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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Shopping for car audio upgrades is as personal as shopping for a new car or new shoes. Each of us likes something different, has a different budget and different performance and style preferences. In the case of a new car, your options range from a solid and reliable daily driver in the $14,000 range to luxury and exotic vehicles costing well over $100,000. When it comes to a new radio, speakers, an amplifier or a subwoofer upgrade for your car, the price point differs just as much, as do the features and performance levels. In this article, we will provide some tips to prepare yourself to buy new car audio upgrades and ensure they are installed and configured reliably.
A discussion about online shopping opens a monumental can of worms. One of the biggest differences between buying from an online retailer and a local independent specialist will be the level of after-sales service and support. If you buy new speakers online and you have a problem with them, you can try contacting the supplier. About all they can do is offer to let you send the speakers back (at your cost) and they will send you another set. When you deal with a local retailer, someone can go to your car and listen to the problem. The issue may not be the speakers at all. It could be the 
Make no doubt, most of the installers, technicians and fabricators who work at mobile electronics retailers got their start working on their vehicles in their driveway. In some cases, this passion for working on cars and trucks grew to include their friends’ vehicles, while others sought out training from companies like 
When it comes to source unit upgrades, the first thing you need to find out is whether or not you can replace the factory radio in the vehicle at all. Vehicles such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda and many new Nissan vehicles have source units that can’t be removed.
Perhaps the most important component in an audio system is the speakers. 
When you go shopping, bring one or two pieces of music that you know well. Before you leave your house, listen to that song on as many different sources as possible: your home theatre system, a portable Bluetooth speaker, headphones with your smartphone and your existing stereo. Think about what is different between each experience so you can listen for those elements as you audition new products.
Automakers constantly strive to make new cars, trucks and SUVs as safe as possible. The design and materials used in new vehicle chassis make them stronger, more rigid and safer than ever before. Technologies like backup cameras, blind spot monitoring, active lane keep assist, multi-view camera systems, rear cross traffic alerts and autonomous braking dramatically reduce the chance of having an accident. Up until only a few years ago, you had to buy all of these technologies that are now already on your new vehicle. Thankfully, your local mobile enhancement retailer can now retrofit some of these 
The simplest of safety systems is a 
Aftermarket blind spot monitoring systems are just entering their second generation. These systems include a pair of radar sensors that are mounted behind the rear bumper cover to monitor the space on either side of your vehicle for another car or truck. The exact function of these systems varies from one brand to another. Make sure that the solution you choose can detect a vehicle that has entered your blind spot from the side or that you have passed. Many will only alert you if the vehicle enters your blind spot from the rear.
Most of the radar-based blind spot monitoring systems on the market switch to a rear cross traffic alert system when you are backing up. These systems extend the radar signal to as much as 100 feet on either side of your vehicle to watch for oncoming cars or trucks. When they detect something, the same LED indicators that warn you about a vehicle in your blind spot will flash to let you know what side the vehicle is approaching from. Many systems include an audible alarm to make sure you know something is approaching.
Though still in their infancy in the aftermarket, “surround view” camera solutions are offered by several companies. This technology uses four cameras mounted around your vehicle to create a virtual aerial view of your car or truck. The camera image is akin to looking down at your vehicle from about 30 feet above the roof. You can see parking lines, curbs and the presence of other vehicle or obstacles.
Aftermarket safety systems that will apply your brakes or move the steering wheel are not currently available. Those technologies require careful calibration that is specific to each application. One technology that is available is a forward-facing collision warning system. MobileEye is the company responsible for the original autopilot technology used on Tesla vehicles. They offer several aftermarket solutions that use a camera and an advanced image processing computer to warn the driver if someone is approaching from the side or if he or she is approaching a stopped vehicle too quickly. A small display on the dash provides visual alerts to give you extra time to slow down.
Though not a 
It’s the middle of the summer, and 
We can’t even fathom the number of audio system upgrades we see installed at big meets and rallies like Daytona, Sturgis, Laconia and Myrtle Beach. While leaving your pride and joy with the guys in a booth or trailer to upgrade your stereo while you grab lunch or dinner sounds incredibly convenient, occasionally long-term issues dramatically reduce the value of this purchasing option.
When you pull up to a shop to have your 
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration 
These infotainment solutions require two components to provide you with Internet-connected voice recognition access to your music, navigation and communication functions. First and foremost, the source unit in the vehicle needs to have the software built in. Including 
Up until recently, the connection between your phone and the radio for CarPlay and Android Auto has used a USB cable. With the introduction of wireless connectivity, things have changed. A Wi-Fi connection between your source unit and your smartphone replaces the wired connection for reliable, high-speed communication. Initially, a little more setup is required to get your smartphone and radio talking, but once configured, everything operates intuitively.
In November 2017, Google announced the ability for devices running Android to run Android Auto as a stand-alone app without the need for an aftermarket source unit. At CES 2018, several aftermarket manufacturers announced they would include wireless Android Auto connectivity on their new source units.
There are have been many discussions about the benefits and drawbacks of wireless connectivity. The biggest point of debate is around phone charging. In most cases, drivers take advantage of the ability to charge their phones when they get in their vehicles as they travel. For most people, this requires that the USB cable is connected to their phone. With that said, the Apple iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X include wireless charging. On the Android side, recent devices from Samsung, LG, Google, Microsoft and Blackberry include wireless charging.
Flipping back to the cons side of the debate, you need a wireless charging base in your vehicle to take advantage of the wireless charging feature. Vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo include Qi compatible charging solutions. Qi is the standard for wireless charging for Apple devices.