Sony Super Audio CD Car Entertainment Systems Are Now Available in the U.S. [HFR]

Earlier today, Sony Electronics Car Audio, based in San Diego, California announced that the MEX-DV2000 will be the first of Sony’s new Super Audio CD equipped Car Audio products in the U.S. market. According to Sony, the MEX-DV2000 is now available for purchase from U.S. Sony Xplod Car Audio product dealers. Sony also announced that the XAV-W1 Head Unit with TFT Video Screen and Surround Sound Super Audio CD playback will also be available in the U.S. market in August, just a couple of days away.

Today’s announcement follows the joint announcement by Sony’s Car Audio and Super Audio CD project teams in Japan in January. At that time, the company announced plans for their first three Car Audio products that included Super Audio CD playback: the MEX-DV1000 (a 1-DIN size Stereo SACD Car Audio unit), the MEX-DV2000 (a 1-DIN size Surround Sound and Stereo SACD Car Audio unit) and the XAV-W1 (a 2-DIN size Head Unit with Surround Sound and Stereo SACD playback).

We note that the Stereo SACD MEX-DV1000 unit is not part of today’s U.S. introduction. This suggests that Sony’s U.S. sales group may skip that product in favor of the more featured MEX-DV2000 which offers both Stereo and Surround Sound Super Audio CD.

Comments from Sony’s U.S. Car Entertainment Division on the XAV-W1
Today’s announcement from Sony U.S. focused on the soon to be available XAV-W1 Head Unit with Surround Sound Super Audio CD playback.

Brennan Mullin, Vice President of Audio in the Digital Imaging and Audio Division at Sony Electronics based in San Diego, California said “Sony today announced its first Super Audio CD–based car audio/video system centering on the new XAV-W1 in-car video head unit. It is also Sony’s first double din-sized visual entertainment system for the car, providing outstanding picture and sound quality, easy connectivity to MP3 players and personalization options.

This system offers the easiest way to create the ultimate in-car listening environment. The player’s Super Audio CD feature achieves unprecedented sound quality, without the decimation and additional stages associated with conventional Pulse Code Modulation technology. You’ll see and hear the difference.”

Sony’s announcement notes that “The new XAV-W1 video head unit not only features the SA-CD audio format but also the accompanying 5.1-Channel surround sound option. It has a 7-inch video screen (measured diagonally) that incorporates the WVGA TFT high-end standard for picture quality. The system lets passengers enjoy CDs, DVD videos and Super Audio CDs. The player supports Dolby® Digital surround sound and dts® Digital Surround Processing playback, along with the JPEG video format, as well as Windows Media Audio (WMA) and MP3 audio formats.

The video entertainment system’s intuitive user interface makes it easy to connect to and control external connected entertainment hardware devices and play video or digital music files. The model is satellite radio and iPod ready, so drivers can hook up their iPod player and, with a controller device sold separately, control their digital music libraries on the road. When connected to Sony’s HD Radio™ tuner, users can enjoy additional HD Radio channels, including many that feed rich information like artist names and song titles to the car stereo’s display. HD Radio can also display radio station names and genres, where available.

Drivers can command their digital music from behind the wheel or the back seat with a supplied remote card. They can connect through the rear auxiliary input with an audio cable (not included) to playback from portable MP3 players through the universal 3.5mm mini-plug input. The system offers a wide selection of playback options including DVD, DVD-R/RW, SA-CD, VCD, CD and CD-R. For a smooth sound during a bumpy ride, the Sony Drive S II feature makes the head unit resistant to interference from road vibrations.

The time alignment, digital EQ7, and center speaker organizer features align sound from the car speakers and deliver it to car passengers’ ears simultaneously, ensuring one seamless sound no matter where they’re sitting. The system delivers 52 watts across four channels ensuring rich, clear sound.

While the 3AV input is used to connect to other audio-video devices, such as games or video cameras, the camera input connects with a rear-monitor camera and displays the image on the player’s screen to help you drive. With Zone by Zone capability, passengers can set separate audio zones for the front and rear seats.”

Product Details on the MEX-DV 2000 Car Entertainment Player
The Sony MEX-DV2000 shares many of the features present on the WAV-X1 unit with the exception of the 2-DIN high TFT Video Screen.

Sony says “For drivers who want a single-din option with multi-channel playback, Sony also offers the MEX-DV2000 car stereo. Like the XAV-W1 video player, the MEX-DV2000 player supports Dolby Digital surround sound and DTS Digital Surround Processing playback, along with Windows Media Audio (WMA) and MP3 audio formats. Sony’s X-DSP, CSO and intelligent time alignment technologies ensure high-quality sound from anywhere in the car. The single-din sized player delivers 52 watts across four channels for clear sound. White key illumination compliments the dashboard, while a detachable faceplate provides an added measure of security.

It supports satellite radio, HD Radio and has iPod control readiness. The unit comes with a remote card and has an auxiliary input on the faceplate. Playback options include DVD, DVD-R/RW, SA-CD, VCD, CD and CD-R. It also has the Sony Drive S II feature.”

Information on the MEX-DV2000 is now available on the Sony Car Entertainment web site at http://www.sony.com/xplod. According to the Xplod web site, the MEX-DV2000 features include:

  • Detachable front panel w/ 13-segment FL display
  • SAT Radio Ready, iPod® Control Ready
  • CSO, EQ7
  • 52W x 4 High Power
  • 4-Volt L/C/R/RL/RR/Sub preouts w/ HPF/LPF
  • Supplied Wireless Card Remote (RM-X161)
  • Picture EQ
  • Double Layer DVD+R/RW/SACD/VCD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW compatible
  • MP3/WMA Playback
  • MP3 ID3Tag Indication (Title/Album/Artist)
  • Multi-Session (MP3/WMA)
  • Burr-Brown 24-bit D/A Converter
  • Pause Function
  • UniLink™ Control, CD Text
  • Drive-S II
  • SSIR-EXA Tuner, 18FM & 12AM presets
  • BTM (Best Tuning Memory)
  • 2 AV Outputs & 1 Mic Input, Karaoke Capability
  • Tel/Nav Attenuation
  • Optional Wired Rotary Remote (RM-X4S)
  • 45 degree install
  • CEA-2006 Power Compliant

    Availability
    As noted earlier, the MEX-DV2000 is available now in the U.S. market from authorized Sony Xplod Car Entertainment product dealers nationwide for a suggested list price of $279.00. The XAV-W1 In Car Entertainment system with 2-DIN High TFT Video Screen and both SA-CD Surround Sound and SA-CD Stereo playback will be available next month from U.S. Sony Xplod dealers at a suggested list price of $799.99.

    It’s also worth noting that some Super Audio CD fans that have not been willing to wait for the formal U.S. introduction of these Super Audio CD equipped players. Instead they have been purchasing the MEX-DV2000 model from a number of dealers on eBay. There you will find a number of dealers selling the MEX-DV2000 for as little as $189.99 plus $29.99 shipping.