Sony Debuts New Car Audio Products at SEMA
Sony is providing quality mobile audio components with three new speakers, three new amplifiers and a new subwoofer here at the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) annual trade show.
The company unveiled its new GTX series speakers, which are the perfect complement to the GT series head units. Three new models — XS-GTX1620S (about 6.5 inches in diameter), XS-GTX6930 (about 6 x 9 inches in height and width) and XS-GTX1640 (about 6.5-inches in diameter) — feature sleek designs and dynamic sound quality.
For improved sound imaging in the GTX design, the XS-GTX1620S two-way component speakers provide 260 watts peak power (60 watts RMS). They have a highly oriented polyolefine (HOP) cone woofer, which offers rich and solid bass as well as superb sound. The speakers offer a good option for factory replacement for newer vehicles with tweeters located in the A-pillar behind the side-view mirrors. The separate .75-inch tweeters provide versatility in installation to optimize a vehicle’s soundstage, and can be surface or flush mounted. For better sound, the 2-way passive crossovers direct the appropriate frequencies to the tweeters for clear highs and better bass response from the woofers.
Both the XS-GTX6930 three-way speakers and the XS-GTX1640 4-way speakers offer an HOP woofer. The XS-GTX6930 has 400 watts peak power (100 RMS) and offers powerful sound at a great price.
To get the best results when installing speakers, installers should match the power source level of RMS or continuous watts to the high end of the speaker’s range in RMS. The XS-GTX1640 has 300 watts peak power (75 RMS) and has a high density layered diaphragm (HDLD).
These step-up models in the GT series are offer a practical way to replace factory speakers in new vehicles. Pricing starts at about $120 for the XS-GTX6930 and XS-GTX1640 speakers, and about $150 for the XS-GTX1620S speakers. The GT Series speakers will be available in January.
Sony has also introduced new amplifiers. The entry-level 2.1 channel amplifier, (model XM-ZR1252) has a sporty new design with optimized heat sinks for better heat radiation. It also adds blue illumination. The amplifier’s 800 watts maximum power output produces 125 watts x 2 at 4ohm or 340 watts x 1 at 4ohm. It also has a low pass filter (LPF) that only allows low frequencies to pass through for subwoofer applications.
The XM-GTR2022 and XM-GTR6001 amplifiers have a sleek, smooth design. The more affordable 2.1 channel amp (model XM-GTR2022) provides 200 x 2 watts at 4ohm, 1,200 watts of maximum power output, and blue illumination.
The higher end XM-GTR6001 mono class D amplifier has active thermal control, which prevents it from overheating and shutting down so the music keeps playing. It also has a dynamic distortion suppressor, which eliminates unwanted sounds that sometimes occur when maximum volume levels are pushed. This amplifier has 900 x 1 watts at 2 ohms, 1,300 watts maximum power output, and a blue illumination. The XM-GTR6001, XM-GTR2022 and XM-ZR1252 units cost about $280, $200 and $150, respectively, and will be available in January.
Besides delivering low frequency bass, the new entry-level XS-L120P5A 12-inch subwoofer has Sony’s classic pentagonal shaped polypropylene (P5) cone design, which is an improvement over a traditional round cone. The P5 has some unique design features that offer superior rigidity to reproduce solid and tight bass. It has a 4ohm single voice coil at 1,000 watts peak power (300 watts RMS) for deep bass. The sub will be available in January for about $80.
