re-packaged a Sony XAV-712HD Head Unit into my FR-S. Installation was easy enough. However, AM/FM reception completely sucked. I have no idea why other than I think the given antenna for the head unit is simply cheap and shitty and I was not going to buy a new one or some sort of signal booster.


Also, regarding SirBrass's statement:


"5) Sound quality with stock speakers is okay. Less bass than with the stock HU, but I do have an unconnected harness plug that I have no idea what it does. This could be what sends LFE signals to the stock "subwoofers" (), but I've no clue. Either way, will be a moot point when the JL amp goes in, as those signals will be from the 5ch 5v preouts from the HU. But for now, it does sound nice. Not nice enough to justify $500 (cost of HU), but that's not the HU's fault now is it?"


You would be right about the stock sub-woofers. At least in regards to the door speakers if that is what you are referring to. That last harness has the door speaker connections. I only figured it out since I was annoyed that the sound was too "tinny" sounding so I checked every speaker for sound. Guess what? The door speakers which provide the majority of bass weren't connected. Really? Now what? I had no plans to get a separate sub-woofer and amp just to get bass.


So, I packaged everything up and as soon as I get an RMA everything is going back.


Sell me a product and supporting items that make everything work straight out of the box or don't sell anything at all.