I decided it was time for an upgrade, a digital makeover that would bring my beloved SLK into the 21st century. But this was no ordinary audio upgrade. The Baby Benz, like many European cars of its era, has a single-DIN dashboard opening for the stereo. DIN, short for Deutsches Institut für Normung, is a car stereo standard. Single-DIN stereos are smaller and more compact than their double-DIN counterparts, which limits options.
To complicate matters further, I wanted a stereo that supported CarPlay, Apple’s in-car infotainment system that seamlessly integrates with iPhones. CarPlay would allow me to control my iPhone’s navigation, music, and messaging apps directly on a touchscreen display, making driving safer and more enjoyable. But finding a single-DIN stereo with CarPlay was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Most CarPlay-enabled stereos are double-DIN sized, designed for late-model dashboard openings.
In 2019, Sony revolutionized automotive entertainment with the XAV-AX8000, a CarPlay unit that occupies a single DIN slot yet features a nine-inch touchscreen that cleverly pivots in front of the in-dash unit. It also featured a price that matched its disruptive feature set: $600. Other car stereo manufacturers, including Alpine, BOSS Audio, and Pioneer quickly followed, with CarPlay-compatible single-DIN units ranging in price from $350 to $1,400.
Watch this video! You never were able to install a CarPlay-capable receiver in an older car until Sony introduced the XAV-AX8000 in August 2019. This innovation achieved something previously considered impossible.
But as a strategic buyer, one has to consider many factors, including the fact that those big screens cover up the Benz’ climate controls. So when I read about the Power Acoustik CP-71W, which sells for $140 at Walmart, I was majorly intrigued.
Early adopters have glommed on to the trend-setting nature of the Power Acoustik unit, in particular, Honda S2000 owners, who joyfully helped spread the buzz. Download this spreadsheet to follow our strategic buying research.
The Power Acoustik CP-71W will reinvent any car constrained by a single DIN slot, vaulting your beloved car into the 21st century. We have found no issues with the Power Acoustik. Setup was a breeze. Right after installation, the CP-71W did lose connection to the iPhone a couple of times, but it has worked flawlessly since. The unit connects immediately after the car starts, with no discernable touchscreen lag.
We are still amazed by the 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple Maps glowing from the carbon fiber Mercedes dashboard. It’s light-years ahead of the Motorola StarTAC cellular telephone initially included with the car. 😏
Vegas Professional Audio installed the Power Acoustik CP-71W. Call Aldo at 702-785-2862 to arrange your installation and tell him Michael Tchong referred you.
Highly recommended. 🥰
