Pioneer Vs. Sony Car Stereos

The battle between car stereo giants Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood, and others has been raging for years, and it’s not likely to stop anytime soon. All of these companies have slightly different offerings on the market today, and they are constantly vying to release new products that outdo each other.

When comparing Pioneer Vs. Sony side-by-side, there are a lot of similarities, like build quality, features and tech specs, but there’s a lot of differences too — some subtle, others, not so much.

Both companies have many decades of experience cranking out quality products. They both offer a wide variety of car stereos of different types. Which is best depends on what’s important to you, and will vary as the years roll on.

Pioneer Car Stereos

Pioneer is one of the most well-renowned brand in the car audio industry and has products ranging from car audio components, DJ gear, home audio/video equipment and down to headphones. Pioneer has been around for a very long time and have mastered the art of making top-notch products.

The company was founded in 1938 in Tokyo as a radio and speaker repair shop and it’s become one of the most solid contenders in the audio space.

Pioneer offers a broad selection of quality car stereos. So, whether you’re looking for a single DIN receiver, a touchscreen car stereo, or a flip out car stereo, Pioneer has got you covered.

Pioneer car stereos range in price from tens to hundreds of dollars. Some Pioneer flagship car stereos cost upwards of $800. However, these flagship units are loaded with every cutting-edge features that you can think of including Apple carplay and Android Auto, GPS, Siri Eyes Free, HD radio, Sirius XM satellite radio, and a lot more.

Pioneer high-end car stereos offer a rich blend of features and entertainment options. When you pick one of these flagship marvels up, you’ll know where the extra money went.

You don’t have to feel left out if you’re on a strict-budget because Pioneer also offers a wide range of reasonably-priced headunits. Like with any product, you can get a great Pioneer car stereo if you’re willing to shell out some serious dough, but there really are great products in every price range.

When it comes to choosing a car stereo, bear in mind that the more features you want, the more cash you’ll have to spend.

Pioneer DEH-S5100BT

Pioneer DEH-S5100BT

• 2-Line LCD display
• Built-in Bluetooth
• 13-band graphic equalizer with 7 selectable tone curves
• Front USB Input & Aux input
• 3 Sets of 2V preamp output

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Pioneer offers plenty of choices when it comes to single din car stereos ranging in price from as low as $60 to as high as $250. So, whatever your budget, Pioneer has something for you.

The DEH-S5100BT is one of Pioneer’s top-rated mid-range car receivers. This headunit comes with a great array of features. It has a multi-line display, variable color illumination with separate control of display and buttons, as well as MIXTRAX which is Pioneer’s exclusive technology that creates a nonstop mix of your music library with added transitions and effects.

This unit also has Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling and wireless audio streaming. It features controls for Apple Music, Pandora, and Spotify.

Along with streaming, the DEH-S5100BT has a CD drive, an AM/FM tuner, front-panel USB and aux inputs. It come with 6-channel preamp outputs, as well as a built-in 50-watt-by-4 amp. There’s low-pass and high-pass filters, subwoofer control, and 3-level loudness. To further fine-tune the sound, you get an easy EQ 13-band equalizer with seven preset tone settings, a listening-position selector, digital time alignment, and more.

The only downside to this headunit is the display which is a bit difficult to see in bright daylight. Other than that, the DEH-S5100BT is a pretty good headunit for the money.

Pioneer AVH-2500NEX

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Pioneer AVH-2500NEX

• 6.8 inch VGA display
• Built-In Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Built-in HD Radio
• Built-in Bluetooth
• 13-band graphic equalizer with selectable tone curves
• 3.5mm rear A/V auxiliary input
• Rear USB Input
• 3 sets of preamp outputs
• SiriusXM satellite radio ready

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In addition to their broad selection of single DIN car stereos, Pioneer also offers a wide variety of double DIN headunits. Their double DIN car stereos are some of the top-rated ones in the market, and that’s no coincidence. Pioneer double DIN headunits are very well-engineered and are nicely finished.

The AVH-2500NEX is one of the best double DIN headunits in its class. This mid-range car radio packs in all the feature you want. Between Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and everything else, the AVH-2500NEX takes care of you and all your connectivity needs.

This mobile-friendly headunit was designed specifically for today’s smartphone and tablet-driven lifestyle. So, In addition to Android Auto and CarPlay, the AVH-2500NEX includes Pioneer’s AppRadio Mode, which allows control over a variety of smartphone apps right from the screen.

The AVH-2500NEX sports a highly customizable, intuitive 6.8″ touchscreen user interface that is easy to use. It features built-in Bluetooth technology for hands-free talking and audio streaming.

Aside from CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, this headunit offers a lot of great features including a CD/DVD drive, an AM/FM tuner, rear-mounted USB and Aux inputs, not to mention support for a backup camera.

This unit also is SiriusXM satellite radio ready with the addition of an extra-cost tuner. Additionally, It has controls for Apple Music, Pandora, and Spotify. It’s also compatible with Siri Eyes Free for iPhones.

Sony Car Stereos

If any company has been able to get its hands into nearly every space of consumer/entertainment tech successfully, its Sony. From the wide selection of cameras to smartphones, Sony has been able to make and release products that can be used in every aspect of daily life. And the same quality is found in Sony’s selection of car receivers as well.

Today, Sony is one of the most recognized names within the audio world. They’ve been in business for decades. They manufacture and market a wide variety of car audio components including speakers, subwoofers, amplifiers, and headunits.

Sony has a long tradition of making quality product for reasonable prices. Their car stereos – particularly single DIN headunits – are modestly priced compared to other competing models.

Unlike Kenwood and Pioneer, which offer a wide selection of car stereos of different types, Sony only offers a few single and double DIN headunits. This limits your choice especially if you’re on tight-budget.

So, the question we want to answer here is : For people for have access to a wide variety of car stereos from just as many brands, are Sony car stereos worth the price? Let’s find out.

Sony MEX-N5200BT

Sony MEX-N5200BT

• CD receiver with AM/FM tuner
• Detachable face with dual-zone variable color illumination
• Built-in Bluetooth
• EQ10 10-band equalizer
• Compatible with SiriusXM satellite radio tuner
• Front panel auxiliary and USB inputs
• 6-channel preamp outputs
• Siri Eyes Free with compatible iPhones

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The MEX-N5200BT is one of the best single din headunits that Sony has to offer. It features a stylish and functional design with Dynamic Color Illluminator which allows you to set up thousands of color combinations across two separate illumination zones. It also comes with Sound Synchronization feature which pulses the lights to match your music. For theft protection, this headunit has a partially detachable faceplate.

As with most aftermarket car stereos, this unit features built-in Bluetooth connectivity which adds a new level of convenience and capability to your car, allowing for hands-free calling and wireless audio streaming.

Additionally, the MEX-N5200BT has CD drive, an AM/FM tuner, and is SiriusXM satellite radio ready with the addition of an extra-cost tuner. It features controls for Apple Music, and Pandora. Furthermore, It’s compatible with Siri Eyes Free for iPhones.

The MEX-N5200BT has a front-mounted auxiliary and USB inputs. It comes with 6-channel preamp outputs, high-pass/low-pass electronic crossover, as well as a built-in 55-watt-by-4 MOSFET amp.

As far as sound shaping controls are concerned, you get a EQ10 10-band preset equalizer, and ExtraBass feature which reduces distortion by automatically adjusting frequency and gain to their optimal positions.

As for cons, it’s really to difficult to think of any. If anything, I’d say that some of the control buttons are a little small and a bit hard to access. Additionally, it’ll take you some time to get used to the receiver’s settings and functions.

Sony XAV-AX5000

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Sony XAV-AX5000

• 6.95 inch capacitive touchscreen display on bezel-less panel
• Works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Built-in Bluetooth
• 10-band equalizer with digital time alignment
• Compatible with SiriusXM satellite radio tuner
• Dual rear USB inputs; rear-view camera input
• 5-channel preamp outputs

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As we’ve mentioned earlier, and unlike many other car stereo brands, Sony only offers very few double DIN headunits, with the XAV-AX5000 being one of Sony’s best double DIN car stereos and with good reason.

This digital media receiver is equipped with a 7″ touchscreen display. It’s designed to be pretty easy to use and to keep you in touch with your entertainment while you keep your eyes on the road. It has a  few conveniently located buttons that are meant to control the volume, to go to home screen, to access the receiver’s extensive sound control menus …etc.

Additionally, Its easy-to-navigate menu and large icons and will make it a lot easier for you to find what you want with just a glance.

Ergonomically speaking, Sony XAV-AX5000 is a very well-designed touchscreen car stereo. Its look and feel are to the point. Its user interface is very clean and easy to navigate as well.

This unit features both Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, Pandora controls, and built-in Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling and audio streaming. This unit is also compatible with Siri Eyes Free.

The XAV-AX5000 has two rear-mounted USB port that can be accessed via an extension cable, as well as 5-channel preamp outputs. It also comes with a dedicated rear camera input so you can add a rear-view camera and back up you vehicle with confidence, even if you’re driving a large SUV.

As far as sound tweaking controls are concerned, this unit has a 10-Band EQ, Dynamic Stage Organizer which allows for a better stereo imaging, and ExtraBass which brings out the dynamics in your music, with enhanced low frequencies.

The downside, however, is that this Sony double din headunit has no aux input. It’s rotary knob also is on the small side.

Pioneer Vs. Sony Car Stereos : So which one is best?

We are not going to try to convince you that one is better than the other, as both companies make excellent car stereos, and that is simply too broad a statement to make. Rather, you should consider what kind of car stereo you are looking for, what your budget is, and what features are most important to you.

In terms of build quality, both brands are equally good and both have entry level and high-end flagship car stereos. Which one is best is a matter of endless debate, but the more important question is – which one is best for you?

When it comes to the design, Sony car stereos – double DINs particularly – are easily outclassed by Pioneer’s for the most part. I find Pioneer car stereos more stylish than Sony’s. Additionally, Pioneer’s menu system is superior to Sony, it’s simpler, intuitive and easy to navigate, but that could be a familiarity.

Having said that, when choosing between car stereo brands, we highly recommend that you compare each car stereos individually — where Sony may have a better entry-level car receiver, Pioneer may have a better headunit loaded with cutting-edge bells and whistles. And remember that the grass is always greener in the other brand’s camp.