Sony XAV-AX5000 vs Sony XAV-AX3000 | Which is best? Features and benefits comparison

[@jimmycorbett4611]

To be honest, if I was buying a year or so ago I would have to go with the 3000 because the 5000 just didn’t have that many more features over the 3000 to justify the price. But the newer models of these head units nowadays (the 3200 and the 5600) I just bought the 5600. They made the difference between the units much larger by adding an hdmi port to the 5600, extending the warranty of the 5600 to 3 years over 1 year with the 3200, the 5600 had 5 Volt pre-outs vs 2 volt pre outs on the 3200 (resulting in better sound), all while having those same original differences in the 2 USB ports vs. 1, the capacitive touch screen vs. resistive, and the slightly faster response time, load up time, and slightly less glare, slightly better resolution all for only $100 more than the 3200. Both the 3200 and the 5600 upgraded to both having WebLink and SiriusXm. But the biggest difference between the 5600 and the 3200 for me personally is that capacitive touch screen and hdmi input. If I ever plan to add an aftermarket amplifier to my system, that 5 Volt Pre-Outs on the 5600 will come in handy as well.

[@fitojb]

Thanks for the recommendations! I like that the Sony designers went for something minimal and clean for both the hardware and the UI.

[@kentrowell9678]

I found this video at the perfect time. I am having an XAV-AX5500 installed in my Toyota Highlander today at a local independent audio shop here in the States. I am guessing it is an updated version of the AX5000. I could have gotten an XAV-AX3000 cheaper at Best Buy but since it was not in stock and would have taken several days to arrive and I liked the screen on the 5500 much better I decided to spend the extra money. I know I'm going to enjoy Apple Car Play which I have never had before. Thank you for this video. It definitely helped me to make up my mind.

[@jasonmilich4732]

Great video, I'm a retailer/installer and this is the type of information I like to give my customers

[@লিখন.ঘোষ]

Great….. been looking for this exact review. Had a tough time figuring out the difference between the units. But I’m going for the 5000 because of the screen

[@bigsmoke279]

I have the 3000 and it’s great. No regrets love it

[@NaoKeysVT]

THANK YOU. I've decided against the newer AX3200 as it also uses a resistive screen which I had no idea about prior to.

[@KimSeller]

Thanks guys! I was able to pick up a 5000 for only AUD30 more than the cheapest 3000, so I think I got a good deal! Wouldn't have done it without your video :-)

[@ollie786]

Me too! Did you get it for $529?

[@orioneden7529]

Great video! It helped me decide which one I'm getting which is the 3000! Thank you!

[@dademau5barber]

I changed 2011 Alpine 2din with 3000 .. no problem 😎

[@edurena4565]

awesome comparison. Going with the Ax5200 myself based on this video. Thanks!

[@dangermuffin7949]

Got the 5000, can’t fault it. Touchscreen is far better but the other features are kinda meh so it really comes down to budget imo.

[@motocross304]

Such a awesome video very professional and well spoken awesome work!

[@gboyspeed]

thanks for clear comparison under 10 minutes

[@alexanderk6512]

Big difference is also the AX5000 has weblink mirror which can mirror your phone screen where AX3000 doesn't.

[@RelentlessCo]

5000 doesn’t have that only 7000 and 8000 I thought?

[@alexanderk6512]

@@RelentlessCo oh I was confused between this and the AX5500 which does in fact have weblink. But I see the AX5000 does not

[@pftvfc66]

Nice video but IMO there's a fundamental miss in it: where's the sound quality review? That's the most important feature in this kind of equipment.

[@explorebound]

Both were a significant improvement over factory, but beyond that it was hard to tell them apart as they were in separate vehicles powering different speakers unforunately.

[@rev367]

I have a Blaupunkt stereo which is pretty antiquated looking. But it does not take 7 minutes for it to turn on after the car starts. I would say about 3 minutes maybe. That means, I can get to my office before the 3000 turns on.

[@prodogey69]

LoL, Don't buy! The so y units do turn on pretty quickly. Sine they load up in seconds and not minutes

[@herik63]

I have a 3000 for 4 years now, is fine but is annoyng that supports only a single phone via Bluethooth, have the 5000 fixed it?

[@josecarlosgadeadoncel8157]

I guess a good comparison would be between the Sony AX 3000 and the Pioneer DA160, that one has a smaller screen but it's capacitive, and adds an AUX input that can be useful if you like using an iPod or something, for around the same price. But the Sony looks better, IMO.

[@911engineguy]

Nice vid... would like to see a video showing how quickly they respond to voice commands for navigation, etc..

[@guillermohernandez7393]

This may be a dumb question. You HAVE to plug it in in order to use waze/spotify/music etc? Or can those things be done via bluetooth as well

[@explorebound]

They both have bluetooth too that can be used separately (not through Android Auto/Apple CarPlay).

[@alsanity1914]

So the ax 5000 doesn’t have apple car play with bluetooth like do you have to plug it in with a USB every time?

[@sardonic-1516]

does these sony units support a rear camera as my hilux has one and would like to keep the function with a new unit

[@jason12381]

Great video. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks guys.

[@boofhead185]

Very helpful comparison bro!

[@Oldhead717]

Can't get it to power off...hook all wires up to correct colors...won't power off when I remove the car key

[@qidirbinu5640]

what about sound quality, is it different? are the differences just in its features?

[@user-wn8iv1ve7d]

Thanks for sharing this👏🌟 Great video, it definitely helped me decide which unit to buy. Bought the ax5000😊

[@jay6817]

Bianca's reflection. 3:16. is better on the 5000, than your's to. haha. Anyways, just got the 3000. Hope It's good enough, screen wise. I did notice in the store, the screen looks a bit faded. Oh well. at least it's still very awesome in functionality and output etc. It's way way better than my 2008 standard VW Eos radio. Although the EOS radio styling was brilliant.

[@andriebayuajie2780]

Why carplay sounds worse when streaming music? Which headunit has good carplay sound quality?

[@WCephei77HD]

I have seen some info somewhere about a way to bridge any device to make it work with CarPlay or AndroidAuto by some bridge app that allows you to use Netflix, KZbin, anything from your phone, can you please make a video about that?

[@Rivet_Head242]

Informative review. Thanks!

[@newfie-dean5803]

Good review but you should have also commented on the sound quality comparative to the head unit that was in each vehicle. Is the sound crisper? Louder?

[@explorebound]

Tough to compare the units in this area as both cars have different speakers unfortunately, however both were a significant upgrade over factory though, not so much for volume but definitely for clarity and sound quality.

[@newfie-dean5803]

@@explorebound yeah, not compared against each other. But in terms of how the sound quality changed in each vehicle compared to what it was with the old head unit.

[@garyzac9185]

Any of these units have a beep beep sound for saftey cameras?

[@projectnuggetlucas4737]

Thanks for the review guys!! Decided to purchase one of these (still unsure which 😅) for my bt50, same shape interior as the ranger. How did you go with finding the surround for the ranger? Did the head unit come with a generic surround?

[@explorebound]

No worries at all! The unit didn't come with a surround unfortunately, although I've heard others have bought the same unit and it did come with one so perhaps mine was the odd one. I ended up having to buy a new fascia with the infill panal built in to fill the gap which is seamless now. Here's the one I bought: www.ebay.com.au/itm/274360946081

[@projectnuggetlucas4737]

@@explorebound thank you! That’s bizarre, they usually did I thought, but obviously watched your install video and followed that yours didn’t come with one… did the 5000 come with a surround?

[@jaydawg3031]

Hi Bro, have you tried connecting 2 Bluetooth devices to the ax5000? Can 2 people use their phones to play music?

[@derrickmcgown6828]

Exactly the video I needed, thanks!

[@Newpriest10]

I recently purchase the AX3000. I have an issue I am having since I listen to all my music through youtube. When I play my music through Iphone it actually shows "Artist Name - Song name" but when I play my music from youtube it shows no description of the song or anything. Have you ever experience this or know the fix to this?

[@explorebound]

Hi, I don't listen to music through KZbin but I will have a look this afternoon and see if I can figure anything out for you - I think perhaps the issue may lie with KZbin not having the required meta info for the head unit to determine artist/track name. Have you seen any other stereos display artist/track info from KZbin?

[@Newpriest10]

@@explorebound I havent seen any stereos display artist/track info from KZbin. It only shows artist/track from apple music I have purchased from the past but it wont show any display from youtube. If you can take a look that would be awesome. Thank you man.

[@explorebound]

Hi mate, I’ve looked into this and got the artist and track name to display! You need to download and use the free “KZbin Music” app for it to work 🙂

[@Newpriest10]

@@explorebound I tried KZbin music and it still doesn’t display the song or artist. :/

[@michaeljones7497]

Hey mate what is it like to view the screen in direct sunlight or light i have an older Sony unit now and you can't read text when theres alot of light and UV and it annoys me a little

[@explorebound]

Hi Michael, the AX5000 is definitely better in sunlight (see comparison at 3:10), however I don't find the AX3000 to be particularly bad.

[@vibhupal5797]

Can u please tell me the comparison b/w Ax5000 vs ax8000.

[@James-616]

Thank you for this video Can you play music from a different source and use CarPlay at the same time on these :)

[@avanisharmaivc6638]

Ya we can

[@MrKiwiboii]

Hey man, do you know if the Sony XAV-AX3000 is compatible with a 2015 Holden Captiva 7 LTZ and can you recommend somewhere in Rockingham that is reasonably cheap that I can have the Sony XAV-AX3000 installed into my Captiva 7 LTZ? I would prefer to have it professionally installed instead of doing it myself because I'm not confident in doing it myself. Thanks.

[@explorebound]

Hi mate, any 2-din stereo like the AX-3000 should be compatible with your Captiva, it's just a matter of finding an appropriate fascia to enable this (perhaps something like this: www.ebay.com.au/itm/293504245718, just double check it suits your model first). As for installation, I haven't had any first hand experience as I usually do my own work, however there's an Alberts Car Stereo in Rockingham and they've been in the business for quite a while, worth a look I'd say! If you wanted to give the install a go yourself, I did make a full installation video of my AX-3000 🙂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5-yo5mkdt-jg8U

[@whateverdude3080]

what do you think about the brightness of the ax5000? I have mine installed and I think it needs more brightness, also its kinda dark when I use reverse cam. I got it on max brightness jus so you know.

[@explorebound]

Hmm, we find the screen plenty bright enough - I wonder if perhaps there's a wiring issue with yours and it's dimmed to the "headlights on" mode? Does it dim further when you turn your headlights on or stay the same?

[@whateverdude3080]

@@explorebound im not sure about the headlights on mode. I cant see thru the options here. As far as I know I turned off the dim mode to make it brighter but still too dim for me.

[@explorebound]

Headlight mode dims your stereo when the headlights are turned on, if this is wired incorrectly it will result in the screen being dimmed all the time (even when brightness is set to max). That would be my only suggestion to check - good luck!

[@whateverdude3080]

@@explorebound thank you so much. I went to a shop that installed it for me. Ill go back there to check.

[@mylapillieswararao9583]

I have problem with Sony XAV AX 3000

[@mylapillieswararao9583]

Which CPU firm is suitable and mobile version

[@freakishly21]

You can only use it when the phone is plugged?

[@explorebound]

Only to use CarPlay or Android Auto which is the main feature of these units - standard AM/FM tuner works without plugging phone in 👍

[@freakishly21]

@@explorebound does the carplay could play youtube? Or just standard app? Thanks for your response!!

[@moisestheentrepreneur637]

I don't like that there's no AUX & also when I connect android auto it doesn't use USB for audio it will still turn on your phone Bluetooth for audio 😒 in case you didn't know AUX & USB is the best for audio quality

[@slyeastwood]

I have the 3000 and I can assure you the USB plays from phone to head unit. It's isn't by way of Bluetooth.

[@moisestheentrepreneur637]

@@slyeastwood I don't think so cause when I opened up the app it says audio will be played through bluetooth

[@vinodenterprisesuk0129]

Sir sony axv 3000 is mirror link

[@TechReviewInsider]

It's has carplay and Andriod auto

[@mistersniffer6838]

If you want extra head unit, give me a call!!

[@xaviergall2233]

Hey your Stearing wheel is in the wrong place smh. Now I can't use this info damn it's a shame. 😄🤣

[@explorebound]

Haha you’ll have to watch the video through a mirror!!

[@hgersong2]

Good video...thnks

[@AusMatt]

I'd buy the 3000

[@AusMatt]

I bought the 3000

[@explorebound]

Good choice!

[@AusMatt]

@@explorebound absolutely no regrets. It’s a great unit and a solid upgrade for my patrol 🤙

[@334trax2]

👍 appreciated

[@g-funk484]

They both suck buy a Kenwood or pioneer

[@explorebound]

Hi G-FUNK, some actual feedback would be useful here as ‘they suck’ doesn’t provide any value for others deciding which to buy. Personally, I’ve had both pioneer and kenwood touch screen units in the past and found their screens quite unresponsive. Cheers.

[@g-funk484]

@@explorebound sony has allot of software issues, if you want to compare to these sonys go with a pioneer dmhz5350bt or a Kenwood dmx8020s

[@outdoors5352]

@@g-funk484 Yeah....both of which are $200 more than the Sony XAV-AX3000, so not really in the same ball park.

[@g-funk484]

@@outdoors5352 not true at all i run a car audio business i understand the prices, xavax3000 can be compared to a pioneer dmhz5350bt or a kenwood dmx8020s all 3 units have been sold under $500 in shops when on special and even retail price is $80 difference

[@outdoors5352]

@@g-funk484 Fair enough, but not all of us are in the business and can't watch prices for 6 months. Best Price on the 3000 at the moment is $475