DMH-SZ700 Review & Evaluation

After leaving the car for a few days, I was notified that the installation was complete and went to pick it up.

Right away, I connected my iPhone and played music—and was amazed! The sound quality was completely different. Even I, who am not an audiophile, could tell the difference, so I think most people would notice. Compared to the slightly muffled, light sound of the factory system, the DMH-SZ700 delivers clear, transparent sound with depth.

Of course, the speakers are still factory stock, so it doesn’t match the latest Porsche BOSE or Burmester systems, but it’s perfectly satisfying.

Blends seamlessly with the interior design. Feels even more factory than factory.

On the way home, even when pressing the accelerator in Sport and Sport Plus modes, when the alternator’s output and voltage rise, there was absolutely no noise. Zero. Bypassing the factory amplifier was definitely the right call.

The main features of the DMH-SZ700 include:

CarPlay & Android Auto

Simply connect your smartphone to the navigation unit via USB cable, and some apps from your phone become usable on the DMH-SZ700 screen.

This allows you to display map apps like Google Maps, Yahoo! Car Navigation, Navitime, etc. Since it’s your phone’s navigation, the maps are always up to date.

Traffic information is real-time from the internet, and destination search capabilities far surpass traditional navigation systems.

Best of all, you never have to worry about map updates again, and since smartphone navigation apps are frequently updated, usability keeps improving, making it very convenient.

I feel the advantages of choosing a traditional navigation system made by legacy manufacturers are diminishing year by year.

HDMI Input Support

If you have an HDMI cable, you can mirror your smartphone’s entire screen to the DMH-SZ700. While CarPlay and similar features only mirror compatible apps, HDMI lets you mirror your phone’s home screen as well.

Mirroring smartphone screen via HDMI. Playing a video.

This means you can watch Netflix movies, YouTube, or even display your browser screen.

I personally don’t use this much, but it’s very handy for passengers who want to watch videos.

Built-in Browser

By turning on your smartphone’s tethering (internet sharing) and connecting the DMH-SZ700 to Wi-Fi, you can use the built-in browser to browse websites and watch videos right on the screen.

Watching YouTube via the built-in browser

You can also connect an HDMI cable, but even without it, you can watch YouTube and other videos through the browser, which is very convenient.

Alexa Built-in

This was one of the deciding features for me.

Once connected to the internet, you can use voice commands like “Alexa, do this” inside the car. I often use Alexa to select music, listen to news, or tune into radio broadcasts via Radiko by voice.

In a driving environment where your hands are busy, voice command devices like Alexa are invaluable.

Other Features

Of course, it also includes basic car audio functions such as AM/FM radio (including Wide FM), Bluetooth music playback, phone functions, and can display weather forecasts and sports news on the home screen.

Drawbacks & Concerns?

First, it cannot receive TV broadcasts (terrestrial digital or one-seg).

While the factory navigation could receive TV, the DMH-SZ700 lacks a tuner, so it cannot display TV. Personally, I rarely watch TV even at home and mostly use internet streaming, so this isn’t a drawback for me, but if you want TV, you should consider adding a separate tuner.

Next, regarding usability, the touch sensor buttons for menu and volume are located on the left edge of the screen, close to the vehicle’s frame, making them somewhat hard to operate and slow to respond.

I wish they had placed the touch sensors along the bottom of the screen for better usability.

Summary

Personally, I’m very satisfied with the replacement. Visually, it feels even more factory than the original, with an atmosphere close to the PCM in the 718 or 991.2. The sound quality is excellent, and although I rarely listened to music inside the Boxster before, I now find myself playing music even in town.

Having the navigation maps always up to date and being able to mirror the familiar smartphone navigation on the screen is fantastic.

Beyond functionality, it’s also great that I no longer need to attach a smartphone holder to the air vent to fix my phone in place. I’m glad I switched to display audio.

I also had the same system installed on my 991.1 Carrera 4 GTS

DMH-SZ700 installed on the 991.1 Carrera 4 GTS

I was so satisfied that right after finishing the Boxster, I immediately booked the replacement for my 991.1 Carrera 4 GTS. Just recently, that installation was completed, and both my 981 and 991.1 now enjoy a comfortable in-car infotainment environment.

If you’re considering replacing your navigation system now, I recommend choosing a display audio system that supports CarPlay and Android Auto instead of a traditional legacy navigation system. Among them, I believe the DMH-SZ700 is currently the best choice.