Hi All

Can anyone tell me what are the differences between the Sony and standard head units?

My van is fitted with Standard and wondered what benefits are there in upgrading to the Sony unit.

Cheers

Vin

for starters the sound quality... the sony has 6 speakers (i think) the standard only has 4.

The Sony radios produce a far superior sound quality plus look nicer too.

I'm assuming the speakers could be upgraded with the standard unit so that's not part of the comparison.

Is the Sony a straight plug and play swap for the standard unit without needing a visit to dealer for change insoftware?

Does the info screen also have to be changed with the unit?

Vin

Ive upgraded the audio in my sport van. Basic unit is the same between Sony and standard units, ids is required to enable rear speaker channels. The Sony speakers are band passed which is why you think you are getting a better sound as they have been tuned to operate within a certain frequency spectrum. Sony front panel is plug and play, and a damn sight easier to use on the move.

Doesn't the standard system come with paper cones, and the sony one have erm, I dunno, a tougher material?

Ive upgraded the audio in my sport van. Basic unit is the same between Sony and standard units, ids is required to enable rear speaker channels. The Sony speakers are band passed which is why you think you are getting a better sound as they have been tuned to operate within a certain frequency spectrum. Sony front panel is plug and play, and a damn sight easier to use on the move.

Cheers Sportvan

So did you upgrade to the Sony head unit and Sony speakers? ( by front panel did you mean the whole unit or just screen)

Cheers

Vin

I have replaced all door speakers with the Sony ones, by passed the band pass filters on the front speakers, the rear part of the audio unit that came with the Sony branded unit had the amp heat sink running across the rear of the unit, but I couldn't tell a difference output wise between that and my standard unit. The audio has been set to high end 6 speakers in ids IIRC.

Enjoy adding the rear speakers. You will need to remove all the van conversion parts before getting the rear quarter panels off!!

Sorry forgot to add.

When referring to the front panel I mean the headunit face plate. I have also fitted the colour display, all of these are plug and play..

Just make sure you get the right parts, 2013 onwards sync units will not work on the older vehicles..

They Sony's have plastic cones and larger magnets compared to the standard speakers and they can take a bit more volume. I have got some plans for the audio in the van, just don't have the time to do it..

I had all the van parts out recently as I wanted to give it a really good clean up inside so it's not too bad to do.

Changed days with sound systems since I was last messing about with them in the 80s!

So ideally I'm looking for a Sony head unit with colour screen (which are both plug and play) and full set of speakers ( which need ids settings altered by ford)

Then I need to make an adjustment to something that I'm assuming is what I would of known as a passive crossover( filtering sound after amp) which comes with the speakers.

Does that sound correct to you ?

Cheers

Vin

I had the standard stereo unit in my 2013 zetec and have the Sony stereo unit in my 2015 TX, the difference is immeasurable. The Sony unit is far superior and not just in looks alone

I'm not sure if the colour screen is compatible with the earlier non sync fiestas, so just make sire you get a compatible unit. I think the earlier Sony units have silver round the airvents whereas the sync ones are gloss black.

Blue screen doesn't work if you currently have the older orange screen, not sure about full colour one.

When I upgraded the HU and speakers on my 2010 Fiesta to the Sony one, I had to keep the original orange screen. You can probably upgraded to the matrix screen if you only have the two liner at the moment though, but it will need to be the orange not blue backlit one.

You will also probably need to make a loom adapter (I did), but it depends when in 2010 yours was built. Mine was built March 2010, just before they made a load of changes.

I'm not sure if the colour screen is compatible with the earlier non sync fiestas, so just make sire you get a compatible unit. I think the earlier Sony units have silver round the airvents whereas the sync ones are gloss black.

So I need one with the silver edge trim on vents?

Vin

for starters the sound quality... the sony has 6 speakers (i think) the standard only has 4.

The Sony headunit has 0 speakers ;)

Blue screen doesn't work if you currently have the older orange screen, not sure about full colour one.

When I upgraded the HU and speakers on my 2010 Fiesta to the Sony one, I had to keep the original orange screen. You can probably upgraded to the matrix screen if you only have the two liner at the moment though, but it will need to be the orange not blue backlit one.

You will also probably need to make a loom adapter (I did), but it depends when in 2010 yours was built. Mine was built March 2010, just before they made a load of changes.

Cheers Alex

It looks quite complicated then ! Mine has orange screen .

In all honesty I'm not bothered what colour the screen is or the head unit if changing to the Sony six speakers improves the sound quality then I'd stick with that .

Looks like it might be a can of worms otherwise. I think Sportvan has done this and got good results.

How can you tell when it was built?

Vin

I had the standard stereo unit in my 2013 zetec and have the Sony stereo unit in my 2015 TX, the difference is immeasurable. The Sony unit is far superior and not just in looks alone

Could this be due to the fact you have Sony speakers with your Sony head unit and standard ones with the standard unit ?

Meaning the difference could just be the speakers?

Vin

There is a difference in HU and Speakers.

I'm not sure if the colour screen is compatible with the earlier non sync fiestas, so just make sire you get a compatible unit. I think the earlier Sony units have silver round the airvents whereas the sync ones are gloss black.

Thanks for your help Sportvan

For clarification this is my screen ,

It actually looks more red than orange but I'm assuming it's the older orange screen mentioned in this thread.

My van was registered 30/9/2010

In order to improve my sound system though changing this screen isn't necessary. It isn't part of the head unit ?

I need a Sony head unit but pre 2013 which will have a silver trim around the vents?

I need Sony speakers but it doesn't matter what year car I get them from but they will need ids from Ford?

Can you let me know if you think this is correct

Thanks

Vin

Yes you will need the older unit. If you dont have DAB then you need the non DAB unit. There is no point adding the dab if you don't already have it.

Do you have a sport van as well? Judging by the display I'm guessing yes. Easiest thing to do is add the Sony front panel get the rear speakers fitted and get it switched on with ids, then the simplest way is add a 4 channel amp with speaker input and the. add a subwoofer and high pass the door speakers taking the bass load off of them..

Thing is I can tell you to do this and that and you may find how my audio is would not be to your liking and you may want more bass etc.

I've been an auto electrician for 20 odd years now, and the best bit of advice I was given was don't sell a £100 system to someone with £10 ears!

There is a Sony unit on the EBay for £80 that should do the job

Yes you will need the older unit. If you dont have DAB then you need the non DAB unit. There is no point adding the dab if you don't already have it.

Do you have a sport van as well? Judging by the display I'm guessing yes. Easiest thing to do is add the Sony front panel get the rear speakers fitted and get it switched on with ids, then the simplest way is add a 4 channel amp with speaker input and the. add a subwoofer and high pass the door speakers taking the bass load off of them..

Thing is I can tell you to do this and that and you may find how my audio is would not be to your liking and you may want more bass etc.

I've been an auto electrician for 20 odd years now, and the best bit of advice I was given was don't sell a £100 system to someone with £10 ears!

Lol I enjoyed that ears analogy

I've had a lot of decent systems in my vans over the years , my first fiesta had a denon amp powering a base tube in the back that left me hardly any room for my work boots running with infinity a in the front, but now my lugs and my needs are different !

I'm still looking for a better than standard quality sound but without the need for the person in the car behind me to feel my bass !

My lugs mightn't be 100 quid these days but there Defoe not a tenner!

Cheers Vin

Yes you will need the older unit. If you dont have DAB then you need the non DAB unit. There is no point adding the dab if you don't already have it.

Do you have a sport van as well? Judging by the display I'm guessing yes. Easiest thing to do is add the Sony front panel get the rear speakers fitted and get it switched on with ids, then the simplest way is add a 4 channel amp with speaker input and the. add a subwoofer and high pass the door speakers taking the bass load off of them..

Thing is I can tell you to do this and that and you may find how my audio is would not be to your liking and you may want more bass etc.

I've been an auto electrician for 20 odd years now, and the best bit of advice I was given was don't sell a £100 system to someone with £10 ears!

Yes it is a sport van . How could you tell by the screen ?

Cheers vin