Upgrading your car stereo receiver is one of the easiest ways to improve dashboard technology. Here are seven characteristics we look for when making an offer.
When most people think of “car stereo” they are really thinking of a receiver. The receiver, also known as the head unit or deck, is the brain and heart of your car’s audio system and the part you interact with directly from behind the steering wheel. When you choose a receiver, you also lock in available audio sources, features, and expansion options with the rest of your car audio system.
So, what should you look for when choosing a new receiver? Here are 7 characteristics we consider when recommending car stereos, as well as some of our top picks to help you start your search.
Do you need a CD player? Do you play DVDs on your receiver when parked? Have you ditched discs in favor of digital media? Based on your answers, you will need to decide whether to use a traditional CD receiver with a disc slot, a larger A/V receiver with a color screen, or a disc drive without the mechanical receiver and all the moving parts that come with it. .
Even if you still have a CD in your car’s glove compartment, chances are you or your passenger will have a phone or media player plugged in at some point, so make sure your new receiver is in top condition. Include at least one USB port for MP3, AAC or WMA playback from a flash memory device and an additional 3.5mm analog input for universal connectivity.
Early Buyer’s Choice: Parrot Asteroid Completely ditching the optical drive in favor of a non-physical approach, the Parrot Asteroid is one of the most promising receivers we’ve tested. While reliance on a USB stick, Bluetooth streaming, and networked media can sometimes be problematic, it primarily appeals to early adopters and DIYers, but thanks to the large (for one DIN) color display and Asteroid, this compact deck shows great perspectives in the Android app market for navigation and audio streaming.
You’re a CNET reader, which means you have a smartphone in your pocket and you want your new car stereo to work just fine. Be sure to check out the CNET guide to using an Android phone or connecting an iOS device to your vehicle for details. A common tip is to look for the “Made with iPhone” icon to make sure the USB ports on your new stereo system support your iDevice’s full-speed media access. The iPhone 5S, 5C, or any iPad users using the new Lightning connector will also want to make sure the receiver is using a regular USB port and not the old 30-pin connector.
Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry users don’t need to search for icons. Either choose a receiver that uses A2DP stereo audio streaming over Bluetooth for wireless media playback, or use the aforementioned auxiliary input for the easiest connection.
Heavy users of streaming apps like Pandora or iHeart Radio should look for receivers that have these app controls, placing their user stations, pause/skip controls, and score tools on the dashboard when it’s safer (and legal) to access them on the road.
Users looking for a more tightly integrated application experience should look into application duplication devices such as Pioneer’s AppRadio range and various MirrorLink and MHL compatible receivers from Alpine, Sony and JVC. Compatibility with these application mirroring systems is a relatively new technology and is currently limited to a few dozen devices, so make sure your phone is compatible before you risk buying a receiver. The Parrot Asteroid range gets around the app mirroring trick by keeping and running the Android version of the app on the receiver itself, but the number of apps supported is limited.
App Lovers’ Choice: Pioneer AppRadio 2 Pioneer AppRadio and AppRadio 2 are the first receivers that come to mind when I think about properly integrating aftermarket apps. The flagship AppRadio 2 has a huge color touch screen and is compatible with dozens of apps for iPhone and Android devices. It’s not a perfect solution – getting the device to work with a supported Android phone requires a hardware module and about two or three supporting apps to be installed – but until we see MirrorLink make a huge impact, AppRadio remains king.
Every car audio sold today will come with an AM/FM radio tuned to your local radio stations, but you can upgrade it. Choosing a receiver with built-in HD Radio decoding will greatly improve the sound quality of local digital radio stations. You’ll also get access to digital subroutines of multicast-enabled stations, increasing the number of free shows available, as well as iTunes radio song icons for later purchase and download.
I’m not a huge fan of the sound quality offered by satellite radio, but frequent travelers and other long-distance drivers may appreciate the value of being able to broadcast their favorite radio stations from space to anywhere in the country. Sports fans can also enjoy a variety of NFL, NBA and NHL subscription programs. Most new car stereos capable of satellite radio will do so using the optional SXV100 or SXV200 SiriusXM Connect modules, so be aware that you may need to purchase and install additional hardware and pay for a monthly or annual subscription.
Car audio receivers can do more than just play music; many of them can also help you get where you’re going with GPS navigation. Almost everything we recommend in CNET’s GPS buying guide applies here as well. For those too lazy to follow the link, you need to look for flash based cards that can be upgraded with a removable SD or microSD card. The traffic reports are very useful and are available free of charge on the RDS-TMC band or via an HD Radio tuner.
Many of you would argue that a navigation app on your phone would be better than a control panel, and your assumption is mostly correct. Smartphone navigation apps like Waze, Google Maps, and Scout tend to be head and shoulders above the best built-in GPS receivers I’ve tested, with more up-to-date and accurate maps and fresher traffic data, voice commands, and a better destination. . search.
Best Dashboard Navigation: Sony XNV-770BT The Sony XNV-770BT uses a detachable navigation module to provide excellent TomTom maps software for turn-by-turn navigation. This makes it easier and more frequent to update on-board maps. This is a good option if you need dashboard navigation, but even this combination is easy to outperform the average smartphone. Consider pairing one of the app’s new mirror receivers with an app like Waze or Scout.
For the best of both worlds—a large built-in device screen and advanced smartphone app software—think of a receiver with some kind of app duplication capability. I have mentioned some of my favorites above.
Of course, you can also attach your phone or tablet to the dashboard or windshield for navigation, outputting audio to Bluetooth or the receiver’s auxiliary input – provided, of course, that your interaction with your smartphone complies with local legal restrictions.
Once you have blocked the list of desired audio source, you need to consider the physical size and connections of the receiver itself. First, this means choosing between a single or double DIN receiver. Single DIN receivers take up less space in the dashboard, are less visible to outsiders and would-be thieves (particularly models with removable panels), and fit a wider variety of dashboards. Double DIN models take up more space on the dashboard and are often equipped with larger touchscreen displays. If you answered yes to DVD playback, GPS navigation, or app mirroring above, chances are you’ll end up seeing a double DIN block on your dashboard.
Also pay attention to the controls on the front panel of the receiver and the software interface. The touchscreen is good, but let’s not underestimate the ease of use that good physical controls provide when you’re cruising at 70+ mph. Similarly, a confusing interface or a touchscreen that is slow to recognize your input can result in you spending more time fiddling with the receiver when you have to watch where you are going. Personally, I like a good physical volume knob rather than buttons for quick adjustments, but you might prefer a receiver that supports steering wheel controls in your personal car via an adapter. Steering wheel compatibility varies greatly depending on the make and model of your vehicle and the receiver model you choose, so you should do some research before purchasing.
BEST BUDGET: Pioneer DEH-X9500BHS The Pioneer DEH-X9500BHS CD Receiver has standard CD/AM/FM sources and can decode HD broadcasts right out of the box. Smartphone users can access calls and audio via Bluetooth, USB/iPod and Pandora internet radio. This is a very wide range of audio sources for an inexpensive single DIN receiver. With its removable panel protection, three stereo pre-outs, and responsive physical volume and control knob, it’s no wonder this is one of my favorite budget car audio receivers.
In addition to receiving your sound source, the purpose of the dashboard receiver is to output that sound through its internal amplifier to your car’s speakers. The power of this amplifier is expressed in two ways: peak power and RMS. Peak power is measured in watts and represents the maximum power that an amplifier can put out. If you don’t always listen to music at the highest possible volume, you should ignore this number… for now.
Instead, dig a little deeper into the list of RMS power ratings, which is essentially the amount of power the amplifier will consistently produce in normal use. The power rating will also include the number of channels the amplifier can output (usually four: front right and front left, rear right and rear left) and will read “25Wx4 RMS” or “52Wx4 max”.
As a general rule, the more RMS power the better, as you have more headroom before you reach the amplifier’s limits where distortion can be an issue. However, more power does not necessarily mean better sound. The quality depends on many factors such as the quality of the sound source, DSP, equalization, D/A converters and finally the speakers. I have found that around 25 watts RMS per channel, or about 50 watt-hours maximum, works well for most stock and inexpensive speakers, but you also need to make sure the amplifier output is not more than the speakers can handle. .
Drivers interested in adding an external amplifier, active subwoofer, or accessories should also consider upgrading the receiver. This usually depends on the number of A/V inputs and pre-outs on the rear panel. I’d like to make sure there are at least two full-range stereo pre-outs and bonus points for receivers with dedicated subwoofer outputs. In a future guide, I will cover how to add external amplification and subwoofers, so stay tuned.
Best for Bluetooth: Sony MEX-GS600BT The Sony MEX-GS600BT Bluetooth audio receiver combines hands-free calling and a full complement of digital audio sources in one low-profile dash-mounted package. App Remote allows users to quickly switch between listening to a source on the receiver and an app on their smartphone with the touch of a button. While I didn’t find App Remote very useful without a phone dashboard installed, everything else about this full featured car stereo makes it an easy recommendation.
Every make, model, and year of vehicle is different, so installation can be tricky. However, almost every receiver connects to the car’s 12-volt power supply and its speakers using a standard wiring harness. If you’re going to do the installation yourself, you’ll need the ability to disassemble your specific vehicle’s dashboard and remove the stock radio, the standard wiring harness from the new receiver to your vehicle’s wiring harness, and a mounting kit for mounting. all in your toolbox. A basic understanding of soldering or crimping wire can be helpful. I will cover these details in a future car audio installation guide.
Or you can pay a certified installer to install it. Installation is often cheap these days, and sometimes even free.
Post time: May-15-2023