Sony XAV-W1 In-dash DVD/CD/MP3 Receiver

The Sony XAV-W1 is its first stab at the aftermarket in-car ents game and it’s a beauty, dominated by a 7in 800×480 touchscreen.

The oversized head unit is designed to slot neatly into newer double DIN bays that are twice the height of your standard car stereo – hence the large screen.

• Plays most popular music and video formats. CD, DVD, SACD, Windows Media Audio, mp3 and JPEG
• Supports Dolby Digital surround sound and DTS Digital Surround Processing playback
• iPod ready. Just plug it in to enjoy your personal audio collection on the road
• Supports satellite radio and connects to Sony’s HD Radio tuner to deliver additional HD radio channels and rich information like artist, song name and more
• Command your digital music from behind the wheel or the back seat with the supplied remote card
• Customisable display and sound settings. Set your favourite photo as the background wallpaper
• Delivers 52 watts across 4 channels ensuring rich, clear sound. Zone by Zone capability allows you to set separate audio zones for the front and rear seats
• Camera input connects with a rear-monitor camera and displays the image on the player’s screen - makes parking a breeze!

It’ll play your DVDs, DivX movies, WMAs, MP3s and CDs, as well as your doubtless huge collection of SACDs. 5.1-channel surround sound is supported with Dolby Digital Surround and DTS Digital Surround Processing.

Naturally, you can also plug in a console or portable music spinner and hook up a rear-view camera for spotting bollards before they kiss your bumper. Um, there’s even a karaoke mode – just perfect for those long journeys. Oh dear, look, it’s broken

Aside from its ability to play SACD audio, Sony’s XAV-W1 has the same features as many other aftermarket in-car systems, including support for a wide range of digital audio and video sources. The XAV-W1 differentiates itself, however, by its ability to present these features in a visually stunning format; by its intuitive menus and vivid touch-screen icons; and through its range of audio and visual customization options. While we found Sony’s HD Radio module to be clunky and unwieldy, the $800 XAV-W1 is an elegant all-in-one in-car media system with a competitive price tag.

More info: sony.co.uk