Customer Reviews

Best head unit available

Arguably the best head end on the market. The premium DAC is audiophile grade. The unit even has a Tube Emulator setting. Its fantastic.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Quality and utility. Super impressed and happy with my choice of this system.

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Massive Upgrade from the AX8100 - Worth Every Penny

I upgraded to the Sony XAV-9500ES from an AX8100, and the difference is immediately noticeable in every single way. The screen is sharper, brighter, and more responsive - no lag, no mushy inputs, and finally usable in full sunlight. It honestly feels like moving from a budget tablet to a flagship iPad. The wireless Android Auto is now rock-solid, but I'll be real - I had a couple hiccups at first. I was still on firmware v2.x, and Android Auto dropped a few times. After updating to firmware v3.x and turning off "Intelligent Wi-Fi" / Network Switching on my Samsung phone, it's been absolutely flawless. No disconnects, no lag, instant reconnection on ignition. This is critical info for anyone using an Android - it'll save you tons of frustration. Fitment-wise, I reused most of my AX8100 install since the wire colors are identical and the plug is nearly the same - just had to confirm pinout for the speed wire. Screen mounting was flexible and rock solid once tightened. It fits nicely in my 79 F150 with the screen in the full down position on the mount. Can access the AC controls just fine. Bottom line: *If you're on the fence, just do it. This thing is everything the AX8100 wishes it could be. *Update the firmware right away (v3.x minimum) *If you're using a Samsung, go into Wi-Fi settings and disable Intelligent Switching - trust me This is a true flagship piece and worth every penny for daily drivers, audio geeks, and anyone who

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Sony car unit.

Beautiful screen, great sound. Installation went well. Customer service is top notch!

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GARBAGE WITH INEPT TECH SUPPORT. WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.

DO NOT BUY. GARBAGE WITH INEPT TECH SUPPORT. WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. On 3.5.25 I updated my Pixel 7 Pro to Android 15. At some point after that, the mike thumb switch on my Highlander steering wheel caused the XAV9500 ES to speak the message: "Ooops, something went wrong." I don't know that the Android 15 update caused this, but all of the other (volume, track, call disconnect, back up camera, etc.) functions are working properly. What should I do to fix this? I tried to download software updates directly via tethering to the XAV 9500 ES and by using USB flash drives (two.) The tethering and flash drive updates were not successful. I tried to use your chat support on the Sony website, but it was not responsive. I was the least effective chat support I have ever tried to use. The XAV 9500 ES is sold, priced and positioned as a premium product. That is not consistent with my experience. Call with Sam 4.1.25 9:18am---18 minutes. Said to enable port on tethering Pixel? When I followed Sony's direction on an update with a flash drive, the 9500 panel displays the message: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Update file is not found. Please check the update file (SIC) is correctly stored in USB flash drive. For detail on how to update the software, visit the support site in the supplied manual. [Close] Call with Marco 4.11.25 9:30am---18 minutes.

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Crutchfield response on 4/14/2025

Tom, we're sorry you're having issues with your receiver, and your frustration with Sony Tech Support. 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 deck. Lifetime tech support comes with every Crutchfield purchase.

Sony Impresses

Installed in 2019 Honda Ridgeline. Installing with out a wiring harness adapter made it tougher to get it wired properly. I was able to get adapters to link it to my steering wheel controls. Had to buy a new backup camera as well. I am pretty impressed with this Sony product. It sounds great, intuitive screens and works with my android phone wirelessly. I wanted the larger screen and it is very nice. I had previously replaced my 4 OEM door speakers with pioneer 4 way speakers and a Rockford Fosgate subwoofer. Sounds great even though I only have door speakers and a subwoofer in this pickup truck.

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Amazing

First of all shout out to the Crutchfield staff. I managed to get ahold of them and actually discuss what II wanted. You have to realize when you install one of these things that it creates like 5 pockets inside of your - with 2 being added, so I opted to install a CB radio just for the fun of it. Because of this system and the way that it's built, it takes away the ability to use the seven speaker on a ford f one fifty, which is that center windshield speaker I spliced a 3.5mm aux line and turned that into the dedicated CB speaker. NO MORE UNEEDED POCKETS FOR THIS GUY. I also rerouted the microphone to where the microphone is actually originally placed. As far as the actual head unit itself, no amount of words can explain this thing. It is far faster than anything that I've ever dealt with. And that includes also the android auto I believe it is actually faster than my phone is, and I have a relatively new flagship. The customizable features are outrageous. The audio playback is amazing. Simply put, unless if you're looking for something that plays video games, which this lacks an HDMI Port. Thus far I'm so impressed with this is believe I will be buying amps, subs (adult like), and a full 8 speaker system for my truck from Sonys ES line. If you're reading this, just keep in mind that I did have to do massive tweaking to be able to get the CB inside of the truck, the way that it sits. That included cutting the bezel, cutting a bracket off a support,

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Excellent, I loved

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Sony XAV-9500ES

ILL START BY SAYING, I WAS JUST GIVING THIS RADIO, FOR CHRISTMAS AS GIFT FROM MY SON, AND AM I, HAPPY WITH IT NOT AT ALL, CANT LISTEN TO MY SPOPIFY MUSIC LIKE BEFORE WITH MY FACTORY RADIO, IT MIGHT GIVE ONE SONG IF IM LUCKY, BECUASE IT JUST STOP PLAYING ,AND IT HAS STAICK LIKE IF YOU WOULD PLAYING A CD ,AND SOMETIMES NOT EVEN THE RADIO STATION DON'T WANT TO PLAY ,2015 TAHOE ,,LUIS BROOKLYN, VERY DISSOPOINTED.

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Crutchfield response on 1/7/2025

Once we saw this review, our Customer Support specialist, Jamie, reached out to Luis to follow up. If you encounter a problem with anything you purchase from Crutchfield, it's important to contact our Customer Support or Tech Support teams right away. They can help you solve the problem or set up a return within 60 days of purchase.

Perfect Receiver for a 21 Taco

Great receiver! I upgraded from the JBL Tacoma receiver (also a good receiver). I wanted wireless Apple CarPlay and the diagnostics the Sony offers. The bigger screen is amazing.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Very good

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Amazing. I had already replaced the Tacoma's 21 speaker with the hope that sound would improve without replacing the head unit. Unfortunately, the head unit had to go, and there was no better replacement than this Sony unit. Amazing sound; the speakers work at their best.

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Sony ES Delivers Clarity

A few months ago I replaced my Kenwood head unit with the XAV-9500ES. I also replaced the amplifier cables, but kept my JL Audio 4 channel amp and re-programmed the iDataLink module for the Sony interface. The audio improvement between the Kenwood and the Sony ES series unit was just incredible. Clarity, imaging and the sense of presence was so much improved. It was so much better that it also highlighted how different the sound quality is in my truck from stationary to 65 MPH, and the need to add more Dynamat or other sound dampening to my car doors and firewall, perhaps to the back wall behind the rear seats. Regardless, the other features of this unit are also superb. The CarPlay interface is more reliable than my prior unit, the audio quality and mic sensitivity on telephone calls is much improved. I was able to adjust screen angle for minimum glare, and position to place it between two dash air vents in my 2014 Tundra, and the in-dash unit was standard single DIN, so I configured it with a new pocket /cubby below the unit for USB drive, phone, glasses, etc. I also really liked the ability to make a screen shortcut key (programmable 'button') for blacking out the screen entirely for long night drives.

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2nd Unit Broke AGAIN!

Absolute garbage - I'm on my second unit because the first one was sent back to Sony. Now this one is breaking on me. The connection at the screen is flimsy and the connectors easily break or short. This second unit just bit the dust. Also, the output sounds horrible for 20rms. Dont be fooled by the 55w output if you crank it above level 35 you will hear distortion. I dropped big bucks back in 2020 and I regret every penny. The screen has good resolution but what is the use of all that extra frame space? They could have simply made the screen smaller instead of taking up all that space that partially blocks my air vents in my 2016 Tacoma. I regret this purchase so much!

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Looks good. Sounds good. Just don't think about watching any videos on it.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Very nice.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

I've owned many Sony products and multiple Sony radios. I'm a huge fan of the ES lineup tho I've only ever owned 2. I put this radio into a 2013 Chevy Silverado. My truck didn't have nav, or the Bose sys. At first, I was skeptical of the screen moving around with it floating and all but it holds good. No wiggles or adjusting itself at all. The startup time is great. It automatically wirelessly pairs to my phone to use apple carplay very quickly. I would say around 4-6 seconds after the key is turned it's connected. The screen is responsive. It's very nice to touch. The screen bezel is not noticeably big. The buttons around the screen are tactile and responsive. It's very easy to use the buttons. Also, the volume on the beautiful radio moves fast and precisely. DO NOT MISS A RADIO JUST BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE A KNOB. This radio is powering my door speakers atm, and no it's not blowing out my last radio in loudness but to be fair my last radio was an XAV-AX5000. These units have the same rated RMS. However, I find the 9500ES to be louder than my AX5000. It is noticeable but not crazy. What's crazy is just how clean and pure the audio on the ES is. It's like drinking tap water and then drinking the nicest cleanest spring water you've ever seen. For people who have aftermarket amps for doors or subs, this is the unit you want. The 5v preouts are absolutely amazing. Most units are only 2v. This allows for your amp to run with less gain and bass boost. Overall 10/10

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Another great product by Sony.

Great power. Sounds awesome. Easy to install. I would highly recommend this receiver.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Installed into a 2019 Highlander and it looks great. The additional harnesses made it truly plug and play. Retains all steering wheel controls. You just need to run the mic cable and gps cable.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Very happy with my purchase, easy install, clear BT calling, great sound with a huge screen. Wireless Android Auto works perfectly. If you have a 2nd gen Nissan Frontier you should by the Sony XAV-9500ES.

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Happy costumer

Best stereo besides Alpine. Still figuring out all the stuff you can do with it, very satisfied.

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Excellent Sound and Responsive Interface

Thoroughly enjoying the Sony XAV-9500ES. I'm still using OEM speakers and they sound much better than running through the OEM radio I replaced. I'm looking forward to installing aftermarket speakers to really enjoy this radio. The boot up is very quick and the unit is very responsive. I wasn't sure about the screen at first, but I really like that it has no or very limited glare. Highly recommend this product!

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Great audio quality, missed some simple features.

Overall, this head unit is really good. The sound quality of this head unit using the internal amp is great. It definitely transformed my stock speakers (Compared to stock head unit). Because of all its audio adjustability, you are able to dial in the sound for each speaker. This helped with using the stock speakers and being able to clean up the distortion. If you are looking for simple interface to use, this is the unit to get. I gave it 4 starts because Sony missed some practical functions. The audio adjustments should be able to customized for each individual source, not just global. Each source has its unique sound characteristics. Playing USB music, there is no fast forward within the track. I have tracks that are 30+ mins long, cant just go to 20 mins into the track.... Maybe I'm mistaken, please let me know if this is possible. Apple Carplay display. With a screen this size, Sony should have taken the time to adjust the icons sizing accordingly. It just looks like a zoomed in version on my 6 inch screen. Expected Sony to pay more attention to details for a flagship unit.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Sound quality excellent. Installation instructions outstanding. Used as a replacement in my RV for the defunct t and obsolete CRV10. Easily able to match wiring to supplied harness. Soldered all joints and used shrink tubing for more secure connections. Would like to see use of the universal camera connectors rather than just RCA plugs for the cameras.

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Replacement for Jensen RV radio

Superb sound! I had a Jensen10.5 inch stereo in my Winnebago Adventurer and one of the forums suggested this model as the best replacement option ( as the Jensen unit had failed and they no longer had them available for sale). It was a pretty simple install and I needed the 3 camera inputs. Huge upgrade in screen and sound quality!

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Not happy

I have had this radio in my vehicle which is a 2018 Toyota Highlander for about one year. Recently, it started having a vibration inside the screen that is very annoying. I contacted Crutchfield and they helped me with the contact information at Sony. Crutchfield is awesome and I so appreciate their service. However, I have been meaning to rate this radio for a few months because I'm not happy with it. Before the vibration, I was frustrated with the stereo, not having the ability to set a minimum volume on startup of the vehicle because sometimes I forget to turn down the volume. Then when I get in the car, it's blasting. In this day and age one would think that having a minimal volume on start up would be a given. I also have connection issues fairly often with my iPhone. When it does work it sounds fantastic. Now that I need to exchange the unit, I will have to pay someone to remove the current unit so I can ship it to Sony. Then reinstall the replacement unit ...What a pain.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Very fast shipping and great communication

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Great Screen

Sooo glad I went with this Sony. Debated for quite a while between this and 2 other brands. Chose this due to its "simple" look and feel. Love how you can customize the 2 bottom buttons to whatever you want. Using the Maestro is a must with this. The additional customization you can have with 2 pages of gauges due to connectivity to obd port is handy. Having the option to add an extra camera(or 2) is my next add on to the front. Best feature to me is the size. Debated and wondered if the 10.1 inch screen would be too big for the dashboard. After installing, it's the perfect size for all full size trucks. You can see from my before/after pic of what I mean. I might even raise the screen a bit to allow easier access to the extra usable space behind the screen. Would definitely buy again.

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Austin

Well after owning this radio for less than 2 years the thing went bus. I got the black screen of death on here now I'm dealing with Sony to try to get this fixed. I installed this in my Toyota Tacoma back in June of 2022. I read all the great reviews about this product. But it really doesn't pump out as much power as I thought and the user interface sucks. Sony doesn't invest any time in adding any sort of applications for this radio. Oh and if you're out there searching the internet and looking for a radio because it has ldac don't even waste your time the difference between ldac and AAC it's not that noticeable. I would save my money and maybe buy something a little bit cheaper. Android auto especially a wireless turns off intermittently. Now wish me luck as I've got the black screen of death and I'm dealing with Sony warranty so that they can serve as this thing. I probably won't have a radio for the next 2 or 3 weeks because of it.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Very disappointed. Yes this unit has good song processing technology built it, for being Sonys flagship unit, you would think it would be loaded with features. Yet it is not. Lesser priced units offer more features than this has. Very easy to install with solid construction.

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Heaitant. but glad I did!

Was hesitant in buying this unit, but after install. no regrets. Completely changed the look of the inside of my car. Easy to use, and was able to keep my steering wheel controls. Like the quick wireless pair to Apple Car Play. I also bought some Memphis speakers to go with this unit and it really did make a difference in the sound that now is in the car as well. First Sony unit I've ever purchased, but so far they have a new follower in car stereo.

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OUTSTANDING from every viewpoint!

I'll begin by commenting on the Crutchfield (Canada) experience. In a word, SUPERB!! I can't say enough how great & competent Crutchfield was/is for the purchase (answered lots of technical questions), the installation, and later the support. The originally purchased unit came in the typical Sony box, and all looked good. After installation, everything the rear right channel worked intermittently. I reached out for tech help/support, discussed the situation with them, attempted a couple of recommended work-arounds, all to no avail. Crutchfield Canada immediately sent a new unit with a return shipping label for the original. It took 6 days to arrive (across the country by ground shipping) and the new one worked perfectly. Simply OUTSTANDING service from every point of view, thanks Crutchfield for that!! The Sony 9500 HU is mind-blowing, the 10.1" tablet-sized touchscreen is big but discreet. I read the clock could have more options. Sure, but it's a clock, it tells time. Sound quality is breathtaking, will impress hard-core music aficionados. The tech who helped me, listened to my live version of a Diana Krall session I use to test systems, closed his eyes and said "wow, that's incredible". I DON'T want to hear the system, I just want clean music. Sony really did it, the 9500 delivers in all aspects of high end, audiophile quality . I included a Kenwood Excelon XR901-5 five channel amp, Infinity Kappa speakers, and a 12" Infinity Sub.

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Great stereo

Great HU, tons of features and love the great screen. Though I did like the power output to the speakers, I did end up going with an additional amp set up. Went into a 2021 Ford Ranger Lariat with the B&O system (had to bypass the factory amp). Love this stereo so far.

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Awful installation, buy elsewhere, pre-assembled

In 1993 I cashed my first paycheck and bought a stereo through Crutchfield. In the next ten years I bought more and had great experiences. But after I ignored my mechanic's advice about where to buy this Sony screen for my Tacoma, because I trusted Crutchfield, I feel like a fool. Though I ordered what I thought was a single system for my truck, Crutchfield sent me a witches' brew of parts with endless cables. Worse, the "master sheet" they sent to aid in installation contained instructions only on how to remove my existing radio - literally not one instruction on how to install the smorgasbord of wires they sent me. It took me one phone call to customer service to even out what step one was, and long story short when my third call to customer service resulted in the advice to download one component's instructions and then scroll to page 257, I simply decided to return to the whole system .. and heed my mechanic's advice. Crutchfield, what happened??

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Toyota Tundra head unit upgrade (Sony XAV-9500ES)

It works great and sounds much better than my OEM Toyota Tundra Non-JBL Navigation system. Having wireless CarPlay was a must and the 10" screen is definitely a huge improvement...

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If all you care about is sound quality /carplay, this is the unit 4U

Installed in a 2009 Lexus IS250, this head unit brought new life to my car and the OEM speakers. But, dare I say, this Sony sounds better than the unit that replaced it! While the sound quality is out of this world, that's really all it can do. I never knew I wanted the ILX-F511 until I had this for a weekend. With Crutchfield's awesome exchange policy, I exchanged the Sony for a Alpine. It was hard to do, as I did buy this unit at the $999 sale price which is fantastic, if all you care about is carplay and sound quality. But the exchange was needed as my unit was defective. Pressing the volume down button would increase volume. Pressing volume up would track advance or change stations. So my screen left the factory faulty. Not a great first Sony ES experience and would think that their ES line would have better QC. At the msrp of $1399, the Alpine ILX-F511 is the better buy!

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Great stereo. Lot of great features. Some difficulty in my install but that was mostly my particular car's paneling. And microphone install is always tricky to get it to look good. Wish it had iPhone mirroring abut does have great connectivity and other features including parking lines adjustment.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Bought this for the wife because she wanted better phone integration on her 2016 Acadia . this was absolutely the solution. Installation was a breeze, but make sure to get the wiring harness add-ons as well and the maestro. We were able to retain all factory capability and even added a few more vehicle screens we didn't have before. Also made sure to route the usb c cable to the dash for quicker charging as well. Works great on android, wired and wireless. Just spend the money and get the top of the line. You won't regret it.

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Incredible clean sound

I am an over the road truck driver and am on the road 3+ months at a time so clean accurate music is important to me so I did a custom install with this unit in my 2023 Freightliner Cascadia. I cannot express how clean and clear the music is. I am hearing things in songs I've never heard before. Definitely worth the price in my opinion. I plan on buying another unit and installing it in my wife's vehicle.

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Android Auto Fails :: Sony XAV-9500ES with S22Ultra

I like the size and sound from the Sony XAV-9500ES. However, andriod auto does not work smoothly with either the wire or wireless Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. There is hesitation in both the audio streaming the the updating of the map location. Very disappointing. There is no help on line for my issue. More disappointment. That said, i've resorted to using a Motorola MA1 Wireless Android Auto Car Adapter. When i use this the Sony XAV-9500ES no longer hesitates on audio and map updates. Yeah! Unfortunately every time use the car, i've got to uninstall and then re-install Android Auto as well as to Bluetooth Unlink the XAV-9500ES. If i don't do this, then the native XAV-9500ES Android Auto connection is established. This brings with it all the hesitation in the audio and map updates. UGH... Maybe it should get One Star?

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Couldn't be happier!!

Fantastic product!! Love the Apple CarPlay and other apps it comes with! My truck looks AMAZING with this new unit! Couldn't be happier

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Go Big or Go Home

Had mine for a week now! I have a car with Bose speakers and they never sounded so good. Wireless Apple CarPlay connects and is ready to go before you are. Recognizes my wife's phone when she drives the car, so she's happy. Love the big floating screen.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

Absolutely love this ratio! Sounds so good. Easy installation

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Old man's radio

Im an old man so I love this radio, really takes me back to the days of 80s car stereo where everything in this head unit was a separate component. You can make your music sound perfect, or you may never make it sound good, but if you take some time to really set up this system it is wonderful, and really excels when you are playing music from live venues. I have the entire ES line up in my truck except for the subs (subs are on the way) and I could not get them to match up with the rest of the system. I had to set the sub crossover to 48db, so that I would only get the clean bass I wanted (it was an 8" sub, putting in two ES 10s). Also you can set the parametric eq for EACH speaker (maybe too much control because you can get things wrong). I use wireless Android Auto, and 99% of the time it is fautless every now and again the blue tooth acts weird and I have to reconnect. I paid full price for the head unit, now that its on sale, it is a definite no brainer IF you don't need HD Radio. Lastly, I play youtube (audio from the phone), YTMusic and Tidal through the system, and Tidal is great on the high res pieces. I hear new things in songs that I have listened to for decades. You can even hear the differences in drum sticks/pads when listening. All said, I am extremely happy with this radio, and while it isn't perfect, it is the closest thing to perfect I have found.

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Looks and sound are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

The Sony XAV-9500ES was everything I expected and more! I installed the Sony in my 3rd-Gen Tacoma, and my phone is a Galaxy S22. I exclusively use Spotify wirelessly through Android Auto. Even with Crutchfield support, the installation turned out to be far more complicated than I could manage, so I hired a professional to complete it. Occasionally while playing Spotify wirelessly, music will briefly skip, like it is buffering. But it doesn't last long, and the hesitations are only a nano-second. The screen is vibrant and silky smooth to the touch! Glare has not been an issue. The various layouts are perfect. I generally have the navigation on the larger left side with Spotify on the right. Initially, a small box appears in the upper right corner with a short list of my typical destination with their estimated ETA. This small box shortly fades away, leaving Spotify to command the entire right side. Viewing navigation on the larger screen (vs. my phone) is a godsend! The music is divine! I still use the OEM JBL speakers and amp. The EQ is fantastic! Visually it screams high-end. The floating screen, even turned off, is impressive. It upgrades my entire interior.

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Sony XAV-9500ES

This is a great system. I love the multiple camera inputs and the wireless CarPlay. Definitely worth the purchase.

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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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Crutchfield response on 2/22/2023

Matt, 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.

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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Crutchfield response on 2/15/2022

Once we saw this review, our Tech Support specialist, AJ, reached out to Shane to 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.

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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Crutchfield response on 12/21/2021

Juan, we're sorry you're disappointed with your receiver. Whenever you are not completely satisfied with anything you purchase from Crutchfield, please contact our Customer Support team at 1-800-955-9091. Purchases from Crutchfield can be returned or exchanged within 60 days of the purchase.

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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