It was time for an upgrade, a digital makeover that would bring the 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, a stereo was needed that supported CarPlay, Apple’s in-car infotainment system that seamlessly integrates with iPhones. CarPlay would control the iPhone’s navigation, music, and messaging apps directly via a touchscreen display, making driving 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 dashboards.
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 suit, with CarPlay-compatible single-DIN units ranging in price from $350 to $1,400.
Until Sony introduced the XAV-AX8000 in August 2019, installing a CarPlay-capable receiver in an older car was a major challenge. Sony’s innovation achieved a feat previously considered impossible.
As a strategic buyer, one has to consider many factors, including those big screens covering up the Benz’ climate controls. So when we learned about the Power Acoustik CP-71W, which sells for $140 at Walmart, we were 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 spec comparison to benefit from our strategic buying research.)
The Power Acoustik CP-71W will reinvent any car held back by a single DIN slot, vaulting your beloved automobile into the 21st century. We have found no issues with the Power Acoustik. Setup was a breeze. The CP-71W does tend to lose its Bluetooth connection to the iPhone occasionally, but those blips are tolerable. The unit connects immediately after the car starts, and has no discernable touchscreen lag.
We are still amazed by the 6.5-inch LED screen with Apple Maps glowing from the carbon fiber Mercedes dashboard. It’s light-years ahead of the combination Blaupunkt radio and Motorola StarTAC cellphone 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.
All in all, the Power Acoustik CP-71W was a good buy. 🥰
