Review: Sony Xplod MEX-BT5700U

A few weeks ago I posted a video detailing an invitation I received to review a new Sony car audio product. My new car stereo was finally installed two weeks ago and then I promptly went out of town for a week. Back from the family trip I’ve spent the last week putting the Sony Xplod MEX-BT5700U through its paces and have come away impressed.

When I first received the unit my initial concern was installation, as my vehicle’s factory radio system was a double DIN unit and the Sony I received was only a single DIN unit. I haven’t had much experience with after market stereo equipment before, so I assumed there would be a ton of dead space where my older, larger factory unit once resided.

Additionally, because of a general lack of knowledge of these things, I didn’t know if the controls on my steering wheel would continue to function as a result of the head unit change. Fortunately, the good folks at Freeman’s Car Stereo who did the installation did a great job of alleviating both of my concerns.

Top of the line

The specific unit that was sent to me for evaluation is the top of the line model for Sony’s 2009 line of Xplod car audio systems. As a result, it is feature rich with Bluetooth capabilities and boasts full iPod and iPhone integration courtesy of a built in USB jack on the front of the unit.

Since this isn’t exactly a CNet review, I’ll spare you the techno babble, but it is a high powered unit with a traditional AM/FM tuner and a single disc CD player capable of playing CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs. It also features a removable faceplate, comes with a remote control and is HD radio ready, although that requires a separate HD receiver unit.

What I like…

As a dad what appealed to me most was the ability to connect the unit to my iPhone via the Bluetooth capabilities in order to send and receive calls. Additionally, the Bluetooth also allowed me to sync my phone’s contact list to the unit’s built in phone book. If your cell phone has voice dial capability, the Sony will also enable you to continue to use that function while connected.

Since I’ve become a father I have changed the way I drive and what I do while driving. Before my son was born I thought nothing of having a phone conversation during my commute home from work. Today I barely touch my phone while driving and when I do it is only when absolutely necessary.

Having the Bluetooth capability now gives me a greater sense of security that if I have to take a call while driving it won’t impact my concentration on the road. And considering I’ve got precious cargo like this little guy, I don’t want to take any unnecessary chances.

Another aspect of the Bluetooth functionality, which appealed to my inner gadget geek, was the ability to stream audio wirelessly. Yes, the built in USB port is a great feature and my iPod has been pretty much attached to the unit since it was installed, but it is much more convenient to create playlists to store on my iPhone and stream them to the Sony.

Prior to getting this unit installed in the suburban assault vehicle I had been using a FM modulator to enable me to listen to my music, which resulted in considerable degradation in the sound quality. I was pleased to discover that this was not the case when I streamed a sample playlist to the Sony using Bluetooth.

…And what I don’t

While I am enjoying the extra storage space under the new stereo, I will admit that I wish Sony made a double DIN unit that had all of the same features as the Xplod MEX-BT5700U. As you can see from the picture, the new found space is quite convenience to store both my iPhone and my iPod while out and about.

However, if Sony had offered a double DIN unit with similar functionality there would be room for a much bigger screen given the space available in vehicles like mine. There is a lot of information packed into that little screen and the visibility, especially on really sunny days, hasn’t always been the best. In my research, this appeared to be one of the chief complaints about the unit on the Amazon reviews and my experience wasn’t much different.

I didn’t attempt to look up any statistics on the number of cars equipped with double versus single DIN car stereos and I’m sure the fine folks at Sony have done their market research, but to me it is something that would sway me in a purchasing decision. Still, most of the units I have seen that are double DIN also include navigation screens and cost three to five times as much as the Sony’s retail price.

Another issue I have with the unit is the way in which it overtakes the iPod controls when connected via the built in USB jack. The Sony locks you out of using your iPod to navigate your music, which is understandable to a degree. Still, I have my entire music collection on an iPod classic and I had some difficulty sorting through the nearly 8,000 songs.

The navigation is well thought out, however, due to the size of my collection, even utilizing the ‘Jump’ feature to advance down the alphabet would be something I wouldn’t think of doing while driving. For me the best solution will most likely be to create playlists of the music I’m currently listening to and stream them from my iPhone using Bluetooth. In doing this I will still be able to control what music plays directly from the device, however it renders the need for the USB port for my purposes.

When I was speaking with the gentlemen who installed the unit they did caution me about having the USB port built into the head unit like Sony has done. They pointed to a Kenwood model that is a higher priced competitor to the Sony and noted that the USB connection was a separate wire that is usually hidden in the glove compartment.

In their opinion this was a more ideal set up in the event something happens to the USB connector, as it can easily be replaced. With the Sony unit, if damage were to occur to the USB port it would be more problematic. That would be something to consider if you would use the USB function more often than I plan on doing.

Final thoughts

Over the past week that I have been actively using the Sony Xplod MEX-BT5700U I have been very happy with its performance. It is substantially more powerful than the original factory head unit and is giving the JBL speaker system in my vehicle a workout it has probably never experienced before.

I am obviously very happy with the Bluetooth capabilities of the Sony and the test calls that I have made and received have been solid thanks to the built in microphone that came with the unit. The wireless audio streaming will continue to be a big part of how I use the system in the future, as it is not only extremely convenient, but performed quite well.

If you are in the market for a new car stereo, then I would definitely recommend checking out the Sony Xplod MEX-BT5700U. The unit retails for around $300 and installation expense will vary depending on the make, model and current audio set up in your vehicle.

I would like to thank Sony and RocketXL for the opportunity to be involved in this project. Being a dad and a gadget freak it was a lot of fun to experience their latest technology innovations.

Additional information and links

Sony Xplod MEX-BT5700U Information Sheet

Sony Xplod MEX-BT5700U @ SonyStyle.com

Sony expands Xplod line of in-dash receivers @ CNet.com

Sony Xplod MEX-BT5700U @ Amazon.com (not an affliate link)

Disclosure: I received the Sony Xplod MEX-BT5700U Bluetooth car audio system and professional installation of the unit at no cost to me. The unit was received for evaluation purposes and is mine to keep. I was not compensated in any other way for this review or directed as to what to say, or not to say, in my review. For additional information, please reference my disclosure policy.