Sony’s new CarPlay receiver XAV-AX210 now comes with iDatalink Maestro support. This means that you can also control the factory-fitted functions of your vehicle with the device.
The predecessor XAV-AX200, like most conventional radios/receivers/car-play headunits, is simply a stand-alone system. All that is exchanged with the vehicle is power and performance for the speakers. Everything else that can be electronically controlled on the car had no connection to the Sony receiver.
With the support of iDatalink Maestro this changes. It is now possible to access the controllable properties of your vehicle, for example the infotainment functions built in by the factory, the control of the air conditioning system or the display of vehicle data. This means that car electronics and retrofitted CarPlay receivers are growing even closer together.
In addition to the features mentioned above, the XAV-AX210 also offers Android auto support, the mandatory Bluetooth, FLAC support, DVD player and support for a rear view camera. The maximum power is 4x 55 watts, which in real life means 4x 20 watts (RMS). The receiver will be available in North America at the end of the year and should celebrate its debut in Europe afterwards. If you need a new headunit immediately and don’t need an iDatalink, you can have a look at the XAV-AX200 on Amazon.
