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Product Spotlight: Sony XS-W124GS and XS-W104GS Car Audio Subwoofers

Sony XS-W124GS

Although talking about a trunk full of high-performance subwoofers powered by big amplifiers is fun, Sony knows that many people want a more cost-effective bass upgrade for their cars and trucks. On the heels of their entirely new Mobile ES amplifiers, source units, speakers and subwoofers, Sony has launched the latest iteration of the GS series speakers and subwoofers. This Product Spotlight will look at the 12-inch XS-W124GS and 10-inch XS-W104GS car audio subwoofers.

Features of the Sony XS-W124GS Subwoofer

The 12-inch (30-cm) XS-W124GS and 10-inch (25-cm) XS-W104GS subwoofers feature five-spoke, heavy-gauge stamped steel frames. Each spoke has an embossed element to add stiffness and rigidity. The frames also feature integrated vents below the spider mounting ledge. These vents allow heat to escape from the voice coil and motor assembly and prevent pressure from building up in the spider at high excursion levels. This design feature offers direct benefits regarding increased power handling, reduced power compression and improved linearity.

The motor assembly at the base of the chassis features a pair of ferrite magnets for good efficiency. The T-yoke has a cooling vent in the center, serving the same purposes as the vents in the frame. Heat can escape from the motor, and pressure won’t build up under the dust cap. The result is an additional reduction in thermal compression and reduced distortion at high volume levels.

Sony XS-W124GS
A five-spoke, reinforced steel chassis is a rigid platform for the Sony XS-W124GS 12-inch and XS-W105GS 10-inch subwoofers.

Each subwoofer features a pair of progressive-rate spiders attached to the cone assembly to the basket. These spiders are a feature that Sony has brought from the Mobile ES drivers. The spiders provide the necessary cone control and compliance while keeping everything centered. Sony chose moderately stiff spiders to give the drivers a higher Qts value, which translates to improved output efficiency. Tinsel leads are sewn to the spider so they won’t hit the cone and cause unwanted noises at high output levels.

Sony XS-W124GS
The new GS-Series subwoofers feature technologies previously developed for the premium Mobile ES drivers that improve performance and reliability.

Sony GS Series Subwoofer Moving Components

Both GS series subwoofers feature a rigid paper cone bonded to the voice coil former. You can see in the cutaway image that the upper spider has a reinforcing collar at the base of the cone that strengthens the joint to the voice coil former and spider to improve reliability. A full-size parabolic dust cap made from injection-molded polypropylene attaches to the surround to form the cone assembly’s face. A rubber surround serves as the upper compliance for the woofer cone. Rubber lasts much longer than foam so these woofers will sound great in your car or truck for many years. A custom-tooled trim ring adorns the outer edge of the subwoofer to give it a tidy appearance.

Sony XS-W124GS
The polypropylene dust cap and custom trim ring give the XS-W124GS a classy, clean appearance.

XS-W124GS Physical Dimensions and Driver Specifications

The XS-W124GS subwoofer has an outside diameter of 13 1/8” (332 cm) and requires a mounting hole with a diameter of 11 1/8” (280 cm). The mounting depth is 5 3/4” (143.4 cm), but your installer will want to leave some room for the vent in the T-yoke. Sony rates the XS-W124GS as capable of handling 300 watts of power using the IEC 60286-5 standard and 420 watts using the ANSI/CTA-2031 standard. Peak power handling is 1,800 watts.

Regarding Thiele/Small parameters, the driver has a resonant frequency of 31.9 ohms, an equivalent compliance value (Vas) of 49.194 liters and a Total Q (Qts) of 0.724. As mentioned, the moderately high Q-value will help increase efficiency and output. Suggested enclosures are 0.91 cubic foot for a sealed design and 1.16 cubic feet tuned to 37 hertz for bass reflex applications. The graph below shows the predicted free-field response of the two enclosures, with the driver receiving 420 watts of power.

Sony XS-W124GS
Predicted free-field output at 420 watts: yellow, 0.91 ft3 sealed; red, 1.16 ft3 @ 37 hertz.

XS-W104GS Physical Dimensions and Driver Specifications

The 10-inch XS-W104GS has an outer diameter of 11 inches (279 mm), requires a mounting hole with a diameter of 9 1/4 inches (234 mm) and requires 5 1/8 inches (129.8 mm) of depth. Rated power handling is 300 watts continuous and 350 watts using the ANSI/CTA-2031 standard. Peak power handling is 1,500 watts.

The 10-inch subwoofer has an Fs of 30.9 hertz, an equivalence compliance of 36.47 liters and a Total Q of 0.505. By way of enclosures, Sony suggests an acoustic suspension design with a volume of 0.88 cubic foot or a bass reflex enclosure with a volume of 0.91 cubic foot tuned to 38 hertz. Given the similarity in suggested enclosure volumes, we’d go with the bass reflex design and enjoy the increased efficiency.

Sony XS-W124GS

Sony backs the new 10- and 12-inch GS series subwoofers with a three-year warranty against manufacturing defects and workmanship issues. This generous warranty doesn’t mean you can hook one to a 1,000-watt amp or clip the daylights out of a 400-watt amp and melt the voice coil, then expect to get a new subwoofer.

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with Sony GS series Subwoofers

If you’re looking for an affordable, high-quality subwoofer from a company that stands behind its products, drop into a local authorized Sony car audio retailer today. Ask about the new GS series subwoofers like the XS-W124GS we looked at here. They can match the driver to an enclosure and suggest an amplifier that will perform great. Adding bass to your car stereo is one of the best upgrades you can make. With the Sony GS subwoofers, great sound doesn’t have to cost a small fortune. You can find an authorized Sony Car Audio retailer near you using their dealer locator tool. Also, follow Sony on Facebook to stay up-to-date with their latest product releases.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Sony

Car Audio Electrical Theory — The Basics and Ohm’s Law

Ohm's LawFor several years, the Best Car Audio team has provided articles on the features, functions and benefits of all manner of car audio products and services. Well into our third year, it’s time to go back to the basics and talk about the fundamental theories of electricity and how they relate to our car audio systems. Grab something to drink, get comfortable and enjoy: It’s time to get our learn on about the basics and Ohm’s Law!

What is Electricity?

Ohm's LawIn its most basic of terms, electricity is a group of charged electrons that can be used to do work. The electricity in our cars comes from two sources: the battery and the alternator. After the battery is used to start the car, the alternator recharges the battery and provides electricity to run the fans, lights, electronic circuits and computers that keep our cars running.

Terminology: Voltage

To understand electricity, you need to understand a few terms. The first we will talk about is voltage. Voltage is a unit of measurement that quantifies the difference in electrical potential between two points. The SI unit of measure is volts and is represented with a capital V.

Once again, in relation to our vehicles, we have a 12V electrical system. More specifically, a fully charged car battery will rest at 12.6 volts for a conventional lead-acid design. Some AGM batteries will rest at 13.0 to 13.2 volts.

You can look at a voltage as electrical pressure. Imagine a water tank sitting on a table. If you connect a hose to the bottom of the tank, gravity will push the water out of the house. If you get a bigger tank, there is more pressure pushing the water out of the hose. So, more voltage is akin to more pressure.

Terminology: Current

Ohm's LawIt’s important to know the quantity of electricity moving through a circuit. We use the SI unit ampere to quantify the volume of electrons moving in a conductor. The original definition for the ampere involved quantification of the magnetic force created between two infinitely long parallel conductors (wires). While this is a valid definition, it’s never used in schools or any training. A simpler explanation is that 1 amp of current is equivalent to 6.2415093 × 10^18 elementary charges moving through a boundary over a period of one second. An elementary charge is the is the electric charge carried by a single proton.

Using our water analogy, the current flowing in an electrical circuit is similar to the amount of water flowing in a pipe or hose. The amount of water flowing in that hose would be measured in gallons or liters per minute. A higher number means there is more pressure pushing on the water. So, back to our electrical terminology, when more voltage is present, more current flows through our circuit.

Choosing a specific example in an automotive example is tricky because vehicles differ dramatically in their electrical needs. With that said, most new cars and trucks have an alternator that can provide between 65 and 120 amps of current to power different devices. Batteries also vary a great deal as do the ratings available to quantify the amount of current they will provide. Most batteries have a capacity of 60 to 80 amp-hours. This rating descibes a battery’s ability to supply 1 amp of current for 60 to 80 hours before being considered depleted. Sadly, the equation cannot be reversed. A battery can’t supply 60 to 80 amps of current for an hour due to limits in the chemical conversation process.

Terminology: Resistance

Ohm's LawResistance is the description of the opposition to the flow of current in a circuit. We use the SI unit ohm to quantify this value. Unlike voltage and current, the symbol used to represent resistance is the uppercase Greek letter omega: Ω. More resistance in a circuit reduces the ability for electrons to flow and thereby decreases the number of amps flowing.

In our water and barrel example, pinching the hose would increase resistance and reduce the amount of water that flows. In an electrical system, the size of the conductors we use to wire circuits and the design of the circuits themselves determine how much resistance is present.

Terminology: Ohm’s Law

Ohm's LawThankfully, in simple circuits, the relationship between voltage, current and resistance is linear. When we have more voltage available, more current flows for a given resistance. Likewise, less resistance in a circuit causes more current to flow for a given voltage. Ohm’s law is a simple mathematical equation that allows you to calculate any of the three values, provided you know two others.

The three equations are:

Voltage = Current x Resistance Current = Voltage ÷ Resistance Resistance = Voltage ÷ Amperage

V = I x R I = V ÷ R R = V ÷ I

Understanding Ohm’s law is the most important factor in working with and understanding electrical circuits.

Ohm’s Law Examples

One of the most common expressions used in teaching people about Ohm’s law is as follows: In a circuit with one volt of potential and a resistance of one ohm, one amp of current will flow. Seeing the relationship between this statement, we can calculate that for a fixed resistance, two amps of current will flow if we increase the voltage to two volts. Said another way, as the voltage potential applied to a circuit increases, the current through the circuit will also increase, as long as the resistance remains constant.

That’s it for our first lesson on car audio electrical theory. In the next lesson, we’ll talk about how we can use electricity to do work and discuss the equations used to quantify this work as power.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

Understanding Sound and the Decibel

Understanding SoundIn any discussion about understanding sound, the unit of decibels will undoubtedly become part of the conversation. Unlike almost all other units of measurement, the decibel is not a linear scale. That is to say, 1 decibel (also written as dB) is not one-tenth the amplitude or strength of 10dB. In this article, we’ll explain how the decibel scale works and present some reference information to help you understand how the decibel scale works.

What is Sound?

Understanding SoundSound is a vibration of air molecules that vibrates our eardrums. The eardrum passes these vibrations through to the middle ear through tiny bones called ossicles. The inner ear has a shape similar to that of a snail shell and contains microscopic hair cells that convert these vibrations into minute electrical signals. These signals are transmitted to the hearing nerve and subsequently to our brain. Each inner ear contains roughly 18,000 hair cells, all of which are said to fit on the head of a pin. Once a hair cell is damaged, it never grows back or repairs itself.

Understanding the Decibel

The decibel unit was created in the 1920s by Bell Telephone Laboratories to describe losses in communication cables used in early telephone systems. The original unit was MSC (Miles of Standard Cable) and was the loss of signal in 1 mile of cable at a frequency of 795.8 Hz that was equivalent to the smallest perceivable attenuation detectable to the average listener.

The Decibel and Sound Level Measurement

Understanding SoundWhen discussing sound levels, the proper format is to use the unit dB SPL, dB(SPL) or dBSPL. The reference for any statement is the sound pressure as compared to 0dB. 0dB is defined as the perceived sound of a mosquito at a distance of 10 feet from the listener.

Because dB SPL expresses a ratio, sounds can be quieter than 0dB. Imagine if you will, you are in the space where the sound created by that original mosquito was measured. If we take away the mosquito, the space will be quieter. How much quieter depends on other sources of noise. Electrical noise created by lighting and noise caused by heating and cooling systems all contribute. If we eliminate as many noises as possible, the room will get quieter and quieter.

Understanding SoundAccording to Guinness World Records, the quietest place in the world in 2012 was an anechoic test chamber at Orfield Laboratories in Minneapolis. The sound level in this room was measured at -13dBA. In October 2015, a team of engineers at the Microsoft head office in Redmond, Washington, smashed this record with measurements taken in the anechoic chamber in Building 87. A team of independent specialists measured a noise level of -20.35 dBA. The room is not only completely isolated from all sources of noise and vibration, but the walls are lined with large acoustic foam wedges design to absorb sound.

At the opposite end of the sound spectrum we have 191 dB SPL. This is the sound level where the air is pressurized to 1 Bar or 1 atmosphere. Linear sound cannot exist above this level because the low-pressure side of the wave reaches an absolute vacuum. There are louder noises (such as nuclear explosions), but they are examined as pressure waves rather than sounds.

All Sounds Are Not Perceived Equally

The human ear is not sensitive to all sounds equally. In 1933, the results from research into how our ears perceive different frequencies was published. Researchers Fletcher and Munson released a set of human hearing sensitivity curves that are based on frequency and amplitude. The curves were created by playing a pure 1 kHz tone and a tone at a different frequency alternately. The amplitude of the 1 kHz tone was adjusted until participants felt the level of the two were equivalent. The adjustment level was recorded and they moved to another frequency.

Understanding Sound
Image Credit: Lindosland, Dec 2005

In 1937, similar testing was done by Churcher and King, but the results differed a great deal from the Fletcher Munson charts. Researchers Robinson and Dadson repeated the testing in 1956 with newer equipment. The resulting measurements were accepted and defined the ISO 226 normal equal loudness-level contours. These remained the standard until 2003 when new testing further revised the graphs.

What the curves tell us is that our hearing is most sensitive around 2 to 3 kHz, depending on amplitude. We are less sensitive to high-frequency information around 10 kHz and 150 Hz by about 20dB. We are increasingly less sensitive to sounds below 150 Hz, but this phenomenon decreases as volume increases.

How We Perceive Sound

Understanding SoundMany statements about sound levels get thrown around the industry. Let’s talk about and clarify a couple of the most common.

3dB is twice as loud. No. No, it isn’t. A change of 3dB represents a doubling or halving of acoustic energy. It takes an amplifier twice as much power to produce a tone at 73dB as it requires at 70dB. The reality is, most listeners can just barely perceive a change in level of 3dB at all audible frequencies.

If 3dB isn’t twice as loud, what is? Based on extensive testing, it is agreed that a change in level of 10dB is considered to be twice or half as loud.

A Listening Test

Understanding SoundJust for fun and education, below is a series of test tones to demonstrate our ability to detect differences in amplitude. These tests are created to make the differences as easily perceivable as possible.

The tones involve a sine wave at a frequency of 1 kHz recorded at a starting level of -10dB from the full scale in a 44.1 kHz, 16-bit uncompressed .wav file format. The amplitude (volume) of the waveform is decreased at one-, two- and three-second marks by varying amounts. For most, discerning the 1dB per step decrease is easy. Many will be able to detect the 0.5dB decrease per step. The 0.25dB decrease per step is difficult to hear.

Track 1

http://www.osmlabs.com/dl/Track_1.wav

1 kHz, decreasing in amplitude by 1.0 dB at one-second intervals

Track 2

http://www.osmlabs.com/dl/Track_2.wav

1 kHz decreasing in amplitude by 0.5 dB at one-second intervals

Track 3

http://www.osmlabs.com/dl/Track_3.wav

1 kHz decreasing in amplitude by 0.25 dB at one-second intervals

Now, based on your results, does this test disprove the above statements about 3dB and 10dB differences? Not at all. As mentioned, the tests are designed to make the perception of level changes very easy. If you were to listen to a song, then play the same song again five minutes later after adjusting the volume up or down by 0.5dB or 1dB, most people wouldn’t be able to detect the difference.

We’ll revisit the decibel in future articles and explain how different rating curves affect the numbers we read when looking at audio equipment noise measurements and specifications. Until then, we hope you enjoyed this article and the test tracks.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

The Five Fastest Ways To Blow Your Car Speakers

Car SpeakersThere is nothing worse than turning up your music only to hear your car speakers or subwoofers rattle and buzz because they are damaged. Well, there is something worse: You could turn up the volume and hear nothing at all. We hear stories about people damaging their car speakers all the time. In almost every case, the issue is over-powering them because of unwise adjustments to the sound system. In this tongue-in-cheek article, we’ll discuss the five fastest ways to blow your car speakers. Let’s be clear: We don’t want you to damage your speakers and, more importantly, your hearing. The reality is, this is a list of five things NOT to do to your car stereo system. We hope you enjoy!

1. Turn Up the Gains on Your Amps

Car SpeakersWhen a mobile electronics specialist installs an amplifier in your vehicle, the gain control (also called the sensitivity control) should be adjusted so that the amp will produce its maximum power when the volume on the source unit is turned up all the way. Some installers provide a little extra range on the volume so that quiet recordings can still play loudly. This is called gain overlap.

The amount of power your amplifier produces is fixed. That is to say, no amount of knob-turning, button-pushing or amp-gain-tweaking will allow it to produce more power. Turning up the gains on your amp only causes the amp to produce full power with a lower input voltage from your source unit. There is no benefit to this, and depending on your system, could introduce more background noise.

If you think your system doesn’t play loudly enough or seems to get too loud with only a little turn of the volume, go back to your installer and have him or her check the settings on the amp while playing the music you enjoy.

2. Crank the Bass Boost!

Car SpeakersPerhaps the most dangerous control on an amplifier, besides an improperly set gain control, is the bass boost control. In all cases, this single-band equalizer increases the output of the amplifier around a specific range of frequencies — usually in the 40 to 50 Hz region. What the control doesn’t do is increase the maximum available power from your amp. If your audio system is configured to produce full power with the volume on your radio turned up all the way, turning up the bass boost on an amp or processor will cause the amp to distort at the frequencies that you have boosted. It won’t make the system play any louder.

If you turn the bass boost up 10dB, then you need to turn the gain control by an effective 10dB to keep everything equal. Perhaps it’s easier to leave it alone?

3. Wire the Amplifier To Below-Spec Impedance

Car SpeakersIf you have multiple subwoofers with dual voice coil designs, a variety of options are available to wire them to your amp. The voice coils can be wired in series, in a series-parallel configuration or all in parallel. The maximum amount of power an amplifier produces is dependent on the voltage and current provided by the amp. Lower load impedances will typically cause an amp to produce more current and consequently more power. With that said, there is a limit. All amplifiers have a minimum load impedance rating. This means the manufacturer has designed the amp for a specific current limit that won’t over-tax the power supply transformer and the power supply and output switching devices.

Changing the way your subs are wired to something that is beyond the specification of your amplifier may allow it to produce a little more power, but in the case of most amplifiers, all it does it make the amp run much hotter because the efficiency is reduced. If your amp was producing 1,000 watts and rewiring it made an extra 50 or even 100 watts, well, that difference is almost inaudible.

4. Adjust the Tone Controls or EQ on Your Radio

Car SpeakersIf your radio has an equalizer or simple bass and treble controls, turning them up will make different frequencies of your music louder relative to others. With that said, it won’t make a properly configured and tuned audio system play any louder. Just like the bass boost on an amp, equalizers and tone controls affect the signal level at specific frequencies.

Another common problem with adjusting equalizer controls in a source unit is the ease of distorting the output signal. The preamp signals from radios are rated for a specific amount of voltage, usually 2, 4 or 5 volts RMS. Turning up the tone controls on the deck could cause the signal coming from the radio to distort and make your music sound horrible.

5. Buy the Wrong Amplifier

Car SpeakersAll speakers and subwoofers have power ratings. In almost all cases, this rating is the amount of power that the speaker can manage from a thermal standpoint. You see, speakers are notoriously inefficient. More than 95 percent of the energy fed into a speaker is converted to heat. If you feed a woofer 100 watts of power, 95 watts go into heating the voice coil and motor assembly and less than 5 watts are converted into acoustic energy.

If you buy an amplifier that produces more power than a speaker or subwoofer is rated to handle, you will overheat the voice coil assembly, and it will fail.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, having too little power can also cause problems. Let’s say you have a coaxial speaker rated for 70 watts of power and you are using an amplifier rated for 50 watts. You’d think that you are pretty safe, right? If you push that amplifier to the point that its output signal reaches clipping, the amp will produce a great deal more high-frequency energy. The additional energy can cause the tweeter to heat up and possibly fail.

Car SpeakersAnother consideration about amplifiers is that most can produce 150 percent to 200 percent of their rated power as extra energy when pushed into clipping or distortion. So, a 50-watt amplifier can easily produce 75 watts of distorted power and still damage that 70-watt speaker.

Make sure you have enough power to enjoy your music at the listening levels you want without having to push an amp to the point of distortion.

If you have any questions about purchasing the right products for your mobile audio system, visit your local mobile electronics specialist retailer. They will ensure you get the right solutions that are configured so your car audio system sounds great and will last for years.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

Product Spotlight: Sony XS-162GS and XS-160GS 6.5-inch Speakers

Sony 6.5-inch

You’d think that the Sony product development team would deserve a break after releasing no less than nine new Mobile ES speakers and subwoofers over the past few years. While they might deserve it, they kept up the momentum by redesigning their popular GS-Series speakers. This Product Spotlight will examine Sony’s new XS-162GS component and XS-160GS coaxial 6.5-inch (16-cm) speakers.

Sony XS-162GS 6.5-inch Component Speakers

The XS-162GS is a 6.5-inch (16-cm) component speaker set that includes a pair of 6.5-inch (16-cm) woofers, two 13/16-inch (21-mm) soft dome tweeters, an inline passive crossover for the tweeter for discreet installation, and mounting hardware for the tweeters. The woofers in the set feature a high-quality stamped-steel chassis with a four-spoke design. The rigidity of the design is improved over typical stamped baskets by adding a reinforcing rib down the center of each spoke.

Sony 6.5-inch
The four spokes of the XS-162GS speaker basket feature a reinforcing rib for added strength.

The basket design includes two sets of mounting tabs, making it suitable for both three- and four-position mounting hardware when replacing a factory-installed speaker. The woofers have a total mounting depth of 1 7/8 inches and sit above the mounting surface by 7/16 inch. Your installer will need to leave extra room in front of the driver to ensure that the cone and surround don’t run into the speaker grille or a trim panel in your vehicle.

Sony 6.5-inch
Dimensions of the XS-162GS tweeters and woofers.

Each woofer is based around a composite polypropylene cone that delivers an excellent balance of bass and midrange frequencies. A foam rubber surround at the top edge of the cone features an air-filled matrix structure that’s low in mass while being durable. The result is a reliable and flexible connection that provides good damping characteristics.

The woofers in the XS-162GS set feature a phase plug design that’s a direct descendant of the Mobile ES XS-162ES speakers. The Dynamic Air Diffuser phase plug eliminates the need for a dust cap, which can add high-frequency distortion to the speaker. Further, the exposed ridges provide a significant amount of surface area to help extract heat from the voice coil and motor assembly. Sony uses a progressive-rate spider, another component brought over from the Mobile ES line, at the base of the cone to maximize physical power handling while providing precise compliance for accurate bass performance. A single ferrite magnet serves as the heart of each speaker.

Sony 6.5-inch
The Dynamic Air Diffuser phase plug improves power handling and reduces distortion for clearer sound.

The tweeters in the set feature a silk dome material with a diameter of 13/16 inch (21 millimeters). Each tweeter has a super-efficient neodymium magnet for excellent efficiency. The assembly is housed in a custom-tooled frame with a perforated mesh grille. Sony includes flush, angled and flat surface-mount accessories to optimize the installation. Filtering for the tweeter is handled by a passive crossover in line with the tweeter speaker wires.

Sony 6.5-inch
Sony includes flush, angled and flat surface-mounting hardware for the silk dome tweeters in the XS-162GS set.

The XS-162GS set has a continuous power rating of 45 watts that complies with the CTA-2031 measurement standard. Peak power is 250 watts. Efficiency is 89 dB at 1W/1M with a tolerance of 2 dB SPL. Finally, frequency response is specified as 45 Hz to 24 kHz using the IEC 60268-5 standard.

Sony XS-160GS 6.5-inch Coaxial Speakers

The sister speakers to the above are the XS-160GS 6.5-inch coaxial set. This speaker system includes a pair of two-way coaxial 6.5-inch (16-cm) speakers along with appropriate mounting fasteners. The basket design for the coaxial speakers is the same as those found on the component speaker woofers with seven mounting tabs. The woofer design is the same as the XS-162GS component speakers with a composite polypropylene woofer cone, foam rubber surround and progressive rate spider.

Sony 6.5-inch
The coaxial design of the XS-160GS is a direct descendant of the Mobile ES XS-160ES speakers.

Where the speakers differ is in the tweeters. The top of the Dynamic Air Diffuser post in the driver’s center is home to the 13/16-inch (21-mm) tweeter, with its integrated phase plug built into the mounting assembly. In both instances, the integrated phase plug, another trickle-down technology from the Mobile ES speakers, helps improve tweeter output around the crossover point. This improved midrange output allows Sony to lower the crossover point and reduce directivity issues typical in two-way systems that use a relatively large woofer. These tweeters share the same neodymium magnet design for excellent efficiency and compact dimensions.

All the specifications for the XS-160GS coaxial speakers mimic those of the component speakers with power handling rated at 45 watts continuous and 250 watts peak. Efficiency and frequency response numbers are also the same at 89 dB 1W/1M and 45 hertz to 24 kHz.

Sony 6.5-inch

Environmentally Friendly Packaging

Sony has committed to significantly reducing environmental impact by simplifying the packaging design for the GS speakers. Gone are the fancy full-color graphics, now replaced with single-color line art, reducing the amount of ink by about 90%. The internal packaging is now paper-based, further reducing environmental impact.

Great Sound with a Great Warranty

Sony backs the XS-162GS and XS-160GS speakers with a three-year warranty that covers defects in materials or workmanship during ordinary consumer use. As with all speakers, you’re on your own if you overpower them with a large amplifier or too much distortion and damage them.

We have each set on their way to our labs for a Test Drive Review, so we can share how they perform shortly. In the meantime, if you want a great set of speakers to connect to a factory-installed or aftermarket radio, drop by a local authorized Sony retailer and ask for a demonstration of the new 6.5-inch (16-cm) GS series speakers. You can find an authorized Sony car audio retailer using their dealer locator. For more information about Sony Car Audio products, follow them on Facebook.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Sony

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Durham Location


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Services

  • Car Audio
  • Driver Safety
  • Motorcycle Audio
  • Remote Starters
  • Truck Accessories
  • Window Tint

Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday9:00 am – 6:00 pm

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