It’s been more than a year since we first got our hands on the amazing Sony Mobile ES XAV-9500ES multimedia receiver for a detailed Test Drive Review. Our takeaway from that testing experience was that Sony had pulled out all the stops when developing this radio: It sounds stunning, measures superbly on the test bench, and, as we would confirm after an extended period of in-vehicle use, is intuitive and easy to use. The fancy Sony radio’s been in the dash of my wife’s Hyundai Santa Fe for over a year. Let’s check in on this impressive multimedia receiver and see what we’ve learned and what might have changed.
Installing the Sony XAV-9500ES
Though I started my car audio career as an installer over 35 years ago, I don’t consider myself a professional car audio installation technician. I’ve never wanted to install remote starters, and I don’t know what speakers fit properly in each vehicle. With that said, I think I can hold my own when upgrading the family’s vehicles. My 2015 Genesis sedan desperately needs Apple CarPlay, but upgrading the top-of-the-line Lexicon system with the 8-inch high-resolution display is nearly impossible.
I started the project with a call to Importel Ltd. in Toronto to track down the required installation accessories. I ordered a Metra dash kit, an antenna adapter and an iDatalink Maestro RR2 integration module with the correct harness. I added a USB adapter cable after some extensive research.
The first step was to solder the Sony radio harness to the Maestro harness. I decided to teach my now-13-year-old son Andrew how to add heat-shrink tubing, strip the wires, twist them, and complete the soldering process. It took a while for him to get up to speed, but the results were excellent once he got rolling.
I explained the importance of ensuring that all connections would be secure and reliable. As such, I had Andrew add some heat-shrink tubing to the rearview camera input plug to keep it from pulling apart as we fiddled around with the wiring behind the radio.
The Maestro RR or RR2 interface is a must-have for a multimedia receiver upgrade if supported. The RR2 integrates the factory-installed rearview camera and the radio control buttons on the steering wheel. It also communicates with the CAN network in the vehicle to display engine information on the gauge screen. The factory radio from the Santa Fe didn’t match the wiring information perfectly. After some communication with the support team at ADS, they promptly provided me with details on where to connect to the CAN network, and everything sprang to life.
After taking some measurements of the dash kit, I drew up a simple filler panel in Fusion 360 and sent it to a friend for him to 3D print for us. I didn’t fancy adding radii to the front panel edges as this part wouldn’t be visible when inside the vehicle. The panel turned out perfectly, and I bonded it to the front piece of the new dash kit using 3M 4693H plastic adhesive. I should note that the mechanism that attaches the screen to the radio chassis has remained rock solid. It doesn’t budge a millimeter when we’re pressing buttons or navigating menus. Many people who haven’t experienced this radio in a vehicle or on a display ask how solid it is.
Another challenge was the USB adapter. None of the installation accessory manufacturers listed a cable that would allow me to use the factory USB port in the center console. After asking some of my industry friends, I learned that the plug is identical to ones in other Hyundai vehicles, but the pinout was different. I ordered the adapter cable, made the necessary modifications and was off to the races.
Software Updates Add Performance and Features
One thing that surprised me a bit about the XAV-9500ES when it first launched was the lack of support for a three-way audio system. Using dedicated channels for tweeters, midrange drivers and woofers is a common option on higher-end head units. I figured there was a logical reason for the absence of this feature. As it turns out, one of the software updates released late in 2022 added the option for three-way crossovers and improved wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity. The update also significantly improved the image quality of the rearview camera display. Always make sure the software on your multimedia receiver is up-to-date.
Installing the software was quite easy. I downloaded the file from the Sony website, copied it to a USB memory stick, then connected it to the radio. Selecting the update menu started the process. This process was much simpler than on some of the other radios I’ve worked with, which needed multiple files and procedures to perform an update. Thanks, Sony!
Using the Sony Mobile ES XAV-9500ES
In my opinion, one of the best features of the Mobile ES XAV-9500ES, aside from its stunning audio quality, is the display’s responsiveness. I watched a car YouTube review of the Hyundai Kona N the other day, and the (amateur) reviewer noted that the factory infotainment system was “very responsive.” It was easy to see the delay between when he tapped the screen and when the next menu was presented. That’s not what we would call “very responsive.” (Insert grumbling about amateur YouTube reviewers here!)
Pull out your smartphone and start typing an email to someone. How long do you think it takes to display each character after you touch the screen? It’s not something you notice because it’s quite fast. The Sony XAV-9500ES radio and the XAV-AX6000 and XAV-AX4000 I have also reviewed are smartphone-fast when it comes to navigating menus. It feels right, and now that we’re used to it, anything that responds slower seems archaic. If you’re shopping for a new radio for your vehicle, pay attention to the speed at which the unit responds to inputs. Do you feel like you have to push the on-screen option again, only for it to react just as you reach out, or is it fast?
The hard buttons on the top of the screen are very intuitive. I can reach out while driving to adjust the volume without taking my eyes off the road. Likewise, the audio function adjustments from the steering wheel also respond quickly. The ability to use a radio without looking at it is crucial. It seems automobile manufacturers have just realized this and are doing an about-face on their giant-tablet-display dash designs. I crossed the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y off my “new car options” list for this very reason. Yes, I know about voice recognition ….
The radio has two unsuspecting features crucial for us older folks or anyone who drives at night. As we age, our ability to see well in low-light situations decreases. One way to improve visibility farther down the road once the sun sets is to turn down any lights in the vehicle. I always have the dash set as dark as possible, and the Sony radio’s dimmest illumination setting is perfect. Even better, I programmed the left-hand Custom Key area on the front panel to turn off the display. A quick tap that can be done without looking blanks the screen without turning off the radio for minimal distraction.
Wireless Smartphone Integration
I fully admit that we are all spoiled by modern technology. Of note, the wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity is amazing. We never have to worry about taking the phone out of a pocket to have the navigation and entertainment features right at hand. After the ignition is turned on, the radio takes about 15 seconds to connect to my iPhone 14. The voice recognition always works great around town and on the highway, and I’ve never had complaints about outgoing audio quality when on a phone call. I mounted the hands-free microphone on top of the rearview mirror and aimed it directly at the driver’s face. You’d be surprised how directional some microphones are, so proper alignment is crucial. The centralized location also maximizes the noise cancellation performance, so I recommend this location or something similar for all installations.
Audio Feature Configuration and Calibration
So, how does the Sony radio sound compare to the unbranded base-model radio that came with the Santa Fe? Initially, not as good. As I’ve written about on many occasions, the companies that provide the audio components in new cars know a LOT about maximizing the performance of the speakers chosen for the vehicle. The little Hyundai radio includes equalization, making the inexpensive woofers in the doors and tweeters on the dash sound the best they can. Without that adjustment, even with better clarity, you’ve gone backward.
To compensate for this, I set up my Clio Pocket microphone in the driver’s seat and adjusted the eight-band parametric equalizer on each channel. I also set the delays for each channel using a tape measure to optimize the front and rear speaker’s output so the sound arrives all at once. After about 55 minutes of work, I had the Santa Fe sounding much better. There was a good image above the radio in the center of the dash, and the tonal balance was nice.
With the frequency response fixed, the improvement in clarity over the factory radio was even more evident, even when listening to an FM radio station. Whether I was listening to 320 kbps MP3 files or high-resolution FLAC files, it was amazing. Instruments and voices all seemed clearer and more defined. Audiophiles often describe truly high-end components as less veiled than lower-quality products – as though a barrier was removed between the listener and the sound source. This was that!
Add a Subwoofer and Have More Fun!
I’ve mentioned that a subwoofer is one of the best upgrades you can make to any car audio system. In the case of this Santa Fe, I knew the factory-installed speakers wouldn’t be able to put a smile on our faces when it came to bass frequencies. I decided a few months ago that the Hyundai needed a subwoofer. I brought up the Rockford Fosgate P500-12P I reviewed a few years ago, and my eldest son Ian and I spent a Saturday afternoon integrating it into the Santa Fe. We even concocted a mounting solution that would keep it secure but allow it to be quickly removable when we need to carry larger cargo or go on vacation. Once we had it installed, Ian and I set high-pass crossovers to 79Hz at -24dB/Octave to the front and rear speakers and the same 79 Hz at -24 dB/Octave filter to the subwoofer output.
After completing the physical installation, we revisited the equalizer and delay settings to re-optimize everything for the newfound low-frequency performance. The difference in sound quality and output capability was stunning. No, deck power to the factory speakers isn’t going to win you any awards or make the audio system audible from a mile away. With that said, removing the need for the little amplifier in the radio to reproduce bass information made a bigger difference than I expected. I rarely listen to music at high volume, so clarity takes precedence over quantity. With that said, Ian and I are working to resist the urge to add an amplifier to the front speakers, as there is less than a year left on the vehicle lease.
Living with the Sony XAV-9500ES
In summary, I’d have to say that I am extremely impressed with the Sony Mobile ES XAV-9500ES radio. It’s straightforward to use, sounds stunning, and the big display is awesome. I can’t think of any features I’d want that it doesn’t offer. I realize the radio isn’t an entry-level solution, but I’ve always been a proponent of investing in solutions that will perform well. While it’s at the upper end in terms of cost, it’s a bargain, given its sound quality and features. Remember, a home audio receiver and CD player at this performance level would likely sell for prices into the five-digit range.
Drop by a local authorized Sony Mobile ES retailer today and check one out on their display or in a demo vehicle. Be sure to bring your smartphone so you can experience how easy it is to use. You can learn more about the entire line of Mobile ES products by visiting the Sony website. You can also follow them on Facebook to learn about their newest product releases.
