TestReport
XAV-70BT/DVD/CD/MP3 Receiver
Text by Garry Springgay // Photos by Manufacturer
n this review were going to take a look at the new Sony XAV70BT multimedia receiver. Its got all the goodies youd expect from a $749.00 (US) double DIN sized video headunit, including a 7-inch TFT touch screen, AM/ FM/DVD/CD/MP3/iPod/iPhone/ USB/Bluetooth and more. But its also got something else - something Ive never seen before, and its pretty cool.
FEATURES If youre reading this, its too late, youre already an audio enthusiast, and youre probably going to have a very special relationship with music for the rest of your life. We spend a lot of time listening to, and receiving a great deal of enjoyment from, our favorite songs and we all tend to gravitate to music that suits our current mood. We all like music thats fast, up-tempo and exciting when were happy or enthused, and when were quiet, contemplative, or just plain tired, we like tunes that are slower, more mellow and laid back. Some of the more organized folks I know actually create playlists for their various moods. But for the less organized among us, how aggravating is it when youre just driving along and find yourself constantly switching songs to find something that suited your mood? Well, Sony has invented a feature that solves the problem for us. They call it SensMe and its designed to automatically play music to suit your mood. It works using a special piece of Sony software that you install on your computer to perform something called a 12 Tone Analysis on all your songs. From this analysis, the software groups your songs into various channels that correspond with the tempo and mood the track consists of. These channels are copied to your portable device, and when not in the car, you have the choice of selecting Energetic, Relax, Upbeat, Mellow, Lounge, Emotional, Dance, or Extreme. In the car, there are seven different channels to choose from, Freeway, Chillout Drive, Weekend Trip, Midnight Cruise, Party Ride, Morning
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Commute and Goin Home, each channel with music specifically suited to that type of driving. You can even use a 2 dimensional mood map with an onscreen display to alter the characteristics of the music selected. The horizontal axis is based on mood from sad to happy, and the vertical axis is tempo based, slow to fast. But SensMe isnt the only cool feature of the XAV-70BT. The 7-inch active matrix touch screen LCD delivers excellent video quality, and allows control of the adjustments and functions. Built in Bluetooth connectivity includes A2DP, HFP, and AVRCP support, making the connection to your cell phone or other Bluetooth device effortless. Hands-free calling, as well as streaming of music or internet radio is simple and wireless. Of course full iPod/iPhone connectivity is supported, and with the optional RC-200IPV cable, full video playback is also provided. Sonys innovative Zappin technology is also on hand, to provide you convenient track searching by listening to passages of the songs. Of course the XAV-70BT is also fully compatible with any USB device, including Sonys Walkman MP3 players, or even just regular flash drives. And should your companion want to play DJ, simply use the Passenger Control mode to control the music via the iPods controls directly. A powerful DSP processor is behind Sonys Advanced Sound Engine, and ensures everything from your MP3 tracks to multichannel DVD audio always sounds its best. If you want to change the stereo imaging, arrival times are adjustable for different

After the excellent sonic performance in my listening room, it was no surprise that in terms of audio specs. the Sony XAV-70BT is a home run!
seating positions, and there is also a Center Speaker Optimizer circuit for creating a center channel sound, without a speaker. Also included is a 7 band EQ, and variable frequency crossovers for main and subwoofer channels. A built in MOSFET power amplifier provides clean power for up to 4 speakers, or if you plan to use external amplifiers, the XAV-70BT comes complete with front, rear and sub RCA outputs, with a full 4 volts of drive signal. Still want more? In addition to the two Aux inputs and a rear video output, you can add on Sonys optional HD Radio tuner or satellite radio tuner for even greater choices in source material. You can also add Sonys XAR800C rear view camera for a clear view of whats behind when youre backing up.
MEASURED PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

XAV-70BT/DVD/CD/MP3

MAX FLAT AMPLIFIER OUTPUTS

AMPLIFIER

CEA-2006A Power per channel (all channels driven,@ 4 ohms) A Wtd S/N Ratio (ref to 2V/1W @ 4 ohms) Amplified output THD+N @ 2V/1W @ 4 ohms 1kHz Frequency Response (-3.0dB)
20.6 watts/ch x 4 -78.4dBA (CD) 0.05% 20Hz 20kHz

Preamp Section

Max Usable Output Voltage A Wtd S/N Ratio ref to full output voltage Output Impedance Frequency Response (-3.0dB)
4.4Vrms -88.8dBA 150ohms 20Hz 20kHz
PERFORMANCE/BENCH MEASUREMENTS After the excellent sonic performance in my listening room, it was no surprise that in terms of audio specs the Sony XAV-70BT is a home run. The internal amplifier exhibited very low distortion at rated power, and exceeded the 17 watt per channel power rating. The preamp outputs actually delivered 4.4V of useable output and equally as impressive, with an all-bits-high track and the volume wide open, the pre-outs did not clip. Excellent! Output impedance was good at 150 ohms, and signal to noise from the CD also measured better than most competitive units. Frequency response was very flat, actually within 1.0dB from 20Hz to 20kHz. All the signal control and shaping circuits worked exactly as advertised, and the auxiliary inputs also provided similar high performance characteristics. From an audio performance perspective, it just doesnt get much better than the Sony XAV-70BT source unit.

MAX FLAT PREAMP OUTPUTS CONTROLS AND ERGONOMICS Okay, the Sony XAV-70BT is loaded with cool features, and all the bells and whistles. Controlling them is done primarily via the touch screen, and the rather plain GUI used in the XAV-70BT is fairly intuitive and clearly marked. Icons are used for most functions, and the touch area designated on the screen is large enough to use with gloves on. There are a few small things I thought could use a bit of improvement. First, the touch screen requires a very deliberate touch, and I found myself not pressing hard enough the first time over and over again. I have used dozens of touch screens, and this one definitely needs a little more force than most. However, the controls were easy to use as long as I pressed hard enough. After making a change or selection, there is a lag in the system that seems excessive. You press the screen, but it can actually be a couple of seconds before you know whether or not the change has been made. This tended to get frustrating on the test bench, but in fairness, during testing I make more adjustments in a few hours than most people will in a month of use. While Im griping, I wasnt particularly keen on the smallish pushbutton volume controls or the multiple steps it took to change sources. In general the human interface requires very deliberate actions and a bit of patience. Its simply not as fast or responsive as competitive products. On the positive side, once I got the selections made, everything worked perfectly and the DVD video picture quality was excellent. iPod control and playback functions are good, and fast. My iPod has 11,000 songs on it, and I could get from 50 Cent to ZZ Top in mere seconds. Artwork was nicely displayed, and the whole layout was clear and easy to read at a glance. There are several choices for backgrounds, and color options for all of you enthusiasts who like to really personalize things out there. I also found the Gesture Command function to be very interesting and entertaining to use. You can make up, down, or side to side strokes on the touch screen, which will then change tracks or radio station commands. Its cool and might save some time when you want to pay attention to the road, but also might not be a feature for everyone. Its monitor angle options are great, allowing it to be set to one of four different positions for best viewing angle, and the position can be stored to memory. LISTENING Every small thing I found to grumble about in the control section suddenly became very easy to deal with when I started listening to the Sony XAV-70BT. This is a very good sounding head unit! I connected it directly to the inputs of my studio amplifier and reference system, and it sounded excellent in all respects. Listening to the Cowboy Junkies Trinity Sessions I was absolutely transported to the church in Toronto where the recording was made. A tremendous sense of ambience and space, combined with very natural and detailed sonics are hallmarks of this amazing recoding, and the Sony XAV-70BT is one of the few car stereo players that can do it true justice. Whether the music was rap, rock, jazz or classical, the Sony unit played it all with excellence and ease. I came away from my listening session with a renewed appreciation for the Sony XAV-70BT.

From an audio performance perspective, it just doesnt get much better than the Sony XAV-70BT source unit. This is a very good sounding head unit! The Sony XAV-70BT is loaded with cool features, and all the bells and whistles.
CONCLUSION If you are one of those people who would gladly trade flash for function, or slick looks for sound quality, I have good news. With the Sony XAV-70BT you dont have to anymore. While the controls may take a bit of getting used to, the impressive audio and video performance of this head unit make those gripes easy to forget. Add in the convenience and safety of Bluetooth connectivity, full iPod control, amazing picture quality, and the ability to play music to suit your every mood. Really, what more could you need? I have no idea, but Id bet Sony is already working on it.
USA - www.xplodsony.com Canada - www.sonystyle.ca/xplod

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