Though single-DIN Bluetooth CD radios don’t get talked about as often as their multimedia receiver brethren, products like the Sony MEX-N5300BT remain in high demand. As the premium product just below the GS-Series source units, the MEX-N5300BT is equipped with all the source feature and connectivity requirements you’ll need to ensure that you will be entertained and productive on your next automotive adventure or commute to work.
Sony MEX-N5300BT Source Features
The USB port on the face of the MEX-N5300BT will play MP3, WMA, AAC and FLAC audio files from a USB memory stick as well as Android Open Accessory (AOA) 2.0-compatible and Media Transfer Protocol (MTP)-compliant smartphones or portable media players. Alternatively, you can connect an iPod or iPhone and choose the music you want while recharging the device with up to 1 amp of current. The Sony | Music Center app for iOS and Android allows you to control the functions on the radio remotely using your smartphone.
The MEX-N5300BT includes Bluetooth for audio streaming (A2DP) with remote control function (AVRCP), as well as hands-free calling with phone book access (PBAP). You can have two phones paired simultaneously to the radio and place an outgoing call from either unit. Sony includes an external microphone for use with Siri Eyes Free, Android Voice Recognition and Bluetooth phone calls. Sony includes Near Field Communication (NFC) functions to make pairing Android phones with the NFC Easy Connect app intuitive and efficient.
The CD mechanism will play both store-bought CDs as well as homemade CD-R/RW audio discs. You can also burn discs with MP3, WMA, AAC and FLAC audio files for hours and hours of listening enjoyment.
Adding SiriusXM satellite radio is as easy as having your installer add an SXV300v1 tuner and signing up the for service. The radio includes a 1/8-inch auxiliary input on the front panel so you can connect a portable media player or any device with an analog output. Finally, the integrated AM/FM tuner supports RDS/PTY information display, so you will know what song is playing and the call letters of the station you have selected.
Display and Vehicle Integration Features
The front panel of the radio features a 12-character LCD with variable color illumination. You can configure the backlighting for the buttons to be the same as the display or choose from any of more than 32,000 hues. The face of the radio is, of course, removable for added security when you are away from the vehicle.
Your installer can connect the steering-wheel-mounted radio control buttons in your vehicle to the Sony MEX-N5300BT using any of a number of interfaces to make using the radio safer and more intuitive while you drive.
Audio Functions and Specifications
Sony has equipped this radio with a 10-band graphic equalizer that provides up to 6 dB of boost or cut at each frequency of the preset frequency bands. The equalizer comes with eight preset equalizer curves and includes the ability for you to customize curve to your liking.
In terms of configuration features, high- and low-pass crossovers are available for the 2-volt front, rear and subwoofer preamp outputs. Subwoofer level and polarity controls are also included to make system tuning easier and more accurate. The internal amplifier is rated to provide 20 watts of power into a 4-ohm load and has a maximum power rating of 55 watts.
If you are in the market for a single-DIN CD receiver that won’t break the bank, visit your local authorized Sony car audio retailer today and ask for a demonstration of the MEX-N5300BT.
This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.38
People choose to have their car, truck and SUV 
The sun produces a great deal of energy. This energy includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared energy, visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays and gamma rays. UV radiation is broken down into three subcategories: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC radiation has wavelengths between 100 and 280 nanometers and is blocked almost completely by the ozone, water vapor, carbon dioxide and oxygen in our atmosphere. UVB energy ranges from 280 to 315 nanometers. The atmosphere blocks roughly 90 percent of UVB energy. UVA ranges from 315 to 400 nanometers and, because of the high levels that reach the surface of the planet, is responsible for the majority of the skin damage we experience.
Our skin naturally produces a dark pigment called melanin when exposed to UV radiation. Melanin serves as a shield against UV damage. If the UV exposure is prolonged, the layer of cells in the upper skin layer is killed. The result is that your skin turns red in a process called erythema. Contrary to the term “healthy tan,” there is no such thing.
Automotive window films from companies like 3M, Llumar and Scorpion block between 95 percent and 99 percent of ultraviolet radiation. This protection is the equivalent of wearing a lotion sunscreen with an SPF rating of 1000. You get the same exposure to UV energy after 1,000 minutes as you would in 1 minute without the tint. That’s impressive.
The answer to the question “Does darker tint protect better?” is both yes and no. Within a specific series of window films, you may find that their lightest shade of tint (say, a 50 percent tint) blocks 95 percent of UV energy where the darkest films (around 5 percent) blocks 99 percent. Both are quite excellent and offer exceptional protection.
UVA and UVB energy are also responsible for causing the color of textiles and leather to fade. The process of breaking down the chemical bonds in the dyes used in these materials is called photodegradation. Dyed textiles are particularly susceptible to fading. Having your windows tinted with a quality film will help maintain the appearance and value of your vehicle for many years.
Have you ever been driving along and witnessed something that you wish you could have captured on video? It could be a car accident, strange or reckless driving behavior or just something interesting you want to share on social media. We most certainly can’t drive around with our smartphones in our hand, and when something worth recording does happen, we’ve usually missed the opportunity to capture the moment. A dashcam system is the solution. Read on to learn everything you ever wanted to know about dash cameras and how they work.
Dash camera systems are typically wired into the ignition circuit of your vehicle and begin recording as soon as you start your car or truck. There is no need to remember to press a button. Most camera systems include an integrated accelerometer that records forces in all three axes along with the video. This information can be used to show acceleration and braking and cornering forces, as well as to detect impacts in the event of an accident.
As mentioned, most cameras start recording as soon as the vehicle ignition is turned on. Options in the setup menu allow the installer to configure the length, frame rate and the resolution of the video. Typical video lengths are one, three and five minutes. These short lengths make it easy to pick out certain events while ignoring long periods of uneventful driving.
There are two basic styles of 
Another popular camera option is called Parking Mode. When activated, the camera will operate even after the ignition is turned off. Parking Mode works in different ways for different cameras. Some record at a much lower framerate. Some monitor the image for changes (when a person approaches the vehicle, for example) and only start recording when a change is detected. Parking Mode is a great feature for people worried about someone breaking into or vandalizing their vehicle.
Beyond features, buying a dashcam is similar to buying any other video or still picture camera. The amount of information stored depends on the resolution of the camera system, the quality of the image sensor and the optics (lens quality) of the system. If you want a yes or no answer to who caused an accident, any recording system will work. If you are hoping to read a license plate or phone number from the side of a vehicle, you can never have too much resolution. It’s up to you to decide how much is right for your application.
Finally, we should discuss just why it is a great idea to have a dash camera installed in your vehicle. There’s no doubt that a good public shaming on Facebook for someone who cut you off is great entertainment, but the need to 
Did you know that teenage drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident than those who are 20 or older? With their relative lack of experience and the constant bombardment of distractions, it’s no wonder that young people are at risk. The aftermarket mobile electronics industry offers a wide variety of systems and solutions that can protect teenage drivers.
While it’s certainly best practice to focus exclusively on the task of driving when behind the wheel, now and then, we need to take an important phone call. Bluetooth hands-free communication became a life-saver in the late 2000s, allowing a driver to talk with someone without having to hold the phone.
For the ultimate in smartphone integration, an aftermarket multimedia receiver with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto adds a wide variety of communication, information and entertainment options that can be accessed using voice commands. By simply pressing and holding a button on your steering wheel, you can ask these systems to place a phone call, send a text message, or search for an address and provide navigation instructions. The voice recognition technology built into a smartphone allows the driver to keep their eyes on the road and mirrors to ensure he or she is safe.
A backup camera system uses a compact camera to let you see an image of anything behind the vehicle. The image from the camera can be displayed on many factory-installed infotainment systems, a new rearview mirror with a built-in screen or an aftermarket multimedia receiver. The image appears automatically as soon as you put the transmission into reverse, so you don’t have to remember to press any buttons. Many video systems will support a secondary camera that faces forward on the vehicle. These second cameras are a great option for trucks, vans and SUVs whose large dimensions make them difficult to park.
One of the biggest challenges for a new driver is traveling on the freeway. Keeping track of the position of cars and trucks around one’s vehicle can be very difficult. An aftermarket blind-spot monitoring system lets you know when someone is driving beside you and can dramatically reduce the chance of changing lanes when someone is in your way.
The second option for blind-spot monitoring is a camera system. In these systems, cameras mounted underneath your rear vision mirrors display an image of the area beside your vehicle when you activate the turn signal. Just like the backup camera systems, there are many options available to display the image from the cameras.
If you are looking for the absolute state-of-the-art in protection, look into the Mobileye series of products. The Mobileye 660 uses a precisely calibrated camera to monitor the area in front of the vehicle and alert the driver when you are leaving your lane, approaching another vehicle too quickly, or at risk of colliding with a vehicle or pedestrian approaching from the side. This is the same technology that Tesla uses in its AutoPilot system.
Another great option for a younger driver is to install a dash cam. A 
The last option to consider is a 
