Customer Reviews

Sony XAV-9000ES

Super useful audio features and stunning sound quality.

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Premium Sound, Minor Flaws

I've been using the XAV-9000ES for a few months now, and overall, it's a fantastic upgrade. The sound quality is phenomenal - clear highs, tight bass, and a ton of tuning options. Wireless CarPlay connects instantly, and the 6.75" HD screen is sharp and easy to see, even in sunlight.

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Doesn't Match Capabilities Crutchfield Advertisded

First, this head unit is great. I love it. Except... I bought it because Crutchfield said the only capability I'd lose from my built-in stereo is the satellite radio. No problem! In practice, using the equipment they suggested, the rear backup cam doesn't trigger automatically when the car is put into reverse. We tried: Verifying everything was wired correctly (Crutchfield agreed it obviously was) Reflashing the Maestro unit Replacing the Maestro unit Replacing the SON connector cable Finally, we replaced the Sony unit itself. That is, we replaced EVERYTHING as part of troubleshooting. I spent hours on the phone with Crutchfield. The final solution someone provided was literally to start splicing tiny wires together. But...I bought this product from Crutchfield specifically to avoid that! It just doesn't work as advertised. If you drive a Toyota similar to mine, you might think twice before using this head unit, I guess? Take what lesson from this you will. This went into a 2017 Toyota Corolla iM.

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Crystal clear audio, but terrible useability problems.

The Sony XAV-9000ES absolutely delivers the highest quality audio I have ever heard from an aftermarket car stereo receiver. It is the absolute pinnacle, relative to comparable car stereos. You are absolutely getting what you are paying for, if you are paying for high quality audio. The crystal clear audio that you get with this receiver IS noticeably different, even from the Alpine iLX-507. The Sony is better right out of the box, no adjustments, no nothing. It's just better, honestly the best of the best. Unfortunately, that's where the advantage ends. This receiver depends on the vehicle's illumination wire and unfortunately, that represents a complete lack of understanding from the people who developed this electronic device. They failed to realize that people are required by law to turn on their vehicle's headlights when it is raining or when other inclement weather occurs. This causes the receiver's screen to dim during the day and quite frankly at the worst time, when the weather conditions are bad! It's just a terrible design and the microphone never worked, even though it was placed directly above the steering column and facing directly towards the driver's face. I know it wasn't me because the Alpine iLX-507 did work and that's why I ended up using that car stereo instead. It pained me greatly to give up the superior audio from this receiver, but if I can't use the device easily, then there's no point to keeping it. I returned the Sony and kept the Alpine iLX-507.

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Best software and sound quality

Closest to perfect head unit currently available that fits in a double-DIN slot without a floating screen. The software is stable, easy to use and looks good. Wireless android auto works flawlessly. Sound quality is amazing, especially the level of detail and clarity in the high range. Already had an amp and speaker upgrade, yet still the difference coming from a stock Subaru head unit to this Sony was like going from cassette to CD. I'm spoiled now and will have to upgrade my home stereo as well. Only major improvement would be if Sony made a version with a hole-punch or notch style multi-function knob/joystick and edge-to-edge screen to make the absolute most of the double-DIN slot. A 4x50W internal amp, aux-in jack and HD radio tuner would be nice to have too.

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Excellent Head Unit

This is a great head unit. It does not take more than a couple of seconds to boot up. Plenty of options, great screen view for my cameras, and wireless CarPlay. That's all I wanted and need and this unit fits the bill. Excellent sound too!

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Great sounding

Love this. When I bought a cheaper stereo I just wasn't able to get it to sound good. So I went with this gem. Very happy.

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Mr2 Sony update

Purchase Sony xav9000es for my 1992 Toyota mr2. Had a few issues with my car wiring but crutchfield support was great and patient with me. It's only been a couple of dayes but sounds like great ! Sounds great in my 32 year old car. Very happy with my purchase. Mike

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Great Unit

Absolutely love this unit! Lots of features. Super easy install. Liked the fact that the rear of the unit is only 1 DIN, yet the screen is double DIN. It leaves room for the PAC module. Easy setup. Sounds great!

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Sony XAV-9000ES

Radio is great the only thing I wish it had was HD radio....other than that it was super easy to install and works great

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Good unit- not for me

Put this in my 2018 Outback in July 2024. Install was easy, sound is excellent, CarPlay worked great. Its a good unit, but I disliked the unit's look and feel and missed the OEM controls. The only issue I had was that the camera would randomly cut off and lines would vanish. I'm sure Crutchfield's excellent tech support would have helped get that resolved, but was too busy to muck around with it and missed the return window so just got a new factory unit. We'll see if I can repurpose to fit in my 83 Chevy truck

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Sony Quality All around!

Smooth installation, great fit and appearance, amazingly improved sound quality

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Easy UI, sounds great

I choose Sony because I was seeing too many reviews on the other brands that said the unit just broke within months. It appears the other brands have not mastered the touchscreen yet, I am hopeful that Sony has. Its way too much money to spend on, essentially a tablet, that doesn't even last 2 years. I have had the unit a few days and am overall happy with it. I have it going to a 5 ch amp, and setting up the sound has been a process. It has 2 modes to set, and one of them made it virtually impossible to make it sound right. I have finally got it sounding good after probably an hour or 2 of fine tuning. The unit itself is very simple, its made to really only use android auto or carplay, the head unit sw itself is very basic. I would prefer the simplicity over a flood of settings and display options. I don't understand why none of these units come with volume knobs, that is really the only complaint. if sony made an accessory volume knob id buy it instantly.

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Sound quality

Amazing sound quality.i went from pioneer avh-600 to 9000es it's night and day the sound difference even on YouTube music were files aren't that high quality the Sony sounds great

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Disappointed

Installed in a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible I really wanted to like this unit. Sound is superb, absolutely awesome with High Resolution sources. Simple to operate and set up. But the screen is a big disappointment. In bright sunlight it is un-viewable, especially if wearing sunglasses. Even worse with the convertible top down. Although at night it is great, no glare at all. Also using the unit for phone calls through Apple Car Play is very poor. The voice quality is terrible on both ends of the conversation. Basically unusable.

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Crutchfield response on 2/18/2025

Wolf contacted our Customer Support team and exchanged for another receiver. Purchases from Crutchfield can be returned or exchanged within 60 days.

2011 Ford Raptor

Awesome unit

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Great head unit

Nice looking HD screen. Works great with Idatalink maestro in my 2016 Toyota RAV4.

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Sony XAV-9000ES

This unit is absolutely amazing!!! I installed in a f350 and what an upgrade from the factory radio.

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Crazy clean sound

Did a massive amount of research on head units before I landed on this Sony. Paired it with a 4-es and 1es external amplifiers to power full Focal Flax EVO 3-way w/ K2 crossovers and WOW. Stinger 8000 RCA's, Focal 14-gauge speaker wire and Kicker 0-gauge split into 2 x 4-gauge to round out the leads. Crazy clean sound.

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Sounds premium, but doesn't look or feel like it.

First off, I'm very pleased with the sound of this. I haven't even put an external amp, sub, or new speakers in my car yet and the sound is soooo much clearer and full. My biggest issue with this is the screen looks a bit washed out. It almost feels like there's a plastic screen protector on it even though there isn't. It just feels weird and dust just clings to it. It feels kinda cheap, especially for this price point. There is also a very noticeable delay/lag when using the touchscreen. very disappointing in 2025. It's not just Apple Carplay either, it's the base OS. I also wish there was a night shift mode for a warmer color temperature. I think this is overpriced for what it is. It sounds good, but it doesn't feel/look good enough for the price in my opinion. That being said, it's not a total POS, it's just less than what I was expecting after using iPhones & iPads for years now. For $900, I want it to feel like a modern iPhone/iPad touchscreen.

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AMAZING AUDIO - HORRIBLE PHONE CALL / BLUE TOOTH PHONE AUDIO

Sound quality is shocking, made my Tundra speakers sound amazing, the Parametric EQ is awesome, but not easy/intuitive to change quickly. The downside from super fast function, and a great sensitive screen is the AWFUL phone (bluetooth) quality. If I knew how horrible the audio was I would have never installed the HU. Wireless car play kicks behind, the radio function is awesome, but the PHONE IS AWFUL.

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Crutchfield response on 1/20/2025

We're sorry you're having issues with your receiver. If you purchased this product from Crutchfield, feel free to contact our Tech Support team. They can help you solve the problem or set up a return within 60 days of purchase. Lifetime tech support comes with every Crutchfield purchase.

Fantastic Unit! Recommend To Everyone!

Sony never let's you down. The features this unit has is amazing and makes it fun to operate. The sound is amazing and installation was a breeze with the Maestro Rr2. I also got the Maestro T-Harness, Maestro Connector to be able to use the factory Satellite Radio Antenna and Sony specific Maestro Direct Connect wire. Made the install a breeze!

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For grown ups

You must use a Windows machine to download the Firmware Update file to a FlashDrive, i did not tried a Mac but my IPad would change the file and the unit would not see it, also Fat32 did not work. Format FlashDrive to ExFat worked for me. Upgraded from Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX, i didn't like the UI, too many options making navigation difficult even frustrating in a moving vehicle, a simple press would become a swipe or just freeze...I also don't like waiting 2-3 seconds plus for the IU to respond, all those useless features and no processing horsepower to handle it. You want to sit around with your friends in a parking lot watching bootleg version of Fast and Furious of a FlashDrive on you 6 inches monitor, move along this ain't for you. Love how simple everyday use is, screen is clear and responsive with a clean UI. Anti glare works well. Tactile buttons are also great, one of them is customizable but you need the firmware update to get the good stuff. The setting menu can be a bit confusing when you get deep in there, the nice clean minimalist UI starts to get in the way. The unit will still automatically connect to my phone getting in the car even minutes after boot up when using remote start. For some reason the Voice/pickup and hang up on the steering wheel don't work, might have to reflash my maestro RR2. Sounds as expected. Audio settings are more than i can ask for or handle. Coming off that Pioneer this Sony just feels

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Great video quality and speed; no manual dimmer control

I love how sharp the screen is and how responsive the unit is. It loads very quickly and has great sound quality. There's also a great range in brightness between the brightest and dimmest settings. The single reason this unit gets 3 stars from me instead of 5 stars is that there's no easy manual dimming control. Either the screen dimmer is linked to the headlight switch, or you have to dig into the settings to manually adjust the brightness. I like to drive with my marker lights on all the time, and there are those times when it's raining and your headlights should be on but it's not really very dark out, so if the unit were linked to my headlights it would be dim all the time. With my last head unit this was no problem as there was a quick two-tap sequence to manually change the dimming back and forth, but not with this unit. It's a tremendous inconvenience and I likely would have gone with a different unit had I known before finalizing the installation. There's a middle button on this unit that has two functions, either mute or changing the source; they need to add manual dimming control as a third option - if they did that this unit would absolutely be 5 stars.

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Sony Xav-9000es is the radio you need in your car

Paired with the iDatalink Maestro, this radio can't be beat. Smooth and fast transitions, crystal clear audio, and an HD screen. There have been updates to where to can change the background of the home screen, but the analog clock does remain. I use Android Auto and the vehicle gauges when I drive so it's not something I'm staring at anyway, but it is a very pleasant screen in my opinion. Menus are easy to navigate, and the EQ settings are actually noticeable and make my current speakers come alive! Crutchfield of course makes things easy with the install. I called a few times to go through different issues I was having and they have the ability and know-how to find the unique issues that you may run into for your car. 5 minutes of research on their end found my no sound issue that was unique to my car's model and audio system. Overall a very good experience and I now get to more accurately test my mustang's 0-60 numbers with the vehicle gauges.

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Very disappointed

I do not recommend this unit. Have constant issue of Pandora cutting in and out while connected to Android Auto wirelessly. Recently received a text message from my wife that locked up the volume and would not allow me to adjust volume at all. Have reset and re-downloaded the software updates twice and still having issues.

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Crutchfield response on 11/18/2024

Scott contacted our Customer Support team and exchanged for another receiver. Purchases from Crutchfield can be returned or exchanged within 60 days.

High quality audio and crisp screen

Major upgrade from my old factory radio. I was not expecting the major difference in sound quality from just upgrading the head unit. Music is crystal clear! The screen is crisp and is a perfect size and fits nicely. The layout is intuitive and it's easy to navigate and customize. Wireless android auto works really well and is super easy to setup. Install was also easier than expected thanks to the suggested components through the site.

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so far great

this thing is amazing, and smooth. i love it and the screen is phenomenal and has basically no lag. i use and android so I'm able to take advantage of lossless audio wirelessly and wired. however for iPhone users, because this only has wireless Carplay. you will not be able too listen to lossless music. only the apple AAC Bluetooth method. if anyone tells you that you can get lossless Carplay wirelessly, they are lying.

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Sony XAV-9000ES

Great sound. Looks like it has always been there. 2007 Mercedes GL450 with HK sound. Hooked up a BOYO backup camera from Crutchfield, as well.

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Worth the money

Wireless Car Play was the initial sailing point. But I was pleasantly surprised with the sound quality. wow major difference between OEM BOSE system. Touch screen is awesome.

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Awesome

A very great radio, has crisp clarity and has a very awesome eq that you can dial in your music to its optimal sound. Very easy to hook up your android phone. Out of all car radio i have owned this is the best sounding one I've ever had.. This is a most definitely one I would recommend for anyone look for great sound for a great price.

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Some odd Bluetooth behavior

This one is great, when the software doesn't crash. We've had it for a couple of weeks and experienced a failure of the Bluetooth twice. The first time when it was first connected. The second time when we had two iPhones connected and switched between them while CarPlay was playing audio. The Sony unit stopped recognizing Bluetooth at all until the car was restarted.

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Sony XAV-9000ES

Easy install and great features. Everything works flawlessly.

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Sony XAV-9000ES

Good resolution and very responsive. Good audio quality as well.

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Sony XAV-9000ES

I've been putting specifically the Sony XAV head units in all of my setups that I can because it's the only one I've found that is actually smooth operation, especially with CarPlay (it seems that a lot of lower end head units have issues with CarPlay). I have had 0 issues with it after installing, and the built in DSP controls in the ES model alone makes this worth it. The only other thing I could ask for is an HDMI input, like it on the XAV6000. I'm really not sure why it was removed from this model considering it's supposed to be a higher end headunit. But otherwise it works fantastic.

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Sony XAV-9000ES

Looks great and user friendly

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Sony XAV-9000ES

Overall the unit is what I expected it to be. Easy install with the resources and products crutchfield recommended to purchase. I would recommend the product as it is a lot better than stock unit. Did lose a few minor features such as vehicle chime no longer integrated in the stereo speaker system and the backup warning meters on the backup cam. These were risks I knew I was taking and I would make the same decision to replace stock unit again knowing what I know now.

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Sony XAV-9000ES

Awesome stereo, ES series like their flagship, screen clarity great

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Speedy shipping

We have yet to hear it as still waiting on other pieces to the puzzle but this was for my fiancé. The install he did and it looks great! This is a big project he's working on to upgrade the sound at a level that's been extremely impressive to me. Crutchfield was fast to ship and can't wait to hear it in action! The kit makes this look oem!

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Simple interface and solid build quality

Bought to replace the Harmon Kardon 8" Nav unit in our 2018 Outback. I debated getting the XAV-9500ES for the larger display but ultimately went with this one as the larger display seemed to take up too much space. Installation and integration was very easy with the Crutchfield info and the disassembly tools. The only issues on startup were: intermittent backup guidelines (Maestro is working to resolve this with Sony), sub-par audio quality (found that my phone's music app EQ settings were on, giving basically double EQ), and horrible Android phone call audio quality (related to my specific phone, spouse's phone works great). So really only one issue that may partly be a Sony issue (backup guidelines). I'd only take off half a star if possible.

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So far so good

A very nice unit. Greatly improved audio quality over my factory unit. Takes a bit to get accustomed to the menus, as the instructions are not that informative, but it is rather intuitive to figures out. Really like the CarPlay interface, add the ability to bypass CarPlay when you don't need it. Installation is complicated but not really difficult. Ready -harness is worth its weight in gold!

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Great Sounding HU that Falls Short of Being Best in Class

If I were reviewing this head unit based on sound quality and usability alone it would get five stars. However, sound quality is only part of the picture with this unit. The user interface is very simple, but in a good way. As others have mentioned, you are sort of stuck with the clock on the main screen. That doesn't present any issue for me whatsoever since I am primarily using Apple CarPlay. The Sony XAV-900ES does fall short in some pretty critical areas though. One of the biggest mistakes Sony has made in their firmware for this device is the lack of independent speaker level control outside the balance and fader controls. With a parametric EQ tune, we almost always need to go back and re-balance the levels after tuning. A balance/fader control isn't appropriate here since any changes to balance or fade will influence another channel. Sony, this is a huge glaring oversite and should really be addressed via firmware upgrade. The next area where this unit falls short is with source volume. There are volume controls for navigation, phone calls, etc. However, these don't follow the master volume. This is a really, really poor design choice. Again, hoping this gets addressed in a future firmware update. This is less of an issue, but the parametric EQ in this unit uses uneven frequency steps. 1 hz steps 20-99hz, 10 hz steps 100-1000hz, and 100 hz steps 1000-20000hz. Tuning tools like REW and HouseCurve don't support this stepping so you can get cl

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Great head unit loaded with extras

Love Apple Car Play! Great unit that has tons of features that are really worth having. Apple car play auto connects every time you get in the car and starts playing where you left off. 3 camera inputs, vehicle engine stats (RPM, temp,etc) MPH, time, etc. Has high def DAC for better sound. I added Sirius radio to it and transferred my lifetime subscription from my old factory radio to the Sony for $30. Adjustable sub frequency, crossover and gain from the head unit. Crossover frequency options for front and rear speakers right on the head unit. I just updated my firmware to 2.0 via the USB port (cable) that comes out of the unit. Coming from the factory radio, this is light years ahead of what I had and certainly more than I needed but I'm very happy with it. Using this with AC 6.1200 and 8" Morel's and Kenwood 6.5" in the rear. Fosgate P300-8 300 watt sub all in a 2010 Tundra. Used idata box to program factory steering wheel controls and that went like butter. It all works!

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Well executed, simple to operate.

Installed in a 2008 VW R32 as a much-needed upgrade from the OEM unit without hands free capabilities. First, I love the screen. It looks and feels good as a touch screen. When wearing polarized glasses, there is some distortion of the screen colors. The unit itself is simple to operate and I love how seamless AirPlay is. I am still confused why there is a GPS module to stick to the dash when there is no built-in GPS. There is even a way to see how well it is synced to satellites - weird. Lastly, I appreciate the link to see the car diagnostics - I can see my fault codes right on the unit and even clear them if they are able to be cleared. Overall, I'm very pleased with the unit.

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Great sound

Great stereo haven't had Sony in awhile but I'm glad I decided to go this route because I like it better than what I've had for the last several years

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I made a great choice

Fits my 2012 F-350 perfectly, looks great and absolutely intuitive to use. Love it.

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Honestly the best

Honestly wow, so I've been running this unit for about a year now and I love every minute of using it. Coming from a previous Sony xs6000 unit that I didn't have the greatest of luck with, this thing mops the floor. 32bit dac built in really does work with opening up your music to hear parts you never heard before. Even better that it has a mini amp built in. It's not much but it's better than nothing and I really appreciate that. The screen is very responsive and super clear, 720p but when you're driving I bet you'd hardly notice. Also never skips a beat in terms of wireless connectivity. I'll go out on a cold morning to warm my car up, come back later and within 2 seconds I'm connected to CarPlay. Lastly design. I love how industrial looking this thing is. Simple UI and best part HARD BUTTONS!! I truly don't know why there are so few HUs without hard buttons. The OS is amazing and the tuning options built in are top notch.

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Great head unit

Great Sony head unit.

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Exceptional Head Unit from SONY

I installed the Sony XAV-9000ES in a 2016 Subaru Forester XT. The unit far exceeded my expectations in terms of audio sound quality, features, and overall integration with WebLink Maestro. I was able to keep factory steering wheel functions.

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Sony XAV-9000ES

It works well and was easy to install in Chevy Sonic 2016. For the price though, I think the display should be better; the LCD screen is problematic with polarizing sunglasses so you'll need to buy a pair of non-polarizing.

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So good

I bought this to replace a still functioning Sony XAV-AX200, purely because I was doing a higher end SQ build, and wanted the best Sony had to offer. I was not disappointed with the decision. The output is clean up to volume level 47 of 50, and the voltage to my JL VX800/8i is phenomenal! The only wish I have is that you could change the color of the backlit buttons, but it's a small gripe all things considered. I'm equally happy with the audio quality you get playing FLAC files from a flash drive, and Bluetooth LDAC streaming. If you're looking for amazing sound quality look no further!

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Sony XAV-9000ES

Very satisfied with this head unit. Screen is large, bright, and does a good job of being visible even in bright sunlight. Swapped it into an otherwise stock sound system and noticed an improvement in volume and perceived quality over the original single disk head unit, working on upgrading the rest of the system and expecting to appreciate the DSP tuning more in the near future. Android Auto (and wireless too!) is a game changer for both daily drives and road trips, the phone can stay in my pocket now. Highly recommend getting a Maestro and the associated harnessing. Total install took me around 2 hours including flashing the Maestro, but it was about as plug and play as I could wish for, and everything just worked.

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Sony XAV-9000ES

The Sony es series are great decks for those that stream from tidal, qobuz or have high resolution files. The ess saber dac sounds great, and really wakes up factory speakers. If you care about higher resolution music, and know how to utilize a parametric eq, this or the 9500es is for you.

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Premium without the price

Had a hard time choosing between this and a Kenwood everyone said that sonys sound terrible and they are glitchy I've had zero problems or complaints with this unit. I'm so happy that I chose wisely the crossover function is awesome the eq is overkill but much appreciated and the startup time with or without the backup cam is lightning fast. A lot of reviews are upset because the clock is static on the background but I never see it more than 6 seconds because I us android auto. This receiver is exactly as advertised a premium product.

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Sony XAV-9000ES

Does everything I wanted it to do and I called for help they were great!

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A great headunit.

Responds quickly and connects to Android auto wirelessly very fast. So far so good, really enjoying this head units speed and simplicity. Sound is great.

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Frequent crashes. Buy something else

Really disappointing. The software frequently glitches and freezes the radio to the point where the home button doesn't work, or it crashes all together. Even after a firmware update, the issue still persists. I expected way more from a reputable manufacturer at this price point.

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Crutchfield response on 1/1/2024

Braden, we're sorry you're having issues with your receiver. While your order is beyond Crutchfield's 60-day return policy, please feel free to reach out to our Tech Support team for help, or for information about the 3-year warranty on this receiver. Lifetime tech support comes with every Crutchfield purchase.

Dissapointed for the cost.

My husband bought this in September 2023. After using this for a few months (it's now December) I'm becoming disappointed in its performance. The screen sometimes glitches out when switching in or out of reverse. Sometimes the system will completely shut off and nothing works accept the lights on the buttons and I'll have to hard reset the unit. Sometimes when this happens, all you hear is a buzzing noise from the speakers and you can't turn the volume down. Apple CarPlay will at times not work or have weird glitches including during phone calls and when using Siri. Sometimes after muting or turning the volume down to 0 the radio will still play. The call answer and hang up on the steering wheel doesn't work with this unit. The microphone royally sucks for calls. Still a much better unit than my old BOSS but I'm extremely disappointed of Sony's quality for being a nearly $1k unit. In todays modern technology with literal computers in our pockets and they can't get a simple freaking radio to work properly. I guess sometimes you don't always get what you pay for. I would not recommend this product to other buyers.

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Crutchfield response on 12/19/2023

Once we saw this review, our Tech Support team reached out to this customer help him further. Whenever you encounter a problem with anything you purchase from Crutchfield, please contact our Tech Support team right away. Lifetime tech support comes with every Crutchfield purchase.

Sony XAV-9000ES

Great functionality. Sleek look matches with the interior of my vehicle. Controls easy to adjust and wireless CarPlay works great.

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Crutchfield response on

Disappointing Performance

My experience with this radio receiver has been profoundly disappointing. From the outset, it presented multiple connectivity issues, spanning Bluetooth, wireless, and wired connections. Even after engaging professionals to fine-tune the radio, the sound quality remained subpar, a frustration amplified by the need to pay for additional tuning with no improvement. Contrary to its advertised high-quality screen and resolution, the display was reminiscent of an early 2000s Dell laptop - outdated and unsatisfactory. The backup camera also failed to meet expectations in terms of quality. A notable contrast was observed when I replaced this receiver with a $200 Pioneer model, which offered a significantly better experience. While I strongly suggest considering Pioneer receivers as a superior alternative, it's worth noting that even these don't fully align with the advancements expected in current technology standards. Overall, my journey with various receivers suggests a disconnect between today's technological capabilities and what is currently available in the market.

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Great stereo for the price point

I installed this Sony in my 2007 Classic Silverado. Over all very satisfied with the stereo, specially with the wireless connection to my iPhone. Pandora maps and other app's work great. Still waiting on a harness for the Maestro to be able to display my OBDII feature. On my application I had to run a Pac module for the steering wheel controls. Maestro will be used for OBDII features only.

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XAV-9000ES EXCELLENT SYSTEM

'ES' is Sony's elevated standard with better components and extended warranty. Even though I installed this unit into a 2009 Toyota Camry using existing OEM speakers (not JBL) without additional amplification/preamp this system sounds very good. I opted to use the lower end steering control interface recommended by Crutchfield (Crux SWRTY-61S Wiring Interface) for this car because this car has older technology and only needed the steering wheel control functions. Crutchfield gives good wiring support via email, however, they somehow missed how to connect the FM/AM antenna (Camry uses two males, a micro and a standard into the original CD player radio), but the Sony AVX-9000ES only has a female standard anntena connection. The result was AM would not play with only FM connection. However a call to Crutchfield support (thanks 'Cory') provided technical wiring details on how to address this, which is not in the manuals provided or email provided by Crutchfield (the solution: wire the Sony blue/white stripped REM OUT antenna booster wire to the Crux blue power antenna and Crux blue white Amp turn on -three wires together). The result was a powerful AM signal plus good FM too. Using the Carplay for apple is flawless too with good cellphone interface. Sony XAV-9000ES looks good in the dash plus the added a Boyo VTL17IRTJ backup camera. What you get when you buy from Crutchfield is good technical details/equipment plus support to result in a great working/looking system!

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Sony radip

Great radio

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Sony XAV-9000ES

AMAZING product compared to my p.o.s BOSS head unit. My only complaints are these: Microphone: unless it's placed straight up in your face the sound quality is pure garbage. I installed it in the factory mics place but had to quickly remove it and relocate it to the visor. Back up camera: though the camera works flawlessly and without fail (unlike my BOSS), I was not able to get the camera image to appear without it being reverse. Not that important but was still handy to have when it worked on my BOSS. SWC: all the buttons on the swc work except for the call answer and end. They don't work at all despite it being hooked up to an AXXESS ASWC-1. I've tried everything to get them to work but nothing.

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