yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Auto General] CrazyPeter:
Sadly yes. This is a huge safety issue, given how long the unit takes to boot, in the real world, Sony might think they are covering their ass, but the reality is we will all be looking down and clicking OK once we started driving...

Seriously, how hard is it to release either regional firmware that isn't subject to dumb US regulations, or have a "OK, I understand, don't remind me again" check box...

This and many other issues make this a very disappointing unit.

Seriously no PTT Google Now when connected via Bluetooth??? My 7 year old Pioneer even did that. No ExFAT or Ext4, no PLS or M3U,. No LDAC (SBC only!)

For the price, it's a hugely disappointing unit, that feels like android auto was thrown into an existing model late on and chucked out into the world to see how it sold.

I bought one based on some early blog reviews, however I have made sure my Amazon review lists all this units shortcomings

---------- Post added at 07:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:29 AM ----------

Yes, but only below a certain size/dimension and possibly only MP3. Try re-sampling them down to 512x512 and see how that works. Use something like perfecttunes app which I believe can do this.

---------- Post added at 08:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:37 AM ----------

My biggest gripe with the unit, is essentially everything apart from Android Auto feels half arsed, or simply broken.

Some examples (and please correct me if I am wrong)

It seems totally impossible to randomly play a folder of songs. It it only capable of randomly playing songs from the whole device. **

Only SBC for BT audio connection, so rubbish sound quality, no APTx or even Sony's own LDAC **

If you have a big USB drive, it's impossible to format it in Windows 10, as the filesystems the XAV-ACX100 uses is basically still stuck in 1995. (FAT/FAT32 only) **

No playlist support at all **

No DAB (obviously this was intended for the US market, and thrown out into Europe too, as an afterthought)

The US startup nag screen this is not only not required in Europe, but actually more dangerous than not displaying it (see my comment about this above) **

No fast charge from USB.

Quite slow to startup

No PTT when connected via Bluetooth. **

Most of these are software related (**), and could be fixed or improved upon by Sony, if they truly cared about making a 5 star Android Auto/CarPlay head unit. But I think we all know Sony well enough by now to know that's not going to happen. Next years model is far too close, and they really do think we are willing to spunk another £400 on a head unit next year with a few incremental improvements...
[Android Auto General] Wallyt99:
I have found the sound quality to be fairly poor - but expect this is standard across most head unit amps because the amp is only about 14w RMS per channel. I believe I would have got better sound with a kenwood - and because my phone wont pair with Android Auto... I'm massively disappointed with the unit. Only thinking to keep it cos it looks OEM and I'm installing an external amp on all my speakers.

Wouldnt surprise me if the "10 band" eq was fake.
[Android Auto General] andrewr23:
Question. Why does the matte black scratch so easily? Like i touched it with my fingernail and it left a mark. Tried scrubbing it off with my thumb and it made it worse! Im afraid to touch it now.

Also, the auto dim does not work. Anyone know why?
[Android Auto General] invertedskull:
I haven't noticed the scratching you mentioned, but regarding the dimming... if it was wired correctly, you ought to be able to change it when you put your headlights on. At least mine does. I paid a guy to install mine. I don't know what he wired up, but obviously something is connected to the headlights.
[Android Auto General] andrewr23:
Hey inverted, you can only see the scratches in sunlight or using the flash on your phone. And they aren't scratches I should say, more like the finish is coming off.
[Android Auto General] CadillacMike:
i found a great review of this unit:

http://www.carstereochick.com/2017/01/07/sony-xav-ax100-review-best-value-carplay-android-auto/
[Android Auto General] devaliana:
Amazing product. Hope can be marketed in Indonesia to improve my car
[Android Auto General] richardhkirkando:
Anyone else having trouble with call volume in android auto? Even if I have the volume all the way up, the caller's voice is too quiet for it to be useful. As far as I can tell, people can hear me ok.
[Android Auto General] bradhoschar:
BOUNTY!

Had this unit for a week, and I gotta say....bluetooth sounds 100% better than when plugged into Android auto and that is disappointing.

So, now I have to have my phone unplugged to use bluetooth, because when I plug it in, aa starts by default.

My subs sound like poop in this HU with aa.

I'd like to start a bounty to unlock and get root method for this, so I can incorporate Viper and hopefully that'll make me feel better about this purchase.

I'll donate $50 to get things started
[Android Auto General] thesticks00:
Can anyone else confirm if you can use a usb extension coming out of the back of this headunit? I would like to be able to connect my device to the the USB connection for the head unit inside the driver cabin instead of behind the head unit. Doing this would make switching devices from android to iphone (girlfriend's phone and yes I have already tried to convert her) on the fly. Otherwise, if you switch devices from android auto to apple car play, you have to pull the head unit out (trying to avoid that).
[Android Auto General] Passa91:
It isn't running Android - using AA with a headunit like this means it's using something like Miracast to send what your phone renders to the head unit's display. If you can run Viper on your phone, I can't see why it wouldn't affect AA as well.

The head unit itself comes with a USB extension cable.
[Android Auto General] rallysquirrel:
Can anyone confirm that you can use Waze now if you're on waze beta?

https://www.engadget.com/2017/06/07/waze-android-auto-beta/
[Android Auto General] skylaneffz:
I can. I have that head unit and posed some feedback/observations here: https://xdaforums.com/android-auto/android-auto-general/waze-beta-feedback-discussion-t3639226
[Android Auto General] thesticks00:
I am having the same problem but it does not seem to be limited to AA. Even when I am using BT and not in Android Auto, I can barely hear the other person. Usually I have to crank the volume up to 3/4 of the volume bar and even then you can hardly hear. If you have found a way to increase volume please let me know.
[Android Auto General] CadillacMike:
my Joying started to have some issues..

anyone who has the Sony regret it?
[Android Auto General] plepoutre:
getting parking brake switch to the ground

I'm still looking for a good head unit and I read the sony manual :

Page 35 : "Monitor connection

When installing a monitor for the rear seat, connect

its parking brake switch cord to the ground (earth)."

Does it mean getting parking brake switch to the ground would prevent Android Auto to be so safety-restricted ?
[Android Auto General] Passa91:
No, unfortunately. Android Auto is configured to not allow you to browse too deeply into menus if the head unit has no GPS. It was in an update many months ago. Previously it would check the handbrake to see if you were in motion, but now it has to verify your GPS is stationary, but refuses to use your phone's GPS.

I have my handbrake grounded on my head unit. Honestly, the limitations aren't too bad. I rarely if ever need to browse menus very deeply while driving.
[Android Auto General] fr500:
I just installed mine in my 03 focus. It's good but AA is still very much a first try. It's slow (Xperia XZ with just a few apps installed)

1. If you ever tell it to stop navigation while it's giving directions music gets stuck at the dimmed volume

2. Why can't android auto force the language on TTS and voice recognition instead of requiring me to switch languages, I use my phone in english (because let's face it, localized apps are a crapshoot) but I think I'm stuck in Spanish now

3. So slow to start!!! why? any workarounds? on the same HU carplay is like BOOM! there

4. The interface is sometimes sluggish, even the animations, sometimes it gets pretty damn unresponsive. I wish the phone was always clocked to full when using android auto

5. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me pick my ringtone... I hate moonlight sonata...

I really regret not getting the cable for the steering column controls, I'll try to get that ASAP
[Android Auto General] CadillacMike:
i installed this unit in my Jeep:

https://youtu.be/iG4Q15VeLFA

it was slow to boot up, but I didn't see any issues in speed with Android Auto vs Car Play:

https://youtu.be/HkC3XBKBr3M

https://youtu.be/Ox5C8bZmItA
[Android Auto General] fr500:
It's not "slow" per-se, just lower framerate

Like this: https://youtu.be/Ox5C8bZmItA?t=499
[Android Auto General] chenks:
i just got one of these and installed it today into my Hyundai Coupe S3.

one thing that confused me was the wire that had to be connected to "park brake switch cord" which stopped AA working if it wasn't wired up.

reading up it's meant to be connected to the hand brake so that AA doesn't work unless the hand brake is applied? seriously?? what a bizarre thing.

anyway, connecting it to GROUND by-passes that bizarre requirement.

still need to think about getting a reverse camera and wiring it up.

what do you connect the reverse wire from the headunit to? does that wire up to the camera power or the reverse light or something?

and yes, the nag screen at the start is VERY annoying, but it's a US requirement on all devices and Sony must just put it on all devices rather than a separate US and EU device.
[Android Auto General] FormelLMS:
I've connected my rear camera only to the plus of the rear light. Ground and video goes over the yellow video cable.
[Android Auto General] Bialynia:
What phone are you using? I think your phone maybe the culprit here:

Hmm, not happening to me

I think this a phone issue, I have checked both a startup times are equally fast for me on Carplay and Android Auto. Your Apple phone is faster than the Android you're on.

Definitely the phone!

This works nicely, one weird thing is when hitting source it stays in android auto, without showing the radio stations even though it has switched to tuner.
[Android Auto General] fr500:
It's low framerate on his video too

The siri waveform is fullspeed.
[Android Auto General] fr500:
quick update:

have problems? disable adoptable storage (or get a really fast micro sd card)

all good now (except the language thing, and the horrid ringtone)
[Android Auto General] chenks:
arrgh,, so this is why i can't get it to do this then.

no matter where i connected the wire it would refuse to let me browse more then five taps.

however i believe this is a bug rather than a specific restriction, as previously it didn't require just built-in GPS.
[Android Auto General] CadillacMike:
Can someone who has this unit post a picture or Screenshot of the EQ settings for the Hip-Hop preset?

I had this Sony and I liked it, but I missed full Android so I replaced it, but my new unit doesn't have a Hip-Hop setting, and I suck at making EQ adjustments on my own
[Android Auto General] ka24e:
Installed this last Friday in a 2014 Fiat 500 Abarth (North American model).

Used the following for anyone else interested:

iDataLink Maestro RR

iDataLink Fi1 Harness

I have the Beat (****) audio package with factory amplifier. Do not follow the Maestro instructions for "with amp". Follow the instructions without amp and cut the RCA cables to use the speaker outputs on the Sony XAV AX-100 to feed your factory amp with the Fi1 harness. If you don't the audio will be too low (not enough power) since the preouts on the Sony are only 2V I believe.

Anyways everything works:

Dimmer

Reverse gear (I have a manual, works fine)

Subwoofer (although there is no subwoofer control due to the factory amp just feeding it the low frequencies from the speaker connections)

Android Auto works great except for the screen blacking out randomly while driving using AA. I believe this is due to my Aukey USB 3.0 to C cable. Going to try my OEM cable later that came with my BlackBerry KeyOne. Already did the Sony Firmware update. For those that don't know, the firmware update is located here: https://esupport.sony.com/CA/p/model-home.pl?mdl=XAVAX100&LOC=3#/downloadTab

Very pleased with this unit for the price. Definitely drives the speakers (sends more power to the factory amp) than the factory head unit ever did.

ProTip, if you want to use Spotify but don't want it streaming songs at all, set Spotify to Offline Mode in the app on your phone. This will translate over to AA and only play music from your downloaded library. Works mint.
[Android Auto General] alexjzim:
If you don't have standard ohm speakers, cant this blow them out?

I used a PAC RP5 and plugged the connections into the "with amplifier" input. My personal max volume using the 2v preamps this way is 35-38 music, 30-35 nav directions, 40-42 call, all out of 50. Low is usually around 17-18 music and 25 nav. I dont lower call volume. While its annoying that these ranges are all in the latter 2/3rds, it's still loud enough to bump my car 65+mph on the highway listening to cardi B :D.

I agree I would have preferred more gain (ax200), and my spl comfort range to be represented ~10 levels lower buuuut

Any car owners with non standard wiring for their speakers need to be careful! The way my bose amp handles frequency cross overs is a little strange.. for example: there are two sets of speaker wire for the each rear speaker RS, RS2, LS, LS2. If I installed your way, I prob would need an aftermarket amp and rewire my speakers, or rewire my speakers anyways and hope to god they dont blow one day.

just check your car's audio wiring diagram if you havent yet :victory:

EDIT: I also believe you should not experience a loss of spl by using the 2v pres.. It should act as simply another gain stage in the circuit. Your stock radio probably just had a louder preamp.
[Android Auto General] ka24e:
Well using the preouts only results in barely audible sound at 50% volume on the Sony. Hooking it up my way resolved the issue so that's how I'm going to leave it. The other option was purchasing two amps or a single 5ch amp to run everything, not something I really wanted to invest more money in. It works great.

Also, the black out screen was resolved by using the OEM USB-C cable. The AUKEY cable looks like it might not meet the proper USB-C spec, or, it was simply too long and caused signal drop out.

Either way, everything is working and sounds fantastic.
[Android Auto General] camilojones:
Echo when phon calls

Hello, Installed this HU last Friday and I have a problem with the mic when phone calls.

When I make or receive a phone call, the person on the other side hears his own voice like a loud echo/feedback (very annoying), but this issue disappears after 5 secs and the sound then is good. I have tried adjusting the "Mic sensitive" setting during the call but the problem persists.

Have anyone has this kind of issue?

Thanks too much!
[Android Auto General] alexjzim:
Glad its working well for you! Are you experienced with these installs? I installed the XAV-AX100 in my chevy like 2 weeks ago, and it was my first install ever...so I'm basing my knowledge on a bunch of forum posts stating chevy's non standard bose amp setup will cause issues if you dont use an adapter. If you def know more just tell me i'm wrong!

I believe people have wired directly form the RCA outputs like you did with Chevy's Bose system, but because of the 2ohm speakers, if you eq the bass wrong it can damage the system.

Also this is important and applies to you: http://www.fiat500owners.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=31089&stc=1&d=1388600569

Our cars have 6 speaker setups, but only 4 physical speakers. (unless your other 2 are just hiding). your front speakers L and R have two independent inputs, 1 for the tweeter, and 1 for the woofer. The XAV-AX100 only has 4 speaker outs + Woofer. Therefore, if your factory bose amp handles ALL of the frequency crossovers, you are fine. But if there is any special wiring necessary BEFORE it reaches your amplifier, you could be overloading your left and right speakers with frequencies they are not expecting.

I am not 100% positive this effects you, but if you know something I don't in this regard...I might try to do that for some extra gain myself :D

Bummer about the aukey cable though, theyre nice! I have the 6ft type C, I'll test tonight with my Paws G5..I'm still on micro. Are you on the latest firmware? It was supposed to help usb compatibility

The XAV uses USB for music audio and nav directions, and bluetooth for phone calls.

Have you connected your XAV to your phone via bluetooth NOT USING android auto? If not, set it up for normal bluetooth audio streaming then plug it in to android auto after. I can use android auto nav and music over USB with no bluetooth connected, and then take a phone call, it answers on my phone for the first 5 seconds, and then initiates a bluetooth link and switches back to the XAV. if bluetooth is connected beforehand, it works as expected.
[Android Auto General] ka24e:
Yeah I have the Beats Premium system you linked. There's only 4 wires on the OEM harness that feed to the factory amp in the rear of the car. You are correct, it does all the signaling via the amp itself. I couldn't stand the low volume on the RCA outputs. I've been pounding this system for a few days with no ill effects. Obviously don't turn it up too much or you'll pop the sub. The speakers seem to handle the power with no breakup at all. The sub is hitting hard though lol. I might swap it out with a JL W3 8" at some point.

I'm very familiar with installs. I've installed 10+ head units in various cars. If you're using the RCA's off the sony unit to your harness which is feeding your factory amp, seriously do yourself a favor and wire it how I have it. You can always go back if you want, but it totally improved the sound loudness and quality. Set to preset HipHop and fader 2 steps to the rear. The factory amp doesn't get enough power from the RCA connections on the Sony unit. There is no problem doing this and you are not going to fry anything. The wires out of the sony harness still go to the factory amp. It simply provides more power to the amp which is then amplified.

Now if you are going to use an aftermarket amp, I would suggest using those RCA connections, but stock amp, at least in my 2014 Abarth, def use the speaker wires -> oem harness -> amp. The car from factory does not have RCA inputs on the stock amp. The conversion is done at the harness when you get one from Axxess or Maestro.

To add to this, no further issues using the OEM usb-c cable. That was def the issue. And yes, latest firmware. Issue existed prior and after the firmware update until I swapped out the cable.
[Android Auto General] thesticks00:
Have any of you upgraded your phones to android 8.0 oreo? I was previously on pure nexus for my 6P. Everything worked perfect as far as android auto functionality. I just flashed Nitrogen rom that is android 8.0. For the life of me I cannot get anything to work. Will try again when I get home but my feeling is maybe android auto does not play nice with android 8.0. Thoughts?
[Android Auto General] FormelLMS:
Could be that it's not compatible before an update of Android auto. The app is installed?

I'm really happy with this device. With Emil's OBD2AA torque app it's perfect for me.

https://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=3657805

But I've one question:

Plugging in my phone before start, that unit comes up after a time and then nothing happens. I always have to unlock my phone once to start Android Auto. The Sony XAV-AX is in smart Lock, so I've thought it can start automatically.

Anyone an idea?
[Android Auto General] thesticks00:
Yeah. I am pretty sure I am going to just revert to an older rom running nougat. As much as i like oreo, I like android auto functionality better. LOL
[Android Auto General] alexjzim:
I am wired directly from the PAC harness to the leads from the back of the XAV wire harness, not the RCA outputs. Plugged into "with factory amplifier" on the PAC. I'll have to recheck the speaker wiring diagram again to see if I can go through the RCAs, as the speakers are only 2ohm, and I dont want to risk blowing them.

Your idatalink is probably attenuating the sound somehow in "factory amp" mode, before it hits the factory amp, prob converting speaker-level to line-level.

Therefore theoretically, when running from your Sony preamp outs, through the idatalink converter in "factory amp mode," you are sending the idatalink a line level signal (when it expects speaker level, as it converts back to line level), and your signal is being attenuated by this. When you set it to "no amp mode," You are still sending it a line level signal, and the idatalink theoretically still expects a speaker level signal, but because that signal chain is "direct" (supposed to feed speakers), no conversion is done, and the line level signal hits your beats amp with an appropriate line-level signal.

I'm curious, why are you using the RCA preamps at all, instead of wire to wire on the factory sony harness and idatalink? Does it add a bit more gain? If not, the idatalink should be capable of converting that speaker level output from those wires into an appropriate line level signal for the factory amp, just by connecting color to color on the two harnesses... At least I believe thats how it works with my PAC and Bose amp, and Xav.

Edit: edits were made
[Android Auto General] emepher:
Sorry for the late reply, I just installed this HU today. :)

Yes, the audio difference is night and day. I think the issue is this: when you play straight through BT, the HU's audio settings (EQ and whatever else you have setup) work one way, but when you play music through AA it disregards any optimizations. I use jetAudio as the music player on my phone, with jet's EQ turned off normally. I turned it on when playing through AA and everything instantly sounded better.

I have no idea whether AA is ignoring the Sony audio settings by design or by mistake, nor whether there is a better way around this than using an EQ on the source device.

I'm impressed with this unit so far (day 1) but I can't even begin to review or rate it yet. I'll need some time to play around with it and get acclimated, both to the unit and AA, but so far so good! It looks great in my Forester, the screen is better than I expected from a low-res resistive screen, and the amp seems to be doing a good job.
[Android Auto General] FormelLMS:
On mine the Sony equalizer is active with Android auto...
[Android Auto General] emepher:
Does sound drastically worse than over regular BT audio than when playing through Android Auto? It does for some of us at least.

Edit: Not sure if this matters, but I just remembered that I updated from early firmware to the latest last night and haven't tried playing through AA yet.
[Android Auto General] FormelLMS:
No sorry. Sound is Crystal clear with Android Auto.

Only problem: I'm hard to understand on mobile calls with this device. :'(
[Android Auto General] ExTREmE99:
does anyone know if this unit supports hotword detection? meaning, the always listening "ok google"? or must you always press the button to initiate it? thanks!
[Android Auto General] superdave:
It supports always on hotword detection as long as the phone is connected.

It looks like this box is using the Sunplus Gemini arm7 SOC. At least part of the firmware is encrypted with AES. There may be a couple ways in though.