Sony DSX-GS80 Review 2023

Sony DSX-GS80 GS Series is one of the popular and highly rated car stereo these days. That’s why I picked it up for reviewing this head unit.

In this Sony DSX-GS80 Review, you will learn the good, the bad and the ugly of this stereo based on my experience, test results and research of course!

Here’s the short summary of our findings!

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Key Specs

Price At Crutchfield Check Price Amazon

7.8

HifiVega

★★★★★★★★★★

Soundman Car Audio

★★★★★★★★★★

Fly in the Soup

★★★★★★★★★★

4.6/5 by 257+ Users at Amazon

4.5/5 by 77+ users at Crutchfield

4.4/5 by 5+ users at ebay

Sound Quality

10/10

Design & Display

6/10

Phone Integration

7/10

Expandability

8/10

Playback Features

8/10

Ease of Use

7/10

Value For Price

9/10

Our Verdict

In my opinion, the Sony DSX-GS80 is a well-designed and feature-rich single-DIN receiver that offers advanced sound processing capabilities and good connectivity options. It’s a great choice for audiophiles or anyone who values high-quality audio playback. The large LCD display and modern design make it easy to navigate, and it offers good value for its price. Overall, it’s a solid choice if you’re in the market for a new receiver.

Pros

Great sound quality:
A lot of sound controls and EQs.
Bluetooth connectivity:
Siri Eyes Free:
USB port:
Supports Apple Carplay And Android Auto
Easy to install
Durable

Cons

Can be pricier
All of the functions in a single menu may make it difficult to navigate on the screen while driving.

What Other Experts Say?

Overall Rating by 3 Experts

★★★★★★★★★★

9/10

–HifiVega

“One of the downsides that I will say is that being a digital media unit, you expect it to be a little bit shorter, and it’s not as small as expected, and I’m assuming that’s because of the built-in amp they needed that extra room. so that’s the one downside I can say about it other than that, you know, I think everything else is pretty solid.”

Detailed Breakdown of Sony DSX-GS80

10/10

Sound Quality

Sound quality for any head unit is a key feature to consider when buying the head unit. And if I talk about the sound quality of the Sony DSX-GS80 GS Series, then it has won my heart.

Due to having a built-in Class-D amplifier that delivers 45 watts RMS per channel, the sound quality of this system is very clear and crisp and comes with a pitch that is so deep that it makes your body move.

It’s because this head unit has a lot of processing features such as High-Pass/Low-Pass Filters, Advanced Sound Engine Dynamic Stage Organizer, and many more, which make its sound quality exceptional.

I tested it on high sound with different genres, and trust me, there was no distortion in the sound quality, and the bass and the clarity of the sound quality were exactly the same.

The other thing that improves the sound quality of the Sony DSX GS80 is that it has a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that can significantly improve the sound quality of your music.

The DSX-GS80 uses a high-quality 24-bit/192kHz DAC, which means that it can accurately reproduce the subtle nuances of your favourite tracks with exceptional clarity and detail.

Amplifier: Class-D amp delivers
Equaliser: 10-band equaliser
Sound Processing: Setting illumination, seating position, and subwoofer configurations.
DAC: Not Available
Preamps: 6 preamp outputs
Power Output: 45
User Review: 4.6

6/10

Design & Display

First off, I have to say that the design of this head unit is sleek and modern. With its matte black finish and red backlighting, it looks great in any car.

The front face of the unit is angled slightly upwards, which makes it easier to see and reach the buttons and screen.

If we talk about the screen of this head unit, it’s not a touchscreen. However, a 3-line LCD display that’s easy to read and navigate displays information like the song title, artist name, and album art, which really adds to the overall user experience.

The display is also customizable, so you can choose from different colour schemes and backgrounds to match your car’s interior.

Also, the screen of the head unit has a high-contrast LCD display with features for adjusting the brightness. Because of that, if there is sunlight, you can increase the brightness, and you’ll be able to see everything on the screen. Sounds interesting?

I found the buttons and the display to be a little small. You can obviously get the work done, but these things could have been bigger.

Also, I found it difficult to navigate on the screen while driving, as all of the functions are given in a single menu. So, this is something that Sony should make better.

Touch Screen: Not Available
Durability: Made of plastic, metal, and other high-quality materials.
Capacitive vs. Resistive: Not Available
High Brightness for sunlight: 200 nits

7/10

Smartphone Integration

As for smartphone integration, I was very happy with the unit’s performance. Bluetooth pairing was quick and seamless, and the Sony Music Center app made it easy to control my music and adjust the settings.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also worked well and allowed me to access my phone’s features and apps without taking my hands off the wheel.

Also, because of these two features, I was able to connect my phone to the head unit and access music, navigation, and messaging apps directly from the car’s display.

This is a huge convenience and makes it much safer to use your phone while driving since you can keep your eyes on the road.

Due to the fact that it supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you can use the voice controls that are built into both. It means you can use Siri in Apple CarPlay and Google’s voice assistant in Android Auto.

Speaking about its storage, I don’t like that this head unit doesn’t have any built-in storage, neither RAM nor ROM. It completely relies on external sources to play music, such as USB and Bluetooth. That’s something; I want to be better at the product.

Android Auto/ Apple Airplay : Both
Voice control: Siri Eyes Free and Android
Wireless: Bluetooth, Android Auto/ Apple Airplay
Other app Integration: Not available
Screen Mirroring: Not available
2 GB RAM & Rom: Not available

8/10

Connectivity

As for the connectivity, this Sony DSX-GS80 has a dual Bluetooth option, which means not only will you be able to play your favourite music while driving the car but also your friend sitting next to you.

The USB port on this head unit made it easier for me to connect my iPad and smartphone to the head unit and play the music directly from them with ease.

If you’re willing to add any additional amplifier to your car to support your aftermarket speakers or subwoofers, then you can do that, too, as it has high-power preamp output.

Furthermore, the head unit also has an auxiliary input jack, which allows you to connect any device with a 3.5mm headphone jack, such as a portable music player or smartphone, directly to the head unit. The Sony DSX’s connectivity disadvantage is that it lacks wifi and NFC.

Bluetooth(2): Dual Bluetooth
USB Connectivity: Dual USB ports
WiFi: Available
NFC: Not Available
HDMI: Not Available

8/10

Playback Features

The Sony DSX-GS80 car stereo is a top-of-the-line piece of audio equipment that delivers amazing sound quality with a sleek, modern design. Its controls are intuitive and well-placed, making it easy to adjust your music without taking your eyes off the road.

The stereo uses advanced digital signal processing to produce crystal-clear sound with deep, rich bass and vibrant highs.

It’s compatible with a wide range of audio sources, including smartphones, MP3 players, and SiriusXM satellite radio, making it a versatile addition to any car.

Overall, the Sony DSX-GS80 is an impressive car stereo that’s worth checking out if you’re in the market for an upgrade.

It’s packed with features that will enhance your driving experience and keep you entertained on long road trips, and its high-quality audio performance will make you feel like you’re in your own personal concert hall.

One of the best features of this head unit is that it has a rear camera input that allows you to connect a compatible backup camera to the stereo.

Once connected, the camera feed will display on the stereo’s screen when you shift into reverse, giving you a clear view of what’s behind you.

This feature can be very useful for parking or reversing in tight spaces, and it can also improve safety by helping you avoid collisions.

The Sony DSX-GS80 car stereo is compatible with steering wheel controls. It has built-in compatibility with a wide range of aftermarket steering wheel control interfaces, allowing you to retain the use of your factory steering wheel controls after installing the new stereo.

Navigation: Available
Camera Support: Available
Multi-Zone Audio: Not Available
Digital Media Support: Available
Compatibility with Steering Wheel Controls: Yes, it’s compatible with Steering wheels controls
Backup Camera Integration: Available

7/10

Ease of Use

In terms of user interface and ease of use, the Sony DSX-GS80 car stereo is a standout product. The stereo features a large and easy-to-read display screen, which provides clear and detailed information about the current track or station, as well as other settings and features.

The user interface is well-designed and intuitive, with simple and easy-to-use buttons and controls that allow you to adjust settings, switch between sources, and control playback with ease.

However, as stated earlier as well, all of the features are given in a single menu which makes it difficult for me to navigate on the screen while I’m driving.

If I talk about the installation process of the Sony DSX-GS80, then it’s very easy to install. Anyone can easily do it without having any

9/10

Value for money

With so many features, connectivity options, and exceptional sound quality, the Sony DSX-GS80 is worth your bucks.

Indeed, it’s pricier than other head units out there, but the number of essential features it has deserves to have this much value.

9/10

User Review

Let’s take a look at user reviews for the Sony DSX-GS80. It has received a total of 339 reviews and has an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon from 296 buyers, 4.5 out of 5 on Crutchfield from 77+ users and 4.4 out of 5 on ebay from 5+ users. It shows it is a good product and you can bet on it on your money.