Sony X-plode

Am I the only installer who would like to refuse all installs involving Sony X-plode products? 

I'm seriously considering it! I have the freedom to since I'm a driveway installer. I welcome the cash, but this stuff seriously sucks and reflects poorly on my installations....

So the CD player is no longer working after the deck was only removed and replaced, AM/FM work fine.  The four channel amp sounds worse than the HU powering the speakers...it's not even a polarity issue, all four sound like complete garbage......I hate this stuff!

To top this all off, the check engine light is on, but that's because I swapped out a broken valve cover and the computer is responding to the breather hose being reconnected after not being connected......still what can suck more than this?

I'll have to admit, this is my first sucky install, whether it's the product or something I did. I suppose every installer has one of these moments, but I'm too much of a perfectionest to even appreciate this moment...

I believe not!. I've seen and known cars with sony set ups that work out terrific.  Its the installer, how many years you've worked on automotive electronics / audio etc..???

I do agree that they are not the BEST products made. They are decent. Review this website, and email the installer and come back and message me.  ( I admire there work and installs)

https://www.hzemall.com/Sony_folder/sony_neon_cover.htm

https://www.hzemall.com/Sony_folder/sony_srt4.htm

"this stuff seriously sucks and reflects poorly on my installations...."  Maybe Sony should find a way to make you stop installing their equipment, being that your installations reflect poorly on the quality of their product.  Nothing wrong with Sony's equipment, some of it provides a good value.  Just be aware that it is not the best stuff out there (some people do not know this, just tell them).  If you think that it is reflecting poorly on your installs, by all means refuse to install them.  I have told people that "I will put that in... but you are not going to be very happy."  Further, excluding the very low end Xplode line, Sony gear can be made to sound decent and even quite good.  I have a CA&E mag that features a Sony system that has won sound-offs in the entry level category (i'll dig up the issue # if you want some install tips).  It's more then a little lame to blame a poor sounding system on your setup.  Sounds like you have multiple problems here.  Try swapping the amp out for a different one and see if it sounds better, try swapping the questionable Sony amp to a different vehicle. Try Troubleshooting.  I have had one bad amp come out of a new box, and it was a Sony (about 6 years ago).  I swapped in a amp I had sitting around, problem identified and I took it back to Wal-Mart for a new one.  They guy who I put it in for ran that amp until he sold the car a few years ago.  The CD does not work after the unit was only removed and replaced? So this is a used deck?  Are you sure it worked before? "To top this all off, the check engine light is on, but that's because I swapped out a broken valve cover and the computer is responding to the breather hose being reconnected after not being connected..."  Damn you Sony!  Your poor products have destroyed my ability to mechanically repair a automobile correctly! 

And BTW your a perfectionist, not a perfectionest.

i agree with xtreamcc , but i also am going to say that sony xplod is... well ... is not very good, but all you have to do is just not buy that kinda stuff, and when a problem comes youre way in an install ... deal wit it man, but i know i know its sony! haha

-matt

I'm looking at the car again this weekend and I'll let you all know what I find.

Then you all can rag on me some more... If it's the installer, I'll be the first to admit it.

If the check engine light is still on, I'll pull the code and post what it was. The fact is that the car had been running without the breather hose connected, a 1" hole in the old valve cover and now it has a new valve cover and the hose is connected, this has more than likely changed the vaccum and triggered some sensor. If anyone here is a ford expert (3.0 Taurus) and wants to teach me something about it, please don't, this is an audio forum.

Heavillymedicate...  When you say 'bad amp' do you mean not working at all or working but not quite right? 

The mistakes I made here were rushing a job, working in the dark (even though I have plenty of lights, there is no replacement for daylight. I was very carefull to hook things up correctly and I made good connections. When I hooked up the speakers, I checked each pair and they climbed up to 4.1 ohms DC resistance, the sound comes through all of the correct speakers, but it sounds like crap.  I didn't have much time to troubleshoot, I already had the car back together, but it was getting late. It will be interesting to see what went wrong here. 

I still stand to my beliefs, SONY X-PLODE SUCKS!!  I've seen this stuff turn to dust more than once....if you want some stories, just ask...

Thanks xtreamcc....  I'm not out to get sony as a company, but I do hate xplode. For the record, I favor Sony Cd players like thier discman and the 5 disc home players over most anything else out there.

The only thing I can think of is that the CD player may have been bumped and thrown the LASER out of alignment. Still, this is pretty cheap, I have CD players that are from cars in the junkyards, left in boxes in the basement...

Even my trusty 'Skipwood' works after years of abuse, this was also a freebie and it didn't look like it was in the greatest shape when I got it.

"1) find the problem, 2) fix the problem, and finally 3) LEARN FROM IT. "

That's basically what I'm looking to do, but I can't do much now. I'll give a nice update when this is straightened out.

I will admit that those X-pode guys do some killer installs. It may be junk equipment, but there is no shame in a good install. Maybee they were sponsored or something.  I agree with Ravendarat, install is first then equipment... I installed a Profile California series 500watt max amp in my roommate's car, it sounded so good, no one believed it was a Profile. People always argued that the $175 could have been spent on a better brand amp, but it seemed to do the trick. 

flynntech wrote:

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"1) find the problem, 2) fix the problem, and finally 3) LEARN FROM IT. "

That's basically what I'm looking to do, but I can't do much now. I'll give a nice update when this is straightened out.

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Wow....that's exactly what this amp is doing!!  I have it set to HP, starting out low sensitivity, highest x-over point, bass boost off. I'm not doing anything different than I ever had, for a minute it sounded good through the front speakers, the rear's are infinity reference 6x9"s and they don't sound anything like infinitys!

If the amp is bad, it's not my problem....now the CD player, what's up with that? Is there a possibility that it's not the hardware, but a setting instead? Either way, I can take care of it, but what a headache!

I can take the amp to work and trace a test tone through it with a dual trace scope. I'll know right then whether it's workng or not.  The amp seemed to be new, it was in a box with plastic and it looked new. THe HU was already there.

remember..... always.......

it's a poor musician who blames his instrument !!!

I am right now using a sony CDX-F5000 and think it is pretty good. I am also using 2 10" 1100W Sony subs that i got as a payment for money owed to me. I also have 2 audiobahn AWC series 10's hooked up to it. The sony subs have better sound quality to me. The bass from them is astonishing. but this is coming from a semi-deaf guy so yeah.

Its the installer who makes the system sound like crap most the time. any equipment hooked up right and in the right box could sound good. thats why there are specs given for subs, amps and decks.

what exactly is the problem with the cd player? does it just read the disc or is it completly dead and the motor doesnt even kick in to pull the disc into it? I have a sony deck that the cd player died on. i opened it up and founf that the cd player is a seperate module that just sits on a connecter in the middle of the board. it was just a little loose. all i did was pull it out, line it up and drop it back in and all was fine.

while it does sound like your were unfortunate enough to pick up some bad equipment, its true that even the worst gear can sound good when installed right. I have 2 radioshack 8" full range speakers and 2 radioshack super tweeters in a box in my back seat running off a xplod HU (dont remember the model #). and an 8" radioshack sub running off a pyramid amp. the whole set up cost under $100 ($45 for 5 speakers and $50 for the amp. HU was free) and after many many hours for fine tuning sound awsome. it wont be winning fist place in an spl comp any time  soon, but it blows away almost every person i meet. just realised that this was just a big brag on somthing that isnot about sony so ill shut up now.

warren

You have a point, I've seen many cheapo stereo systems sound incredible. I've shopped at parts express and used vintage gear, sound is sound and no company really owns that market.

I was thinking about that ribbon connection too, I know what you are talking about. I'll be finding out what exactly is going on.  I always take care of my customers, so I'm looking forward to putting my stamp of approval on this job.

Thanks, for the advice Xploder. Although I wasn't designing boxes or wiring subs, I understand what you mean.

My problem with Sony X-plode is that it will malfunction whether it is connected right or not. Maybee I'm biased because I'm used to more rugged equipment like mil-spec and industrial grade electronics....With Sony X-plode it's like walking on eggshells.

Like I said, I just ran out of time and I was pissed that I had to leave something like that. I did about $2000 worth of repairs and cals on LASER measurement equipment today, so I'm not that bad of a tech. If I was, I probably wouldn't have a job. 

Ok....the update as promised...

The amp, XM-460GTX, is NFG.  What was happening was this: connect RCA inputs to front or rear channel and the sound would come through all four channels very distorted!  Solution....remove amp, recomend to have fixed under warranty.

Check engine light, not on anymore.

CD player, works....but not with RCA out...? Any ways, it all works and it's wired back to the speakers and it sounds much better than that amp did!

The genius who installed the HU at Fry's in CA used crimps and charged this guy for a harness....even though there was no harness in there! I noticed the ACC crimp was hanging by three strands of copper and it broke right off. I cut all of those crimps out and soldered every one......upon doing this, I noticed that the rear channels were wired to the wrong polarity. Any reason for this, I wondered, no none at all. Everything is in phase and working just fine.

I still think sony X-plode is complete garbage.