Sony XS-163ES Mobile ES 3-way component speaker system

About the Sony XS-163ES

An audiophile experience in the car

Sony has a worldwide reputation for making great audio easy to access. So it's always exciting when they decide to make a product that's focused on premium car audio, like their flagship XS-163ES 6-1/2" -way component speaker system. I carved out some time to experience their Mobile ES Series for myself at Crutchfield HQ's Car Audio Listening Lab. Using Hi-res Audio streaming service Qobuz, I listened to some of my favorite albums from female vocalists like Bonnie Raitt and Kate Bush, soundscapes from Daft Punk, and hip-hop from MF DOOM. It's no exaggeration to say that with every track, I heard texture and detail I'd never heard before. All of those small revelations added up to a bigger, deeper feeling — I felt closer to the music — like I was "there." If you're hungering for an audiophile-grade experience in the car, these Hi-res Audio-compatible speakers from Sony are a wonderful way to start.

Specialized woofer

Sony builds the woofer cones of this 6-1/2" component speaker system from a specialized, mica-reinforced cellular aramid fiber. Developed in-house, this lightweight, rigid material minimizes distortion and enhances overall low-frequency response. Sony's unique, notch-edge surround helps with responsiveness and shrugging off wear and tear over the life of the speaker

Compact midrange driver

Midrange drivers can be the most difficult speakers to install. Sony uses a powerful neodymium magnet for premium performance in a shallower basket that betters your odds of an easy fit in existing factory locations, or if need be, custom locations.

Audiophile tweeter

The system's synthetic fabric dome component tweeter delivers frequencies up to 40,000 Hz that, even though they are above the range of human hearing, reveal more texture and detail in your high-resolution audio files and add more realism and atmosphere to instruments and vocals.

Premium crossover networks

Sony includes impressive crossovers that help the included speakers do their very best work. Low-resistance film capacitors help the tweeters achieve clarity in the high range. Additionally, Sony builds exciting tools like gain control and the ability to bi-amp the included components. 

The sum of its parts

Sony's meticulous approach to stamping out distortion wherever it might lurk continues with nearly every other facet of this system. The structure of the woofer's five-beam frame helps the dispersion of unwanted resonance and the speaker's integrated dynamic air diffuser promotes essential cooling when the going gets hot. That means you can feed the Mobile ES Series component system plenty of power from an aftermarket amp and always count on immersive, natural sound.

Product highlights:

• component speaker system includes 2 woofers, 2 midrange drivers, 2 tweeters, and 2 crossovers
• 6-1/2" Mica Reinforced Cellular aramid fiber woofer
• 3-1/2" midrange driver
• 1" synthetic fiber dome tweeter
• handles up to 90 watts RMS (270 watts peak power)
• frequency response: 40-40,000 Hz
• sensitivity: 89 dB
• woofer top-mount depth: 2-3/16"
• warranty: 3 years
• 60-day returns
• MFR # XS163ES
• Item # 158XS163ES

What's in the box: