Worth the money

Amazing unit and sound quality

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Awesome Unit

Awesome unit! All of my factory functionality is there, plus I can monitor other gauges showing transmission/engine oil temps, air intake temps, engine load, etc. which helps me for towing or traveling. Apple CarPlay works perfectly (after upgrading the software on the stereo). Better overall sound from the Sync II system in my Ford Expedition. Love the HUGE screen!!! It looks great and fits well.

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Very Good Sound and Design

I've installed on my Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV and tested over a few trips. It looks good, sounds very good, i'm ver happy with this purchase, but if you want to improve the sound quality, yo need to upgrade your speakers. I'm using the factory speakers and the receiver shows the flaws of it, since I'm planning to buy some component speakers that can be worthy. My only "complaint" is with the conectivity using android auto. I don't know why, but the conection is very slow and unstable with my phone (Samsung galaxy S22 Ultra). I've connected other cellphone (Galaxy S10) and performs flawlessly, so the problem is mine. Maybe updating the firmware solves this issue.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Love this head unit. It's exactly what I wanted. It makes my 2015 little bucket feel like a model 3 ??. The material is super high quality. It also added a usb-c connection for my vehicle. Mic and GPS included as well. Installation was quite simple with Crutchfield providing every single thing needed to make the install simple for a reasonably tech savvy self installer. I retained all my stock controls steering wheel and backup camera. I used the ready harness service and it all was breezy.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Bluetooth has messed up a handful of times, in a minimal amount of use, to the point of turning the vehicle off and letting it reset.

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Stay away

This thing is so incredibly glitchy. I have nonstop issues since I purchased it. Sony had to send me another unit and not much is better. The Maestro causes so many issues as well. Steering wheel controls don't work half the time. Get any other brand.

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2008 Toyota Sequoia.

This head unit is not inexpensive, but having wireless Carplay is a game changer that allowed me to put off purchasing a new car. 80% of the time it works 100% of the time. The other 20%, one side of speakers have no sound, or the steering wheel controls will not work. Turning off and restarting the car usually resolves these issues. This unit Integrates with my existing backup camera, but not the existing microphone. Glare/reflection is not a problem during the day, and its not too bright in the evening. Crutchfield makes installation easy and their on call support tech's are top notch and have always been willing to spend as much time as it takes to answer all of my questions. Even if you are a wiz with wiring, I suggest paying Crutchfield for the wiring harness as the quality is top notch.

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Motorhome upgrade

Easy to install and sounds great. Screen is large and easy to navigate. Like the controls on top of unit. Installed in our 2011 motorhome, great upgrade looking forward to using on future trips.

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You'll thank me later (or) reflecting on 6 months with XAV-9500ES

This righteous slayer of sound-waves is worth every penny. So versatile and fast! I can flip through local storage as fast as I want and the 9500ES keeps up without breaking a sweat. The Player remembers the last track and picks up where you left off - The stock radio in my '22 Subaru Crosstrek couldn't do that. Taping the randomize feature will play any song over a 64 GB library without taking 15 minutes to index all the songs first. My other radios struggle, even my phone struggles with that. Just buy this one trust me.

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Great sound

Amazing sound. Custom installer was able to remove screen from the brain to flush mount it in my 2019 ram classic. Traded in pioneer deck that was laggy for this and an amazing sound upgrade.

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Not bad. Simple carplay/android auto headunit. With premium audio.

The unit is nice. No digital FM . Big screen. Sometimes wireless CarPlay is laggy but that's due to firmware needing updated. Although something was wrong with the unit out of the box(iData port was bad), Crutchfield never hesitated to replace it and provided assistance.

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HD sound, flawless connection

Amazing connectivity and sound. You can't go wrong with this. I upgraded my stock radio to this one and the difference is amazing. Wireless Android Auto connects flawlessly. It sounds totally amazing and the audio is crystal clear in this. I wirelessly steam Ldac quality audio through this and the sound from my aftermarket kenwood speakers is awesome. You can't go wrong with this.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Awesome head unit it was everything I expected from Sony

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Amazing product. Screen is bright and wireless CarPlay works great.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

So its awesome! Massive upgrade over stock head unit and wireless android auto is fantastic. Sony UI is very minimalistic which is a plus for me but might not be for everyone. Install with the more expensive kit was easy.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Nice set up

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Fantastic Unit

Great unit, so many features and sounds fantastic! Everything works on this radio with Maestro unit, wireless car play is flawless; connects right a way, no more cord really need it. It is easy to adjust screen for very small gap between unit and dashboard that gives even better look. It is not blocking anything, all buttons and controls are accessible. Installation process little time consuming so make sure you have at least half a day to complete if you never installed car radio before. So if you're looking to upgrade you stock radio on VW Passat that is the way to go but do your research first.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Fantastic unit. Made my existing speakers sound way better.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Incredible sound and performance! This is the most incredible touchscreen stereo I've ever used. The capacitive HD display is beautiful and responsive. It feels like using an iPad, yeah that kinda fast. Wireless CarPlay is straight up magical, no wires needed! Get in and a moment later your music is playing without the need to even pull your phone out of your pocket. The sound is very clean, 5v pre-outs and DAC blow my 5 year old Pioneer sph-da120 away. To save a couple hundred dollars I bought a scratch and dent, but couldn't find a flaw anywhere. If your looking for something for multimedia use, this isn't the head unit for you, as there are no hdmi inputs. A recent firmware upgrade will allow you to play video files through the usb c port.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

I really like this radio/multi media unit. The sound is so much better than the factory unit with the same factory speakers. There was almost nothing to the configuration and it was easy to use. I wish that Sony had made this unit adjustable on the fly instead of having screws in the tilt adjustment and if they made a unit specifically to fit in the Silverado/Sierra DIN slot where the factory radio resides but that's not relevant to this unit really. I just hate cutting on my truck. Also Android auto is laggy but from my research, it looks like it's an AA bug not a head unit issue.

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Sony ES

This headunit is Unbelievable, upgraded from the Sony Xav8100 and the Pioneer NEX series. This is by far the best and fastest headunit i have ever owned. I'm in love with the speeds, the best part is the clarity, it is much better than the others i've had. Tuned to perfection! Highly recommend this headunit. The price is just right for the clarity and Quality you get.

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Nice radio

I like it . The screen incredibly clear and the high res audio quality is outstanding.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

This is a nice looking an elegant unit by Sony..

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Lacking and frustrating

I have always used Sony units for the simplicity of the screen and the audio quality. I wish I would have went with the pioneer, I will definitely be swapping over. Updating software has been a nightmare and only worked once. The audio lags so I can't watch any videos on my phone while connected CarPlay has refused to connect at least 10 times no matter if I restart my phone or car. No HD radio , I feel like at least HD radio is pretty standard for a higher end unit but I guess not. No HDMI in definitely is a waste of screen space without Screen completely froze twice No pause button, not even an option for the programmable buttons.

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Looks fantastic

I'm really happy with this deck Looks great and sounds great

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Chore to use

The sound quality was good over the factory system in my truck. I knew this radio was going to have major GUI & feature limitations before I ordered it but because Crutchfield is awesome and their use it for 60 days love it or return it a policy. I thought I would try it and get used to it. Well, I did not and it only made it easier to get it out of my truck and send it back when an RCA plug went bad on me and had to take the radio out anyways. If you were only going to use it for Android Auto or car play I do say it has a nice display on it. But that is where it ends and also after installing another brand of radio I don't even think this unit's sound quality is even that good, but I guess that's up to the user. My biggest issue is all the wasted space on this beautiful screen and needing to click 5 times just to do anything. I give it 3 stars only because it may fit some people's needs and the pros below.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Awesome response, easy install in my 2018 Mustang, went from 4" screen to 10.1". Incredible sound, wireless Android is the best.!

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Great Head Unit!

I bought this to install in my 2012 F350 and I could not be more happy with the results. The entire buying process with Crutchfield was incredibly smooth and every questions I had was answered. The biggest surprise to me was the pre-wiring service that they offer. This was a dream as all of the wire connections between the harnesses were complete on arrival making the installations essentially plug and play. Great piece of equipment, great buying experience, and great result. 100% would buy again.

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XAV 9500ES is Awesome!

I needed to replace a 2013 factory radio with ANYTHING that had Apple Car play. Looking through Crutchfield's selection and what I saw available where not brands that I had been familiar with. I have been replacing radios for literally decades... (a couple) and I never heard of BOSS and I wasn't keen on Jensen. Sony had a super nice one that had raving reviews so I went with the 9500ES. I chose the option of having Crutchfield do the wiring for me (first time). Getting up there in age and not too keen on doing the wiring myself. Thanks guys for a great job by the way. Plugged in the wires I was familiar with and BAMB, spectacular sound from the receiver. Can't say enough about the 9500ES. If you have the money and the room around your dash, get it!!! Won't regret it! That being said, I had allot of trouble with the Maestro car/steering wheel adapter. Called the Support Line and the nice people at Crutchfield tried to help and make suggestions. I have been having problems with air bag warning light on and steering wheel controls not working. I was frustrated because wires that had come with the kit seemingly as extra parts weren't labeled so I didn't know where they went. I finally went through the whole harness and if it looked like the plug fit the factory plug, I plugged it in and then searched for the corresponding plug in the head unit. By doing this I got the unit to actually works, the air bag light went away, and the steering wheel controls work. Take your time.

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Incredible but a couple annoyances

Please read my pros and cons first to learn about the radio itself. If you're still here, this was the most difficult installation I've ever done due to the vehicle it went in which is a 2007 Chevy Express van. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Make certain the large screen will not cover up vehicle controls and send it back if it does and buy something else or be prepared to do some additional work. You don't want a very expensive radio looking like it was installed incorrectly and inconveniently. This radio "fits" this vehicle like a round peg fits a square hole. The issue is metal bits that need to be cut away under the dash to make the radio fit properly which all has to do with a longer single DIN radio replacing a shorter double DIN radio. Crutchfield provided a mounting kit that allows you to install the radio above the metal bits along with a pocket but this covers up the environmental controls. I cut out the metal (which turned out to be very soft) with a Dremel and drilled new holes in the mounting kit to properly mount the radio. None of this is "hard" but I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out how to get this radio to fit in the dash. Crutchfield's technical support recommended I NOT cut out the metal bits but I found a YouTube video that mentioned that that's what needed to happen and it turned out to be simple after I bought metal cutting wheels for my Dremel.

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Sony 9500 ES

I purchased the Sony 9500 ES to replace the factory head unit in my 2016 GMC 2500 pickup with Bose. Installation was very involved, but Crutchfield reps helped with all of my issues. The stereo looks and sounds amazing, and fit the truck perfectly. All the functions work smoothly, including the backup camera. My only complaint is the backup camera image quality is not as good as the factory head unit, but not a huge deal. The parametric EQ really helped with dialing in the sound, and even brought out the sub-35hertz deep bass I was lacking with the factory head unit feeding my subs. The Sony is an expensive unit, but for strictly top notch audio I highly recommend.

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Support Help!

It's ok - think it could be really good. Will write more as I get some things figured out. Putting this here as I'm having a tough time getting customer support management involvement. Having issue with CarPlay volume during calls and static. Hope to get someone who can give me some definitive info on fox or will have to return. Help please! I've been waiting for a manager or one of the reps I've worked with to reach back out.

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2015 Chrysler 200

I have been a fan of Sony forever. This radio is only lacking a HDMI input. The sound is great. I was told this would not fit my car that's why I submitted so many pictures. This was the upgrade I was waiting for! Crutchfield is the best!

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Fantastic large screen radio

Literally one of the best "Floating Screen" radios on the market, a lot of adjustability in the audio settings responsive fantastic looking touch screen, physical volume buttons! So great. Wireless Android Auto and Carplay were smooth no hiccups, worth noting and it's on the info for the radio but when using Carplay it is wireless Carplay only, but Android Auto can be used both Wired and Wireless. Although, to be fair once you go wireless you'll never go back, sounds pretty good too even with just the internal amp. Almost forgot, insanely fast boot up time, like a few seconds after receiving power and this thing is up and running.

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2020 Civic Type R

Lots of mounting adjustability. Screen is big!, almost too big. I wish there was a 9" version like Pioneer makes. Very fast start up and excellent feedback.

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Beautiful screen with excellent responsiveness

I wanted a large screen for wireless Android Auto - the Sony XAV-9500ES delivers that and more. The clarity and responsiveness of the screen is exceptional. Animations and swiping through menus are buttery smooth. Combined with fantastic audio quality, easy integration with your car with the use of a Maestro RR, excellent build quality, and a 3 year warranty from Sony, what more could you want?

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You Get What Pay For

I recently upgrade my truck to a Jensen CAR710W. The features on that head unit made me realize how dated my stock 4Runner's 2015 head unit was. I wanted a solution that was compatible with the JBL sound system my vehicle already has, maintains the integrated backup camera, wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, and idata link integration for all of the sweet custom guages and diagnostics that idata link can provide. This Sony delivers on all of those fronts, and the execution is the best I've ever seen in a car stereo. The touchscreen is crisp, responsive, and has no noticable input lag. Wireless Android Auto and Carplay are both awesome and they work incredibly well. The sound this unit provides is incredible, and blows the stock Toyota head unit out of the water. The price tag is steep, but if you can afford it in your budget I'd say it's money well spent on a unit that is surely future proof for 8-10 years as well.

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Top-teir Stereo!

2017 VW Passat Sony R&D created an exceptional head unit. The stereo's OS is very intuitive and simple to use. Audiophiles have the option to dial-in individual speakers to their liking via the crossover and parametric EQ settings. The display is large and superior in quality. Aesthetically, it sports a clean, minimalist look. This stereo is clearly one of best on the market.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Excellent radio! Audio quality is top notch. Wireless CarPlay is super quick. Everything works as expected. Installed in a 2014 4Runner and I had to customize the dash kit to get it to fit without blocking the air vents too much. I ended up cutting the divider in the dash kit and using the double DIN brackets, then custom cutting the pocket so it could fit above the radio. It ended up working out nicely, but not out of the box ready to go for sure. My AC controls are accessible but out of my field of view with the screen in the way, but I have 90% airflow from the vents this way!

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SQ DECK

Amazing deck. Super responsive. Coming from the kenwood ddx9904s, this deck was a major upgrade. The wireless carplay is fast and responsive.

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Awesome

Awesome! If your primary source is CarPlay there is no better option. The screen is gigantic but manageable. Very responsive, little to no lag. Sound quality is great with tons of adjustment available but also has presets for easy use. Installed in a Jeep Wrangler and everything works exactly as I expected. No fit issues at all.

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Great choice for a high end upgrade.

Wow, this is the way to go...all in! This is a premier product, easy to operate, integrates with your phone, provides seamless app mgt . The interface is user friendly, you can get deep into your sound settings or take the pre programming options. Huge display (yes it can be adjusted to uncover the air vents, just picked it up from installer). 5 line outs allowed me to run 2 pair of 6x9s off a small amp, 2 midrange pairs off another small amp, and a pair of subs off a dedicated sub amp. Crutchfield got me everything I needed to do it right the first time. I originally ordered a AudioControl line output converter to retain the factory head unit but worried about potential issues with feedback from the factory phone Mic and space to mount 3 amps and the LC8i. Happy with this product and look forward to miles of great sound.

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Audio !

Total control to individual speakers , wireless CarPlay , great screen not glossy , it's the best unit I've had to date , if you like good sounding music and ability to control sound get this !!

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Disappointed

I feel like it is overpriced for the lack of features and playback support. No HDMI port, so I can't really call it a "multimedia" receiver. Wireless carplay works great, but the Maestro integration needs work. The backup camera doesn't always work, but to be fair I am not sure if it is a problem with this unit or the Maestro iDatalink. The anti-glare screen is almost flawless, and the sound quality is outstanding. I am not happy with this purchase, I was hoping for a true "multimedia" receiver where on such a large screen my kids could enjoy some videos while I'm parked somewhere.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Let me preface this review by saying that I have not and will not use any advanced sound features. My car has the factory speakers, so I can't speak to this radio's ability to do anything beyond changing the EQ presets and volume control. For all intents and purposes, I consider myself a very basic car operator. The Sony XAV-9500ES has been installed in my car for about a week now, replacing the JVC KW-Z1000W that was newly installed for about a month before. For my personal use, the Sony is an upgrade in every way. The company finally decided to make an oversized model with modern features; namely, the capacitive touchscreen. It does a fantastic job of retaining visibility regardless of sunlight levels, and feels great to touch. Fingerprint smudges are almost nonexistent. This unit finishes booting and reaches the warning/home screen in under four seconds. Menu navigation is crisp and responsive. I was warned that the UI is simple, but this is exactly what I wanted - no cheap, flashy buttons or effects. Buttons on top are easy to access and useful. The two customizable touchscreen buttons have proven to be surprisingly useful. The main reason why I got a higher end receiver is for wireless CarPlay. It is extremely quick to connect on launch, and I can easily switch between the two associated users through the devices menu. The wireless aspect has proven to be reliable with no disconnects or reboots in many hours of use so far. Beyond happy with

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No AIFF support!

I don't like posting negative reviews about such an awesome piece of equipment. This really is a great head unit. However, THERE IS NO SUPPORT FOR AIFF! I don't understand why. I have 7,491 tracks, 627 albums, several purchased from HDTracks over the years that can be downloaded in AIFF or FLAC format. They don't offer ALAC for download. At least they didn't when I purchased my albums in the past. All of my digital source files are AIFF, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Even the RSX-GS9 supports AIFF. Also, why offer such high-quality digital processing and not allow a wired CarPlay connection to feed high-definition files? I can play 24/192 from Apple Music that comes through lightning adapter as 24/48, which is 2,304 kbps. That's over twice what LDAC can provide. No, I'm not sending this unit back because I really like it. All of the other reviews are spot on about its positives. If Sony provides a software update to address these issues, I'll change it to 5-stars in a heartbeat.

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The best on the market, nearly flawless

First of all, I love this head unit. I previously had the Sony AX210 and the 9500es offers a ton of worthwhile updates. The 9500es has an updated version of Sony's operating system, which I think is the best. It's clean, simple, intuitive, easy to use, and aesthetically pleasing. The screen is of course larger, but also much easier to see in the sun with significantly higher resolution and quality. It is also FAR more responsive; it's cleared they beefed up the processing hardware quite a bit. The wireless Carplay works flawlessly and I cannot imagine going back to wired. The EQ is basically endlessly adjustable, and the sound is great. I've used it both off the head unit directly and amplified, no complaints on either. iDatalink Maestro works equally well on both units, no complaints there. I would highly recommend this head unit and believe it is the best on the market. So why only 4 stars? It does have a couple of areas with room for improvement. The good news is that some of them could probably be addressed via software updates: - No wired Carplay option despite having a USB-C high amp port. Why does this matter? Wireless Carplay uses a lot of battery, so you end up plugging your phone in any way on longer trips. It's also an easy way for friends to play their phones in your car without fully linking with the system. - The customizable buttons don't have an option for the equalizer. - No line in

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Great radio!

Just got this installed and so far I love it, I use wireless CarPlay exclusively and it works great on this unit, I just get in the car and it works. Love the big screen but it is big, in my car it covers the buttons that change the clock and I was okay with that but just expect it to cover something. I'm coming from a Pioneer stereo that had more features but things were slow on it and I was having issues with it, the new Sony is a much more simpler radio bit it works great.

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Almost the complete package

Preordered after shopping for a larger display, replacing a Kenwood Excelon unit (DDX9906xr). My comments are based on my experience with that Kenwood HU. User Interface: easily navigable, clean, simple. This aspect is much better than most aftermarket systems but that may also be due to the fact that there is less to navigate on the Sony. Biggest gripe is the usb file system. There is no library creation or the like, no ID tag organization. You navigate via folders and songs are played in that order (alphabetical). You can shuffle all, but playing albums is easier done via Carplay/AA. Screen: I'm torn on the screen. The anti-glare coat doesn't really work, which wouldn't be a big deal except it mutes the vibrancy of the display. So you have a display where the richness and fidelity is sacrificed for a feature that, in my experience thus far, doesn't provide a benefit. The screen feels great - touch is excellent, no lag. Kenwood had better resolution, better color depth and better viewing angle. Sound: The sound is excellent. No noticeable difference from the Kenwood. I'm not an expert audio tech so I do miss the preset sound effects of the Kenwood (sound stage height, cabin size, etc.). The Sony of course offers seemingly endless eq-ability but it's not easy for the average car audio consumer to dial in. I am enjoying the Sony and have no plans to return it. If you live in Carplay and are willing to learn/tinker with the eq options, this is a

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Sony XAV-9500ES

High quality receiver with a super clear screen. I would've thought it was a 4K display if I didn't already know the specs. Wireless CarPlay works flawlessly. The user interface is so simple and easy to use, perfect for a minimalist. A volume knob would've been the cherry on top, but the buttons on top aren't horrible. Overall, this receiver really does feel top of the line.

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Just buy it

Wow, I was hesitant to spend the money on this beast but I have been WAITING for Sony to release something like this in this league. But it's really in a league of its own. The same features from the XAV series like fast boot are all here. And that screen is just gorgeous. Anti-glare and feels like silk. UI is modernized and so fast. Wireless CarPlay loads in the same time the wired takes to load. Parametric EQ has each speaker in my truck now tuned exactly as needed. It's perfect. If you have the money and are reading this, just buy it. You won't regret it

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