Has anyone purchase the new Sony XAV AX210?

I am looking to upgrade the HU on my 2017 TRD Sport.
I really prefer the look of the Sony HUs, since they theirs sport a simpler design, without looking too aftermarket.
However, Sony HUs have not been iDatalink Maestro compatible, meaning a lost of a lot of functions.

Now there is the AX210, with iDatalink support.

I was wondering if anyone has it, and able to give a small rundown of the unit.

Like what features are kept from factory, and what are lost.
Does the dash multidisplay gain or lose function? Etc.

https://www.sony.com/electronics/in-car-receivers-players/xav-ax210

 

Great topic. I am interested in this as well. I did not initially go with the sony and now wish I had. The sony appeared better assembled, had a volume know, and two discrete buttons for changing the radio stations. Mechanically, it was listed as having higher power output. The operating system appears more intuitive and less cluttered...less boy racer.

I went with a head unit that had wireless android auto and that is a cluster...it only connects about 1 out 5 times and interferes with wired connection when just trying to use a normal connection.

Very interested in any actual user reviews.

 

It has been out for about a month, was hoping for people to jump on it and pump out some reviews.

Have yet to see a review on the unit.
Would like to see what screens appear for car options.

 

Yes, I just bought one for my 2014. After struggling for 4 days and numerous calls to Maestro/Idatalink and Sony, I have decided to send it back. Here's the problem. The Maestro/Idatalink system is supposed to return ALL steering wheel functions to the Sony, however, it does not. The return button, mute button, and voice button do not work. I have an Android phone with ver. 8.1.1. If I connect it via bluetooth, I can't make an outgoing call hands free. When I push the voice button on the right side of the steering wheel, it does nothing but bring up a message on the Sony saying "operation not possible". It does not download my phone book or contacts. However, if I plug the phone into the USB port and start Android Auto, I can make a hands free call or text using Google Voice. I'm am at this moment looking at a Kenwood or Pioneer since they have both been using the Maestro/Idatalink system for years. The XAV-AX210 is Sony's first venture into the Maestro/Idatalink system and I don't think they have it right yet. By the way, if you have ever dealt with Comcast customer service, Sony is worse.

 

I have not dealt with this specific unit, but as an installer, I have done several of the new sony’s And have been pretty dissatisfied with all of them. The USB ports seem to be very unreliable, and the system seems to freak out on occasion and require a full reset (the backup cam will turn on randomly, even if no cam is connected or no trigger is wired. the subwoofer output will turn off randomly. The usb will quit working, thus causing CarPlay and android auto to not work. Etc)

I’ve been steering my clients away from them because I have spent too much time doing warranty work and pulling/reinstalling them. It wastes their time and costs me money.

 

Thanks for the info.
Did not expect such issues to arise,
I do believe they also have a new model coming out also, however no info if it has maestro support.

Ye, Sony customer service it pretty bad. Never bother dealing with them, would be faster to just google and try to fix it myself.
Speaking of Customer service, Valve's CS is somewhere down there also.


If only kenwood, pioneer, etc. make a headunit that was not so aftermarket looking...
It is odd, since I think Pioneer makes the stock HUs.

 

I'll say, the 7" screens with the buttons across the bottom look more "basic" than the 6.2" screens with the buttons on the left side. And you get a bigger screen, so double win.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what's your current go-to recommendation for wireless Carplay in a Tacoma?

Much as I'd like to wait and put in Carplay-enabled Entune later this year, I shudder at the potential cost.

 

For what is currently on the market, my two options are the Pioneer w4400 or w8400

Kenwood showed some wireless carplay units at CES hat should be out later this year, but I still prefer the Pioneers as of now.

The w4400 is an awesome radio that I currently have as my shop stereo so I've gotten familiar with it.
The w8400 builds on that, adding in NAV (which is nice if you travel outside of phone service) and a MUCH better screen. The capacitive touch panels are amazing (for car stereos) but you pay a BIG premium for those two features.

The w4400 is my pick if we're staying in a reasonable budget.

My main reasons are

-Front and rear cam inputs
-video output if you want to do headrest monitors
-HDMI input (so I can let the kids in the back seat watch netflix/movies from my iphone with unlimited data)
-Wireless carplay that works very well
-Good EQ (13 band) and front/rear/sub crossovers
-Dual zone audio (going back to the headrest monitors, I can output the movie audio to headphones in the back while keeping the radio playing up front
-good maestro compatibility. All features on HUD get retained.

 

I'm between the 8400 and the 4400, I was looking on crutchfield, any idea why the 4400 comes with a GPS antenna if it doesn't have navigation? I'd like to have built in navigation but if it has carplay it's not necessary

 

It uses that antenna for accurate GPS tracking.
HOWEVER there is a caveat to that.

Your google maps or Waze or Apple maps will continue to work for ACTIVE routes even if you lose phone service.

If you try to start a new route, it won’t pull data through that antenna so you will be u able to find an address or location without phone data.

So as long as you already have directions pulled up, you’re good. But if you lose service then need to find a gas station, you’re SOL.

 

Another reason I sell a ton of the 4400 is because of it being full detachable faceplate. Great for theft deterrent. That being said, it only takes 1 time to not remove and it can be gone. It only works if you use the feature as attended.

 

The capacitive screen on the 8400 is why I'm leaning in that direction. I could take or leave the built in nav.

 

8400 is the flagship piece and is fantastic. I sell a lot of them for the very reason of the screen. Also, people want the best even though they will and do not use 3/4 of the features let alone know how.
If you are apple and don’t care about the nav and are ok with wired CarPlay instead of wireless ( nice to be able to plug in and charge at same time ) but you DO want the better screen.

$850 Pioneer mvh-1400nex Digital Multimedia 6.2" Display with Apple CarPlay (Does Not Play CDs)

Pioneer mvh-1400nex. Great unit for 1/3 of the price.

 

I have the 4200 nex. Other than the audio quality, I wish I had kept the factory head unit in my 2015.
My main complaint is the backup camera picture. It is grainy with poor contrast. Particularly in the dark. The permanent warning sign obscures the view, and it is slow to turn on after shifting into reverse.
If you like the quality and usefulness of your factory backup camera, I would caution against going with a pioneer head unit.
I have been considering trying a kenwood or going back to the factory head unit with a good digital sound processor.

 

I would personally disagree with this. I have installed dozens of the 4200 over its lifespan and can confidently say that the backup camera is the problem when it comes to resolution. I have retained many brands of factory camera and some looked good and some looked awful. I have also added several brands of aftermarket cameras with the same results. I had a 4200 as my shop radio for about 2 years and had a kenwood backup camera hooked up to it looking out into my parking lot. Picture was awesome. But that was a $120 camera. The factory camera from the 2015 and earlier were AWFUL.

I haven never experienced lag with the reverse trigger either. I would check to see how quick the reverse wire in the back is getting power. I would also see how the camera itself is getting power. If the camera power is tied to the reverse trigger, it may be taking a moment to cut on and then display, causing a delay.

 

Agreed with destin. Several reasons could be the cause of the camera and as an installer for 25 years and installed over 200 easily ( of the years it’s been out & and wife owns 1 ) I have had very little issues with any. Maybe isolated maybe not but it by no means is it worth going back to the factory ( in my opinion). Put an aftermarket camera in the handle in place of the factory. How are you powering the camera like destin mentioned?

 

It is the factory camera. Powered as it was from the factory. I wired it to the 4200 nex via the i-datalink maestro instructions.
Funny thing about it - when I first crank the truck, if I put it in reverse immediately, the picture looks awesome (this is prior to head unit boot up and no warning is superimposed on the picture). As soon as the 4200 boots up, the warning comes on, the picture quality is degraded, the lag time increases, and I wish I had the factory head unit back.

 

Crutchfield shows the W4400 won't fit in my 2013 Taco. You ever install the W4400 in one? If you say it'll fit, I'm game.

I just bought a Sony XAV-AX210SXM and I just got a hold of customer service to return it. This thing has given me nothing but problems. I should have listened to the bad reviews. The Metra faceplate is complete garbage. Go for the Scosche, it works wonderfully.

 

Done several of the 4400 in Tacomas

there is a LOT of wiring (especially if you do the maestro harness) to shove in the dash but it’s possible