X

New Sony CD car stereos compatible with unified SiriusXM Connect tuner

We've already seen the first receiver to offer compatibility with the SiriusXM Connect. Now, Sony strikes back with the second, third, fourth, and fifth.

Antuan Goodwin Reviews Editor / Cars
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Expertise Reviewing cars and car technology since 2008 focusing on electrification, driver assistance and infotainment Credentials
  • North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
See full bio
Antuan Goodwin
2 min read
Sony

Sony CDX-GT360MP
Sony's new generation of CD receivers will feature compatibility with SiriusXM's new unified vehicle tuner. Sony

To go along with the consolidation of the Sirius and XM satellite radio services, the new SiriusXM rolled out a unified hardware platform: the SXV100 SiriusXM Connect vehicle tuner. We've already seen the first receiver to offer compatibility with the SiriusXM Connect from Alpine. Now, Sony strikes back with the second, third, fourth, and fifth as most of its new CDX line of CD receivers is now compatible with SiriusXM's module.

SiriusXM Connect module
The universal SiriusXM Connect module connects compatible Sony CDX units to the consolidated Sirius and XM services. Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Four of the six new CDX receivers feature compatibility with the SXV100 SiriusXM Connect module ($60) and connect to the module's proprietary connection. The SXV100 draws power and sends data over this connection and includes its own external magnetic satellite antenna. Adding the SXV100 to a compatible Sony receiver is as simple as connecting two cables and routing your wires. As we've seen previously, the SXV100 adds advanced features to the satellite radio experience including the ability to pause and rewind up to 30 minutes of cached audio and alerts for when your favorite artist, song, or team is playing on another SiriusXM channel.

Compatible CDX units start with the CDX-GT360MP ($90 MSRP), which is a basic CD receiver with a front-panel analog auxiliary audio input. The CDX-GT56UI ($100) adds a front USB port to the mix with 1-wire iPod connectivity. To help users browse their large connected digital media libraries, Sony also adds its Zappin and Quick Browzer technologies to the mix at this level.

Stepping up to the CDX-GT565UP ($130) adds Pandora Internet Radio app control for iOS devices (but not Android or BlackBerry) via the 1-wire USB connection. Users also gain the ability to choose from more than 35,000 illumination colors for display text and button backlight, thanks to the addition of a feature called Dynamic Color Illuminator. Finally, at the top of the line, the CDX-GT660UP ($150) adds a larger 2-line display with a flip-down front-panel design and compatibility with Sony's SensMe channels and desktop application, which allow users to create mood-based playlists for their digital media.

For people who want to save a few bucks by sacrificing a few features, Sony's new line also includes the CDX-GT250MP ($80), which is nearly identical to the CDX-GT360MP, but without SiriusXM Connect compatibility. Also lacking the SiriusXM readiness is the CDX-GT40U, which features a front-USB connection, but only for portable storage devices (no iPod/iPhone compatibility).

All of the new CDX units feature a new digital processing AM/FM tuner that is designed to minimize cross station interference in metropolitan areas with crowded airwaves, enhanced Power IC for cleaner audio quality, and MP3/WMA playback from CD-R media. Expect the new Sony CDX line of receivers to roll out to 12-volt retailers between late August and early September of 2011.